September 3/10 13:45 pm - MTB World Championships: U23 Men XC UPDATES
Posted by Editoress on 09/3/10
Good afternoon from Mont-Ste Anne Quebec
The sun has come back out and things are about to get really hot and humid again
66 U23 Men will be on the start line today and will do a start loop of 3 km and then 6 full laps of the 4.8 km course.
The favourite has to be Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland) who has had a phenomenal World Cup season, winning the U23 and finishing on many World Cup overall podiums.
Canada will have 7 Entries: Jared Stafford, Francis Morin, Simon Lalancette, Tyson Wagler, Félix Cote, Andrew L'esperance, Sébastien Cadieux-Duval. Stafford is the National Champion
Start loop
As they head out it is Thomas Litscher (Switzerland) who gets the holeshot followed by Patrik Gallati (Switzerland), Niels Wubben (Netherlands), Marek Konwa (Poland), Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Italy)
14:06 pm
At the rock garden
Thomas Litscher (Switzerland) leading with a 20 sec gap on Alexis Vuillermoz (France) with Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Italy) 3rd, Jelmer Jubbega (Netherlands), Patrik Gallati (Switzerland), Marek Konwa (Poland), Markus Bauer (Germany)
A big bunch up on the steep rocky descent and many riders behind are getting an advantage taking the "chicken run" becasue it is faster
Canadians are well back
Feed/Tech Zone - 14:10 pm
Thomas Litscher (Switzerland) still at the front with Alexis Vuillermoz (France) followed by Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Italy) at 5 sec.
Marek Konwa (Poland), Martin Fanger (Switzerland), at 8 sec
Jelmer Jubbega (Netherlands), Alexis Vuillermoz (France) and Martin Fanger (Switzerland) at 30 sec
Pascal Meyer (Switzerland), Fabien Canal (France) and Niels Wubben (Netherlands) at 35 sec
First Canadians are Tyson Wagler and Andrew L'Esperance in 40th
Lap 1
As they head out to the first full lap: Litscher, then Vuillermoz 2nd at s.t., Kerschbaumer 3rd at 4 sec, Gallati 4th at 1 , Konawa 5th, Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland) 6th,
2: 20 pm
At the rock garden: Vuillermoz, leading Flückiger, followed by Litscher and Kerschbaumer
then a gap to Konawa, Gallati, Fanger, Pascal Meyer (Switzerland), Fabien Canal (France) and Niels Wubben (Netherlands)
top Canadians are Andrew L'Esperance and Sébastien Cadieux-Duval in 43rd and 44th
Lap 2
As they start the 2nd lap
Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland) has taken the lead after Vuillermoz has a mechanical and Thomas Litscher (Switzerland) now moves into 2nd he is now 10 sec back
Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Italy) 3rd at s.t., Alexis Vuillermoz (France) 4th, Marek Konwa (Poland) 5th at 34 sec, Patrik Gallati (Switzerland) 6th,
Robbie Squire (United States Of America) is top N. American in 24th
Jared Stafford has had a crashed and is well back
Markus Schulte-Luenzum (Germany) has had a mechanical
2:30 pm
Flückiger has had a mechanical (front flat) and stopped in the Tech zone for 15 sec and has been passed
2:34 pm
On the climb, Litscher, Kerschbaumer and Vuillermoz together climbing with Flückiger about to catch him
Gallati and Konwa at 20 sec
Henrique Avancini (Brazil) in DNF
2:38 pm
At the Zig Zag there are now 4 leaders, with 2 chasers (Konawa and Gallati) at 39 sec
A second chase group is at 1:09: Fanger, Fabien Canal (France), Niels Wubben (Netherlands), Alexander Gehbauer (Austria), Pascal Meyer (Switzerland)
Then at another 10 sec to Ruben Scheire (Belgium)
Tyson Wagler 46th
Francis Morin 47th
Lap 3
Vuillermoz leading position as they head out onto the 3rd lap. Flückiger at 1 sec, Kerschbaumer 3rd, Litscher 4th both s.t.
Gallati 5th at 24 sec, Konawa 6th
Top N American is Stephen Ettinger (USA) in 38th
Wagler 43rd, Squire (USA) 44th, Morin 45th, L'Esperance 53rd, Lalancette 54th, Cadieux-Duval 55th
2:43 pm
The Rock Garden descent has been closed and all riders are now using only the chicken run. They have brought in the Emergency crew with a backboard
2:50 pm
Rock Garden has been re-opened
Sorry Internet has collapsed, and missed a bit of
Lap 4
Fluckiger has taken the lead and has a 23 second lead on Vuillermoz, then Litscher at 26 sec
3:14 pm
The Swiss have taken over
Flückiger leading Gallati by 35 sec. Litscher at 38 sec. Vuillermoz now 4th at 45 sec, Kerschbaumer at 1 min
Lap 5
Heading out onto the 2nd last lap: Flückiger leading Gallati by 34 sec. Litscher at 35 sec. Vuillermoz now 4th at 43 sec. Kerschbaumer 5th at 1:02
Canal 6th at nearly 3 min back, Konawa 7th, Meyer 8th, Fanger 9th,
Ettinger (USA) top N American in 35th, Squire 39th,
3:25 pm at the ZigZag climb
Flückiger leading with Gallati at 45 sec. Litscher 3rd at 50 sec. Vuillermoz 4th at 1:30
There is big cheering section for the Brazilian rider on the climb
Lap 6
As they start the final lap
Flückiger leading Gallati by 35 sec. Litscher 3rd at 45 sec, Vuillermoz 4th, 1:29, Kerschbaumer 5th at 2:24, Fanger 6th at 2:39, Konawa 7th at 2:39, Ruben Scheire (Belgium) 8th at 2:50, Henk Jaap Moorlag (Netherlands) 9th at 2:57, Meyer 10th at 3:11
Top Canadian is Morin in 43rd
3:42 pm at the ZigZag climb
At the top of the climb, Flückiger is still leading, but Gallati has closed the gap a bit and seems to be making a go against his teamate for the win. It will definately be Switzerland 1-2-3
Vuillermoz is still 4th but out of centention at at 3 min back
Jared Stafford (Canada) crashed and was taken to hospital, but he is just badly bruised and has a number of cuts, but is OK
Final
Unofficial
1 Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland), 1:45:15
2 Thomas Litscher (Switzerland), at 0:30
3 Patrik Gallati (Switzerland), 1:04
4 Alexis Vuillermoz (France), 1:49
5 Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Italy), 3:38
Course Map
Profile
| Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top |
