Verviers, Belguim, hosted the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships at the weekend. The event was marked by a couple of absences, both Gunn-Rita Dahle - recovering from a virus - and Bart Brentjens - injured his hand riding earlier in the week - failed to make the start line.
With no Dahle, it was down to Petra Henzi to take the win. The Swiss rider managed to stay clear of Sabine Spitz, 2.07 down, and Pia Sundstedt, 11.59 behind.
In the men's race, Christoph Sauser made it a double win for Switzerland. Roel Pualissen and Thomas Deitsch filled the remaining top spots on the podium.
Results
Men
1. Christoph Sauser (Swi) 106 km in 4h23:14
2. Roel Paulissen (Bel) @ 5:15
3. Thomas Dietsch (Fra) @ 7:18
4. Leonardo Paez (Col) @ 8:13
5. Massimo De Bertolis (Ita) @ 8:42
6. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) @ 9:43
7. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) s.t.
8. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) s.t.
9. Karl Platt (Ger) s.t.
10. Alban Lakata (Aus) @ 10:04
Women
1. Petra Henzi (Swi) 106 km in 5h12:11
2. Sabine Spitz (Ger) @ 2:07
3. Pia Sundstedt (Fin) @ 11:59
4. Elsbeth van Rooij-Vink (Ned) @ 23:21
5. Esther Süss (Swi) @ 23:48
6. Evelyn Staffler (Ita) @ 27:10
7. Arielle van Meurs (Ned) @28:49
8. Katrin Schwing (Ger) @ 33:32
9. Sarah Koba (Swi) @ 33: 47
10. Anna Enocsson (Swe) @ 34:01
The Norwegian Gunn-Rita Dahle has been off her bike with a virus since May. The triple world champ was disappointed to not being able to defend here title. “It has been a long and terrible time for me being sick and not able to train for two months.” She added: “It looks like my health need more rest after this virus and bacteria infection so it seems like my season is over.”
