The Worlds: Race Dirt
The Inside Scoop
August 28- September 1, 2002 — Kaprun, Austria
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• The most dominant team in the history of mountain bike racing will not be returning for the 2003 racing season. After nine years at the top of the sport, automaker Volvo and bikemaker Cannondale have announced the end of the Volvo/Cannondale racing team. The two companies, however, are exploring other cycling partnerships for the future.

Lugano will be hosting next year's World Championships, and had a small press conference and reception to offer information. They call the area "Italy made in Switzerland." Thomas Frischknecht (SUI, Swisspower) and Paola Pezzo (ITA) will design the XC course, while the DH course will receive some much-needed improvements.

• Defending and two-time Olympic Gold Medallist Paola Pezzo is pregnant, with her manager Paolo Rosala's baby. She's looking as great as ever, and is helping organizers with next year's World Championships in Lugano. She may even make a comeback for the '04 Athens games.

• Speaking of Olympic Medalists, '96 Atlanta winner Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant Bicycle) crashed in training the days before the race, something that has happened to him twice before. Then he had a bad flat tire during his race - yet was able to finish 42nd.

• Other DNFs include current Olympic and World champ Miguel Martinez (FRA, Full Dynamix), who had a good ride in this year's Tour de France for Mapei-Quick Step.

• Speaking of the Tour, Cadel Evans (AUS) has signed with Telekom, but no longer races mountain bikes.

• We loved the Belgian waffles when we were in Houffalize for this season's XC race. So Belgian Filip Meirhaeghe (Specialized) sent some waffles to MountainZone.com, hand-delivered to the pressroom by his soigneur Susan Leonard. Yum - thanks!

• Thanks to downhill honch Cedric Gracia (FRA, Volvo-Cannondale) for giving us a lift from Kaprun to Les Gets in his V8 Dodge pickup truck. He's the real deal; living to race bikes, have fun and score girls. He owns three homes; in Andorra, Chamonix and Biarritz, just bought a new Audi and the chicks dig him. Yes, he does have the life and is the best all-around downhiller on the circuit. Thanks for the lift Cedric!

• Thanks also to Cannondale and the Volvo-Cannondale crew for loaning us a sweet-riding Jekyl from their test fleet to ride on the XC course. The course was brutally steep going up and down, but the bike worked flawlessly. We then rode a Scalpel the following day and it was equally sweet. Watch for an amazing new 130mm Lefty fork next year, with Fox internal damping.

• Props to Hubert Pallhuber (ITA, Rainer-Wurz) for giving us a water bottle when we needed it Thursday and - more importantly - finishing 7th in the XC Sunday. This 1997 World Champion hasn't even been racing this season, as he manages the new Rainer-Wurz team and came off the couch for this race. What a stud!

Todd Wells (USA, Mongoose/Hyundai) was the top-finishing American XC male racer, in 31st. Susan Haywood (USA, Trek-Volkswagen) was the top woman, in 17th.

• America's new NORBA champion Jimena Florit (ARG, RLX Polo Sport) wasn't able to race in Sunday's XC, as she was down with a flu bug. Her trade teammate caught it also, but finished 69th.

• No word on what happened to Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One), who was one of the first women to DNF.

• Let's hope that Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Merida International) makes good on her intention to move to Boulder next season to race. She should make a great World Champ next season — cute, well-spoken and full of personality, unlike many of the previous champs.

Bas Van Dooren (NED) finished 11th after riding on the road this season, and has signed with American Eagle and Heydens Textiles to ride mountain bikes next season. His team director will be the same man who discovered Bart Brentjens. Corine Dorland (NED, Be-One) might also ride for the team.

Be-One, meanwhile, will likely end its cross-country team next year.

• Everyone's talking about Canadian women's downhiller Michelle Dumeresq, who started life as a man before undergoing a sex-change operation. The general consensus seems to be "live and let live... unless she wins."

• We heard a great rumor that Steve Peat slept in a World Championship jersey Friday night for good luck in Saturday’s DH finals. And where did he get the jersey? From his pal and Dual/4X champ Brian Lopes.

• How did Chris Kovarik (AUS, Intense Cycles) go so fast, running flat pedals when everyone else was clipped in?

• 2001 Bronze Medalist and defending World Cup champion Greg Minnaar (RSA, Global Racing Team) crashed during downhill training and injured his shoulder. He was unable to compete on Saturday.

• The opening ceremonies for the Worlds were held at the picturesque lakeside town of Zell am See, just a couple clicks from Kaprun. Featured in the final episode of "Band of Brothers," this is where the U.S. army rested up after kicking Nazi butt, awaiting orders to ship out to the Pacific. Nice town, but boring opening ceremonies.

• How popular are Cedric Gracia (FRA, Volvo-Cannondale) and Steve Peat (GBR, Orange England)? During the awards ceremonies for men's DH, Vouilloz received polite applause, but Peat got a loud ovation. Then Gracia got the biggest cheers in the 4X awards ceremony.

• "I think it's not good for the sport." — Nicolas Vouilloz, just before receiving his 10th rainbow jersey, on his and Chausson's virtual stranglehold of the downhill world titles

Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Correspondent