1998 World Cup Mountain Biking
Les Gets, France
May 30-31, 1998

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Downhill mania flew down the smooth, swoopy turns of Les Gets, France this weekend as world cup downhilling returned to this picturesque village for the first time since '96. Keeping up the tradition of French dominance on home soil, riders bearing Peugeot, Scott, Sunn and Sintesi jerseys outfoxed the rest of the world and railed the sharp berms of the Haute Savoie.

Women's 1-2-3

The two happiest riders to compete on their familiar Les Gets course were Anne-Caroline Chausson (FRA, Sunn-un) and Christian Taillefer (FRA, Peugeot Palaisea). While Chausson was under tremendous pressure to win after her second-to-last debacle last week, Taillefer was the perfect spoiler to the Sunn machine as he gave his small Peugeot team a high profile win. Weather was again a factor in this weekend's outcome as heavy rains pelted the women and men, and served up an extremely muddy lower tree section - throwing a week's worth of practiced perfection out the window. Lines disappeared, berms washed out and the notorious off-camber grass sections became three-point slides as racers again arrived at the finish line mad, sad or - occasionally - glad to be at the bottom.

Taillefer Shocks

Coming into Sunday's finals most racers had spent countless hours dialing in their bikes and routes down the hill. Each turn had several options; the smooth grassy outside or the well-worn (but rutted) main line which rocked the long-travel bikes with steep rhythm sections and compression jumps. Guys like John Tomac (USA, Tomac), considered the smartest rider on the circuit, spared no brain power setting up his fork to work perfectly. Then the rains came and Tomes didn't even qualify for the final event. Such is mountain biking.

One team that did qualify well was Sunn-un, who placed four of their male riders - including Vouilloz, Gracia and Pascal - in the top qualifying positions and had company owner Max Clemencal beaming with pride for the first time of this challenging unsponsored season. His smile was wiped away with the rains hours later as world land-speed record holder Christian Taillefer beat Johan Engstrom (SWE, Scott Int'l.) for the leader's position and held it even through the barrage of Sunn rider's attempt to capture the little sun trophy from Les Get's race promoters.

Nico Speeds

Having sped down a glacier at 212 kph several months ago to recapture the world's speed record on a mountain bike, Taillefer mustered enough speed in the mud to beat his countrymen on a course which definitely favored technicians like "Nico" Vouilloz. Engstrom held on for second while Taillefer's Peugeot teammate Mickael Deldycke provided the second surprise of the day by taking third. In all, France had all of the first seven spots except for Swede Engstrom.

Earlier in the day Chausson distanced herself from the field by 16.5 seconds - twice. Running first in qualifying and gapping Katja Repo (FIN, Sintesi Verlicchi) by 16.5 seconds, the world champ rode last in the finals and again won by 16.5 seconds. This time it was against French newcomer Sabrina Jonnier (FRA, Sintesi Verlicchi) who is part of the Sintesi triumvierat consisting of 4th place Helen Mortimer (GBR) and 5th place Giovanna Bonazzi (ITA). Missy Giove (USA, Volvo-Cannondale) crashed again in the finals and "slid on my ass for 25 yards" - still managing a 3rd place finish. With the points, Giove steals the leaders jersey from Donovan, even though neither has actually won a race

Fiction and Fact: The Mountain Zone Almanac

Cullinan Repeats

Sari Jorgenson (SUI, Yeti) took 6th; unable to repeat Nevegal's hat trick. Elke Brutsaert (USA, Schwinn-Toyota) and Mercedes Gonzales (ESP, GT) came back from injury for 7th and 8th respectively.

Tara Llanes (USA, Mt. Dew/Specialized) broke the top ten of world cup racing (in 10th) while other newbie American Nicole Grant (USA, Giant) took 16th - nicely done! Top American male Kirt Voreis (USA, Mt. Dew/Specialized) with 8th - his second strong run in two weeks. Teammate and drinking buddy Palmer got 25th.

Scott Sharples (AUS, Trek Volkswagen) and team/country-mate Michael Ronning (AUS, Gary Fisher) missed their start times (which were back-to-back) and were not allowed to race.

Tires were the difference in this race. Tallefer credited his own secret system built into his Michelin spike tires. Engstrom likes his dry tires so much he used them in the mud. Flat tires ruined the rides of several riders including Gracia.

Dave Cullinan (USA, Schwinn-Toyota) won the Dual for a second week. Aussie Katrina Miller (Jamis) won the women's event.

Brian Lopes (USA, Mongoose) and Cullinan both ran the new Shimano Airlines on their downhill bikes, in world cup competition. Word is that Marla Streb (USA, Yeti) also ran the cool new air-powered shifting system. Dig the new breed.