July 2/00 1:41 am - MSA Women's XC Story and Results

Posted by Editor on 07/2/00
 

Mont Ste Anne World Cup - Barb Blatter (Scott USA) took her second Tissot-UCI World Cup victory of the 2000 season today at Mont Ste Anne, Quebec, after fighting off a strong challenge from Canadian Chrissy Redden (Gary Fisher-Saab). However, Blatter's win wasn't enough to displace Gt's Alison Dunlap from the overall World Cup standings.

Rain last night led to the organizers cutting out a long technical descent, which favoured some riders and hindered others. Alison Sydor (Volvo-Cannondale), one of the most technically proficient riders on the circuit remarked "I probably lost 15-20 seconds per lap on some riders there." Sydor had more bad luck on the first lap (of 5) when she flatted while leading on a descent on the first lap. Being so early in the race, she lost quite few positions, dropping to the high teens before getting going again. Sydor would fight back to 7th by the end of the race.

However, after Sydor's bad luck, it was all Blatter and Redden. Blatter charged to a 35 second advantage by the start of the second lap, with Regina Marunde (Focus) riding in third, just behind Redden. Dunlap was fourth, a position that would not change all race.

Redden and Marunde rode together for two laps before Redden attacked at the begiining of the fourth lap, dropping the German and actually bridging up to Blatter on the climb, but, "Barb was climbing stronger today. I caught up, but at the top of the main climb she attacked and I couldn't stay with her." Blatter admitted to nerves when Redden caught up. "I was trying to recover a bit because it is so hard when you are on your own in front. Then Chrissy caught me - I was pretty nervous when I saw her because she had many people cheering for her."

The gap would hover around12-20 seconds for the final lap, with redden making time on the technical sections, and losing ground on the climbs. Eventually, Blatter would come in 18 seconds in front of the Canadian.

Race Notes:

- last weekend Redden called her win at Mount Snow "the best result in my career." After this finish she said with a grin "not any more!"

- Trish Sinclair (Can - Marin) finished 11th. this is significant because this week and next (Canmore) are the last two opportunities for riders to join the Canadian Olympic team pool. Sinclair needed a top-10 result. Therefore, the Canadian women's mountain bike squad is finalized since only 3 riders have met the criteria for the 3 available positions: Alison Sydor, Chrissy Redden and Lesley Tomlinson (RLX Polo Sport)

Women's Results -

1. Barb Blatter (Sui) Scott USA 30.6 km in 1:57.43
2. Chrissy Redden (Can) Gary Fisher-Saab at 0:18
3. Regina Marunde (Ger) Focus at 1:37
4. Alison Dunlap (USA) GT 2:15
5. Mary Grigson (Aus) Gary Fisher-Saab 3:30
6. Ruthie Matthes (USA) Trek-VW at 4:42
7. Alison Sydor (Can) Volvo-Cannondale at 6:08
8. Alla Epifanova (Rus) Volvo-Cannondale at 6:35
9. Chantal Daucourt (Sui) Trek-VW at 6:51
10. Kelli Emmett (USA) Litespeed at 7:11

11. Trish Sinclair (Can) Marin at 9:41
18. Melanie McQuaid (Can) Unattached at 14:38
21. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Oryx at 14:59
23. Lesley Tomlinson (Can) RLX Polo Sport at 17:00
27. Melanie Dorion (Can) Ford-Devinci at 18:47
29. Amber Chorney (Can) Ford-Devinci at 21:58
32. Leslie Greene (Can) GT Canada at 1 lap
36. Marisol Bernier (Can) Oryx at 2 laps
DNF Christine Platt (Can) Rocky Mountain