Koerber finishes second in Houffalize, leads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
Houffalize, Belgium (May 2, 2010) – The second round of the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup saw an American woman grab the World Cup leader’s jersey for the first time since Alison Dunlap in 2002. Willow Koerber (Durango, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) earned the silver for the second time in as many weeks of World Cup action to earn the coveted leader’s jersey. After finishing on the podium in last week’s opening World Cup round American compatriot Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna) came in 14th.
Following an early flat by eventual winner Eva Lechner (ITA), Koerber led much of the slick, 26-kilometer race. The Italian however surged to meet Koerber on the fourth and final lap. The pair then apparently bumped wheels forcing Koerber to put a foot down and allowing Lechner to build the five-second gap she help until the end. The silver-medal finish however gave Koerber a 65-point advantage over Lechner in the overall World Cup standings and thus the jersey following the second of nine events.
Americans Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) also finished 18th and Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-Notubes) 23rd to put four U.S. women inside the top 25. Pua Sawicki (Yucaipa, Calif./Okolestuff.com) also finished 31st.
In the men’s contest, Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized) was the top American finisher in 26th, while former USA Cycling National Development Program rider Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont../Subaru-Gary Fisher) came in 38th and reigning USA Cycling National Champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) was 63rd. Nineteen-year-old current USA Cycling National Development Program rider Rob Squire (Sandy, Utah/Garmin-Felt-Holowesko) managed a top-100 result finishing in 99th place, just ahead of veteran Michael Broderick (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-No Tubes) in 108th. The remainder of USA Cycling’s young development riders finished laps down on the infamously treacherous Houffalize course.
No Americans contested the 4X portion of the Houffalize World Cup.
The third of the nine-round UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will continue in Moribor, Slovenia, May 15-16. For more information on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, click here.
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2
Houffalize, Belgium
May 2, 2010
For complete results, click here. To view the complete World Cup standings following two events, click here.
Elite Women’s Cross Country
1. Eva Lechner (ITA) 1:40.30
2. Willow Koerber (Durango, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) +0:05
3. Elisabeth Osl (AUT) +0:36
14. Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna) +5:54
18. Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher ) +6:48
23. Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-Notubes) +8:25
31. Pua Sawicki (Yucaipa, Calif./Okolestuff.com) +10:52
Elite Men’s Cross Country
1. Jose Antonia Hermida Ramos (ESP) 1:44.19
2. Manuel Fumic (GER) +0:57
3. Wolfram Kurschat (GER) +1:25
26. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized) +7:19
38. Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont../Subaru-Gary Fisher) +8:50
63. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) +11:33
**99. Rob Squire (Sandy, Utah/Garmin-Felt-Holowesko) +15:25
108. Michael Broderick (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-No Tubes) +17:15
**120. Tad Elliott (Durango, Colo.) -1 lap
**146. Ethan Gilmour (Ludlow, Vt.) -1 lap
**161. Travis Livermon (Winterville, N.C./Cannondale) -2 laps
**162. Tristan Cowie (Brevard, N.C.) -2 laps
