Dahle-Flesjå wins World Cup in Lenzerheide
Davison, Pendrel round out podium
Swiss hopes of victory on home soil were dashed on Sunday, at Round 3 of the Cross-country series of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano in Lenzerheide, when Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida) won a record 29th World Cup. Jolanda Neff (Stoeckli) continues to lead the women's overall standings, tied on points with Dahle Flesjaa.
The hot weather that has blanketed Lenzerheide all week continued for the cross-country, surpassing 30 degrees Celsius and making for dry, dusty conditions. Combined with the 1500 metre altitude and the technical track, riders faced some of the toughest conditions of the season.
Neff, who uses Lenzerheide as a training base, was the favourite for the women after two consecutive wins in the opening rounds, and she did not disappoint the thousands of Swiss fans, by attacking on the first climb and opening a gap on newly crowned Marathon world champion Dahle Flesjaa and world champion Catharine Pendrel (Luna).
However, within half a lap the two chasers had caught and dropped her, with Neff dropping back out of the top-10 and clearly struggling with the conditions. The European Games champion admitted afterwards that she may have gone out too hard and paid the price.
At the front, Dahle Flesjaa and Pendrel rode together until the fourth lap of the six lap race, when Pendrel slid out in a loose corner, enabling the Norwegian to open a gap. Dahle Flesjaa rode away to win her 29th World Cup; a record number for women and moving her ahead of American star of the 1990's Juliana Furtado.
Behind, Pendrel never seemed to regain her rhythm after her slip and was eventually overtaken for second by American champion Lea Davison (Specialized). Neff managed to recover to take fourth behind Pendrel.
"This win means a lot," revealed Dahle Flesjaa. "I dedicate this 29th victory to my coach, my best friend and my husband, Kenneth. Today we both had an amazing day, we knew I was in good shape after a tough week recovering from the [Marathon] Worlds. This is just an unbelievable day for both of us."
"Normally, I'm not too much affected by the heat and I tried to drink as much as possible, but today it was not so much my legs as my lungs that had the pain. So I had to watch my pace and not overdo it, because the legs wanted more then the head and the lungs could give."
Neff and Dahle Flesjaa are tied atop the overall standings with 650 points each, but Neff retains the jersey by virtue of more wins. Pendrel remains in third with 470 points, followed by Davison, who jumps to fourth from eighth with 420 points.
Full results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team | 1:32:15 |
2 | Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing | 0:01:00 |
3 | Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team | 0:01:36 |
4 | Jolanda Neff (Swi) Stoeckli Pro Team | 0:02:05 |
5 | Irina Kalentyeva (Rus) Moebel Maerki MTB Pro Team | 0:02:12 |
6 | Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Kross Racing Team | 0:02:41 |
7 | Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing | 0:02:59 |
8 | Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol | 0:03:32 |
9 | Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing | 0:03:44 |
10 | Annie Last (GBr) | 0:04:19 |
11 | Yana Belomoina (Ukr) Betch.Nl Superior Brentjens MTB Racing Team | 0:04:40 |
12 | Sabine Spitz (Ger) | 0:05:09 |
13 | Anne Terpstra (Ned) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 0:05:20 |
14 | Lisa Mitterbauer (Aut) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 0:05:52 |
15 | Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Rose Vaujany Fueled By Ultrasports | 0:06:05 |
16 | Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 0:07:01 |
17 | Chloe Woodruff (USA) | 0:07:19 |
18 | Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team | 0:08:01 |
19 | Kate Fluker (NZl) | 0:08:30 |
20 | Helen Grobert (Ger) Ghost Factory Racing | 0:08:43 |
21 | Linda Indergand (Swi) Focus XC Team | 0:09:00 |
22 | Ariane Kleinhans (Swi) | 0:09:01 |
23 | Esther Suss (Swi) Wheeler - Ixs Team | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Githa Michiels (Bel) Versluys Team | 0:09:12 |
25 | Mary Mcconneloug (USA) | 0:09:25 |
26 | Rebecca Henderson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing | 0:09:50 |
27 | Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Haibike Oetztal Pro Team | 0:10:05 |
28 | Karla Stepanova (Cze) | 0:10:15 |
29 | Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing | 0:10:29 |
30 | Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing | 0:10:51 |
31 | Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) | 0:11:13 |
32 | Sabrina Enaux (Fra) | 0:11:37 |
33 | Adelheid Morath (Ger) BH-Sr Suntour-KMC | 0:12:12 |
34 | Laura Metzler (Fra) Btwin MTB Racing Team | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Marine Groccia (Swi) | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Cherie Vale (RSA) Novus Omx Pro Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Alice Pirard (Bel) Merida-Wallonie Mountain Bike Team | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Superior MTB Team | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Rocio Martin Rodriguez (Spa) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Barbara Benko (Hun) Focus XC Team | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Nina Wrobel (Ger) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Nadine Rieder (Ger) | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Anna Villar Argente (Spa) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Peta Mullens (Aus) | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Hanna Klein (Ger) BH-Sr Suntour-KMC | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Florence Darbellay (Swi) | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Marta Pastore (Ita) Team Piemonte Fci | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Aurelia Perry (Fra) | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Michelle Hediger (Swi) Giant Swiss Team | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Lucia Vazquez Crespo (Spa) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Kerry Macphee (GBr) | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Fabienne Schaus (Lux) | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Nicky Healy (GBr) | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Samara Sheppard (NZl) | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Sarah Riley (Aus) | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Eliza Kwan (Aus) | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Ekateryna Anoshina (Rus) Rusvelo | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze) | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Haibike Oetztal Pro Team | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jolanda Neff (Swi) Stoeckli Pro Team | 650 | pts |
2 | Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team | 650 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team | 470 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing | 420 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Irina Kalentyeva (Rus) Moebel Maerki MTB Pro Team | 390 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Kross Racing Team | 365 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing | 355 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing | 318 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Helen Grobert (Ger) Ghost Factory Racing | 296 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Rebecca Henderson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing | 274 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol | 254 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Sabine Spitz (Ger) | 245 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 237 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Linda Indergand (Swi) Focus XC Team | 234 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Annie Last (GBr) | 233 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
16 | Esther Suss (Swi) Wheeler - Ixs Team | 221 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
17 | Yana Belomoina (Ukr) Betch.Nl Superior Brentjens MTB Racing Team | 220 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
18 | Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team | 202 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
19 | Githa Michiels (Bel) Versluys Team | 196 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
20 | Anne Terpstra (Ned) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 190 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
21 | Chloe Woodruff (USA) | 178 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
22 | Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Rose Vaujany Fueled By Ultrasports | 174 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
23 | Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Raboliv | 160 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
24 | Barbara Benko (Hun) Focus XC Team | 160 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
25 | Adelheid Morath (Ger) BH-Sr Suntour-KMC | 138 | Row 24 - Cell 3 |
26 | Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team | 134 | Row 25 - Cell 3 |
27 | Kate Fluker (NZl) | 134 | Row 26 - Cell 3 |
28 | Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Haibike Oetztal Pro Team | 133 | Row 27 - Cell 3 |
29 | Karla Stepanova (Cze) | 117 | Row 28 - Cell 3 |
30 | Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing | 116 | Row 29 - Cell 3 |
31 | Peta Mullens (Aus) | 114 | Row 30 - Cell 3 |
32 | Marine Groccia (Swi) | 110 | Row 31 - Cell 3 |
33 | Alice Pirard (Bel) Merida-Wallonie Mountain Bike Team | 105 | Row 32 - Cell 3 |
34 | Erin Huck (USA) Scott-3Rox Racing | 104 | Row 33 - Cell 3 |
35 | Mary Mcconneloug (USA) | 95 | Row 34 - Cell 3 |
36 | Lisa Mitterbauer (Aut) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 90 | Row 35 - Cell 3 |
37 | Sabrina Enaux (Fra) | 89 | Row 36 - Cell 3 |
38 | Hanna Klein (Ger) BH-Sr Suntour-KMC | 87 | Row 37 - Cell 3 |
39 | Nina Wrobel (Ger) | 85 | Row 38 - Cell 3 |
40 | Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing | 82 | Row 39 - Cell 3 |
41 | Isabella Moreira Lacerda (Bra) | 77 | Row 40 - Cell 3 |
42 | Ekateryna Anoshina (Rus) Rusvelo | 77 | Row 41 - Cell 3 |
43 | Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) | 75 | Row 42 - Cell 3 |
44 | Jovana Crnogorac (Srb) Salcano Cappadocia | 70 | Row 43 - Cell 3 |
45 | Raiza Goulao-Henrique (Bra) | 66 | Row 44 - Cell 3 |
46 | Anna Oberparleiter (Ita) | 65 | Row 45 - Cell 3 |
47 | Ariane Kleinhans (Swi) | 62 | Row 46 - Cell 3 |
48 | Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Haibike Oetztal Pro Team | 61 | Row 47 - Cell 3 |
49 | Laura Metzler (Fra) Btwin MTB Racing Team | 60 | Row 48 - Cell 3 |
50 | Chengyuan Ren (Chn) China Jiangsu Zgl MTB Team | 58 | Row 49 - Cell 3 |
51 | Janka Keseg Stevkova (Svk) | 58 | Row 50 - Cell 3 |
52 | Sandra Walter (Can) | 52 | Row 51 - Cell 3 |
53 | Anna Villar Argente (Spa) | 49 | Row 52 - Cell 3 |
54 | Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) | 48 | Row 53 - Cell 3 |
55 | Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze) | 45 | Row 54 - Cell 3 |
56 | Cherie Vale (RSA) Novus Omx Pro Team | 43 | Row 55 - Cell 3 |
57 | Rocio Martin Rodriguez (Spa) | 43 | Row 56 - Cell 3 |
58 | Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg) | 43 | Row 57 - Cell 3 |
59 | Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Superior MTB Team | 40 | Row 58 - Cell 3 |
60 | Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing | 38 | Row 59 - Cell 3 |
61 | Nadine Rieder (Ger) | 35 | Row 60 - Cell 3 |
62 | Aurelia Perry (Fra) | 33 | Row 61 - Cell 3 |
63 | Serena Calvetti (Ita) | 32 | Row 62 - Cell 3 |
64 | Florence Darbellay (Swi) | 32 | Row 63 - Cell 3 |
65 | Hielke Elferink (Ned) | 29 | Row 64 - Cell 3 |
66 | Paula Gorycka (Pol) 4F-Scott Racing Team | 26 | Row 65 - Cell 3 |
67 | Cindy Montambault (Can) | 26 | Row 66 - Cell 3 |
68 | Marta Pastore (Ita) Team Piemonte Fci | 21 | Row 67 - Cell 3 |
69 | Pavlina Sulcova (Cze) | 21 | Row 68 - Cell 3 |
70 | Nataliia Krompets (Ukr) Isd MTB Team | 20 | Row 69 - Cell 3 |
71 | Michelle Hediger (Swi) Giant Swiss Team | 19 | Row 70 - Cell 3 |
72 | Lucia Vazquez Crespo (Spa) | 18 | Row 71 - Cell 3 |
73 | Kerry Macphee (GBr) | 17 | Row 72 - Cell 3 |
74 | Fabienne Schaus (Lux) | 16 | Row 73 - Cell 3 |
75 | Nicky Healy (GBr) | 15 | Row 74 - Cell 3 |
76 | Samara Sheppard (NZl) | 14 | Row 75 - Cell 3 |
77 | Sarah Riley (Aus) | 13 | Row 76 - Cell 3 |
78 | Eliza Kwan (Aus) | 12 | Row 77 - Cell 3 |
79 | Mariske Strauss (RSA) Novus Omx Pro Team | 12 | Row 78 - Cell 3 |
80 | Lucie Vesela (Cze) Gt Bikeplac Opportunity | 8 | Row 79 - Cell 3 |
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
2025 Tour of the Alps includes 14,700m of climbing in just 739km and five days of racing
Route revealed in front of Christian Prudhomme and UCI President David Lappartient -
The 2025 UCI calendar could have a major gap as two February races are in doubt
Tour Colombia facing budget hurdles, could face cancellation, adding to potential absence of Volta a Valenciana -
Maxim Van Gils' contract battle with Lotto Dstny pushes pro cycling towards a football-style transfer market system
'Soon, a contract will no longer mean anything' team managers tells RTBF -
American Criterium Cup juggles eight-race US calendar for fourth edition in 2025
Racing begins June 6 at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough, with remaining schedule zig-zagging across central US