July 27/13 5:25 am - World Cup Vallnord: Elite Women's XC Updates

Posted by Editoress on 07/27/13
 

The Elite women are just about to  start. 

The sun is shining and the temp is sitting mid 20's. The wind is rising and will be a factor today along with the altitude.

A small but competitve field lining up for today's 5 lap race of the 4.4 km course.  Just 46 women on the line including a returning Sabine Spitz, Julie Bressett, Marianne Vos World Cup leader Tanja Zakelj. 

See the preview for the course info and more.

New Canadian Champ Emily Batty is the only Canadian on the start list but WILL NOT start due to illness. She had the start of a cold last week at nationals that she thought she could shake before this, but obviously the travel and altitude affected her more than she thought it would.

Catharine Pendrel is injured, so will not participate.

Lap 1

Maja Wloszczowska (Giant Pro XC Team) and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida Biking Team) lead up the climb headinginto the single track.

1/2 way round it is Wloszczowska still in the lead with a 6s gap on Adelheid Morath (Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team), Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) at 7s, Eva Lechner (Team Colnago Sudtirol) at 8s and Jolanda Neff  (Giant Pro XC Team) at s.t..

5:41 am

Continuing up the climb and the lead bunch is now 4. Wloszczowska has been joined by Nash, Lechner and Neff.  They have opened a good gap .

Lap 2

Heading out to the 2nd lap, Neff hits the line first with Wloszczowska at 8s, Nash 3rd, Lecherner 4th.  Julie Bresset (BH - SR Suntour - KMC) 5th at 16s. Elisabeth Osl (Ghost Factory Racing Team) 6th at 22s. Sabine Spitz (Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team) 8th at 25s, Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools Team) 8th at 34s

Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) 22nd at 1:08

5:53 am

1/2 way round and Nash has taken the lead with Neff at 1s with Lechner on her wheel. Wloszczowska and Spitz are together at 2s.  Dahle Flesja sitting 6th at 15s and Osl 7th at 16s.

Gould up to 19th at 1:22

The last time a World Cup was held on this course it was won by Marga Fullana (retired) with Lechner 2nd, Premont 3rd and Pendrel 4th .

With 1 km to go to the end of lap 2, Nash and Lechner leading Neff, Wloszczowska, Spitz and Dahle Flesja.

Lap 3

Spitz at the front heading out onto the 3rd lap with Wloszczowska, Nash, Neff, Lechner at 1s, Dahl Flesja 6th at 2s, and Zakelj  moved up to 7th at 9s.

Bresset 8th at 22s, Osl 9th at 40s

1/2 way

Dahle Flesja takes the front with Wloszczowska on her wheel followed by Spitz, Lechner, Nash and Neff.

Zakelj 7th at 25s.

Through the feedzone and the 4 leaders have gapped Wloszczowska.

This is the course from 2008, and while it is a bit shortened (to 4.4 km) it gives an idea of the amount of climbing required per lap.

Lap 4

Dahle Flesja and Lechner lead out for the 4th lap.  Nash and Spitz at 1s.  Neff 5th at 24s, Wloszczowska 6th at s.t..

Zakelj 7th at 41s, Bresset 8th at 1:04, Katrin Leumann (Ghost Factory Racing Team) 9th at s.t., Blaza Klemencic (Calcit Bike Team) 10th at 1:05

Gould 20th at 2:39

6:28 am

1/2 way round.   Lechner at teh front with Dahle Flesja, nash and Spitz on her wheel.  Neff 5th at 15s, Wloszczowska 6th at 35s.

Zakelj 7th at 40s. Klemencic 8th 1:04, Leumann 9th at 1:05 and Bresset 10th at 1:13

6:33 am

Nash has attacked on the climb and has 10s

Nash has never won a World Cup

Dahle Flesja has taken up the chase with Lechner on her wheel.  Spitz is gapped and Neff is dropped

Up the last little climb before they head out for the last lap, Dahle Flesja has brought Nash back.

Last Lap

Nash, Dahle Flesja and  Lechner at at 2s, Spitz and Neff at 3s.

Zakelj now up to 6th at 41s, Leuman 7th at 57s, Wloszczowska 8th at 59s, Klemencic 9th 1:23, Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory Racing Team) 10th at 1:23

6:46 am - 1/2 way

Nash leading Spitz by 1 s. Lechner at 6s, Dahle Flesja at 10s, Neff at 14s.

Spitz attacks....

Nash closes the gap and then attacks on the descent

Heading up the last climb and nash has a gap (~10s) over Spitz and Lechner

At the top of the climb, Spitz has caught and passed Nash opening a gap as they head into the singletrack

Finish

1 Sabine Spitz (Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team)
2 Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team)
3 Eva Lechner (Team Colnago Sudtirol)
4 Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida Biking Team)

5 Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools Team)