Liam Killeen (GBR) of the Specialized Factory Team rode to his 2nd ever World
Cup Cross Country podium yesterday in the sweltering humidity of
Mont-Sainte-Anne, the famous mountain bike destination on the outskirts of
Quebec City, Canada. The 23 year old from Malvern rode his Epic in a solid race
from start to finish, despite an early crash that had him on the ground in the
first lap.
Temperatures yesterday reached the thirties but it was the oppressing humidity
that most riders found uncomfortable over 6 laps of arguably the toughest
technical course of the season. Mont-Sainte-Anne is famous for its tricky
wooded sections with gnarly descents and awkward tree root sections. This year
the course had less sustained climbing, but the wooded sections claimed many
experienced riders including Kashi Leuchs (NZL), of Team Bianchi Agos, who was
having a great top ten ride but came unstuck in the later half of the race, on
a bridge crossing the downhill course, where he clipped a pedal and fell 3m to
land heavily on his back, losing a lot of skin, and leaving him very sore for
the rest of the race, eventually coming in 30th, some 15 minutes down.
For Liam however it was an early race crash that unsettled the young Brit.
After coming through in 17th place after the start loop, Liam had worked his
way up to 5th place after two thirds of the lap 1. Towards the end of the first
lap he accidentally hooked a bar end on a small tree and was pulled off the
bike. While not sustaining any significant injury, Liam lost a few places but
more importantly lost his rhythm. Fighting back up to 5th place on the 2nd lap,
Liam needed another two laps before he felt he?d regained his rhythm. The top
10 riders swapped around a good deal with Liam often in 6th, but mostly in 5th
for the majority of the race. Passed by Jeremiah Bishop at one point, who then
went on to puncture, Liam kept a steady pace and on the last lap managed to
stave off a challenge from Spanish rider Marti Gispert (Maxxis-MSC) to keep 5th
and record his 2nd podium in World Cup XC racing.
?It?s a good feeling to get this podium result, which was actually my target
for this race. To have the crash was a disappointment because it was just one
of those stupid little things, but it cost me some time and some important
rhythm. I would like to have been 1 minute further up and challenging Geoff
Kabush for 3rd, I know I had the legs for it, but that?s how it goes at
Mont-Sainte-Anne, it?s a tough course and I just came unstuck?, said Liam back
at the team truck after the race.
The result has Liam in 7th place in the overall series. Next round of the World
Cup is in Brazil next week, but Liam will be opting not to attend in order to
prepare in Boulder Colorado for the following round in New Mexico, which is a
high altitude venue.
Results:
1st
Date:
26/06/2005