All the experts showed up: Thomas Dietsch (Gewiss Bianchi) was the winner of 2007 World Cup. Alban Lakata, (Dolphin–Trek Mountain Bike Racing Team), Marzio Delho and Julio Carlo Da Silva (Gewiss Bianchi) were also present. Miguel Martinez, 2000 Olympic Champion and multiple World Champion, is also worth noting.
After an exciting finish, Thomas Dietsch from France proved once more that he is the marathon boss. It wasn’t easy though, as Miguel Martinez, an ex-Olympic Champion, fought for Dietsch’s victory. Martinez, who was making his return after years of absence from international racing (he retired from competition in 2006), was impressive in Turkey. The story could have been different if Martinez had not fallen 12 miles short of the finish.
Martinez moved up to first place in the middle section of the race’s most difficult section, The Barrage Climb. Behind him, Dietsch couldnt keep in contact. Miguel Martinez was only a minute ahead of his rival before the long downhill, but that didn’t last long. He was eliminated by a flat tire, but Dietsch was able ride seamlessly to victory.
Dietsch was thrilled, I felt relieved, and very happy. I am going on vacation now. I am the new World Cup leader.
Alban Lakata, an Austrian rider, was second. He was followed by the German Bull Boys Karl Platt (Stefan Sahm)
WOMEN Pia Sunstedt (Finland), was the favourite going into the women’s competition. Pit pundits believed that only Fabienne Heinzmann (Dolphin–Trek Mountain Bike Racing Team), Austria, and Esther Suss (Switzerland) were capable of giving Pia serious competition. Pia Sundstedt won women’s race. It was close! Sundstedt won the checkers by five seconds after a hard battle against controversy-plagued Italian Annabella Spropparo. Third place went to Esther Suss of Switzerland.
The first World Cup victory for the season meant that the new leaders jersey was worn and, above all, the win points that were important to the overall victory in the Marathon World Cup.
The Marathon World Cup 2008 consists of two legs: Ornans and Manavgat. A competition in France will conclude the season on October 5, 2008. Is there a 7-month break between race 1 & race 2?
The new World Cup Leaders Jersey will be worn by the World Cup winners in Manavgat. The leaders jerseys will be identical in all disciplines, including Olympic cross-country and marathon, downhill, 4-cross, and 4-cross.
In the end, the majority of confirmed players were the main contenders. Julio Silva finished 29th, with a ride that was not as good as expected.
Only one American raced. It was Team Mata–Ergons Monique Swicki who finished a respectable 7th.
WC MARATHON #1 RESULTS
1. THOMAS DIETSCH,FRA 2. ALBAN LAKATA (+ AUT)+ KARL PLATT (+GER)+ 4. STEFAN SAHM (+ GER)+ 5. HECTOR PAEZ LEO (COL)+ 6. JAMES OUCHTERLONY (+ GBR)+ 7. JOCHEN KASS Jochen (GER)+ 8. HANNES GENZE Hannes (GER)+ 9. FRANKSCHOTMAN Frank (NED),+ 10. WALTER COSTA Walter (ITA)+ WOMEN
1. PIA SUNDSTEDT, (FIN) 2. ANNABELLA STROPPARO (ITA)+ 3. ESTHER S ?SS (SWI)+ 4. BLAZA KLEMENCIC (+ SLO)+ 5. JANKA STEVKOVA (SVK)+ 6. MARIELLE SANERGUINCHARD (+ 7. MONIQUE SAWICKI (+ 8. CARINA KETONEN (+ 9. FABIENNE HEINZMANN (+ 10. KERSTIN BRACHTENDORF (+GER)+
