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First World Cup Podium For Norco/Griffiths Racing |
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Thursday, 14 June 2007 |
Source Norco
Fionn Takes 3rd In Champery, Switzerland
 Oh my word, what an eventful weekend! Champery proved to be one of the most intimidating, steep tracks the World Cup series has seen in years. Even
before practice had started riders were already commenting on the
severity of trying to race this course. Technical delegates had their
hands full all weekend working with organizers to increase the amount
of catch netting and padding lining the track.
Practice wasn't so good for Fee. First run saw her come
off, like everyone else, a few times - one of which tweaked something
in her low back. Hardly able to ride due to the pain, Fee attempted one
more practice run before wisely deciding to sit out the rest of DH and
4X practice. Friday was still the same. 2 forced practice runs before
Fee was laid out in the van. However, she pushed it through the pain
come 4X time and after mustering only 2 practice runs, she qualified a
confident 3rd position.
Saturday
things were looking up for Fee. She once again sat out DH practice to
ice her body in the local glacier stream. Passers by stared in awe as
Fionn sat quietly numbing her legs and back. It worked a charm and Fee
felt a bit of relief for the afternoon leading to the 4X.
So
far the weather had been great all weekend with only the occasional
shower, but the skies opened up and destroyed the 4X only moments into
racing. From then on it was anyone's game. Jill Kintner dominated her
semi-final heat with Japanese rider Mio Suemasa coming in a close
second thus knocking World Cup leader Anneke Beerten out of the finals.
Fionn kept it upright in her semi-final heat as well and followed new
comer Racheal Seydoux down the track to secure a place in the finals.
Finals were a different story. Fionn and Racheal gated Jill and charged
together for the 1st corner. But Jill wasn't going to be
left behind. She rode straight into Fionn beginning what would be a
long battle through the top half of the course. Jill and Fionn collided
around every turn and over most drops before Jill managed to get the
better of Fee and begin the chase for the lead. Jill caught Racheal on
the final straight but Fionn didn't quite make it and pulled across the
line in 3rd place
First World Cup podium of the year!
After
a hard night's racing, it was no wonder Fionn's back was aching again
for DH. Nothing some vitamin I couldn't help however and Fee was off
for her qualifying run. She managed to keep it together for a run with
only one big crash and came across the line in a respectable 6thth position she was on course for a 2nd
podium but a big crash put her off the pace as she spent roughly 20
seconds tangled in catch netting off the track. She did her best to
make time up on the rest of the track but a few slipped pedals and
missed lines did all the damage needed and Fionn finished the day in 10th
place. Riders qualified all over the place with times ranging from 5:17
to 17 + minutes! Fionn was unlucky in her race run however. Coming
through the split in 5 place.
Kika Takes Startling Jump In World Cup XC Standings!
We
can't talk about World Cup racing without mentioned Catharine Pendral's
startling jump in the World Cup standings - from 58th to 13th!!
CONGRATS KIKA!
You can read all about Kika's adventures in Europe i her regular blogs... CHECK IT OUT...
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