World Championships
Are, Sweden
Sept. 15-19, 1999

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Evans Loses U-23 Race
Ninth Time Failing To Win Rainbow Jersey
Friday, September 17, 1999

Cross-Country: Rainbows to Denmark and Spain
Downhill: Vouilloz and Chausson Keep Streaks Alive
Team Relay: Spain Takes First Medal of Worlds
Schedule of Events
Preview: We Are the Worlds

Italy's Marco Bui, who just last week finished strongly in the World Cup finals, caught and passed favorite Cadel Evans in the final lap of the U-23 race, winning his first championship. Evans, even with his rival Miguel Martinez graduated to the seniors, was again unable to win a championship.

Bomber Bui

Okay, we admit it, it's not so nice to begin a race report by saying who lost instead of who won. But in the case of Cadel Evans' record at the World Championships, believe us – it's appropriate. Because for the ninth time in his career he failed to win a rainbow jersey, this year at the expense of Italian newcomer Marco Bui.

Conditions were dismal for Friday's race, as the juniors and espoirs endured cold winds and driving rain for two hours of punishment in the exposed Swedish hillsides. Even so, thousands of fans turned up all over the course, cheering as racers slid down muddy chutes and struggled up grassy hills.

"Thousands of fans turned up all over the course, cheering as racers slid down muddy chutes and struggled up grassy hills..."

Evans, the current World Cup champion, was leading Friday's under-23 espoir race by 17 seconds on the final lap, looking like he finally would prove the naysayers wrong and win his first Worlds ever. He had made a brilliant race of it against both Bui and Italian teammate Martino Fruet, grabbing the lead late in lap three of the four-lap race.

But just meters before the finish, on the final descent of the race, Evans crashed... with a bit of help from a hard-charging Bui. Evans was taking it cautiously on the final muddy turns before the closing singletrack, and dismounted to get down a section. Bui, who had erased Evans' lead in the final descent, made his passing move on Evans and clipped the Aussie in the process.

Evans Out

Evans crashed, losing his bike down the hill in the process, losing 17 seconds to Bui and then losing the entire race – less than a minute from the finish. That makes, according to Evans, six Worlds which yielded a medal but none of which have given up the rainbow stripes to one of the sport's most accomplished racers.

Several other favored U-23 racers, who, like Evans, race with the senior men during the world cup season, also faired poorly. Jose Antonio Hermida (ESP), who helped his teammates win Wednesday's relay race, finished 8th. Hot newcomer Kashi Leuchs (NZL) only managed 12th, but can take solace in the fact that he has been signed to the Volvo-Cannondale squad for 2000. And, while many people thought that Christophe Sauser would be racing in the U-23 event, he in fact turned 23 in April and will be in Sunday's senior elite race.

—MountainZone.com reporters, freezing their årses off in Åre.