Junior Race Day - XC World Championships

Jul 1, 2016
by Irmo Keizer  
Yesterday's rain caused a slight panic for many riders as they geared up for the XCO World Champs. Minds calmed as the sun warmed up the Czech hillside at Nove Mesto, cranking up the heat significantly with a humidity which would make Cairns jealous. The juniors got their chance for glory today, and they gave it their all, hoping for a result that would keep them on the path towards elite stardom.

Discussions on bike setup in the BMC pits. Julian is a favorite here but he doesn t have home track advantage.
Discussions on bike setup in the BMC pits. Julian is a favorite here, but he doesn't have home track advantage.

Manny was popular with the younger fans today.
Manny was popular with the younger fans today.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
As was Nino Schurter, who was in a relaxed mood as he chatted away with fans and signed autographs.

The pace has been slow these last couple days. Riders spend most of their time with their federations this week but they sneak back to home away from home for lunch.
The pace has been slow these last couple days. Riders spend most of their time with their federations this week, but they sneak back to home away from home for lunch.

They start them young here in Czech.
They start them young here in Czech.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
...but you're never to young to sprint. Claim that moment!

The track was a bit slick after last nights rain. It is drying out quickly and we could be back to dust by tomorrow afternoon.
The track was a bit slick after last night's rain. It is drying out quickly and we could be back to dust by tomorrow afternoon.

New line choices needed to be made after yesterdays thunderstorms.
New line choices needed to be made after yesterday's thunderstorms.

The quiet in the woods didn t last long. The fans were out in force come mid day.
The quiet in the woods didn't last long. The fans were out in force come mid-day.

It s only Friday and the air raid sirens are already winding up. Fans here are on another level.
It's only Friday and the air raid sirens are already winding up. Fans here are on another level.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Czech TV coverage is on another level.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Filip Meirhaeghe from Belgium goes way back. Racing downhill and cross-country back in the day, he now trains the Belgian squad in technical skills.

Looks like that answers the question of who has the biggest bells of them all.
Looks like that answers the question of who has the biggest bells of them all.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Ida Jansson meant business today. She rode away from the field right from the start and never looked back

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Chasing hard, trying to catch second place rider Martina Berta,

Martina Berta mashing up one of the climbs to second place.
Martina Berta mashing up one of the climbs to second place.

The stands were full in the woods today.
The stands were full in the woods today.

Helene Clauzel gets low in the rough stuff.
Helene Clauzel gets low in the rough stuff.

Ida Jansson weaving her way through the sweet Nove Mesto single track.
Ida Jansson weaving her way through the sweet Nove Mesto single track.

Might as well catch your your breath when things go wrong and you have to wait for a tire change.
Might as well catch your breath when things go wrong and you have to wait for a tire change.

Ida Jansson powering up the big climb to a first place finish.
Ida Jansson powering up the big climb to a first place finish.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Ride your race, then film the others.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
An emotional victory as a slightly disappointing season resulted in a huge win.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Sean Fincham had a great start and led the field into the woods.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
The French have an army of bikers. Thomas Bonnet took an impressive win today.

Christopher Blevins was having a solid race until a mechanical set him back. Blevins finished fourth.
Christopher Blevins was having a solid race until a mechanical set him back. Blevins finished fourth.

Chaos as usual unfolded mid pack in the Rock n Roll section.
Chaos as usual unfolded mid-pack in the Rock n Roll section.

Just shouting from up high.
Just shouting from up high.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
99 riders weaving the woods.

There were an awful lot of fans out there on a Friday for the juniors. Crowds will be insane tomorrow.
There were an awful lot of fans out there on a Friday for the juniors. Crowds will be insane tomorrow.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
In full concentration, Bonnet forgot he was about to finish and rode in flat out.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Moments later, as he was flagged down by a marshall, he realized he had just become World Champ.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Sharing the moment with family.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Its all about the bling.

Images for the 2016 Junior Race Day - XC World Championships
Who will be on the top step tomorrow? Tune in for more World Champs coverage.

Nove Mesto is rocking as today's junior women's race was won by Ida Jansson, with Lisa Pasteiner in second and Martina Berta in third. The men's race was won by Thomas Bonnet, followed by Vital Albin and Tobias Halland.

Prepare for insanely crowded, intense racing tomorrow.

Author Info:
ikeizer avatar

Member since Jun 4, 2009
43 articles

19 Comments
  • 6 0
 Does anyone know if the race got recorded? It was sweet seeing the relay race
  • 2 0
 It did but not sure where to see it.
  • 1 0
 I've only seen the highlights of the junior races on UCI youtube channel.
  • 2 0
 It is on the Czech TV website. However, that is not accessible outside of the Czech Rep. due to copyright. You would have to use a VPN or something.

Just in case: www.ceskatelevize.cz/sport/ostatni/cyklistika/335109-nash-dojela-sedma-tituly-vybojovali-langvadova-a-gaze
  • 4 0
 The first photo is actually Quinton Disera leading the pack. Sean Fincham hit a fence near the start and dropped back to mid-thirties.
  • 1 0
 He was 8th according to the UCI results page?
  • 1 0
 @wallheater: Ya sean pulled it back for 8th, Quinton with the hole shot he finished 12th i think.
  • 3 0
 The competetion among the young guns appears to be more interesting than the elites.
  • 5 1
 Lest we forget: Filip Meirhaeghe is also a doper...
  • 1 0
 There is a long list of cyclists testing positive and being sanctioned from 1965 when doping was made illegal .. my favorite story was Michel pollentier in 1982 who got caught with clean pee trying to cheat the test. The clincher is that his en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_doping_cases_in_cycling pee tested negative.. here is a link to the list
  • 5 1
 Meirhaeghe also training on PED use?
  • 3 0
 Glad to say he will never make that mistake again. He's gone through (personal) hell after his own usage and he's not one of those ***holes trying to deny it all.
  • 1 0
 @ikeizer: I'm sure that the clean athletes he beat and took glory and prize money away from are feeling all fuzzy inside knowing that...
  • 2 0
 @P3N54: don't get me wrong. He did shit to the sport. I do respect him for not bullshittong afterwards though. But nonetheless, PED users suck. Bigtime.
  • 3 0
 I guess not.The Redbull TV only film the live of elite,no juniors.
  • 1 0
 Lea and Kate do not have to sneak away to see each other. They both race for Specialized and the USA. They are always together
  • 3 0
 Yes Christopher Blevins!
  • 1 0
 Watch out for Blevins in the future!
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.043662
Mobile Version of Website