Paulissen, Dahle-Flesja take Marathon world titles

Sauser relegated after finish-line crash

By Fred Dreier

Belgium’s Roel Paulissen and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå of Norway have won the 2008 UCI marathon mountain biking world championships, in Villabassa, Italy on Saturday.

The 119 km course wound a long lap through the Südtirol Dolomiti area of northern Italy.

Paulissen came into the finishing chute alongside Swiss rider Christoph Sauser, the reigning marathon world champ who claimed the cross-country world title two weeks ago in Val di Sole, Italy. But the two crashed as they started their sprint for the finish. Sauser re-mounted his rig first, crossing the line with Paulissen behind. But UCI officials relegated the Swiss rider to second place, giving Paulissen, a longtime veteran of the World Cup scene, his first-ever rainbow stripes.

Dahle Flesjå took a narrow victory ahead of Sabine Spitz of Germany in the 88.6km women’s race with Pia Sundstedt of Finland finishing third. The victory marks Dahle Flesjå’s fourth marathon title, and first world championship since recovering from a stomach virus in 2007.

2008 UCI marathon world championships
Villabassa, Italy
July 5, 2008

Men
1. Roel Paulissen (B), 4:46:56
2. Christoph Sauser (Swi), s.t.
3. Urs Huber (Swi), at 5:00
4. Leon Paez (Col), at 8:17
5. Ralph Naf (Swi), at 9:14

Women
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå (Nor), 4:09:56
2. Sabine Spitz (G), at 2:44
3. Pia Sundstedt (Fin), at 3:39

FILED UNDER: Mountain