MASTER XC & DH WORLD CHAMP’S

MASTER XC & DH WORLD CHAMP’S

By Platinum Performance’s Todd Booth

The International Cycling Federation’s Master World Mountain Bike Championships just took place at Sun Peaks, B.C. This race is an open invitation to semipro and pro cross-country and downhill riders over the age of 30. Experts must qualify by placing in the top 5 at a National race. In total riders from 26 different country’s competed. The men’s categories were broken down into age groups of 4 years.

There was a riders’ meeting the night before that went over the entire race. It was translated into French and English. I learned very quickly that the Europeans take their racing very seriously. I met riders from France, Japan, Brazil, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Most of the riders were pro’s or semipro’s. I only met a small number of expert riders who were competing. By the end of the meeting I thought I was out of my league and that a top twenty placing would be great.

The XC course was a very technical 3.1 mile lap with steep climbs that dished up 1000 feet of total elevation gain per circuit. Four laps were raced by most of the groups, keeping the time limit under the 2 hour mark. I raced in the 35-39 class. There were many recognizable names from the U.S., like Patrick Bush, a pro from the ClifBar team who was a top contender at this race last year. It was also nice to see some familiar faces from the Southern California Bear Valley Bikes team.

The DH races were on Saturday and the XC races took place on Sunday. My XC group started out fast with an opening fire road climb that spread the field out. I was in 13th place on the first lap. Things started flowing for me on the downhills, and I was able to make up time on the others. The descents were comprised of very tight switchbacks; with lots of roots, soft powder dirt and numerous trees. This course was meant to wear down the riders who fight it. You were always climbing or cautiously descending; there were very few areas to recover. The temperature was 85 degrees by noon, and that became an additional factor for many of the riders.

Andy Osburn, fellow Platinum teammate with a prior injury that kept him from racing, ended up being the U.S. Feed Zone water boy. Andy was a huge help for myself and other U.S. riders who needed bottles. Due to the short laps and heat, bottle hand-offs were critical. UCI rules are very strict for feed hand-offs, tech zones and even random drug testing at the race.

As the race progressed, I started feeling better on the climbs. Andy was calling out my lap times compared to the other riders. On my third lap I was four minutes off of third. By the fourth and final lap I had gained three minutes on third place. Soon I caught onto a tight bunch holding down fourth through sixth: Patrick Bush, Gary Wade (Can; Kelowna Cycle) and Brian Schworm. But in the end I didn’t have enough explosive power to break away from them. I lost the sixth spot by only a second. Another lap would have benefited me greatly. But I have no regrets…after the rider’s meeting it was more than I could ever expect.

At the world level the award ceremonies are very important. Each winner receives a bottle of champagne, flowers, medals, a winners jersey, and their national anthem gets played. It was an experience of a lifetime!


MASTER XC WORLD CHAMP’S RESULTS
MEN 30-34
1. Stephan Underthurner (Ita)…L’Arcobaleno Carraro…1:29:40
2. Laurent Certain (Fra) Master Team Offroad…at 6:03
3. Werner Hoebarth (Aut) RC Bike Denifl Stubai…6:36
6. Heath Garvey…23:33
MEN 35-39
1. Christophe Anjoubault (Fra)…1:35:49
2. Andre Sutton (Can)…at 4:10
3. Michael Hunter (Can) Rky Mnt-Different Bikes…7:32
4. Patrick Bush…7:58
MEN 40-44
1. Stephan Jean-Paul (Fra)…Lapierre Int…1:39:31
2. Patrick Michael…at 0:18
3. Piero Pellegrini (Ita) Ideal Bikes Int…4:40
MEN 45-49
1. Patrick Meersschaert (Bel) Univega-Exustar…1:42:45
2. Jean Malot (Fra)…at 1:20
3. Christian Lalancette (Can)…3:54
7. Brent Peacock…13:21
MEN 50-54
1. Robert Anderson (Can)…0:53:10
2. Tony Routley (Can)…at 0:25
3. Henry Kramer…2:53
MEN 55-59
1. Christian Jupillat (Fra)…0:59:59
2. Gerard Bertrand (Fra)…at 3:46
3. Ian Parker (Can)…5:04
4. Eric Storm…12:46
MEN 60+
1. Robin Willard (Can)…1:02:04
2. Victor Barnett (GBr)…Welland Valley CC…at 1:46
3. Stan Ford…Back Alley Bikes…3:30
WOMEN 30-39
1. Ann Yew (Can)…1:26:43
2. Susan Butler…at 4:23
3. Margie Smith (Can)…4:49
WOMEN 40+
1. Gjertrud Boe (Nor)…1:02:16
2. Robichaud Linda (Can)…at 0:57
3. Jane Finsterwald…3:58


MASTER DH WORLD CHAMP’S RESULTS
MEN 30-34
1. Shaums March (Can)…Marin-Red Bull-Madmarchracing…4:56.84
2. Waylon Smith (GBr)…KHS…5:00.45
3. Tim Ponting (GBr)…5:01.14
5. Todd Olsen…5:04.35
MEN 35-39
1. David Beeson…Scott/X-Balm/D’Aio…5:13.27
2. Lars Tribus…Ironhorse-RockShox…5:13.33
3. Simon Lawton…5:13.51
MEN 40-44
1. Bryon Enns (Can)…5:13.85
2. John Fisher…5:20.73
3. Gene Hamilton…BetterRide-Ruby-Canyon…5:20.99
MEN 45-49
1. Tracy Oswell…5:26.02
2. Hugh Blackburn (NZl)…5:33.08
3. Simon Bosman…5:40.94
MEN 50-54
1. Ida Isao (Jpn)…5:20.33
2. Michael Jennings…5.27.81
3. Scott Smith…5:28.93
MEN 55+
1. Fred Joehnck…6:08.25
2. Michael Sabin…Adidas-Control Tech…6:33.30
3. John Rideout (Can)…Coves Bikes…6:58.74
WOMEN 30-34
1. Lorraine Blancher (Can)…5:59.60
2. Lynne Aitchison (GBr)…6:22.53
3. Sarin Black (Can)…Red Shreds Bike Shed…6:22.67
8. Addie Lepper…6:36.27
WOMEN 35+
1. Michelle Dumaresq (Can)…Santa Cruz-Nsmb…5:59.64
2. Petra Wiltshire (GBr)…Trek-Sram-BN3…6:18.55
3. Julie Olsen…6:33.80