August 21/11 7:27 am - World Cup Val di Sole: Junior XC report and results

Posted by Editoress on 08/21/11
 

The cross-country races at the World Cup final in Val di Sole, Italy, concluded with the Junior Challenge races.  Coming just 10 days before the world championships, this event was well attended in the Junior ranks, with numerous national teams participating.

The women's three lap race was dominated, once again, by the Swiss champion, Jolanda Neff, who rode clear of the rest of the 34 rider field on the first lap to win by over a minute.  Johanna Techt (Germany) took second at 1:13, followed by her team mate Lena Putz.  Canada had two riders in the race - national champion Frederique Trudel, who finished 17th, and Haley Smith, who was a lap down after suffering mechanical problems in the first lap.

One week ago, at the men's Junior Challenge in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, Anton Cooper of New Zealand shocked the established nations in Junior racing by riding away from a select field.  The first year Junior, competing for the first time outside of New Zealand and Australia did the same in Val di Sole, to put himself high on the list of world championships favourites.  Cooper, whose lap times compared favourably to some of those turned by the top Elite men, finished 1:01 ahead of Victor Koretzky of France, and 1:34 in front of a second Frenchman, Maxime Urruty.  Canadian champion Marc-Antoine Nadon was 31st at 7:46, with Thomas Neron 79th at 16:38.

Results