Sam Hill Wins at Maribor

Video of Hill's Winning Run

View Sam Hill's winning run - with about four commentators (including Cedric Gracia?) below.


 

And this video includes interviews with Barel, Hill, Peat and Minnaar as well as some racing highlights.



This report comes from 23 Degrees Sports who represent Sam Hill and the Mad Catz Racing team.

If there was even an ounce of doubt prior to the opening round of the Nissan UCI Moutnain Bike World Cup that Sam Hill could follow his stellar season of 2007 in the same dominant style, well that evaporated today in sunny Maribor in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans.

Last year Sam capped his race season and secured the World Cup title with a solid win at the finals on the same course, but this is the first time in his career that Sam has won the opening round, doing so 3 seconds clear of 2nd place, thus setting the tone for 2008.

Impressive today was his younger team mate Brendan Fairclough who's had mixed results this year so far, but a strong showing in 9th means he too is on target for a good year.

The semi finals this morning saw Sam finish 3rd, half a second behind Frenchman Julien Camellini who enjoys this track, and Brendan in 11th. Both moved up 2 spots in the final.

Comments:

Sam: "I was pretty upset with how I rode in qualifying....I felt tight and rode on the brakes too much. In the final I just wanted to have fun and ride like I know I can. My run went pretty well," said a humble Hill, "but I definitely want to improve on putting together a better run in Andorra (Round 2). I'm looking forward to the rest of the season and hopefully I can get a few more wins."

Brendan: "I felt good at the top prior to the start, relaxed and confident. I think with Sam being so relaxed it helped me stay more calm. I had a good run and didn't make too many mistakes....I just need to open it up a bit more, but I feel my speed will progress throughout the season. I'm happy with my result and ready for the next one!"

Team Manager Sean Heimdal: "I'm super stoked with the results today...I just wanted both riders to come out of here with a safe solid run...It's a long season this year, and I think it was important to come away within the top 15. We're all looking forward to the next round."

The trechorous rock garden in Maribor claimed quite a few riders today, and has a history of taking out some top contenders. The World Cup riders now have a couple of weeks to recovery from any injuries before round 2, which takes place at Vallnord, Andorra on June 1st on a track never before raced for a World Cup.

Team Monster Energy Iron Horse is also sponsored by: Mad Catz, Game Shark, Air Drives, RockShox, SRAM, Avid, FUNN, Maxxis, DT Swiss, FSA, Crank Brothers, WTB, e.thirteen, DW Link, Troy Lee Designs, Minoura, Maxima, Obtainium Performance Products, Five-Ten, Freeestyle Watches, THE, Alligator, Yamaha of Troy, KMC and Kicker.

More info: madcatzracing.com/

UCI World Cup Round 1 Maribour - Click here for full results

4X Men

Individual Teams Detailed PDF
Rank Race Nr NAME / First Name UCI Code Team Time
1 5 ALVAREZ DE LARA LUCAS Rafael ESP19810301 --- 54.19
2 12 TSCHUGG Guido GER19760514 --- 54.71
3 14 FISCHBACH Johannes GER19880304 GHO 54.9
4 15 SLAVIK Tomas CZE19870612 --- 55.03
5 8 GRACIA Cédric FRA19780323 CFO 54.24
6 3 SALADINI Romain FRA19861010 SRS 53.6
7 10 DELDYCKE Mickael FRA19800826 --- 54.3
8 17 MEIJER Jurg NED19830330 --- 55.23
9 2 TATARKOVIC Kamil CZE19850705 SRB 53.4
10 22 HALUZA Tomas CZE19880809 --- 55.67

 

4X Women

Individual Teams Detailed PDF
Rank Race Nr NAME / First Name UCI Code Team Time
1 1 BEERTEN Anneke NED19820707 MSR 59.21
2 12 MOLCIK Anita AUT19801112 YHR 01:08.6
3 2 GRIFFITHS Fionn GBR19820827 NWT 01:00.3
4 3 BUHL Melissa USA19820125 --- 01:02.1
5 5 OETJEN Lucia SUI19810926 --- 01:03.3
6 9 FRUHWIRTH Helene AUT19830811 --- 01:06.2
7 10 CASTRO FERNANDEZ Eva ESP19770825 --- 01:06.4
8 6 MARGGRAFF Diana ECU19840319 --- 01:04.6
9 7 PRUITT Kathleen USA19821226 --- 01:05.7
10 8 JONKER Marielle NED19830321 --- 01:05.9

 

DH Men

Individual Teams Detailed PDF
Rank Race Nr NAME / First Name UCI Code Team Time
1 1 HILL Samuel AUS19850721 MER 2:47.54
2 111 CAMELLINI Julien FRA19840107 CRC 2:50.62
3 3 PEAT Steve GBR19740617 SCB 2:51.85
4 8 BAREL Fabien FRA19800726 SUB 2:52.11
5 27 MINNAAR Greg RSA19811113 SCB 2:52.19
6 4 ATHERTON Gee GBR19850226 ANC 2:52.34
7 45 KOVARIK Chris AUS19780301 CRC 2:52.52
8 22 LEOV Justin NZL19841020 YET 2:52.56
9 12 FAIRCLOUGH Brendan GBR19880110 MER 2:54.23
10 20 NEETHLING Andrew RSA19840805 GTM 2:55.49
11 18 ATHERTON Dan GBR19820125 ANC 2:56.03
12 38 VAGNER Adam CZE19810425 --- 2:56.43
13 33 CANALS FLIX Pasqual ESP19840915 MAS 2:56.93
14 42 THIRION Rémi ° FRA19900423 SRS 2:56.98
15 16 PAYET Florent FRA19861121 SUB 2:57.37
16 37 VINK Nico BEL19830323 DOT 2:57.50
17 41 CATHRO Ben GBR19880420 MOJ 2:57.52
18 11 PASCAL Mickael FRA19791011 MSC 2:57.55
19 55 SPAGNOLO Damien FRA19850428 SUB 2:57.67
20 48 RUFFIN Thibaut FRA19841030 --- 2:57.72

 

44 103 SMITH Steve
CAN19891125 --- 3:00.67

 

DH Women

Individual Teams Detailed PDF
Rank Race Nr NAME / First Name UCI Code Team Time
1 1 JONNIER Sabrina FRA19810819 TMX 3:14.31
2 11 ATHERTON Rachel GBR19871206 ANC 3:14.49
3 4 RAGOT Emmeline FRA19860527 SCT 3:21.80
4 10 GRIFFITHS Fionn GBR19820827 NWT 3:23.61
5 9 PUGIN Floriane FRA19890417 PIH 3:23.95
6 6 GROS Céline FRA19830128 SAF 3:25.98
7 2 MOSELEY Tracy GBR19790412 KBC 3:26.89
8 7 SUEMASA Mio JPN19830401 MSR 3:29.54
9 14 BERNHARD Petra AUT19801118 --- 3:33.45
10 30 NICOLE Myriam ° FRA19900208 --- 3:34.78
11 12 BUCHAR Claire CAN19780426 --- 3:35.81