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UCI MTB World Cup - Windham
- Published Date
- Written by Charlton Durie
World junior downhill champion Troy Brosnan was once again the highest-placed Australian rider at the latest edition of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup held in Windham, New York on the weekend.
Staged in the in the Catskill Mountains north of New York City, the 1.8-kilometre downhill course favoured the technically –astute riders, with hometown hope Aaron Gwin conquering in 2:24.03, more than two seconds quicker than Britain’s Steve Peat (+ 2.34s) and South Africa’s Andrew Neethling (+3.2s).
It was the first American World Cup victory on home soil in over a decade, and Gwin's fourth win of the season giving him an almost unbeatable lead in the overall standings with two rounds remaining.
Brosnan was the eight-fastest rider of the day in the elite event, stopping the clock just under five seconds adrift of Gwin, to further extend his lead in the overall junior downhill standings.
Joshua Button (+8.03s) was the next-fastest Australian placing 26th, followed by Shaun O’Connor (37th, +9.11), Michael Hannah (48th, +10.5) and junior Connor Fearon (55th, 12.07s).
In the women’s event, British rider Rachel Atherton (2:50.02) caused a major upset, snatching victory from hot favourite Floriane Pugin (FRA) by just over a second, and world champion Tracy Moseley (GBR), who was 2.67 second back.
The men’s elite cross country was taken out by series leader Jaroslav Kulhavy, who dominated the 5.5km course from start to finish. The Czech won by a comfortable 29 second margin ahead of Swiss riders Nino Schurter and Christoph Sauser.
Australian Lachlan Norris placed 50th, crossing the line ten minutes behind Kulhavy.
In the women’s race, series leader Julie Bresset attacked on the final lap to clinch victory ahead of last week’s winner Catharine Pendrel by 39 seconds. The pair had opened up a substantial lead on the rest of the field on the opening lap, and it was closely fought contest until the closing stages however Pendrel encountered some mechanical problems on the final descent.
Australian champion Katherine O'Shea placed 42nd, crossing the finish line 15 minutes behind Bresset.
Overall standings and complete results from the Windham round can be found at www.uci.ch
The UCI World MTB Cup returns on August 6 and 7, when the downhill riders take on La Bresse in France.
The UCI World MTB Championships will be staged from August 31 to September 4, in Champery Switzerland.
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