Swiss: Cheesed off

Cuckoo course causes complaints

2001 World Cup champion, South African, Greg Minnaar (Global Racing), took the opportunity to get some practice runs in on the 2003 World’s course last week, when he competed in the Swiss Downhill Championships in Rivera, near Lugano. The race will be the first and last time the course will be used prior to the Champs kicking off next September.

From Greg’s reaction to the course, it looks like the designers have got plenty of work to do before anyone does battle over a Rainbow jersey: “For me this is probably the most dangerous course I’ve ridden in my career. The woods section was so steep that it was simply impossible to brake with any sort of control, and that was in the dry! I could have ridden it I guess, but not raced it, and I don’t know how the younger and less experienced riders would cope at the Worlds next year”, said Greg after the first day of training.

A lack of padding and protective barriers further increased unnecessary risk to competitors. Many of the Swiss competitors took up issue with the organisers and eventually around four minutes of the course was cut out to reduce times to around the two-minute mark.

The Australian team, who were using the event as training for the 2002 World Champs, were also withdrawn from the event by manager and former pro-Trek downhiller, Scott Sharples, following the concerns over safety. Also among the withdrawals was Finnish Global Racing rider, Matti Lehikoinen.

When the racing finally got going, it was Minnaar all the way as he put 11 seconds into his nearest rival, Swiss rider, Thomas Ryser, in the first run of two. In the second run he was slightly slower, but the damage was done, with the Global Racing rider winning with his first run time of 1:43.88.

“I thought I was actually faster in the second run, but the course was drying out and got quite sticky, so even though I ran the corners faster I know I lost time in the pedally sections. But, overall I’m pretty happy with the way things ended up: no broken bones, bike running perfectly and a win,” said Greg from his training base in Zweissimmen, Switzerland.

The Swiss national title actually went to second-place rider, Samuel Zbinden, some nine seconds behind Minnaar. Minnaar’s Swiss teammate, and defending champion, Marielle Saner, brought home the bacon in the women’s event.

Leuchs deserts Photo: © Cannondale

Road-drain sweeps up Leuchs
Kiwi Volvo-Cannondale racer, Kashi Leuchs, has been selected by road squad, Saeco-Longoni Sport as one of three stagiares to race in Italy next month. Professional road teams often hire young rookies as a form of late-season talent scouting. Fellow antipodean, Cadel Evans, also used Volvo-Cannondale as a launchpad onto the Saeco squad last year, from where he earned a spot on the Mapei team for 2002.

Leuchs will race the Giro del Lazio, the Coppa Sabatini and the Giro dell’Emilia. Of the news, Kashi said: “I’m really looking forward to riding with this team. I’ve done a lot of road riding in my career, but nothing quite like this. It will be a great experience for me.”

Before hanging up his knobblies, Leuchs will be representing New Zealand at the World Mountain Bike Championships in Kaprun, Austria.

To the Maxxis: Griffiths back on form
Ancillotti/Azonic downhiller, Fionn Griffiths, showed she was back to form after a hand injury, by comfortably winning the Maxxis Cup race in Nevegal, Italy, recently. On the infamous ex-World Cup course, she demolished the competition to post a time some seven seconds quicker than second place Marielle Saner (Global Racing).

“It was the most comfortable I have felt all season. Having my Ancillotti mechanic there, in his home country, put me at ease as I’ve had to do a lot of the mechanical work myself at other events this year, so this time I could really focus on the racing aspects”, explained Griffiths.

Her good form bodes well for the upcoming World Championships, where she hopes to secure her third podium in three years.