August 30/99 11:48 am - Sydor 3rd in Switzerland, Ontario MTB Provincials, Euro News

Posted by Editoress on 08/30/99
 

Wheeler Swiss Cup in Leukerbad 29/08/99

Women
1. Blatter Barbara (SUI) Scott/One life 1:39.06.5
2. Daucourt Chantal (SUI) Trek Volkswagen at 1:39.36.4
3. Sydor Alison (CAN) Volvo Cannondale 1:42.19.1
4. Grigson Mary ( AUS ) 1:43.23.3
5. Henzi Petra (SUI) Fischer-Bianchi 1:45.02,5
7. Redden Christina (CAN ) Ritchey-Yahoo! 1:45.57.3

Men
1. Evans Cadel (AUS) Volvo-Cannondale 1:44.23.3
2. Pallhubert Hubert (ITA) Diamondback 1:44.45,2
3. Martinez Miguel (FRA) Full Dynamix 1:45:24.5
4. Sauser Christoph (SUI) Volvo Cannondale 1:45:41.6
5. Hermida José Antonio (ESP)Scott/One life 1:45.53.5


1999 Ontario Mountain Bike Championships
courtesy HArdwood Hills

Two great days of racing at the Heights of Horseshoe, Horsehoe Valley. Eric Cseff and Cecile Gambin both posted the fastest runs over two tries on the infamous Horseshoe course. Julian Hine dominated the men's XC field from start to finish on one of his favorite courses. Leslie Green proved herself over the technical and hilly Horsehoe XC course as well.

Congratulations to all Champions and riders!

Full results available at the Hardwood Hills website: hardwoodhills.on.ca

Amateur Italian cycling is being conquered by a Mexican!

22 year old Julio Perez (Mex, SC Auto Lelli - Granatelli) won the elite/-23 Gran Premio San Giuliano - Citta di Macerata on Saturday, after another epic solo breakaway. The event entailed 9 laps of a 20km circuit, which started in the hilltop city of Macerata, and brought the 150 starters down a fast a curvy descent, across a 10m flat section, and then back up to the 16th century town center. The field had blown apart by lap 5 when Perez made his move, with the help of his teammate Siarhei Mikhailouski. The duo distanced themselves by three mintues over the 13 man chase group within one lap, and discord between the remaining teams behind prevented any real action to reel them back. On the last lap, the chase group fractioned, some riders catching Mikhailouski who had been dropped by Perez, and the others drifting in in ones and twos. I finished 7th, content to relax for as long as I could (It's a "rest" week for me) until giving a good push up the final climb.

The next day, we woke up to pouring rain for the GP Villa Ceccholini, held in my teammate Mirko Biondi's home town. This event was also the Marchigiani Provincial Championships, for which the only locally affiliated teams were elligible and sure to fight for (SC REDA, my team, is affiliated in Romandy). A severe thunderstorm posponed the official start for 15 minutes, but we eventually began under stormy skies nonetheless. For a very messy two hours, the Granatelli squad kept the pack in check, and few tempted to brave the elements in any breakaway attempt. In the end it was Fabio Testi of the UC SINTOFARM team who crossed the line first, after a solo move at 5km to go. The Provincial Championship title went to Eddy Serri of SC Montegranaro, who finished 2nd. I had the misfortune of crashing for the second time this week (the first on Tuesday, loosing a fight with a car) when my derailleur snapped, entered my rear spokes, and somehow launched the back end of my bike over my head. Witnesses say it was quite spectacular. Small punctures wounds and abrasions, but nothing broken.

Next week can only get better.

Ciao!
Paul.