Here are the full results, including a race analysis showing lap times. See the attached PDF files for full results and analysis.
Photos can be found here: http://www.vorb.org.nz/photos-album-1098.html
1:27:20 1st Switzerland
0:00:50 2nd Italy
0:01:04 3rd Poland
0:01:20 4th France
0:02:07 5th Germany
0:02:13 6th Sweden
0:03:00 7th Spain
0:03:02 8th Russia
0:05:14 9th Canada
0:06:05 10th New Zealand
0:07:20 11th The Netherlands
0:07:56 12th United States of America
0:13:58 13th Brasil
0:15:45 14th South Africa
| Worlds Press Release wrote: | SWISS CLAIM OPENING GOLD OF WORLD MTB CHAMPS
Switzerland held their nerve in trying conditions today to claim the opening gold of the 2006 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in Rotorua.
Battling hail and squally showers on Mt Ngongotaha, the Swiss team of Florian Vogel, Martin Fanger, Petra Henzi and Nino Schurter clocked 1hour 27minutes and 20seconds after completing four laps of the challenging cross country course in the team relay world championship race. The Swiss finished 50seconds ahead of second placed Italy and 1m04secs ahead of third placed Poland.
Host country New Zealand featuring Kashi Leuchs, Clinton Avery, Rosara Joseph and Carl Jones finished tenth in time of 1h33m25s.
Switzerland dominated the race from the first lap, which saw all 14 teams’ battle hail and icy rain after a southerly front passed quickly passed through the Sulphur City. By the second lap the sun was shining and boding well for Switzerland who had extended their lead to one minute thanks to a blistering ride up the steep 160m hill climb by Fanger. Even though third rider Petra Henzi lost the lead for a brief time to Spanish rider David Lozano Riba after negotiating the challenging rock garden section - ominously called The Boneyard - the Swiss held their nerve with Schurter reeling in his opposition.
“It was kind of slippery and through a lot of hail and rain,” said Schurter. “It was quite a tough ride … but I feel really good. This world champion jersey gives me the motivation for Friday (Cross-Country World Championships U23 Men’s race).”
The 2006 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships continue tomorrow with the Cross-Country World Championships for Junior Women and Under-23 Women. New Zealand will be represented by six U23 riders including: Michelle Bellamy (Nelson), Michelle Hyland (Hamilton), Lauren Koedyk (Tauranga), Fiona Lindsay (Ranfurly), Carissa Wilkes (Rotorua) and Chelsea Wills (Waitakere City) and three U19 riders including: Monique Avery ( Rotorua), Katherine O’Neil (Auckland) and Hayley Robertson (Upper Hutt). |
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