Rotorua, New Zealand
France Cycling Race Information
Gold was the United States’ first medal at the 2006 Mountain Bike World Championships. Jill Kintner (Seattle WA), top seed, successfully defended her womens 4-Cross title. Kintner won the title from start to finish, beating Anneke Beerten and Jana Molcik to win her second title in as long time and giving the U.S. National Mountain Bike Team its fifth World Championship 4 Cross title since 2002.
Kintner, a former BMX rider who has won 70+ career victories, is Kintner’s fourth consecutive podium appearance at Mountain Bike World Championships. She switched disciplines three years ago and now holds the second 4-Cross title. She won a silver and bronze medals in 2004.
After the American bronze medalist Tara Llanes (Los Alamitos CA) died, Kintner was the only woman to make it to the finals. Jessica Vogt and Melissa Buhl (Chandler AZ) also failed to advance from their semifinal heats.
Kintner took the lead in the final and never looked back at what many competitors considered to be the most treacherous and difficult 4-Cross course of World Championship history.
Kintner admitted that it got a bit squirrelly at times, but I managed to put everything together and remain focused mentally.
The next small final was to determine fifth to eighth place. Joey Gough from Great Britain was the first to cross the line, ahead of Buhl and Llanes, Vogt, respectively.
Men’s World Champion Brian Lopes (San Clemente (CA)) crashed into the wall after Michal Marosi, Cze/Denatky RSP/Red Bull), had T-boned him during the semifinal heat. This move was full of dirty tactics. Michal Prokop, Lopes biggest threat to the world title, hails also from the Czech Republic. Lopes was untouchable in the previous rounds. This glatant takeout resulted in the US not having a representative at the finals since 2000, when the International Cycling Federation introduced a gated racing discipline as part of the World Championship program.
Lopes reached the quarterfinals in the 1/8 finals along with Cody Warren (Alpine CA) and Lars Sternberg (Vashon WA). Mike Haderer (Concord) and Rich Houseman (“Temecula”) were eliminated.
In the quarterfinals, Warren lost his heat and was eliminated from contention. Sternberg lost to Lopes (and Michal Morosi) in the finals.
Lopes was the only U.S. rider left in contention for the title after the elimination of four Americans before the quarterfinals. Lopes, who admittedly started slowly and then got into a fight with Roger Rinderknecht and Dan Atherton in his semifinal heat, lost his world title hopes.
Lopes said that I am not happy at all. My start was not great, and that is all I can do to myself. My speed was good except for that. However, I knew right from the beginning that anything could happen on this course. There are three possible ways someone could ruin your day and clean you up. It was exactly what I feared could happen.
The most successful gated racer in U.S. Mountain Bike History pulled out of the consolation round for fifth through eighteen place. However, he was confident about his place in 4-cross and dual slalom history.
I want to have fun at this stage in my career. It won’t affect my past achievements if I don’t win another world championship.
Pre-race favourite and top seed Michal prokop won his second career world title, ahead of silver medalist Rinderknecht (and bronze medalist Guido Tschugg). Prokop was forced to rely on the help of a fellow countryman in order to achieve his goal.
Two Americans, Peter Hellenbrand (Seattle WA) and William Hendrickson, (Phoenix AZ), competed in Friday’s semifinals of Elite Mens 66cm Trials. They placed 22nd and 23rd, respectively. Only eight of the top eight advanced to the finals.
WORLD 4-CROSS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULT
1. Michal Prokop (CzeAuthor)
2. Roger Rinderknecht (Swi)
3. Guido Tschugg (Ger)
4. Dan Atherton (GBr.Animal-Giant)
8. Brian LopesGT Bikes
13. Lars SternbergFluidside-Iron Horse
14. Cody WarrenC–Dub Racing
22. Rich HousemanYeti-Fox
32. Mike HadererFox Shox-Yeti
WOMEN
1. Jill KintnerGT Bikes
2. Anneke Beerten (Ned)Specialized
3. Anita Molick (Aut)Arbo RSP
6. Melissa BuhlKHS
7. Tara LlanesGiant
8. Jessica VogtTurner-Wahoos
ELITE 66cm TRIALS SEMIFINAL RESULT
1. Peter Bartak (Svk)11 points
2. Rafal Kumorowski (Pol)13
3. Marco Hosel (GEr)14
22. Peter Hellenbrand80
23. William Hendrickson80
