January 29/00 10:49 am - Kupfernagel Wins at Worlds

Posted by Editoress on 01/29/00
 

Kupfernagel wins premier Cyclocross World Championships
Sint-Michielsgestel, Netherlands, 13.525km - 5 laps
report courtesy Chris Redden

Hanka Kupfernagel won today's premier Women's Cyclocross World Championships in Sint-Michielsgestel the Netherlands. Her race tactic? go to the front and stay there. This she did and was never challenged during the 13.5 km , 5 lap race.

The reportedly tough course was made a little tougher by all night rain, making certain sections very slippery, but the notorious clogging mud of many mountain bike courses was not to be found anywhere on the course. There were 4 barriers that the riders had to negotiate. 3 actually barricades and 1 set of stairs. The first half lap was on a golf course with the final 1/2 of the lap through the woods. The finishing stretch was pavement, making for the possibility of a sprint finish both exciting for the crowd, but excruciating for tired riders.

From the start, Kupfernagel took the lead of the group of approx 50 starters. By the half lap mark she had 15 seconds on the group and the gap steadily increased lap after lap. A chase group contained Laurence Leboucher, 1998 Mountain Bike World Champion, and there were some thoughts that she may challenge in the final laps, but she faded near the end of lap 3 to finish 4th 2:03 off of Kupfernagel's pace.

Unofficial results

1. Hank Kupfernagel (GER) 42:10
2. Louise Robinson (GBR) at 0:57
3. Daphne Van Den Brand (NED) 1:16
4. Laurence Leboucher (FRA) 2:03
5. Alison Dunlap (USA) 2:30

7. Alla Epifanova (RUS)
8. Carmen Richardson (USA)
10. Chantal Daucourt (SUI)
12. Ann Grande (USA)
13. Ruthie Matthes (USA)
15. Chrissy Redden (CAN)

Notes: Chris said that the Europeans ability to train year round was a major factor in their fitness over the North Americans.

- Chrissy got a bad draw for pit and start position. She drew pit #1, the smallest and had to start back of the Spanish ridders, who got off to a very slow start.

- Italian rider Annabella Stopparo, who was registed to start was a no show. Rumour was that she had not passed her required pre-race hemocrit test.