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Second Place Dunlap Takes World Cup Lead
(May 8, 2000) -- Already ranked number one in the world, Team GT rider Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, Colo.) took the overall lead in the World Cup Series, May 7 in St. Wendel, Germany. Dunlap's second-place finish at Sunday's race was enough to put her ahead of Australian Mary Grigson, with whom she was previously tied with for the overall lead.
Swiss rider Barbara Blatter claimed her first-ever World Cup win the women's race, while '98 world mountain bike champion Christophe Dupouey (France) won the men's race.
For the second week in a row, Team Koulius Zaard rider Ann Trombley (Golden, Colo.) was the second-placing American woman, crossing the line at 15th. Both Dunlap and Trombley are members of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Long Team.
Dunlap rode in third place for most of the race until making a final lap surge for second. The '99 national cross-country champion admitted she wasn't' feeling 100 percent Sunday.
"I didn't feel spectacular today, so I'm pretty happy. That was the hardest I've ever ridden," said Dunlap, who has won two World Cup races during her four-year mountain bike career. "My goal was to keep the leader's jersey, but then Mary (Grigson) was there and everything changed. By the end I was seeing stars all the way to the finish. It's nice to have the leader's jersey this week, but we'll take each race as it comes."
Fellow U.S. Olympic Long Team members Ruthie Matthes (Durango, Colo. -- Trek/Volkswagen) and Shari Kain (Cupertino, Calif. -- RLX Polo Sport) finished 20th and 30th, respectively.
The U.S. men faced a tough a day with only rider finishing at St. Wendel. RLX Polo Sport rider Carl Swenson (Boulder, Colo.), the '99 Pan American Games silver medalist, finished 57th. U.S. Olympic Long Team members Steve Larsen (Jacksonville, Ore. -- LL Bean/Mongoose) and Tinker Juarez (Downey, Calif. -- Volvo-Cannondale) did not finish.
World Cup action continues May 14 with the fifth round in Sarentino, Italy. U.S. riders will return to the United States to compete at the first round of the Chevy Trucks National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) National Championship Series May 19-21.
World Cup Series, round 4, May 7, St. Wendel, Germany
Women: 1. Barbara Blatter, Switzerland (Scott USA), at 1 hour, 57 minutes and 28 seconds; 2. Alison Dunlap, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team GT) @ :8 back; 3. Marga Fullana, Spain (Subaru-Specialized), @ :11
American women finishers: 15. Ann Trombley, Golden, Colo. (Team Koulius Zaard); 20. Ruthie Matthes, Durango, Colo. (Trek/Volkswagen); 30. Shari Kain, Cupertino, Calif. (RLX Polo Sport); 31. Audrey Augustin, Williston, Vt. (Team Koulius Zaard); 37. Rhonda Quick, San Diego; 48. Rene Marshman, Lafayette, Colo. (Moots); 51. Gina Hall, Orinda, Calif. (Team Koulius Zaard); 54. Lanie Mason, Flagstaff, Ariz. (Cane Creek)
Men: 1. Christophe Dupouey, France (Giant) at 2 hours, 14 minutes and 57 seconds; 2. Bas Van Dooren, The Netherlands (Be-One) @ :22 back; 3. Miguel Martinez, France (Full Dynamix) @ :33
American men finishers: 57. Carl Swenson, Boulder, Colo. (RLX Polo Sport) |
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