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Road To 2012
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO
Round 1 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Posted April 23 2011
Words And Photography By Luke Webber

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UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Round 1 Results:
Elite Men | Elite Women | Under-23 Men

British Cycling's mountain bike performance programme today faced its stiffest test of 2011 and responded confidently with a marker for the coming season.

The team, consisting of Liam Killeen, Annie Last, Dave Fletcher and Kenta Gallagher lined up at the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa under the eye of British Cycling's Olympic Mountain Bike Coach Phil Dixon.

Speaking exclusively to British Cycling earlier in the week, Dixon described today's results as forming benchmark for the coming season and with round two of the World Cup on home soil just four weeks away, the first results bode well for the coming season.

Dave Fletcher scored Britain's first Olympic qualification points of the weekend, in the new under-23 race. Finishing in eighth position, Fletcher got his final year as an under-23 rider off to a good start and as a result will line up on the front row at round two, while Kenta Gallagher finished his first under-23 World Cup in 40th position after moving up from the Junior ranks.

Annie Last - riding in last weeks British XC Series at Dalby Forest

In the Elite women's race Annie Last started her international campaign as she left 2010, recording an impressive 20th place. As one of only three under-23 women riding up in the Elite competition, Last was in good company throughout the five lap race, riding the early stages with Lene Byberg and Olympic Champion Sabine Spitz.

Throughout the hour-and-a-half race positions changed constantly, with two technical descents proving a decisive factor; however Last remained consistent to improve her starting position for round two of the World Cup by four places.

At the head of the race, winner of round two of the British XC Series Julie Bresset took an early lead, before China's Ren Chengyuan moved from the back of the pack - overcoming several crashes - to assume the head of the race. Bresset continued to finish a comfortable second, ahead of Irina Kalentieva.

In the Elite men's race Liam Killeen had an even more emphasised rise through the ranks, starting in 50th and finishing 27th, moving the British Champion significantly closer to the front of the grid.

The eventual winner of the Elite men's race was Nino Schurter, who repeated his season opening victory from last year against Julien Absalon. In a key moment, Schurter overtook and unnerved the Olympic Champion in a technical descent, creating a gap of ten seconds which the Swiss rider would hold until the finish.

The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup resumes in four weeks time, with British Cycling playing host at round two in Dalby Forest, Yorkshire. Voted the best World Cup of 2010, this years event sees a return of all the spectators favourite sections - Worry Gill, Medusas Drop and Dixon's Hollow - and gives you the chance to see the World's greatest mountain bike racers up close. Tickets for the event are on sale now, with 20% off for all British Cycling members!