Winners speak after MTB Worlds
The Mountain Bike World Championships were held last weekend at Mont-Sainte-Anne in the Canadian province of Quebec, following all six World Cups. Normally, one or more World Cups take place after the Championships, but this year they were repositioned so that the Championships can be the finale of the season. Since the event, the top performers in each category have been making the interview circuit in the cycling world. Jose Antonio Hermida became the first Spaniard to win the elite men’s cross country competition, who first competed in the World Championships 14 years ago.
"I've been waiting for this for so long," said Hermida. "I really wanted to win Worlds. It's a great feeling to be part of the top of the sport and part of my country's success."
Polish cyclist Maja Wloszczowska won the gold medal in the elite women’s cross country competition after winning the fifth World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy, and skipping the final World Cup, held in Windham, New York the weekend before the championships.
"Last year, I couldn't start and in 2007, I didn't finish due to a crash. I had been missing the gold and now I have it," said Wloszczowska. "Next year will be some pressure. When you are wearing the world champion's jersey, you have to be at the front," she said, "but I think I will be more motivated for the World Cups next year."
The under-23 men’s cross county competition was the second major victory for Swiss rider Mathias Flückiger, who came to the Championships fresh from an overall win of the World Cup achieved the previous weekend. He won the race despite a flat tire and a sore knee from a crash the previous day, and was joined on the podium by two of his Swiss countrymen.
"I've had a good season, and I finished it off well here at the world championships," said Flückiger. "I also won the Under 23 World Cup. Last week, I was at the World Cup final, which isn't the best preparation for worlds, but I was able to win."
The junior men’s cross country was won by Dutchman Michael Van Der Heijden after wins in the first three World Cups earlier in the summer and skipped the last three, a great way to spend his last season as a junior. He will be riding as an under-23 rider in the 2011 season, and has signed a contract to ride for Team Rabobank.
"It's my first time (winning Worlds). It's fantastic,” said Van Der Heijden. “Everything was good from the warm up to the last lap. I thought maybe it would be my day, but then by the second lap, I knew for sure it was my day."
The elite women’s four-cross was won by Caroline Buchanan, the Australian’s second consecutive World Championship victory in that category, after taking it in front of her homeland audience when the Mountain Bike World Championships were hosted in Canberra, Australia in 2009. The event, held at night under the lights of the mountain, was high pressured, but she says the pressure and stress pushed her right to the finish line.
"It feels just as good. I think I'm someone who thrives under pressure. I used it last year with 10,500 screaming fans. Last year I had more home crowd support, but I had to calm my nerves more. This year, I still got butterflies in my stomach, but I was more relaxed. I knew the track wouldn't be as good for me this year, but I had to get out in front and then I knew I'd be ok."
With two championships under her belt, 19-year-old Buchanan will be spending the next two seasons as a BMX rider with the goal of competing in the 2012 Olympics. In the meantime, she will be setting mountain-biking aside.
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