Rusch and Yeager win Brasil Ride overall

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The fourth edition of the Brasil Ride mountain bike stage race wrapped up on Saturday with stage 7. In the men's race, the lead had changed three times during the week, but on the final day, Henrique Avancini and Sherman de Paiva (Caloi Racing Team) claimed the overall title.  Rebecca Rusch and Selene Yeager (Specialized Racing) won the women's overall.

Christoph Sauser and Kohei Yamamoto (Specialized Racing) won stage 7 in a time of 2:41:07. It was their fifth stage win of the race; however, cramping and mechanical issues earlier in the week had cost them a shot at the overall win.

Spaniards Ismael Ventura and Ramon Sagues (ESMTB.Com) were second on the day at 2:44:01 while Avancini and de Paiva were third at 2:44:03.

"It was the most technical stage race I've ever done in my life. I was prepared for something much easier," said Sauser. "The early mornings were the worst, but after a warm-up, we would usually ride well. There were some hot days this week, and we're happy to finish well."

2013 marked the first year in the race's history that a Brazilian team won the overall title. Avancini and de Paiva's total time was 26 hours, 20 minutes and 39 seconds. Ventura and Sagues were second overall at 26:22:11 while Sauser and Yamamoto rounded out the podium at 26:35:49.

"We are very happy. We did a great race. We controlled all the breaks and when Kohei and Christoph got off, we rode intelligently," said Avancini.

"It's a great satisfaction to leave our names here at the top of the standings in the Brasil Ride, especially as the first national team to win the race," said de Paiva.

Women's overall winners Rusch and Yeager were undefeated in the event, having won every stage. They raced for 34 hours, 11 minutes and 41 seconds this week.

Sabrina Gobbo and Daniela Genovesi were second while Andrea Marcellini and Melanie Leveau were third.

"We had no flat tires, no mechanicals, and this was the best race I've ever attending in South America," said Rusch.

In the mixed category, Mateus Ferraz and Ivone Kraft team (Niner, Pedal.com.br, Freeforce) won the stage. Race leaders Annabella Stropparo and Piero Pelegrini (Team Hersch Amici di Annabella) followed 30 minutes later after a time penalty.

"A race is a race, friendship is friendship," said Pelegrini. "I felt that each day we became closer as a family. We were very lucky, today they won the stage and that's awesome, they were the best!" said Stropparo.

"This year's competition was very fierce, unlike other years, this race has a different flavor," said Ferraz .

Ferraz and Kraft won the overall ahead of Stropparo and Pelegrini. Weimar Pettengill and Julyana Machado (CBN / Desbrava.com) were third.

In the masters category, Abraham Azevedo and Bart Brentjens (Superior Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team) topped the standings in 28:01:44. Brazilians Marcio May and Marcio Ravelli (Caloi 90's) were second, ahead of Belgians Peter Paelinck and Steven Pauwels.

Also undefeated in all stages, Heleno Caetano Borges and Dorivaldo Corrêa de Abreu (Team Ice Racing Team - Aguiar Transporte), were the winners in the grand masters category with the final time of 34:05:22. Second place went to Helio Carvalho Neto and Pedro Ricciardi, and Hans Post and Sjaak van Etten were third.

The 2014 edition of the Brasil Ride will be held from October 19 to 25.

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