1998 World Cup Mountain Biking Downhill Finals Dual #8
Arai City, Japan August 30-31, 1998
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Downhill Finals Dual Slalom #8
Nothing Dry in Arai
Welcome to Arai |
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Final stop, Japan. Downhill’s world cup finals arrived in Tokyo last week with
several hundred riders and staff exhausted from a long season of racing. Word
around the circuit was that no one was too psyched about flying all the way to
Japan for a weekend race, and on a course no one had ever ridden. Okay, it
represented the fifth and final continent left unvisited by the UCI downhill world cup, but
really, couldn’t we have had the finals in Europe?
No, and The Zone is here to tell you why. We returned to Japan mere months
after covering the Nagano Games like a wet blanket, checking in to our press
hotel an hour north of the Olympic town in Arai City. One week later, both our
intrepid reporters (as well as a pair of Sunn-Un riders) are testament to the
fact that this was the most memorable race of the season. A looming typhoon,
constant rain and huge magnums of champagne ensured that indeed nothing was
dry in Arai.
Turn up the ACC |
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The racing was an epic battle for the world cup title, fought this week in the
slickest, sickest conditions of the year. Anne-Caroline Chausson and Nicolas
Vouilloz (FRA, Sunn-Un) waged hard and came away with their third straight
double-victory, a pair of world cup titles and a trade team championship to
boot. All this amid the most enthusiastic and hospitable crowds ever seen in
mountain bike racing. It was that good.
Mud was the word of the day as a steady rain fell in qualifying, then stopped
in time for the finals. That’s bad - no rain means serious mud, and the slip
factor was as bad as it gets. Nearly 15,000 spectators didn’t seem to mind
though, lining the course top to bottom and cheering loudly for their heroes.
Add the tireless efforts of organizers and a state o’ the art venue, and it
made for a serious case of perma-smiles.
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The Missile site |
Chausson ruled the women again, this time to the tune of 27 long seconds ahead
of French beauty Nolvenn LeCaer (FRA, GT). Chausson ran both the quali and
final on the ragged edge, not slowing down a minute. Even a minute, though,
wouldn’t have been enough for second overall Missy Giove (USA, Volvo-
Cannondale), who could only manage a 7th place. Her overall title is Chausson’s
first a hard-fought crown to an impeccable season.
Air Nico Vouilloz |
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Vouilloz already had a pair of world cup crystal Waterford trophies on his
bookshelf, but took advantage of this season’s significant advantage over
runner-up David Vazquez (ESP, Volvo-Cannondale). Nico leaves no doubt that
he’s the Muhammed Ali of mountain biking. He qualified fastest this weekend,
wanting to end his season "spectacularly."
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Overalls |
Riding with self-described "panache," Nico slowed down to assure the title,
riding conservatively in the dense muck. He still beat teammate Mickael Pascal
(FRA, Sunn-Un) by two seconds and further increased his stock in the open market
his search for a new team progressing along nicely.
Vazquez, meanwhile, crashed in the final and finished dead last. Other strong
rides came courtesy of Cèdric Gracia (FRA, Sunn-Un) and a surprisingly fast
run for Aussie Sean McCarroll (Giant). The stories overheard in the finish
paddock alone were worth the trip, each rider describing his or her own
hellacious story of survival on this Japanese "typhoon" course.
Best Dual of Season
Lopes Catapults, Miller Untouchable
Saturday evening’s Dual was similar to the season’s other events only in
format. With over 8,000 fans lining a nighttime course (lit by a bank of
floodlights) and stellar action, the sight of Brian Lopes winning both the
race and series was almost too much for the crowd to take.
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Lopes starred |
Along with Lopes catapulting past Dave Cullinan, who had been 10 points in the
lead, Katrina Miller maintained her perfect season to win yet again and take
the women’s title. No one was even close to Miller, who rode the course with
speed, a concept seemingly foreign to most women dualists.
Miller time | |
Japanese fans had more killer cameras than the press it seemed, and lit up the
night sky with a bank of white light, which completely blinded their high-
flying heroes. It didn’t matter though, because somehow they landed their
jumps and pedaled through the mud on a wet and slippery course. The rains held
off through the event, letting loose with a downpour right as the awards
began.
There was no doubt that this was the best Dual of the season, and one of the
best dual/DS races ever. A bit more light would have helped, but the
organizers here are quick learners and will have it dialed next time.
Rich Neare, with one eye on the weather channel, representing The Mountain Zone.
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