September 3/09 23:59 pm - MTB World Championships: U23 Men's XC UPDATES

Posted by Editoress on 09/3/09
 

The day started with some rain, but it is now partially cloudy with gusts of  wind.

There are 65 U23 men taking the start today and will do 6 laps.  Canada has 1 rider, Raphael Gagne (Canada)

South African Burry Stander has to be considered the favourite.  He is the current leader in the U23,  2nd in the overall standings behind Absalon, and 4th in the overall UCI ranking.  Others to watch will be Fabian Giger and Thomas Litscher (Switzerland) who were 1/2 at the European championships. Alexis Vuillermoz (France) who rode strong at the last 2 World Cups, Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland) 6th at the Europeans

Lap 1

As they head out it is Guillaume Vinit (France) in the lead

As they hit the feedzone for the first time it, there are 2 riders clear: Burry Stander (South Africa) and Thomas Litscher (Switzerland).  There  is a group of 6 chasing at 20 seconds.

Raphael Gagne (Canada) is sitting ~ 24th at 1:20 back

2nd feed zone.  Stander and Litscher still together at the front. Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland) and Piotr Brzozka (Poland) are at 30 seconds.

Gagne sitting at the back of a group of 6, in ~ 26th spot

Lap 2

Heading out for the 2nd lap it is :  Stander and Litscher with a lap time of 17:34.  Mattias Wengelin (Sweden) is 3rd at 24 seconds. Marek Konwa (Poland) 4th, followed by Alexis Vuillermoz (France), Peter Sagan - 2008 Junior World Champ (Slovakia) all s.t..  Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland) 7th at 25 sec. Catriel Andres Soto (Argentina) 8th at 27 sec, Lukas Kaufmann (Switzerland) 9th at 34 sec, Guillaume Vinit (France) 10th at  48 sec.

Gagne 26th at 1:43 back.

First American is Robbie Squire (United States Of America) in 47th

Through the 1st feed and Stander is clear by 20 seconds on Litscher. Vuillermoz is 3rd at 30 sec.

Gagne stopped and had his rear wheel replaced, and is now well back at 5 min behind leaders.

Lap 3

Stander heads out to the 3rd lap with a gap of 32 sec on Vuillermoz who has taken over  2nd spot. Litscher now 3rd at s.t.

Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland) 4th at 1 min, Peter Sagan (Slovakia) 5th at s.t., Catriel Andres Soto (Argentina) 6th at 1:01, Marek Konwa (Poland) 7th at 1:12, Mattias Wengelin (Sweden) 8th at 1:32, Guillaume Vinit (France) 9th at 1:51, Fabian Giger (Switzerland) 10 at 2:06

Gagne 55th

At the top of the main climb, Stander leading Vuillermoz by 40 sec. Litscher in 3rd at 50 sec, Flückiger, Sagan, and Konwa are together at 1:20

Gagne 53rd

Through the 2nd feedzone and Stander is not letting up.  The gap to Vuillermoz is 45 sec. Litscher is 3rd at 1 min

Lap 4

Stander starts the 4th lap with a gap of 51 seconds on Vuillermoz. Litscher 3rd at 1:11, Sagan 4th at 2:02, Flückiger 5th at 2:04, Soto 6th at 2:06, Konwa 7th at 2:32, Wengelin 8th, Vinit 9th, Lukas Kaufmann (Switzerland) 10th.

Top N. American is Tad Elliott  37th

Gagne is slowly clawing his way back up, and is now 48th, but 7:50 back

At the first feedzone, Stander has 57 sec on Vuillermoz. Litscher in 3rd is at 1:33 back.  Sagan now alone in 4th at 2:40, Soto 5th at 3 min, Konwa 6th at 3:20.  Flückiger appears to have had a problem (crash or mechanical) as he has dropped back to 22nd

Lap 5

Through the feedzone Standers'  gap is 1:30 to Vuillermoz - who for some reason has not taken a drink in the last 2 laps. Litscher  3rd at 2:13. Sagan 4th and Konwa now 5th

Gagne 44th

Lap 6

Stander through the first feed with a gap of 1:38 to Vuillermoz

Final

1  Burry Stander (South Africa)    1:47:26
2  Alexis Vuillermoz (France)    at 1:21
3  Thomas Litscher (Switzerland)    2:46
4  Peter Sagan (Slovakia)    4:15
5  Marek Konwa (Poland)    
6  Guillaume Vinit (France)    4:59
7  Mattias Wengelin (Sweden)    5:14
8  Fabian Giger (Switzerland)    5:32
9  Lukas Kaufmann (Switzerland)    5:57
10  Catriel Andres Soto (Argentina)    6:31

Course Profile

Course Map