Mountain Bike Resources Online - Mountain Biking News - September 22nd

September 22nd, 1996

World Championships

Cairns, Australia
Sunday 9/22/96

Men's Cross Country

Being the last major event of the season, frenchman Jerome Chiotti sure picked the right time to peak. Despite a strong performance this season, this was Chiotti's first major win of 1996. Because the Worlds come down to just one race, Chiotti will reign as World Champion until next year's event in Chateaux-d'Aux, Switzerland (9/12/97 to 9/21/97). Taking the silver (for the fourth time) was Thomas Frischknecht (SUI) and Rune Hoydal (NOR) took the bronze.

1. Chiotti, Jerome FRA 58.4km in 2:37:36.3
2. Frischknecht, Thomas SUI @ 1:57.1
3. Hoydal, Rune NOR @ 2:06.6
4. Pallhuber, Hubert ITA @2:29.7
5. Djernis, Henrik DEN @ 5:55.0
6. Brentjens, Bart NED @ 7:08.9
7. Savignoni, Jean-Christophe FRA @ 7:36.3
8. Brenes, AndresCRC @ 7:53.8
9. Fontana, Alessandro ITA @ 8:00.5
10. Kristensen, Lennie DEN @ 8:48.7
19. Price, Daryl USA @ 12:12.3
22. Sallenbach, Warren CAN @ 14:30.2
23. Juarez, Tinker USA @ 14:41.3

Women's Cross Country

For the men, John Tomac, while not in the race to begin with, showed his versatility by winning the event. The overall series went to defending champion Nicolas Vouilloz (GT) thanks to Tomi Misser's (Kona-Volvo) 40th place finish due to a fall in slippery conditions.

With Olympic gold medal champion Paola Pezzo back at the Anaheim Interbike Trade Show signing autographs, the overwhelming women's favorite, Alison Sydor (CAN), easily won her second straight World Championship. Taking the silver was American Ruthie Matthes followed by Italian Maria Paolo Turcutto.

1. Sydor, Alison CAN 2:05.56
2. Matthes, Ruthie USA @ 1:52.8
3. Turcutto, Maria Paolo ITA 2:02.9
4. De Negri, Nadia ITA @ 3:57.8
5. DeMattei, Susan USA @ 4:52.2
6. Stropparo, Annabella ITA @ 7:09.1
7. Leboucher, Laurence FRA @ 7:21.0
8. Ballantyne, Sara USA @ 7:58.4
9. Epifanova, Alla/RUS @ 8:11.9
10. Dahle, Gunn-Rita NOR @ 8:31.4
12 Jaques, Tammy USA @ 9:30.8
17. Coats, Beth USA @ 12:49.4
26. Kain, Shari USA @ 16:07.2

Men's Downhill

Nicolas Vouilloz (FRA) won his second consecutive World Championship. Rising star Shaun Palmer finishes a close 2nd and Bas De Bever (NED) takes third.

1. Vouilloz FRA 4:54.79
2. Palmer USA 4:54.94 @ 0.15
3. De Bever, Bas NED 4:55.12 @ 0.33
4. Carter USA 4:56.50 @ 1.71
5. King USA 4:57.22 @ 2.43

Women's Downhill

Anne-Caroline Chausson wins a close battle for the Gold, beating last year's champion Leigh Donovan by .18 seconds. The victory was sweet revenge for Chausson, who last year, despite beating Donovan's time by 6 seconds, wasn't allowed the Senior Women's crown because of her age.

1. Chausson FRA 5:27.58
2. Donovan USA 5:27.76 @.18
3. Giove USA @ 3.79
4. Bonazzi ITA @ 11.79
5. Sonier USA @ 12.85