Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, is best known for its Formula One circuit. However, Spa Francorchamps also has a busy, 3.4-mile mountain bike route that begins on asphalt and goes straight into the Ardennes forests. The rains that had been falling for weeks before the event was held off, and the heavy precipitation did not affect the elite racing. Amateur events were the first event of the weekend. However, many sections of the course that had been previously ridden became impassable by Sunday. Although more asphalt sections were added to the rerouted XC loop it still created a technical course that required a lot off-bike running. The men completed five-and a half laps, while the women did three and a half. The total distance was 22.1 miles and 14.6 miles, respectively.
TOP 10 SPA FrancoRCHAMPS NEWS ITEMS
1. The International Cycling Federation may set field limits. Belgium’s impressive showing last weekend was surpassed by 282 and 108 riders, respectively, in the women’s and men’s start fields. The UCI’s 80 Percent Rule, which means that riders who fail to pass the start/finish in 80 percent of the leaders’ time are disqualified from the race, is still a problem. With almost 300 riders trying to reach the muddy singletrack first, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
2. One perfect example is that the defending World Cup Champ Christoph Sauser, along with podium regular Liam Killeen and perennial favorite Thomas Frischknecht all got caught in the large group at the start and entered singletrack so far back that their rides were effectively over within the first one-and a quarter miles of racing.
3. What did the time cut mean for the finish? Only 70 men and only 81 women were able to finish the race.
4. Just like we’ve come to expect over the past three years, World and Olympic Champion Gunn-Rita Dahle just checked out right from the start. Dahle won by just over two-and-a half minutes. This was a pace that was just one-third of a mile per-hour faster than Irina Kalentieva.
5. Guess who led the way at the top of this paved climb just before it dropped back through the Ardennes. Ex World Champ Filip Meirhaeghe was the one leading at the top of the paved climb just before dropping back down through Ardennes. Filip Meirhaeghe, who was suspended for 15 months due to doping, has now returned to retirement and is making his presence known. Filip, a native of Belgium, took full advantage of the home court advantage. Filip is now ranked in the top 10, and could be the first to start. It will be fascinating to see what Filip does.
6. Geoff Kabush, Norba Champion, was also running in the top 10 before he hit the singletrack. The race did not go well for Geoff Kabush from then on. Geoff admittedly had trouble running and ended up in 47th place. He rode 2km/h faster than Olympic and World Champ Julien Absalon to accomplish this feat.
7. Christoph Sauser rode an incredible ride. He passed well over 100 riders and also flatted twice. The reigning champ was able to finish 7th with the help of the UCI’s Tech Zone Rule and a muddy course that allowed for slower speeds.
8. It is not always a good idea to run skinny tires that are too narrow for traction and better mud clearance. Then, set them at marginal pressure for better all-around grip. The outcome of the World Cup was largely determined by flats.
9. This is best illustrated by Ralph Naf taking over the lead role after Filip Meirhaeghe began to explode from the fast pace at the front. Naf’s small advantage soon vanished when he lost his grip on the third lap. Jose Hermida, who was close enough to Absalon still to be a threat, had a flat the second lap. It was close to the finish so he decided to continue with the slow leak. Jose finished the race on a flat tire, only 27 seconds slower than Absalon. This is 0.15 mph slower.
10. Flats were not as important in the women’s race but Alison Sydor was beaten by an unusual mechanical. The multi-World Champ, Alison Sydor, suddenly took 5th place and had her Bomber in the fully bottomed position. After much frantic fussing, the fork was released and Alison ran a brave charge to get back to ninth at the checkers. Her pace was 1 km/h faster than Gunn Ritas.
SPA FrancoRCHAMPS WORLD CUP XC3 RESULTS
1. Julien Absalon (Fra)Bianchi Agos 2. Jose Hermida (Spn)Multivan Merida 3. Ralph Naf (Swi)Multivan Merida 4. Filip Meirhaeghe, Bel)VSL 5. Roel Paulissen, (Bel),Giant 6. Bart Brentjens, Ned)Giant 7. Chrisoph Sauser (Swi)Specialized 8. Carlos Coloma (Spn)Proflex 9. Jader Zoli, Ita)KTM Int 10. Nino Schurter (Swi)Swisspower 16. Jeremy Horgan-KobelskiSubaru-Gary Fisher 35. Adam CraigGiant 47. Geoff Kabush (Can.Maxxis 52. Michael BroderickKenda-Seven 58. Jeremiah BishopTrek-VW 70. Todd WellsGT79. Sam SchultzU23 National-1 lap
94. Carl DeckerGiant-1
136. Sam Jurekovic-2 laps
151. Cody Peterson-2
193. Nicholas Ranno-4
WOMEN
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor)Multivan Merida 2. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) 3. Marie-Helene Premont (Can)Rky Mtn-Biz Obj 4. Sabine Spitz (Ger)Specialized 5. Lene Byberg (Nor)BikinCyprus Int 6. Nina Gohl (Ger)Multivan Merida 7. Margarita Fullana (Spn)Spiuk Illes Balears 8. Katerina Nash (Cze)Luna Chix 9. Alison Sydor (Can)Rky Mtn-Biz Obj 10. Cecile Rode (Fra)Lapierre Int 15. Shonny VanlandinghamLuna Chix 19. Mary McConnelougKenda-Seven 26. Kelli EmmettFord Cycling 28. Willow KoerberSubaru–Gary Fisher 44. Jimena Florit (Arg)Luna Chix 51. Heather IrmigerSubaru–Gary Fisher 55. Kathy Sherwin 60. Sara BresnickFord Cycling 65. Susan HaywoodTrek – VW
1. Julien Absalon700 points
2. Bart Brentjens475
3. Jose Hermida460
4. Christoph Sauser460
5. Ralph Naf450
6. Roel Paulissen430
7. Liam Killeen (GBr), Specialized352
8. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe)Cannondale-Vredestein308
9. Lado Fumic (Ger)FBT266
10. Filip Meirhaeghe264
18.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski170 25. Adam Craig127
39. Michael Broderick86
78. Jeremiah Bishop23
81. Nick WaiteKelly Benefit Strategies21
82. Todd Wells20
97. Carl Decker8
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Giant-Racing Team219 points
2. Multivan Merida Biking Team189
3. Specialized Factory Racing169
4. Cannondale-Vredestein124
5. Bianchi Agos122
6. Swisspower MTB Team112
7. Fumic.Brothers.International58
8. Groep Versluys-Sportstech-Landbouwkredie (VSL)43
9. Athleticum-MTB-Team39
10. Proflex35
17. Subaru-Gary Fisher15
WOMEN STAND
1 Gunn-Rital Dahle750 points
2 Sabine Spitz490
3 Margarita Fullana480
4 Irina Kalentyeva426
5 Marie-Helene Premont405
6 Lene Byberg380
7 Maja Wloszczowska (Pol)Lotto350
8 Mary McConneloug282
9 Nina Gohl272
10 Petra Henzi PetraFischer-BMC250
13 Shonny Vanlandingham204
20 Willow Koerber170
27 Kelli Emmett128
Susan Haywood125
34 Heather Irmiger119
55 Lea DavisonTrek – VW42
72 Kristina Andrus22
Kristi Lewis21
76 Sara Bresnick18
80 Kathy Sherwin13
WOMEN TEAM STANDINGS
1. Multivan Merida Biking Team173 points
2. Lotto109
3. Specialized Factory Racing93
4. Spiuk Illes Balears91
5. Rocky Mountain Business Objects79
6. BikinCyprus Inct77
7. Fischer-BMC50
8. Team Lapierre International46
9. Team Bikepark.CH TUI39
10. Sportsstar Focus39
12. Trek Volkswagen Pro Factory Team21
17. Subaru-Gary Fisher3
