WORLDS DOWNHILL REPORT
Fort William, Scotland
usacycling.org
On Sunday, the U.S. National Team concluded the 2007 Mountain Bike World Championships. Southridge’s JD Swanguen (San Diego CA) awarded the United States their fifth and final medal with a second-place finish in the junior downhill competition.
Swanguen won the silver medal after climbing 1.74 miles down Aonach Mor in just 2.07 seconds. This was the ninth-highest peak of the United Kingdom. Matthew Scoles from New Zealand won the bronze medal less than half a second behind Swanguen.
Swanguens’ medal was the first U.S. downhill medal since 2004, when Kyle Strait won bronze for junior men in Les Gets, France.
On Sunday, 18 Americans participated in four Downhill races. Swanguen was not the only American to finish in the top 10, Kathy Pruitt (Lake Almanor CA), finished ninth and was 24.6 seconds behind Sabrina Jonnier, France’s winner.
Bronze 4-Cross medalist Melissa Buhl, Chandler, AZ was 11th. This was 26.19 seconds slower than the winning pace of Jonnier. Rachel Atherton finished second, and Tracey Hannah came in third.
Other American performers in the junior mens category on Sunday were Tyler McCaul (Aptos CA), Logan Binggeli(St. George, UT), in 29th, Brad Oien (30th), Fountain Valley, CA), Brad Oien (30th), Tim Price (Great Falls VA) 33rd, and Joey Schusler (41/1).
Amelia Colasurdo (Seattle, WA), who placed 24th in the elite women’s competition, was followed by Lisa Myklak (Boulder, CO), Darian Harvey (Durango, CO), 32nd, and Jessica Vogt, (Boulder, CO), which was 36th.
Luke Strobel (Renton WA) was the fastest American in elite men’s category, finishing 20th. Strobel was 16.33 seconds slower than Australian Sam Hill, who successfully defended his title from a year back ahead of Frances Fabien Barel of Great Britain and Gee Atherton. Duncan Riffle (Santa Barbara (CA) finished 27th for Team USA. Cole Bangert, Twin Lakes (CO) placed 38th, T.J. Sharp, Boulder, CO placed 62nd, and David Klaassen Van Oorschot, Riverside (CA) was 63rd.
Christina Pinney, Concord, CA, was the only American competitor in the junior women’s division. She came in seventh.
Swanguen is a podium finisher for the USA at the 2007 Mountain Bike World Championships. He joins the bronze-medal winning Team Relay team of Georgia Gould (Ketchum ID/Luna Chix), Adam Craig, OR/Giant), Ethan Gilmour, Sam Schultz, (Missoula MT/Subaru Gary Fisher), and world 4-cross champions Jill Kintner and Brian Lopes.
JUNIOR DOWNHILL RESULT
1. Ruaridh Cunningham (GBr),Bike Love Glasgow 2. JD SwanguenCove+2.07
3. Matthew Scoles (Nzl) 18. Tyler McCaulTrek-Fox18.50
29. Logan BinggeliYeti27.19
30. Brad Oienodi-Southridge27.63
33. Tim PriceSpecialized32.18
41. Joey SchuslerSpecialized42.68
WOMEN
1. Floraine Pugin, France 2. Katy Curd (GBr),+27.12
3. Myriam Nicole (Fra)51.30
7. Christina PinneyRide SFO
ELITE DOWNHILL RESULTS
1. Sam Hill (Aus)Ironhorse-Monster 2. Fabien Barel (Fra)+0.64
3. Gee Atherton (GBr),Animal Commencal4.37
20. Luke StrobelMaxxis16.33
27. Duncan RiffleHonda-Ironhorse20.96
38. Cole BangertMorewood-Utopia25.03
62. T.J. SharpYeti-Fox37.74
63. David Klaassen Van Oorschotodi-Southridge39.72
WOMEN
1. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra)Ironhorse-Monster 2. Rachel Atherton (GBr).Animal Commencal+4.01
3. Tracey Hannah (Aus)11.54
9. Kathy PruittJamis24.60
11. Melissa BuhlKHS26.19
24. Amelia ColasurdoBear Cannondale50.53
30. Lisa MyklakLeelikesbikes32. Darian HarveyDurango rough riders 36. Jessica VogtDianese-Gamut-Fox
