Dahle resumes winning ways in Madrid
- By Andrew Hood
- Published May. 8, 2005
Gunn-Rita Dahle wasn’t about to lose again. After all, the reigning mountain-bike queen hadn´t lost a World Cup since 2002 until Canadian phenom Marie-Helene Premont ended the streak two weeks ago in Spa.
The Norwegian blasted away on the first of five laps and Premont simply didn´t have the legs to follow under a hot Iberian sun on a fast, dusty course in Madrid´s Casa de Campo in front a rowdy, cheering crowd.
“I’m a sore loser,” Dahle said after crossing the line with bike in hand. “After Spa, I really wanted to win again and I really like this course, so I came here extra motivated.”
Dahle had so much time that she got off her bike before the finish line, bowed to the cheering crowd and hoisted her frame high before striding triumphantly to victory.
Premont (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) stayed within 15 seconds of Dahle in the opening two laps, but slipped to 22 seconds and then 45 seconds back after four laps. By then, Premont was more worried about a trio of riders threatening her from behind.
“Gunn-Rita was too strong today,” Premont said. “I am satisfied that I finished second today. I had traveled a lot and wasn’t training at my best before the race, so to be back on the podium is good for me.”
Premont and Dahle are tied for the overall, but Dahle (Merida) takes the World Cup leader´s jersey because she was the winner Sunday.
Taking third was the hard-fighting Sabrina Spitz (Specialized Factory), who moved up from a slow start to catch local fave Marga Fullana and Irina Kalentieva in the penultimate lap. Fullana crashed on gravel while cornering in the final lap and Spitz charged away from the Russian featherweight late to snag the final podium spot.
“I didn’t have a good start and it’s hard to pass on this course because it’s so fast,” she said. “I put in a big effort to catch the two others in lap four, that was the key part for me.”
Mary McConneloug rode well, finishing in the top 10, while Alison Sydor came through seventh.
Results
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor), Merida, 1:42:49
2. Marie-Helene Premont (Can), Rocky Mountain-Business Objects, 1:43:31
3. Sabine Spitz (G), Specialized, 1:43:56
4. Irina Kalentieva (Rus), Merida, 1:43:58
5. Lene Byberg (Nor), Merida, 1:44:37
6. Margarita Fullana (Sp), K2, 1:44:50
7. Alison Sydor (Can), , 1:45:18
8. Mary McConneloug (USA), 1:46:09
9. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol), Lotto-Domo, 1:46:33
10. Ivonne Kraft (G), 1:46:50
Photo Gallery
FILED UNDER: Mountain
Andrew Hood
Hood cut his journalistic teeth at Colorado dailies before the web boom opened the door to European cycling in the mid-1990s. Hood's covered every Tour since 1996 and has been VeloNews' European correspondent since 2002. He lives in Leon, Spain, when he's not chasing bike races.