By Eddie Arnet
The 2005 MTB World Champs will be held in Livigno, Italy. The cross-country relay team has been the main force behind the largest MTB race every year for six years. Because it is so solitary, the event doesn’t see much ink. What is the last time you’ve heard or seen a cross-country relay? The MTB World Championships is what makes this event possible. The opening team relay is similar to the Olympic opening ceremonies. The team relay is a significant event, but it only happens once a year.
HOW IT WORKS
Each country is allowed to enter a team consisting of one elite man, one elite woman and one junior man. Each rider completes one circuit. The drama only adds to the situation because each country decides the order in which the riders complete their laps. It takes a lot of time to find the best rider order for the team, so it is important to be able outwit the other countries.
This relay followed a shorter version of Sunday’s individual cross-country course at the world championships. It was 4.7 miles long. In total, 15 countries competed. To better prepare for the big showdown, many of the top riders opt to not participate in the team relay. Junior racers find it difficult to compete in the team relay. Tomorrow is their solo world championships! On Friday, the Under 23 riders will compete for gold.
BIG HEARTHBREAK
After three laps, Team France was second. Mary McConneloug (Olympic champion and current World Cup number five), had a terrible lap. She crashed multiple times, resulting in the team being relegated to the bottom of the standings. It cost us a podium but it drove Mary crazy. She is now calmer and her legs feel more snappy.
It’s because Geoff Kabush, a fresh NORBA XC Champ and ST Champ, never received his bike. It was lost somewhere between Mount Snow, Vermont, and Livigno Italy. Ricky Federeau replaced the North American star.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The MTB World Championships will feature the junior cross-country race on Thursday. Friday will feature the Under 23 cross country and 4-cross qualifying. Saturday will be packed with downhill and 4-cross. Sunday will see the end of action with the elite cross country.
Keep checking back for more news as it becomes available.
2005 XC Relay WORLD CHAMPS RESULT
FIRST-Spain: Ruben Ruzafa Cueto-1
SECOND-Italy: Marco Bui (Dynamix)-1
THIRD-France: Alex Vuillermoz-2
FOURTH-Sweden – Emil Lindgren-2
FIFTH-Switzerland: Florian Vogel (Swiss Power)-1
SIXTH-Poland: Marek Galilski-2
SEVENTH-USA Adam Craig (Giant),-1
EIGHTH-Germany: Stefen Sahm-2
NINTH-Canada: Ricky Federau (Gearsracing)-2
TENTH-New Zealand: Kashi Leuchs (Bianchi Agos)-1
