1998 World Cup Mountain Biking
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Downhill #3 Pardon Our French Chausson, Taillefer tres bien in Les Gets downhiller 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.
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.
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
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.
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