Part One: Who?
It is now just a week away from the 2013 UCI Marathon Mountain Bike World Championships (XCM Worlds to be more succinct). The XCM Worlds differ a little from any other Marathon, as this is when racers are representing their nation. Their colours are that of their country, not of their trade team. As riders need to qualify through the World Marathon Series, or be nominated by their National Federation, the Elite field can be a bit smaller – but perhaps even stronger. Although the new Marathon World Series connects a series of Marathon MTB races around the globe, with a pointscore and ranking, the depth of the racing is still the strongest in Europe. And more precisely, in and around the Alps. Big Marathon races in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria and sometimes France draw the biggest elite fields. Even a casual follower of Marathon MTB racing will know that a lot of the most consistent performers come form one of these countries.
Usually.
There are formidably talented athletes the world over, and 2012 XCM World Champion Ilias Periklis did not win from obscurity, but Greece wasn’t known as a Marathon racing ‘hot bed’ either. Sally Bigham comes from the fairly flat (in comparison to the Alps) region of Southern England – but with her tenacity, discipline, strength and climbing ability she is ranked as one of the favourites for the XCM Worlds.
The Men
Passing an eye over the Men’s start list, the dominance of countries is self evident. Germany: 21 men entered. That’s more than two teams in the Tour de France. That is more riders than many Continental road teams. Some mountain bike clubs have less members than that. Many club races have smaller fields – but that’s just Germany for the XCM Worlds. Karl Platt is a marathon racing superstar, and with Kaufmann, Kass, Genze, Bohme, Sahm, Mennen and (14) more at hand – could it be Platt’s chance to wear stripes? Or is he working for a younger rider? And frankly – are they racing with a common goal?
Robert Mennen and Markus Kaufmann could easily be leading the German team © Craft Bike Transalp/Peter Musch
France actually have 9 riders, which is surprising – as it is rare to see a Frenchman race Marathons outside of France, except for Thomas Dietsch. He goes everywhere.
A face of the race: Frenchman Thomas Dietsch after the finish at a stage of the ABSA Cape Epic. Photo: Sportograf
The race may be in Austria, but it’s close enough to Italy, and the Italian Team will consist of 9 riders, including veteran Marzio Deho. He’s class of ’68. And he’s still got it. Remember when he came 4th on a stage in the 2012 Transalp? With Longo, Celestino, Cattaneo… it’s a strong team. But it may not have a current Marathon ‘All Star’ – although Tony Longo rode a strong race at the Sella Ronda Hero in support of his Columbian team mate Leonardo Paez. With a similar profile to the XCM Worlds, this performance is a great indicator.
The Austrian Team can provide one of the main favourites. Once described as the ‘mans man’ of marathon racing, Alban Lakata ski tours in winter, and wins bike races in summer. He also podiums at a lot that he doesn’t win. So here we have a clear race favourite. Add in that the race is in his country, and that he has won on the course before (the KitzAlpBike) and he is a strong favourite. World Champ in 2010, silver the year before – he’s worth backing. Austria have 8 riders in the race, and hopefully they are working for the one goal.
All hail the Albanator!
There are increasing numbers coming from the countries of Eastern Europe. Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary have 23 riders between them. Obviously, the Czechs are doing something right at the rate they are churning out talented cyclists. Kulhavy and Hynek are great chances for the Worlds win. Kulhavy is a big guy, especially faced with over 4000m of climbing. But his talent is undeniable.
Have you been to a mountain bike race in Poland? It’s huge! They have a thorough National Marathon Series that has created a great number of talented riders. The eleven racers from Switzerland have talent from top to bottom. Sauser and Looser, Huber and Stoll – they have two potential winners in there, plus seven more consistently strong racers. Sauser was virtually unstoppable at the BIKE Four Peaks, and gained valuable time on one of the key descents that is part of the Worlds course. He has prepared well and should be the outright favourite for the title.
He’s done the recon, he has the legs, and he certainly knows how to win. There is no stronger race favourite. It remains to be seen whether Huber’s cyclosportive trip over the Swiss Alps has given him the strength, speed and fight required to battle for the win. South Africa have seen a huge jump in numbers over the past few years – and rightfully so. Their National Marathon Series, and the long list of top level stage races has bred a country of distance mountain bikers. And this is true for the next generation too. It seems like every South African mountain biker wants to win the Cape Epic, or race Marathons. Max Knox is leading a strong team of riders.
Although lots of countries have big numbers, that’s not essential for a win in a mountain bike race. It is still the norm that the strongest rider wins. So riders like Jukka Vastaranta (Finland), Ilias Periklis (Greece), Roel Paulissen (who has served his two year suspension), Ben Thomas (Great Britain), Jason English (Australia) aren’t at a disadvantage. Unless of course they don’t have many Marathon Series points, or team support. The start will be fast, and a poor grid position will hurt. No support in the Tech/Feed zones makes a difference too – and this is often covered by trade team staff – not national team staff. It helps to be Pro.
The Women
The patterns in the men’s start lists are similar in the women’s. Germany is bringing the whole gang, but lacks a medal winning star performer without Sabine Spitz. With four riders, Great Britain actually have some of the best depth. Sally Bigham may well be an equal favourite (along with 2011 and 2012 champion Annika Langvad), but Catherine Williamson is having a brilliant season, as is Jane Nussli.
Sally Bigham prepares meticulously.
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa is a phenomenal athlete, and has put in great performances in the XCO World Cup thus far this year. Along with Bigham and Langvad, she’s another potential winner. And it would be foolish to not add Esther Suss to that list. She is part of a strong Swiss team that includes Ariane Kleinhans, Milena Landtwing and Katrin Leumann. Suss has also had brilliant results of late, and peaks well for big races.
Full start lists are on the UCI website.
So without wanting to predict podiums and jersey winners, there are some clear favourites for the Marathon World Championships. Anything can happen on the day, and with the weather that the Tirol region is experiencing this week, luck and technical support may play a bigger role. Check back for a review of the course later this week.