Monday news briefs: Cougar victim improving; Pezzo wants a third; Nothstein on track

A former Marine who was attacked by a mountain lion while mountain-bikeriding in a wilderness area in Southern California has been upgraded to fair condition, hospital officials said Sunday.

“Her recovery is truly miraculous,” said the victim’s husband, JamesHjelle.

Anne Hjelle, 30, was rescued Thursday from the mountain lion’s jawsby her cycling companion, Debbie Nichols. The big cat had pounced on Hjelleand tried to drag her away, but Nichols grabbed her friend’s leg and heldon as other cyclists threw rocks at the mountain lion until it let go.

Authorities believe the same mountain lion earlier that day attackedand killed another cyclist, St. Joseph, Missouri, native Mark Reynolds,35 (see “Cougarvictim was former CTS employee“).

Tests were being conducted on a two-year-old, 110-pound male mountainlion that was tracked from the site by Orange County sheriff’s deputiesand killed. Tissue believed to be human was found in its stomach and DNAtests were planned to confirm a match, said Steve Edinger of the CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game.
(The Associated Press)

Pezzo on Specialized for Olympic run
Two-time Olympic gold medalist and longtime Gary Fisher rider, Paola Pezzo, has made the jump to Specialized for her run at gold medal No. 3 this summer.The announcement came last week when Pezzo celebrated her 35th birthday in her native Italy. Pezzo’s primary sponsor will be Gatorade, but she’ll use Specialized bikes, helmets and shoes.“I’m really happy that this all came together for my birthday party,” said Pezzo in a press release issued by Specialized. “I am honored to have Specialized as my technical sponsor for Team Gatorade in my quest for a third gold medal in Athens.”

Nothstein and Madsen at Bremen six
Navigators’ Marty Nothstein has teamed up with Denmark’s Jimmi Madsenfor the 40th edition of the Bremen six-day in Germany. The pair was victoriouson the opening night of competition, and are currently leading the point’scompetition.

With two nights of racing remaining, Nothstein and Madsen are in sixthplace overall with the Swiss pair of Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart leadingthe field.

Aussies warming up for Tour Down Under
Baden Cooke (Skilled Team) took the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic, in Victoria,Australia, a five-day series raced as a points omnium.

Cooke finished the series with 41 points, besting second-placed DavidMcKenzie (Bicycle Superstore) by 11 points and third-place Matt Wilson(Skilled Team) by 17.

McKenzie, the newest member of the Navigators squad is expected to hookup with his new teammates on Wednesday as they prepare for their firstofficial race of the new season, the Jacobs Creek Tour Down Under.