2013 Andorra World Cup Round 3

"After a break of over a month, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano starts up again this weekend at Vallnord, Andorra. All three disciplines - Eliminator, Olympic Cross-country and Downhill - will be showcased, starting with the Eliminator on Thursday and finishing with the Downhill on Sunday.

The Eliminator has proven to be a great success in its first full season of competition, and Round 4 in Andorra offers a completely new style of course to the riders and spectators. After dropping into a BMX-style berm corner, riders zig zag through grass corners and over three BMX jumps before hitting singletrack. However, this singletrack has multiple lines and options, so riders will have to decide on the fly which one is the fastest. Coming out of the singletrack there is a steep climb to the final 100 metres of finishing straight.

Round 1 winners Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory) and Daniel Federspiel (Otztal Scott) continue to lead the women's and men's rankings, but either could quickly lose that lead with one bad race. Engen leads Kathrin Stirnemann (Sabine Spitz Haibike) by 30 points, while Federspiel is 45 points ahead of Slovenian rider Miha Halzer.

The Cross-country returns to Andorra for the first time since 2008, and organizers have kept much of the original circuit intact. Probably the biggest factor will be the altitude - from a low point at 1850 metres (6000') and topping out at 2000 metres (6500'), riders will be gasping for air as they top the climbs. From the start riders begin climbing, first on an open grassy hill and then into singletrack. They then finish the climb on a gravel road before dropping into singletrack to lose all the altitude they just gained, then facing a short and very steep climb that should be decisive. From here the riders descend onto the Eliminator track to go over the BMX jumps and final singletrack section before climbing up to the finishing straight.

Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools), with two wins in the first three rounds of the women's series, showed superb form in the first half of the season, but does she still have that form, or have her rivals caught up? Maja Wloszczowska (Giant Pro) sits 160 points back, but could start to close the gap here. Others to watch for include Round 1 winner Eva Lechner (Colnago Sudtirol) and Katerina Nash (Luna). Lechner finished second the last time Vallnord was part of the World Cup.

In the men's competition, World Champion Nino Schurter (Scott Swisspower) is coming off back-to-back wins, and holds a 120 point lead over the surprise winner of Round 1, Daniel McConnell (Trek Factory Racing). However, McConnell continues to impress in this breakthrough season for the Australian. Julien Absalon (BMC) has finished second to Schurter in the past two rounds, and recently beat his Swiss rival at the European Championships, so he could take his first win of the season at Vallnord.

The Downhill is a completely new course, and already riders are commenting on how steep and difficult it will be. It is technical, with roots, rocks and mud, all made more difficult with the very steep final third of the run, which finishes in the town of La Massana.

The Atherton duo (GT Factory) have dominated the Gravity World Cup so far this season, with Rachel Atherton winning both rounds of the women's series, and her brother Gee doing the same for the men. Rachel Atherton holds a 120 point lead over perennial rival Emmeline Ragot (Lapierre Gravity Republic), while Gee is 138 points ahead of second place Steve Smith (Devinci Global Racing). Can the Atherton's manage a three-peat, or will someone finally break their winning streak?"

Bubba Warren of the Pivot cycles Factory DH team at andorra world cup 2013, supported by x fusion shox, spank, schwalbe, squirt lube, one industries, wtb, raceface, replay xd, elate.

2013 Vallnord WC Downhill Elite Male Qualifying Results

1	HILL Samuel	AUS19850721	CHAIN REACTION CYCLES.COM / NUKEPROOF	4:20.660
2	MINNAAR Greg	RSA19811113	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	+0.046
3	ATHERTON Gee	GBR19850226	GT FACTORY RACING	+1.344
4	BRUNI Loic	FRA19940513	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+2.884
5	THIRION Rémi	FRA19900423	COMMENCAL / RIDING ADDICTION	+3.098
6	SUDING Lorenzo	ITA19860315	GT / 360 DEGREES	+4.137
7	BRYCELAND Josh	GBR19900323	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	+4.629
8	BLENKINSOP Samuel	NZL19881028	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+5.163
9	FAIRCLOUGH Brendan	GBR19880110	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+5.173
10	MULALLY Neko	USA19930219	TREK WORLD RACING	+5.629
11	HANNAH Michael	AUS19831121	HUTCHINSON UR	+6.403
12	HART Danny	GBR19910920	GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM	+6.989
13	GUTIERREZ VILLEGAS Marcelo	COL19900509	GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM	+7.442
14	PEAT Steve	GBR19740617	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	+9.099
15	PARDAL Francisco	POR19910116	EVIL VENGEANCE TOUR	+9.403

2013 Vallnord WC Downhill Elite Female Qualifying Results

1	CARPENTER Manon	GBR19930311	MADISON SARACEN DOWNHILL TEAM	5:04.467
2	ATHERTON Rachel	GBR19871206	GT FACTORY RACING	+3.637
3	RAGOT Emmeline	FRA19860527	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+5.678
4	CHARRE Morgane	FRA19900609	MS MONDRAKER TEAM	+17.997
5	PUGIN Floriane	FRA19890417	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+18.817
6	SIEGENTHALER Emilie	SUI19860919	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+23.827
7	SEAGRAVE Tahnee°	GBR19950615	FMD RACING / INTENSE CYCLES	+26.254
8	KINTNER Jill	USA19811024	TEAM NORCO INTERNATIONAL	+27.383
9	CERNILOGAR Zarja	SLO19891218	BLACKTHORN GT	+38.321
10	GRIFFITHS Fionn	GBR19820827		+50.162
11	STONE Jessica	GBR19900914	UNIOR TOOLS TEAM	+56.996
12	BERNHARD Petra	AUT19801118	RRP GHOST	+58.458
13	PUGIN Mélanie	FRA19900503	TEAM MORZINE-AVORIAZ/HAUTE-SAVOIE	+58.884
14	MARCELLINI Alia	ITA19910711	TORPADO SURFING SHOP	+59.732
15	AGER-WICK Anita	NOR19780831		+1:00.861

2013 Vallnord WC Downhill Junior Qualifying Results

1	JONES Michael	GBR19950222	FMD RACING / INTENSE CYCLES	4:32.529
2	ALGARRA NAVARRO Daniel	ESP19950314	SPAIN	+5.785
3	WALLACE Mark	CAN19950601	DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING	+8.836
4	VERGIER Loris	FRA19960507	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+9.817
5	SHAW Luca	USA19961225	SPECIALIZED RACING DH	+14.273
6	NIEDERBERGER Noel	SUI19950821	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+15.667
7	ELLISON Luke	AUS19951030	AUSTRALIA	+16.032
8	FAYOLLE Alexandre	FRA19950720	FRANCE	+17.132
9	PIERRON Amaury	FRA19960304	FRANCE	+19.230
10	VERNASSA Gianluca	ITA19950904	DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING	+20.552
11	ESTAQUE Thomas	FRA19961115	FRANCE	+23.264
12	MARIETTA Steve	FRA19961017	FRANCE	+24.013
13	HERD Sam	GBR19960118	GREAT BRITAIN	+24.725
14	BOUTIE Benjamin	FRA19960517	FRANCE	+25.554
15	JOUET PASTRE Martin	FRA19950521	FRANCE	+25.657

2013 Vallnord UCI WC 3 Men's Final Results

1	THIRION Rémi	FRA19900423	COMMENCAL / RIDING ADDICTION	4:13.666
2	ATHERTON Gee	GBR19850226	GT FACTORY RACING	+1.350
3	HILL Samuel	AUS19850721	CHAIN REACTION CYCLES.COM / NUKEPROOF	+1.756
4	SMITH Steve	CAN19891125	DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING	+2.273
5	BROSNAN Troy	AUS19930713	SPECIALIZED RACING DH	+2.476
6	MINNAAR Greg	RSA19811113	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	+2.549
7	HART Danny	GBR19910920	GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM	+2.975
8	BRUNI Loic	FRA19940513	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+3.548
9	GUTIERREZ VILLEGAS Marcelo	COL19900509	GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM	+3.979
10	GWIN Aaron	USA19871224	SPECIALIZED RACING DH	+4.376
11	PEAT Steve	GBR19740617	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	+5.171
12	BLENKINSOP Samuel	NZL19881028	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+5.214
13	FAIRCLOUGH Brendan	GBR19880110	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+5.844
14	FIGARET Faustin	FRA19931107	TOPCYCLE BY TREK	+6.543
15	BEAUMONT Marc	GBR19840925	GT FACTORY RACING	+6.836

2013 Vallnord UCI WC 3 Women's Final Results

1	ATHERTON Rachel	GBR19871206	GT FACTORY RACING	4:47.778
2	CARPENTER Manon	GBR19930311	MADISON SARACEN DOWNHILL TEAM	+1.617
3	NICOLE Myriam	FRA19900208	COMMENCAL / RIDING ADDICTION	+11.450
4	RAGOT Emmeline	FRA19860527	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+12.673
5	PUGIN Floriane	FRA19890417	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+18.052
6	CHARRE Morgane	FRA19900609	MS MONDRAKER TEAM	+26.262
7	SEAGRAVE Tahnee°	GBR19950615	FMD RACING / INTENSE CYCLES	+26.659
8	KINTNER Jill	USA19811024	TEAM NORCO INTERNATIONAL	+29.914
9	GRIFFITHS Fionn	GBR19820827		+43.519
10	SIEGENTHALER Emilie	SUI19860919	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+47.261
11	BERNHARD Petra	AUT19801118	RRP GHOST	+50.184
12	STONE Jessica	GBR19900914	UNIOR TOOLS TEAM	+53.740
13	COLUMB Alanna	NZL19880723		+54.811
14	AGER-WICK Anita	NOR19780831		+54.970
15	PUGIN Mélanie	FRA19900503	TEAM MORZINE-AVORIAZ/HAUTE-SAVOIE	+58.780

2013 Vallnord UCI WC 3 Junior's Final Results

1	JONES Michael	GBR19950222	FMD RACING / INTENSE CYCLES	4:23.644
2	VERGIER Loris	FRA19960507	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+0.468
3	ALGARRA NAVARRO Daniel	ESP19950314	SPAIN	+6.122
4	FAYOLLE Alexandre	FRA19950720	FRANCE	+8.124
5	SHAW Luca	USA19961225	SPECIALIZED RACING DH	+8.354
6	VERNASSA Gianluca	ITA19950904	DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING	+8.461
7	ELLISON Luke	AUS19951030	AUSTRALIA	+9.191
8	ZABJEK Jure	SLO19951011	UNIOR TOOLS TEAM	+9.369
9	LUCAS Dean	AUS19950502	AUSTRALIA	+10.122
10	NIEDERBERGER Noel	SUI19950821	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+13.117
11	JOUET PASTRE Martin	FRA19950521	FRANCE	+14.157
12	HERD Sam	GBR19960118	GREAT BRITAIN	+16.191
13	KAMMLEIN - CUTLER Raphael	NZL19950328	NEW-ZEALAND	+17.277
14	ESTAQUE Thomas	FRA19961115	FRANCE	+18.305
15	COLOMBO Francesco	ITA19951209	TEAM AIROH AXO SANTACRUZ	+18.376