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Live from Oahu, Hawaii
World Cup Downhill Quals & Finals

Missy & Vouilloz World Cup Champions
Tomac Wins the Downhill in Heavy Rain; Americans Dominate the Downhill World Cup Finals

Saturday Sept. 7, 1996, 7:30 pm PDT

Missy

"the missile"
Giove
It has been raining off and on all day in St. Louis Park, and halfway through the men's Downhill race, a massive downpour made the course impossibly treacherous. Since riders with the most World Cup points are last in the progression, they had to negotiate increasingly nasty conditions, and results for the event were a complete upset. All of the top five finishers were among the first 20 riders down the course.

John Tomac, who has previously specialized in Cross Country, recently announced his intentions to race Downhill next year. He reinforced the conviction by winning today's race with a time of 3:52:00. Todd Snider came in second with 3:54:78, and Miles Rockwell placed third at 3:55:35 making the Downhill World Cup Finals a clean sweep for the Americans.

By accumulative point standings, overall World Cup Champions are Missy Giove (US) for women with Anne-Caroline Chausson (FRA) in second and Leigh Donovan (US) in third; and Nicolas Vouilloz (FRA) for men with Marcus Klausmann (GER) in second and Tomas Misser (ESP) in third.


Missy Giove Takes the Downhill
American Women Dominate the Event

Saturday Sept. 7, 1996, 6:30 pm PDT

Missy
on the course
Splashing through pools of mud and skidding over the exposed, slick roots, American Missy Giove won the Women's World Cup Downhill finals with a time of 4:09:39 just .36 seconds ahead of second place finisher Leigh Donovan (4:09:77).

Marla
Streb
Elke Brutsaert, who recently placed second in the US Nationals Downhill series, came in third with 4:10:79 after clipping the rail near the finish line.

Many of the riders struggled with a hard corner on the last part of the course. American Marla Streb missed the turn, crashed into the railing, and ran her bike across the finish line to still place in the top-ten.


Missy and Misser Lead Downhill Quals

Saturday Sept. 7, 1996, 5 pm PDT
Missy "the missile" Giove has led the women's qualifying races by 14.5 seconds with a time of 4:26:70 while Tomas Misser has taken the men's quals with a time of 3:52:48 on the 1.2 mile course. Downpour rain with occasional sun breaks has made the top of the Downhill course in St. Louis Heights so slick it is like riding on marbles. Many of the riders have taken a tumble along the way down, but all have finished.

Following Missy in the women's race is Italian Giovanna Banazzi with a time of 7:39:55 for second place with Kim Sonier close behind in third. For men, Robert Warner is in second with a time of 3:55:12, and Shaun Palmer follows in third at 3:56:14. Italian Corrado Herin is the first to drop out of the races after finishing with a leg injury from a fall high up on the treacherous course. Finals begin at 6 pm PDT.




-- Anya Zolotusky & Greg Prosl, Mountain Zone Staff


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