Published October 6, 2008 11:34AM
By Fred Dreier
Colombian Leonardo Paez and Swiss Petra Henzi won the second and final round of the UCI Marathon Mountain bike World Cup, held in Ornans, France on October 5. Paez (Gewiss-Bianchi), took a two-minute victory ahead of Swiss rider Lukas Buchli, with newly crowned German marathon champ Karl Platt (Bulls) in third.
With his win, Paez took the World Cup overall, beating defending champ Thomas Dietsch (Gewiss-Bianchi), 390 points to 370. Austrian Alban Lakata (Dolphin-Trek) finished third.
The victory was a return to the winner’s circle for Paez, who sprung on the international scene in 2006, when he finished fifth at the UCI world cross-country championships in Rotorua, New Zealand, won the UCI marathon World Cup overall and dominated Costa Rica’s La Ruta de los Conquistadores race. Paez missed much of the 2007 season to a knee injury, and was slow to bounce back in 2008.
Henzi (Fischer-BMC) won the 83km race ahead of compatriot Esther Suss. Finland’s Pia Sundstedt finished in sixth place, but escaped with the series overall.
2008 UCI Marathon World Cup No. 2
Ornans, France
October 5
Men
1. Leonardo Paez (Col), 4:17:12
2. Lukas Buchli (Swi), at 2:04
3. Karl Platt (G), at 3:13
4. Alban Lakata (Aut), at 4:26
5. Urs Huber (Swi), at 5:58
Women
1. Petra Henzi (Swi), 3:38:12
2. Esther Suss (Swi), at 2:14
3. Blaza Klemencic (Slo), at 2:47
4. Sabrina Enaux (F), at 4:20
5. Michela Benzoni (I), at 8:45
Final World Cup Standings
Men
1. Leonardo Paez (Col), 390 points
2. Thomas Dietsch (F), 370
3. Alban Lakata (Aut), 350
4. Karl Platt (G), 320
5. Jochen Kass (G), 210
Women
1. Pia Sundstedt (Fin), 380 points
2. Esther Suss (Swi), 360
3. Blaza Klemencic (Slo), 310
4. Petra Henzi (Swi), 250
5. Janka Stevkova (Svk), 230
UCI Announces 2009 World Cup Schedule
The 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will run April 11through September 20, and will include eight stops. The series will visit traditional venues such as Houffalize, Belgium and Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec, as well as a new venue at La Bresse, France and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
2009 UCI World Cup Schedule
APRIL
11-12 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. XC/DH/4X
25-26 Offenburg, Germany. XC
MAY
2-3 Houffalize, Belgium. XC/4X
9-10 La Bresse, France. DH
16-17 Vallnord, Andorra. DH, 4X
23-24 Madrid, Spain. XC
JUNE
6-7 Fort William, Scotland. XC/DH/4X
20-21 Maribor, Slovenia. DH/4X
JULY
25-26 Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec. XC/DH/4X
AUGUST
1-2 Bromont, Quebec. XC/DH/4X
SEPTEMBER
12-13 Champery, Switzerland. XC
12-20 Schladming, Austria. XC/DH/4X
2008 UCI Marathon World Cup No. 2
Ornans, France
October 5
Men
1. Leonardo Paez (Col), 4:17:12
2. Lukas Buchli (Swi), at 2:04
3. Karl Platt (G), at 3:13
4. Alban Lakata (Aut), at 4:26
5. Urs Huber (Swi), at 5:58
Women
1. Petra Henzi (Swi), 3:38:12
2. Esther Suss (Swi), at 2:14
3. Blaza Klemencic (Slo), at 2:47
4. Sabrina Enaux (F), at 4:20
5. Michela Benzoni (I), at 8:45
Final World Cup Standings
Men
1. Leonardo Paez (Col), 390 points
2. Thomas Dietsch (F), 370
3. Alban Lakata (Aut), 350
4. Karl Platt (G), 320
5. Jochen Kass (G), 210
Women
1. Pia Sundstedt (Fin), 380 points
2. Esther Suss (Swi), 360
3. Blaza Klemencic (Slo), 310
4. Petra Henzi (Swi), 250
5. Janka Stevkova (Svk), 230