2009 MTB Worlds Australia - XC Preview, Photos, Schedule
Team Relay Start List
by Kipp Kaufmann
August 31, 2009 (Canberra, Australia) - Australia's capital Canberra is preparing to host the world's best mountain bikers for the 2009 UCI MTB & Trails World Championships, to be held September 1-6. The CCA (Canadian Cycling Association) announced Canada's 8-member elite squad, 3-member U23, and 7-member Junior team including 2009 Mont Ste-Anne World Cup winner and 2009 National MTB Champ, Catharine Pendrel. Also leading the charge is 2009 Bromont MTB World Cup winner and 2009 National MTB Champ, Geoff Kabush.
The cross country action kicks off Tuesday when riders take to Stromlo Forest Park just outside of Canberra. These Championships mark the second time the Worlds have come Down Under. Australia first hosted the world's best mountain bikers in Cairns back in 1996.
XC Preview Part I
The team relay is up first - see countries competing below - with Canada fielding a team consisting of Kabush, Pendrel, Raphael Gagne and Evan Guthrie who will compete for the first title of these championships. According to a CCA release, “Canada's relay team will be looking for the top step on the podium” - however they will be in tough against perennial powers from Switzerland and France.
One of the most hotly anticipated races, and an event that promises a great deal of excitement, is the men's cross-country race, with France's Julien Absalon, the favourite once again facing stiff competition from last year's defending champ Christoph Sauser (Switzerland), José Antonio Hermida (Spain), Canada's Geoff Kabush and Swiss riders Ralph Naef and Nino Schurter.
XC Preview Part II
The women's race is much more open with no one dominating this season. Favorites include defending champion Margarita Fullana from Spain, Canada's Pendrel, Russia's Irina Kalientieva, current UCI-points leader Elizabeth Osl of Austria, and Sabine Spitz (Germany) among a number of top riders who could take home the title.
On the U23 side Canada is led by National Champions Emily Batty and Raphaël Gagne. Batty has shown great poise in 2009 as the top U23 finisher on World Cup stops this year and took home the Canada MTB Cup title. European U23 Champion Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Poland) and Tereza Hurikova (Czech Republic) look to pose the greatest challenge to Batty's shot at a spot on the podium. Meanwhile Gagne will be in tough against 2008 MTB Worlds silver medalist Burry Stander (South Africa) and fourth place finisher Fabian Ginger (Switzerland) who will be looking to move up in 2009.
On the Junior men's side BC's Evan Guthrie has shown great form over the last month taking two golds in World Cup action in Mont Ste-Anne and Bromont and recently taking home a silver from the Canada Summer Games.
You can follow the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at pedalmag.com and live webcasts on www.uci.ch or Freecaster.tv. More information regarding the championships is also available here and check out these YT videos of the xc course.
2009 MTB World Championship Schedule
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 Team Relay - 2:30 pm (local time) - 12:30 am EST
Wednesday September 2, 2009 XCO Junior Women - 10:30am (local time) - 8:30pm EST (Sept. 1) XCO U23 Women - 2:30pm (local time) - 12:30am EST
Thursday September 3, 2009 XCO Junior Men - 10:30am (local time) - 8:30pm EST (Sept. 2) 4X Qualifications - 4:00pm (local time) - 2am EST
Friday September 4, 2009 XCO U23 Men - 2:00pm (local time) - 12:00am EST (Sept. 3) 4X Women/Men - 6:30pm (local time) - 4:30am EST
Saturday September 5, 2009 XCO Elite Women - 10:00am (local time) - 8:00pm (Sept. 4) XCO Elite Men - 2:00pm (local time) - 12:00am EST (Sept. 4)
Sunday September 6, 2009 Junior Women/Men DHI - 10:30am (local time) - 8:30pm EST (Sept. 5) Elite Women DHI - 1:00pm (local time) - 11pm EST (Sept. 5) Elite Men DHI - 2:00pm (local time) - 12:00am EST (Sept. 5)
Cross-Country Team Relay Start List
France 1A Alexis Vuillermoz (MU) 1B Cédric Ravanel (ME) 1C Hugo Drechou (MJ) 1D Cécile Rode Ravanel (WE)
