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Jonnier doubles in Mont Sainte-Anne four-cross

by VeloNews.com

• June 26, 2004
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By Chris Milliman, Special to VeloNews

Jonnier does the double

Photo: Mark Dawson

It seems that Sabrina Jonnier may have found a cure for jet lag: a ton of bike racing.

Jonnier (Intense), who rode little yesterday because of acute jet lag, had been off the downhill awards podium for less than 30 minutes when she entered the gate for the opening heat of Saturday night’s four-cross event at Mont Sainte-Anne. Having just won her first World Cup downhill of the year, Jonnier had a ready-made excuse for skipping the evening’s four-cross. But given a course with high speeds, some nerve-rattling jumps, and an alternate route thrown in for good measure, Jonnier could hardly pass it up.

“I didn’t get to ride the course too many times yesterday because I was so tired from the trip over,” said Jonnier. “But maybe that’s better for me. If I don’t think about a course too much, I seem to ride much better. This course was interesting, which I like.”

Prokop didn’t care for the course — but he won anyway

Photo: Mark Dawson

Jonnier got the best start of the four finalists, leading into the main section of big jumps. Jill Kintner (Yeti-RPM) put up a good chase through the lower berms, but Jonnier held all the cards on what was the first ever four-cross/downhill double-gold day of her career.

While Jonnier applauded the course, defending four-cross world champion Michal Prokop (Author) did not. But he liked it enough to easily win.

“There were too many mountain-bike elements in the course,” observed Prokop after his win. “I prefer a course with flatter turns and without things like log jumps, a track more like a BMX course.”

The Czech BMX pro, who juggles pro careers in both sports, posted the fastest qualifying time, was fastest in every heat, and seemed to be riding in a different universe than his competitors.

“I just tried to keep it smooth,” said Prokop. “I rode the course a lot coming into today, so that helped me be smooth and that’s where I got fast.”

Mont Sainte-Anne World Cup
Four-cross
Women
1. Sabrina Jonnier (F), Intense
2. Jill Kintner (USA), Yeti RPM
3. Tara Llanes (USA), Giant-Pearl Izumi
4. Marla Streb (USA), Luna

Men
1. Michal Prokop (Cze), Author
2. Bas De Bever (Ned), Be One-Madhouse
3. Brian Schmidt (USA), Mongoose-Hyundai
4. Guido Tschugg (G), Fusion

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