June 9/00 1:03 am - Junior and Espoire Reports from MTB Worlds

Posted by Editoress on 06/9/00
 

Mountain Bike World Championships, Junior & Espoire Reports - Sierra Nevada Spain

Junior Women's results

1. Sonja Traxel (Sui) 1:23:42
2. Maja Wlosczowska (Pol) at 1:44
3. Nicole Cooke (Gbr) 2:19
4. Simone Trachsel (Sui) 2:58
5. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) 3:46
6. Erica Drew (Can) 3:52
7. Claire Baxter (Aus) 5:32
8. Julie Pesenti (Fra) 7:28
9. Julie Saunders (Can) 8:06
10. Carolina Barelli (Fra) 9:24

17. Martina Feldmann (Can) 12:15
25. Angela Mawdsley (Can) 22:27

Erica Drew and Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) battled it out for the entire race. Bronzini rode away from her on the final climb to the finish to beat Drew out for the podium position by just 7 seconds.

6:30am - Junior Men's race has started

The junior men have just gone through the start loop out and the pack (of 76 starters) is now 3/4 of the way into lap one of this 3 lap race.

At the end of the start loop the field was led by Floria Vogels (the favourite to win today) followed closely by Canadian, Jamie Douglas. Now at the 3/4 way point, the lead has been taken by Inaki Lejaretta of Spain and he has nearly 1 minute on Vogels. Who has been joined by American Walker Fergusen. Jamie Douglas is in 8th. Other Canadians are Kris Snedden and Ben Sigston in the mid 30's.

Altitude is a factor for the riders as the course is a 7,000 ft.
- Each lap is 9.3km


6:55am - Junior Men's race has 1 lap to go

Inaki Lejaretta of Spain is still in the lead, but American Walker Ferguson has taken over 2nd and is 36 seconds back. He is being followed by the Swiss rider Vogels, who is at 42 seconds.

Jamie Douglas has slid back into 19th position (at 5:13). There are a number of riders, so he could easily move up 6 places. The other 2 Canadians are still mid 30's.

7:25am - Walker Ferguson Wins!!

In the final lap Walker Ferguson caught Inaki Lejaretta. They rode together for a bit and the Walker attacked with 1/3 of a lap to go. Lejaretta tried but was not able to hold on. Ferguson wins by 30 seconds.

Official Results for Junior Men

1. Walker Ferguson (USA) 1:43:31
2. Inaki Lejaretta (Esp) at 0:30
3. Floria Vogels (Sui) 0:48
4. Eduardo Bosc (Arg) 0:52
5. Liam Killian (GBr) 0:59
6. Mathieu Jouty (Fra) 2:39
7. Flavio Derjungs (Sui) 2:54
8. Martin Gjans (Sui) 3:18
9. Benjamin Sevessand (Fra) 3:30
10. Markus Webber (Aut) 4:10

19. Jaimie Douglas (Can) 9:40
35. Ben Sigston (Can) 13:11
42. Kris Sneddon (Can) 16:05

7:45 am - Jaimie Douglas Top Finisher for Canada

Jaimie had his goal set at a top 10 today, but it was not to be. "If I has stuck to my plan..." he said after the race. During the first lap there were a number of crashes and Jaimie took advantage of this and went hard, too hard. "I overdid it, and it hurt."

19. Jaimie Douglas
35. Ben Sigston
42. Kris Sneddon

8:15am - Espoire Race has started

The Espoire men have just completed the start loop and have headed out onto the course for their first of 4 laps. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) exploded from the start gun and lead for the entire loop. As the pack headed out onto the main course Kashi Leuchs (NZl) has taken the lead and Ryder is right on his wheel.

These are Rob's words "Ryder looks very focused."

End of Lap 1 in Espoire Race

Kashi Leuchs has been joined in the lead position by Jose Antonio Hermida(Esp) and they have a 40 second lead on Julien Absalon (Fra). Ryder Hesjedal is sitting in 7th, about 1:30 back.

Other Canadians: Mathieu Darveau: 33rd, Jean-Francois Laroche: 50th and Ricky Federau: 55th.

9:15am - End of Lap 2, Half Way Through the Race

Leuchs and Hermida are still riding very strong at the front. Leuchs is leading on all of the climbs and looks to be the stronger of the 2. The 3rd place rider is now Marti Gispert Labarta of Spain. Absalon is solidly in the 4th position. Ryder is sitting 8th, but is now over 3 minutes down on the leaders.

Other Canadians: Mathieu Darveau: 38th

9:55am - Espoires start final lap

Hermida has attacked, dropped and has 40 seconds on Leuchs. Gispert is now solidly in 3rd at 2:10 and Absalon is just over 3 minutes. Carlos Coloma (Esp) has moved into 5th. American Jesse Swiggers is in 7th (+7 min) and Ryder Hesjedal is in 10th at 7 and 1/2 minutes.

The crowd of mostly Spanish nationals are going crazy. The sound of Hermida! Hermida! Ariba! Ariba! is deafening.

10:30am - Spain takes 1-2 in Espoires at World MTB Championships

Results for Espoires
unofficial

1. Hermida, Jose Antonio (ESP) 2:08:34
2. Gispert Labarta, Marti (ESP) 2:12:16
3. Leuchs, Kashi (NZL) 2:12:49
4. Absalon, Julien (FRA) 2:14:04
5. Ravanel, Cedric (FRA) 2:14:57
6. Coloma, Carlos (ESP) 2:15:30
7. Swiggers, Jess (USA) 2:15:33
8. Drasler, Rok (SLO) 2:17:26
9. Steiner, Manfred (ITA) 2:17:59
10. Presslauer, Peter (AUT) 2:19:55
13. Hesjedal, Ryder (CAN) 2:20:06

More results when available