JUNIOR & U23 FEMALES XC CHAMPS
Here are some details about usacycling.orgVal di Sole, Italy
Jamie Dinkins (Powell TN) was the American champion on the second day at the 2008 Mountain Bike World Championships. Dinkins, who started 37th, moved up 18 places to finish 19th in U23 Womens Cross Country. Jill Behlen (Boulder CO) and Deidre Yorkshire (Indio CA) placed 31st and 33rd in the Junior Womens Cross-Country.
Dinkins, an American who had never raced internationally, was the only one to start the U23 women’s race. On the first lap of the four-lap affair, Dinkins passed many riders and didn’t waste any time.
Dinkins said that she thinks she did at least two to three endos. This is my first Worlds. I was so nervous and pinned that I couldn’t think straight. It is a thrill to be among the top 51 cm
Team USAs Dinkins placed 1
York and Behlen rode together steadily for the 10.9-mile junior cross-country competition. The pair of Americans faced stiff competition from an international field that was more experienced. They had to overcome difficulties when they tried to climb the first climb (548.6m), a damp, grassy ascent with an 18 percent grade.
York said that Danae, my sister who competed at Worlds several years ago, warned me about the difficulty of the start. I was still not prepared for the speed and effort required to get out of the gate.
York’s sentiments were echoed by Behlen, who stressed the difficulty of the difficult mushy grassy climbs that are not often found on American courses. Many junior competitors had to walk the steep sections of the course because of yesterday’s rain.
Behlen explained that she couldn’t run as fast or as fast as the other girls. You were exhausted from the climbs and tired when you reached the bottom.
Laura Abril from Columbia won the three-lap junior women’s contest.
Prerace favourite Ren Chengyuan (China National) was not pleased with the outcome. Last year, Ren Chengyuan (China National) finished second behind Ying Liu, the 2006 U23 World Champion. Ren bounced back and won the first elite World Cup in Houffalize (Belgium) this year. Ren suffered a horrible ride in Italy. He was immediately struck by a mechanical and was then uninspired to score a 13th-place finish at.
U23 WOMEN CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
1. Tanja Zakel (Slo) 2. Nathalie Schneitter (Swi)Colnago Cap Arreghini+ 3. Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) 19. Jamie DinkinsDevo-Vantaggio1
JUNIOR WOMEN CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
1. Laura Abril (Col). Barbara Benko (Hun)+ 3. Mona Eiberweiser (Ger) 31. Jill BehlenTokyo Josephs2 33. Deidre YorkVelobum-Turner2
