July 31/05 7:14 am - European MTB Championships

Posted by Editoress on 07/31/05
 

European MTB Championships Kluisbergen, Belgium
Report courtesy of MerlanDuo-Be One

French rider Peraud is the new European Champion in cross-country. In a race which was dominated by the French riders, Peraud made it to the finish with a large gap on World and Olympic champion Absolon. Italian rider Marco Bui completed the podium.

First finisher for the Netherlands was surprisingly youngster Jelmer Pietersma (MerlanDuo-Be One). He finished an excellent 14th place. Pietersma was highly motivated after his teammate Rudi van Houts won the European Champs in the U23 category the day before. „I rode a strong race and my tactics worked very well, I started in the back and a strong firm pace almost brought me to placing 13th!‰. „I‚m very satisfied, being the first Dutch guy to finish is ok, but more important is the fact that I earned my ticket for the world championships!‰ „For me and my team (MerlanDuo-Be One) everything fell into place this weekend, the moral is super at the moment!‰

MerlanDuo-Be One rider Jimmy Tielens (Belgium) experienced a less fun ride today. Suffering from back problems which caused him to finish well behind his normal level. He finished in 53re position. "Today was a living hell for me∑I have no other words for this∑".

The elite women's race was dominated again by Norwegian Gunn-Rita Dahle. Wloszczowska from Poland finshed second ahead of Marga Fullana of Spain.

Elite Men

1. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Lapierre, 1:54:19
2. Julien Absalon (Fra) Bianchi Agos, at 0:30
3. Marco Bui (Ita) Full Dynamix, 0:46
4. Jerome Chevallier (Fra) Gitane, 0:56
5. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Siemens Cannondale, 1:15
6. Oliver Beckingsale (GBr) GBR. 1:57
7. Lado Fumic (Ger) Fumicracing, 2:15
8. Peter Riis Andersen (Den) Denmark, 2:20
9. Roel Paulissen (Bel) Giant, 2:25
10. Florian Vogel (Swi) Swisspower. 2:29
11. Miguel Martinez (Fra) Commencal
12. Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank
13. Frederik Kessiakoff (Sui) Siemens Cannondale
14. Pietersma (Ned) MerlanDuo-Be One

17. Bart Brentjens (Ned) Giant

Elite Women

1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor) Merida Multivan, 1:57:08
2. Maja Wzoslzowska (Pol) Lotto, at 1:52
3. Margarita Fullana (Esp), 2:39
4. Nina Ghol (Ger), 4:15
5. Bernadine Boog-Rauwerda (Ned) 4:23
6. Petra Henzi (Sui) 5:42
7. Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol), 7:02
8. Anna Enocsson (Swe), 7:25
9. Blaza Klemencic (Slo), 8:35
10. Eva Lechner (Ita), 9:25