Stander takes Windham

[covie]

So Burry kicked butt at the windham XCO race, Well done to him.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Windham-XC-UCI-World-Cup-2012.html

[Mellow]

quite impressive. 12 points behind shooter for the series lead.

[nathrix]

Where did Nino finish?

[kosmonooit]

Nino didn't race, Kulhavi pulled out (overkooked it in the heat it seems)

 

Burry inherited the lead after Manuel Fumic flatted in the front far away from the pits.

 

But a strong ride and big ups to Burry! Going to boost morale, he needed a bit of good luck.

 

From Cycle News:

 

"The men's cross-country at round six of the UCI World Cup in Windham, NY, became a case of the last man standing taking the win. A combination of heat and technical problems decimated the field, with Burry Stander (Specialized) taking only the second World Cup win of his career.

 

Extreme heat, plus a dry and dusty course with lots of climbing, made for hard conditions. Riders had to drink constantly, and avoid going out too hard, too early if they didn't want to 'blow up'.

 

The men's race saw a small group of favourites take the lead in the early laps of the six lap race, including Stander, Manuel Fumic (Cannondale Factory), Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized), Florian Vogel (Scott - Swisspower), Sergio Mantecon (Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing), Rudi Van Houts (Multivan Merida), José Hermida (Multivan Merida), Fabian Giger (Rabobank Giant) and Marco Fontana (Cannondale Factory).

 

Gradually, riders fell off the pace, either through mechanical problems (Fumic and Hermida), or because they were unable to handle the heat. World champion Kulhavy, who with a first or second place could take the World Cup lead from the absent Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower), just disappeared part way through one lap, and even his team didn't know where he went. he eventually Tweeted that he had been feeling sick before the start and was suffering from diarrhea.

 

It came down to three riders: Stander, Mantecon and Fontana, and then Stander upped the pace with a lap and a half to go, steadily increasing his lead on Mantecon, with Fontana holding onto third. The three finished in this order, with Stander taking his first World Cup win since 2009.

 

"I have always done well on this course and always been in the lead group," explained Stander, "but then had problems at the end. This is a course where it is easy to crash, because it's very high speed. Easy to push too hard and get a flat tire. Today I just decided to ride my own speed and not worry about anyone else, just ride controlled. I made sure at the top of the climb I went into the singletrack first and I could control the speed on the way down, not taking any chances. Then, yah, toward the end I knew with the endurance coming into play and the heat it would be good for me."

 

American champion Todd Wells (Specialized), after struggling for much of the season after a crash prior to the opening round of the World Cup back in March, is finally seeing his form come around, working his way up through the field to finish fourth, with Mathias Fluckiger (Trek World Racing) taking fifth.

 

The absent Nino Schurter retained his lead in the standings, by a slim 12 points over Stander, with Jaroslav Kulhavy a distant third."

Edited July 1, 2012 by kosmonooit

[rock]

Credit to Phil buys for getting 15th - when last did a saffa besides burry get such a high placing in elite WC XCO?

 

Answers on the back of a post card to.......

[kosmonooit]

Yes Buys did very well, and it seems to have been noted, considering he went in with No 168 (or something like that)

 

Its was tough and hot, Burry credited his Epic experience in the post race interview. José Hermida's LHS pedal came off and he did half a lap like that before getting to the technical area. Todd Wells got a good result, apparently his highest ever.

 

 

http://cdn1.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/07/01/2/emxc_dsc7630_600.jpg

[MariusC]

SA boys making us proud. It also might just get as atleast 1 Olympic Medal :clap:

[NotSoBigBen]

Watched it online, loving redbull TV!

 

Quite a mission it seems if you get a puncture with a lefty and you have a tubby .... strange that HoZay's pedal 'fell' off?

 

Great job by Burry, I guess the saying 'to finish first you must first finish' or something like that comes to mind. Seemed like the heat was pretty hectic ....

[TNT1]

Why are there five of them on the podium?

[Shebeen]

well done boerie!

 

maybe it will be hot in london

[kosmonooit]

Coz that's the way mtb rolls Bob, all inclusive and everyone is a winner!

 

Ben yes the hassle with the lefty is having to take off the calliper, but the bolts holes are slotted so its just a matter of loosening the bolts. Best to have a team, one guy to do the brake, the other the centre nut. But not much time was lost. Interesting to see the use of tubbies now in mtb XC.

Edited July 1, 2012 by kosmonooit

[deanbean]

And Adam Craig took 37 on the single speed.

[kosmonooit]

maybe it will be hot in london

 

Unlikely .. they are having a very 'wet' summer ie normal. But it can get hot and balmy (occasionally) August can cook. The poms wince with a bit of heat.

 

Burry is in good shape and spirits, but not sure if he can beat Nino Skirter, he seems the front runner for Gold. But you never know who Lady Luck will treat on the day.

[nathrix]

And Adam Craig took 37 on the single speed.

 

Riding 34/17

[mazambaan]

Great result - go Burry. I hope he didn't cook himself even a bit in the heat.

[bassasdaindia]

very well done