Australians at Champery - UCI World Cup

Downhill
Four Australian downhill riders have finished in the top 20 at the latest edition of the 2010 UCI World Cup in Champery, Switzerland over the weekend.

As the countdown to next month’s world championships (August 31 to September 5) in Canada continue, 2010 Australian champion Chris Kovarik was the highest placed Aussie placing ninth in the elite men’s downhill event.

The downhill event returned to the Champery-leg of the World Cup for the first time since 2007.

Renowned as the steepest course on the international circuit, with sections approaching a 75 percent grade. The fourth series of the world cup gave riders a chance to check out the Alpine Village course which will play host to the World Championships in 2011.

The brutality of the course appeared to have little effect on Mitchell Delfs’ ride, dramatically improving his 81st place from Leogang last month to finish in 14th position, two spots ahead of 16th place finisher Shaun O’Connor who also improved on his previous world cup position.  Bryn Atkinson just scraped into the top 20, placing 20th in the elite men’s downhill event.

Great Britain’s Gee Atherton and South Africa’s Greg Minnaar again proved themselves as the ones to beat in the men’s downhill, finishing first and second respectively.  Atherton claimed his second win for the season to pull within 13 points of Minnaar in the overall series standings,

Cross Country
The cross-country course has been slightly modified from the one used last year, with a short climb and sharp descent added in the first half of the circuit. Due to falling rain, the new conditions made the new track quite tricky for the riders.  

In the men’s elite event, Andrew Blair finished in 116th position in front of Travis Frisby finishing 142nd, both claiming their best places for the series despite the challenging conditions, whilst Joshua Carlson crossed the finish line in 130th place and James Peacock in 149th.

Delighting local Swiss fans, Florian Vogel claimed his first victory for the series in the elite men’s cross-country event.  Teammate and world champion Nino Schurter took third behind European champion Jaroslav Kulhavy.

In the women’s race, Katherine O’Shea finished in 89th position making her the highest placed Australian rider ahead of 98th position holder Jodie Willet.

Natalie Schneitter also gave the locals something to celebrate claiming what was possibly the biggest victory of her career in the elite women’s cross-country race, while her team mate Eva Lechner of Italy took over the series leader’s jersey from Canadian Catherine Pendrel.  Willow Koeber from the United States took third position improving on her 13th position finish in Offenburg.

Hanus James represented Australia in the junior men’s cross-country finishing the race in 66th position.

Germany’s Julian Schelb impressively took out the junior title ahead of Belgium’s second place finisher Jeff Luyten.  Julien Trarieux from France took third position in what was a remarkable display from the youngsters.  

Just two rounds remain in the 2010 UCI World Cup series, the action heading to Val di Sole in Italy this weekend, followed by the finale in Windham, United States from August 28-29, where the riders will have their final hit-out prior to the world championships.