Zakelj wins second straight World Cup cross country
Nash, Batty round out podium in Val di Sole
Despite intense heat that saw many riders wilt, the leader in the cross-country mountain bike World Cup extended her lead in the elite women's series at Val di Sole, Italy. Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools) now holds a commanding lead in the overall standings at the halfway mark of the 2013 World Cup series.
The Val di Sole course is renowned for steep climbs, technical singletrack and hot, humid conditions; and this year was no different. Riders that went out hard early in the races were fading by the halfway point, and those who had played a tactical game then moved to the front.
In the elite women's six-lap race, defending World Cup overall champion Catharine Pendrel (Luna) blazed off the front, opening a 15-second gap on Zakelj, Katerina Nash (Luna) and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida). However, by the second lap the other three had caught her, and the Canadian faded to eventually finish sixth.
Zakelj and Nash had dropped Dahle Flesjaa and Pendrel by the end of lap three, and the pair rode together at the front for a lap before Nash attacked. The Czech rider carved out a slim eight-second lead, which she held into the final lap, but then also faded in the final half lap to finish 20 seconds down on Zakelj. Emily Batty (Trek World Racing), moving up steadily all race, moved into third on the fourth lap, and held it to the line.
"This course fits me well," said Zakelj. "Yes, I suffered so much; the uphills are very steep, but I am very fit now. I have my fan club here and from this race I have great memories. I always do great here.
"I didn't expect to win again, because there are so many strong girls, but of course I was ready to win. After Katerina [Nash] was in front on the last lap, I was prepared for second place, so i was surprised when I caught her again. Now I have the mental feeling that I am at the top so I am always ready to win."
Zakelj now leads the overall standings with 650 points, followed by Maja Wloszczowska (Giant Pro XC) at 490 and round one winner Eva Lechner (Colnago Sudtirol) with 470 points.
1 | Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team | 1:36:37 |
2 | Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team | 0:00:20 |
3 | Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing | 0:00:50 |
4 | Adelheid Morath (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team | 0:01:34 |
5 | Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team | 0:01:59 |
6 | Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team | 0:02:58 |
7 | Esther Süss (Swi) Wheeler - IXS Team | 0:03:08 |
8 | Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing XC | 0:03:14 |
9 | Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team | 0:03:26 |
10 | Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team | 0:04:04 |
11 | Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Giant Pro XC Team | 0:04:40 |
12 | Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team | 0:05:03 |
13 | Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol | 0:05:25 |
14 | Jolanda Neff (Swi) Giant Pro XC Team | 0:05:39 |
15 | Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team | 0:06:05 |
16 | Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Specialized Racing XC | 0:06:22 |
17 | Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) Bi&Esse Carrera | 0:06:41 |
18 | Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Fischer-BMC | 0:07:31 |
19 | Githa Michiels (Bel) Toka Print MTB Team | 0:07:48 |
20 | Mary McConneloug (USA) | 0:08:47 |
21 | Daniela Campuzano (Mex) | 0:09:10 |
22 | Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team | 0:09:45 |
23 | Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) ISD MTB Team | 0:10:03 |
24 | Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Calcit Bike Team | 0:10:26 |
25 | Vera Andreeva (Rus) Team Protek | 0:10:30 |
26 | Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing | 0:10:44 |
27 | Annika Langvad (Den) Team Davinci - Specialized | 0:11:12 |
28 | Sabrina Enaux (Fra) | 0:12:08 |
29 | Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Team Colnago Sudtirol | 0:12:11 |
30 | Lene Byberg (Nor) | 0:12:12 |
31 | Serena Calvetti (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop | 0:12:51 |
32 | Nina Wrobel (Ger) | 0:13:16 |
33 | Hanna Klein (Ger) | 0:13:28 |
34 | Anna Villar Argente (Spa) | 0:13:35 |
35 | Judith Pollinger (Ita) | 0:14:13 |
36 | Kateryna Naberezhna (Ukr) ISD MTB Team | -1lap |
37 | Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg) | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Samara Sheppard (NZl) Toka Print MTB Team | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Irina Slobodyan (Ukr) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Jacquelina Alvarez (Arg) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Fanny Bourdon (Fra) Look - Beaumes De Venise | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Kate Fluker (NZl) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Katherine O'Neill (NZl) | -2laps |
45 | Barbara Benko (Hun) Focus XC Team | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Lucie Vesela (Cze) | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Franziska Brun (Swi) | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Andréanne Pichette (Can) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Helle Qvortrup Bachmann (Den) | -3laps |
52 | Elvira Khayrullina (Rus) | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Annie Last (GBr) Trek Factory Racing | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol) | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nadine Rieder (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze) | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Anna Oberparleiter (Ita) | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Paula Gorycka (Pol) 4F Racing Team | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
1 | Luna Pro Team | 70 | pts |
2 | Ghost Factory Racing Team | 59 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team | 49 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Unior Tools Team | 40 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Specialized Racing XC | 38 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Giant Pro XC Team | 37 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Trek Factory Racing | 32 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Multivan Merida Biking Team | 28 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Wheeler - IXS Team | 24 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Team Colnago Sudtirol | 20 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Bi&Esse Carrera | 14 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Fischer-BMC | 13 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Toka Print MTB Team | 12 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Isd MTB Team | 8 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Calcit Bike Team | 7 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
16 | Team Protek | 6 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
17 | Scott-3Roxracing | 5 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
18 | Team Davinci - Specialized | 4 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
1 | Tanja Zakelj (Slo) | 650 | pts |
2 | Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) | 490 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Eva Lechner (Ita) | 470 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Katerina Nash (Cze) | 415 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Emily Batty (Can) | 390 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Alexandra Engen (Swe) | 385 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Catharine Pendrel (Can) | 375 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Katrin Leumann (Swi) | 326 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Adelheid Morath (Ger) | 326 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) | 299 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Lea Davison (USA) | 292 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Esther Süss (Swi) | 280 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Jolanda Neff (Swi) | 266 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Irina Kalentieva (Rus) | 250 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) | 205 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
16 | Tereza Hurikova (Cze) | 202 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
17 | Blaza Klemencic (Slo) | 198 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
18 | Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) | 194 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
19 | Annika Langvad (Den) | 192 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
20 | Vera Andreeva (Rus) | 182 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
21 | Georgia Gould (USA) | 178 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
22 | Corina Gantenbein (Swi) | 174 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
23 | Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) | 170 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
24 | Mary McConneloug (USA) | 168 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
25 | Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) | 164 | Row 24 - Cell 3 |
26 | Elisabeth Osl (Aut) | 162 | Row 25 - Cell 3 |
27 | Daniela Campuzano (Mex) | 154 | Row 26 - Cell 3 |
28 | Sabrina Enaux (Fra) | 144 | Row 27 - Cell 3 |
29 | Hanna Klein (Ger) | 142 | Row 28 - Cell 3 |
30 | Annie Last (GBr) | 141 | Row 29 - Cell 3 |
31 | Githa Michiels (Bel) | 132 | Row 30 - Cell 3 |
32 | Nina Wrobel (Ger) | 99 | Row 31 - Cell 3 |
33 | Marianne Vos (Ned) | 90 | Row 32 - Cell 3 |
34 | Mikaela Kofman (Can) | 90 | Row 33 - Cell 3 |
35 | Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol) | 88 | Row 34 - Cell 3 |
36 | Anna Villar Argente (Spa) | 85 | Row 35 - Cell 3 |
37 | Lene Byberg (Nor) | 84 | Row 36 - Cell 3 |
38 | Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) | 79 | Row 37 - Cell 3 |
39 | Anja Gradl (Ger) | 79 | Row 38 - Cell 3 |
40 | Kate Fluker (NZl) | 78 | Row 39 - Cell 3 |
41 | Paula Gorycka (Pol) | 75 | Row 40 - Cell 3 |
42 | Chengyuan Ren (Chn) | 74 | Row 41 - Cell 3 |
43 | Anna Szafraniec (Pol) | 70 | Row 42 - Cell 3 |
44 | Serena Calvetti (Ita) | 70 | Row 43 - Cell 3 |
45 | Amanda Sin (Can) | 66 | Row 44 - Cell 3 |
46 | Samara Sheppard (NZl) | 64 | Row 45 - Cell 3 |
47 | Fanny Bourdon (Fra) | 60 | Row 46 - Cell 3 |
48 | Barbara Benko (Hun) | 50 | Row 47 - Cell 3 |
49 | Kateryna Naberezhna (Ukr) | 49 | Row 48 - Cell 3 |
50 | Nadine Rieder (Ger) | 49 | Row 49 - Cell 3 |
51 | Judith Pollinger (Ita) | 48 | Row 50 - Cell 3 |
52 | Jacquelina Alvarez (Arg) | 47 | Row 51 - Cell 3 |
53 | Lee Craigie (GBr) | 47 | Row 52 - Cell 3 |
54 | Judy Freeman (USA) | 45 | Row 53 - Cell 3 |
55 | Franziska Brun (Swi) | 45 | Row 54 - Cell 3 |
56 | Katherine O'Neill (NZl) | 44 | Row 55 - Cell 3 |
57 | Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze) | 39 | Row 56 - Cell 3 |
58 | Lucie Vesela (Cze) | 39 | Row 57 - Cell 3 |
59 | Erin Huck (USA) | 34 | Row 58 - Cell 3 |
60 | Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg) | 32 | Row 59 - Cell 3 |
61 | Nikki Harris (GBr) | 32 | Row 60 - Cell 3 |
62 | Elvira Khayrullina (Rus) | 32 | Row 61 - Cell 3 |
63 | Julie Bresset (Fra) | 29 | Row 62 - Cell 3 |
64 | Sarah Koba (Swi) | 29 | Row 63 - Cell 3 |
65 | Irina Slobodyan (Ukr) | 28 | Row 64 - Cell 3 |
66 | Anna Oberparleiter (Ita) | 23 | Row 65 - Cell 3 |
67 | Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) | 20 | Row 66 - Cell 3 |
68 | Andréanne Pichette (Can) | 18 | Row 67 - Cell 3 |
69 | Laura Metzler (Fra) | 18 | Row 68 - Cell 3 |
70 | Helle Qvortrup Bachmann (Den) | 17 | Row 69 - Cell 3 |
71 | Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) | 16 | Row 70 - Cell 3 |
72 | Lucia Vazquez Crespo (Spa) | 14 | Row 71 - Cell 3 |
73 | Hielke Elferink (Ned) | 14 | Row 72 - Cell 3 |
74 | Lenka Bulisova (Cze) | 13 | Row 73 - Cell 3 |
75 | Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) | 13 | Row 74 - Cell 3 |
76 | Ruth Owen-Evans (GBr) | 12 | Row 75 - Cell 3 |
77 | Asuman Bura Balci (Tur) | 11 | Row 76 - Cell 3 |
78 | Laura Turpijn (Ned) | 8 | Row 77 - Cell 3 |
1 | Giant Pro XC Team | 182 | pts |
2 | Luna Pro Team | 180 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Ghost Factory Racing Team | 162 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Unior Tools Team | 110 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Team Colnago Sudtirol | 105 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Trek Factory Racing | 105 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team | 103 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Specialized Racing XC | 95 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Wheeler - IXS Team | 60 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Multivan Merida Biking Team | 59 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Topeak Ergon Racing Team | 50 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Calcit Bike Team | 33 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Bi&Esse Carrera | 31 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Team Davinci - Specialized | 30 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Team Protek | 25 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
16 | Fischer-BMC | 21 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
17 | Toka Print MTB Team | 12 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
18 | ISD MTB Team | 8 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
19 | Scott-3Roxracing | 5 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
20 | 4F Racing Team | 1 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
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