A top opening day of racing at the European MTB Championships
in Rhenen, Holland saw World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) rider Liam Killeen
pull off the "Big One" with a resounding victory in the Junior race. He
was an impressive 3min32sec clear of runner-up, Worlds silver medallist Florian
Vogel, with Czech Pavel Boudny third, a further 23 seconds back.



It was also the day that the WCPP Under-23 guys showed their real potential with
Ian Wilkinson in a fine 6th place behind World Champion, Jose Hermida (Spain), with
Phil Dixon 14th. Both Tim Morley and Jody Crawforth were on course for top 10 and
top 20 placings respectively when they were forced out with mechanicals on a circuit
that was a huge test of bodies and machines.



However, the day belonged to Liam "Killer" Killeen, a prodigious talent
who now has a taste for winning Championships!



Junior Men

1 Liam Killeen (GBr) 1 hours 57 minutes 19 seconds

2 Florian Vogel (Swi) @ 3.31

3 Pavel Boudny (Czr) @ 3.54

4 Bart Aernouts (Bel) @ 5.26

5 Jonas Holmkvist (Swe) @ 5.32



Men Espoirs (U23):

1 Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) 2 hours 15 minutes 20 seconds

2 Haakon Austad (Nor) @ 3.30

3 Thijs Al (Ned) @ 4.30

4 Cédric Ravanel (Fra) @ 4.43

5 Davy Coenen (Bel) @ 5.45

6 Ian Wilkinson (GBr) @ 5.53

14 Philip Dixon (GBr) @ 10.55