Schurter, Bresset repeat at MTB Worlds
Nino Schurter and Julie Bresset repeated as Mountain Bike World Champions during the elite competition in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The two were favourites this year, having won the 2012 titles.
Schurter dominated the men’s race, taking a lead and continuing to build on his advantage through the race. From the start, Schurter’s biggest challenge came from Jose Hermida, of Spain. The Swiss rider was able to get away from Hermida.
Schurter’s plan for the race revolved around the expected challenge of Frenchman Julien Absalon. However, Absalon crashed in training this week and was unable to ride in top form in today’s race.
“My goal was to start with a really fast first lap,” revealed Schurter in a statement to the UCI. “I was expecting a big battle with Julien, but he was not able to go with me, so by the first half lap I had a gap. After that I was able to ride my own pace and not go into the red zone, so it was perfect. I know I can do well on this course, and I had a good feeling all week, so I came into the race with confidence.”
The Canadian men struggled. Geoff Kabush finished as the top Canadian in the men’s elite race, finishing 25th. Canadian champion Derek Zandstra finished 33rd, one spot ahead of countryman Raphael Gagne. Max Plaxton finished 39th after a flat on the first lap.
WC Report: Learned 29er rolls over bodies & bikes at start. Not enough horsepower to move up. Tried to smile & swear to lessen pain. 25th.
— Geoff Kabush (@GeoffKabush) August 31, 2013
In a strong women’s field, Julie Bresset attacked from the start, joined by Maja Wloszczowska, Eva Lechner, Tanja Zakelj, Alexandra Engen and Katerina Nash. Bresset and Wloszczowska broke free early on and battled all the way to a sprint finish, where the French rider beat the Polish rider by a scant five seconds.
Swiss rider Esther Süss worked her way up from outside of the top ten to finish third overall.
“I tried to keep ahead,” explained Bresset, “especially through the technical sections, and then on the last lap I got into the last rock garden first, and from there it is really fast to the finish and I had good speed, so I was very happy.”
Bresset is especially happy to be back on top of a major podium after a crash and broken collarbone set her back at the start of the season.
The Canadian women also seemed to have a hard time on South Africa soil. Canadian champion Emily Batty finished 17th, despite continued illness.
You'd think I would be use to racing ill after a season like this, legs felt great, rice krispie lungs don't cut it. 17th @MTBWorlds2013
— Emily Batty (@emilybatty) August 31, 2013
Catharine Pendrel finished 20th. Both had finished on the podium at the 2012 South African World Cup, but two crashes slowed Pendrel.
Well that was anti climactic. Great start, crash, recover, crash. Should be able to rock a good black eye for the eliminator though!
— Catharine Pendrel (@cpendrel) August 31, 2013
Mikaela Kofman and Amanda Sin finished 23rd and 24th respectively.
