The 2009 UCI mountain bike world championships got underway yesterday in Canberra, Australia, marking its first return since 1996 when the resort town of Cairns hosted the event.
With huge crowds on hand, the championships opened with the team relay. The relay consists of four national team members in the men's, women's, under-23 men and a junior man. Team Italy captured the gold medal in a fiercely fought race over Canada, while France, long a mountain bike power, was third. The U.S. squad finished 12th.
Day two of the championships saw the first day of individual racing, and it started off with the junior women's event. First place went to the French rider Pauline Prevot, with Switzerland's Michelle Hediger in second. South Africa's Candice Neethling continued her family's tradition of excellence in the dirt with a third in the three-lap race. Many were not at all surprised about Prevot's win as she was second in the road worlds. The top U.S. rider was Jill Behlen in 16th, while Essence Barton was 18th.
Junior men's racing also was contested when the superb riding of Italian Gerhard Kerschbaumer, who also took part in Italy's win in the relay race, won the gold. Switzerland, which has produced many of the world's top mountain bikers since the early days of the sport, grabbed the silver medal 15 seconds behind. The top North American in the race was Canada's Mitch Bailey.
Women's U-23 racing was also held. The already-European champion Aleksandra Dawidowicz won with a time of 1:24.32. Sweden's Alexandra Engen was second while Julie Bresset won the bronze. The top-ranked U.S. rider was Chloe Forsman in 15th place.
In the U-23 men's race, the field felt the sting of powerful World Cup rider Burry Stander of South Africa, a nation that has embraced mountain biking in a big way. Alexis Vullermoz of France was second and Thomas Litcher (SUI) was in third.
In the men's and women's four cross event, a pair of Aussie riders claimed golds. Jared Graves, who took part in the debut BMX event at the Beijing Olympics, won for the men while OZ gravity rider Caroline Buchanan took the women's crown, all to a huge standing ovation. A pair of U.S. women placed silver and bronze with Jill Kintner and Melissa Buhl going a fine 2-3 for the Yanks.
Downhill training was also held prior to tommorow's downhill championships. The Aussies, who boast one of the best downhill teams in the world, saw great, fast training times from Mick Hannah, and the former UCI world champion, Sam Hill. Among other favorites for men will be the UK's Steve Peat and South Africa's Greg Minnar. In women's training the UK's Tracey Moseley had the fastest qualification time, while Canada's Claire Buchar was second in training. Canada will host the next UCI World Mountain Bike Championships in Mont Ste. Anne, QUE.
Still to come: the downhill and cross-country races.
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