Soukup, Kraft win Bike the Rock

Naf wins in Switzerland; New Mexico’s Chile Challenge

By Fred Dreier

Soukup, Kraft win Bike the Rock
Austrian Christoph Soukup (Fuji) took the second round of Germany’s Bundesliga national cross-country series, the Bike the Rock race in Heubach on May 24. The Austrian climbed away from German Moritz Milatz (Multivan-Merida) and world champion Julien Absalon (Orbea) to take his biggest win of 2008.

“My legs worked really fine in the uphill,” Soukup said.

Taking the women’s race was 37-year-old German Ivonne Kraft (Joybike), who out-descended French rider Sabrina Enaux to take the win. Noticeably absent were reigning Olympic champ Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå (Multivan-Merida) and world champ Irina Kalentieva (Ergon-Topeak). Dahle Flesja is recovering from a crash and Kalentieva is suffering from a cold. Both women are questionable for the fourth round of the 2008 UCI World Cup, to be held June 1 in Vallnord, Andorra.

Bike the Rock
Men
1. Christoph Soukup (Aut), Fuji, 1:58:59
2. Moritz Milatz (G), Multivan-Merida, at 1:39
3. Julien Absalon (F), Orbea, at 2:44
4. Fabian Giger (Swi), MIG team, at 3:22
5. Wolfram Kurschat (G), Ergon-Topeak, at 6:05

Women
1. Ivonne Kraft (G), Joybike-MBC Bochum, at 1:34:28
2. Sabrina Enaux (F), Lapierre, at 0:06
3. Hanna Klein (G), Rothaus-Cube, at 5:41
4. Julie Krasniak (F), Lapierre, at 7:07
5. Silke Schmidt (F), Fuji, at 7:25

Naf, Spitz win Swisspower Cup
Swiss rider Ralph Naf (Multivan-Merida) took his first victory of 2008 at the fourth Swisspower Cup round in Granichen, Switzerland on May 25.

Naf, the silver medalist at the 2007 world championships, took the victory by 59 seconds ahead of countryman Martin Gujan, with Lukas Fluckiger finishing third. The victory was an important win for Naf, who holds Olympic ambitions but has not yet become eligible to be selected for Switzerland’s team.

Taking the victory in the women’s race was recently crowned European cross-country champion Sabine Spitz (Ghost International). Spitz, silver medalist at the 2007 world championships, held off Swiss rider Katrin Leumann for the win.

Swisspower Cup No. 4
Men
1. Ralph Naf (Swi), Multivan-Merida, 1:42:12
2. Martin Gujan (Swi), Athleticum MTB Team, at 0:59
3. Lukas Fluckiger (Swi), Athleticum MTB team, at 1:24
4. Jean-Christoph Peraud (F), Orbea, at at 2:51
5. Nicola Rohrbach (Swi), Ghost International, at at 3:02

Women
1. Sabine Spitz (G), Ghost International, 1:27:50
2. Katrin Leumann (Swi), goldwurst, at 0:17
3. Maroussia Rusca (Swi), Scott, at 1:18
4. Esther Suss (Swi), Wheeler Pro, at 1:49
5. Marielle Saner (Swi), Bikepark.ch, at 2:07

Chile Challenge Results
The Chile Challenge in Angel Fire, New Mexico, celebrated its 20th birthday over Memorial Day weekend. The event hosted gravity and cross-country races, as well as the 2008 USA Cycling national championships for mountain cross. California’s Rich Houseman (Yeti-Fox) and Arizona’s Melissa Buhl (KHS) escaped with the stars-and-stripes jerseys for that event. The weekend produced a score of other champions.

Shimano cross-country
Men
1. Jay Henry, Tokyo Joe’s, 1:58:04
2. Ross Schnell, Trek-Volkswagen, 2:00:16
3. Brian Fuentes, Waltworks, 2:00:17
4. Brian Smith, Trek-Volkswagen, 2:04:19
5. Josh Bezecny, 2:06:34

Women
1. Katie Compton, Spike Shooter, 1:43:10
2. Jennifer Smith (NZ), Trek-Volkswagen, 1:44:18
3. Kelli Emmett, Giant, 1:49:38
4. Gretchen Reeves, Tokyo Joe’s, 1:51:18
5. Judy Freeman, Tough Girl-Contessa, 1:52:52

Habanero Downhill
Men
1. Kieran Bennett, Ironhorse, 5:19.71
2. Leonard Kain, Crested Butte Academy, 5:19.73
3. Eli Krahenbuhl, Trek-Fox, 5:23.42
4. Lars Sternberg, Fluidride, 5:24.31
5. Bradley Benedict, X-Fusion/Santa Cruz, 5:25.22

Women
1. Melissa Buhl, KHS, 6:15.72
2. Lisa Myklak, Spider-Black Market, 6:52.54
3. Abigail Hippely, Yeti, 7:05.41
4. Jaqueline Harmony, Zumb-Loeka, 7:06.81
5. Darian Harvey, Sobe-Cannondale, 7:09.45

Poblano Super D
Men
1. Nicolas Enjalbert, Velox, 18:47.22
2. Aitken Chawakee, Bike and Bean, 18:50.81
3. Christian Ball, Mafia Racing, 19:12.58
4. Zachariah White, Giant Grassroots, 19:25.71
5. Damon Gilbert, RockShox, 19:33.88

Women
1. Lynn Bush, Tough Girl-Contessa, 24:23.42
2. Nancy Morlock, Moab Cyclery, 24:28.90
3. Danae York, Velobum.com, 24:39.60
4. Connie Misket, Velo Bella, 24:50.41
5. Ann Fitzsimmons, Fox Racing, 25:49.56

Fox Racing Shox Mountain Cross (non-national-championship race)
Men
1. Petr Hanak (CZ), Total Wired Cyclery
2. Erik Nelson, Thor-Michelin
3. Rich Houseman, Yeti-Fox
4. Eric Carter, Mongoose
5. Kain Leonard, Crested Butte Academy

Women
1. Melissa Buhl, KHS
2. Jessica Vogt, Turner
3. Neven Steinmetz, Totally Wired
4. Stephanie Hatalsky, Crested Butte Academy
5. Rachel Bauer, Team Dead Bros

FILED UNDER: Mountain