1998 World Cup Mountain Biking
Stellenbosch, South Africa
April 4-5, 1998

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Anne-Caroline Chausson and Nicolas Vouilloz continued where they left off last year by winning the world cup downhill season opener in South Africa this weekend.

Anne-Caroline

The two French World Champions, who ride for Sunn Un, proved once again why they have consistently been on top of the downhill mountain biking world.

The speed freaky Chausson finished second in the world cup to Missy Giove (USA-Volvo/Cannondale) last year but turned it around and took the world championships in Chateau D'Oex, Switzerland. Vouilloz, though injured for most of last season also came back to ride to his sixth victory in the men's world championships.

Lisa Sher gets muddy

Chausson, as usual, comandeered a smooth, flawless run and with it earned her customary top podium spot with a time of 4 minutes, 44.38 seconds. Leigh Donovan (USA, Mongoose) was in top form going into the last tree section, but ate it when her front wheel washed out. She had been ahead of Chausson by more than three seconds at the interval, but the spill left her in second place, at 3.79 seconds back.

"I am really stoked with my result. I came here to do better than my 6th place last year plus a little more, then after riding the course all week I felt I could do really well here. I had it going together perfect and in the last tree section I must have hit a hole or something. Hopefully I can keep this momentum going. I am sure Chausson is feeling some pressure from all of us," the nevertheless jubilant Donovan said after the race.

Last year's winner, Elke Brutsaert (USA-Schwinn/Toyota), could not repeat here, but did manage to grab the third spot on the podium, third at 8.03 back.

Missy "The Missile" Giove (USA, Volvo/Cannondale) finished fourth at 10.33 and Marla Streb (USA, Yeti), who broke her ankle here last year, took fifth spot, 15.88 seconds behind the triumphant Chausson.

Nicolas Amongst

Nicolas Vouilloz returned to his form and his familiar spot on top the podium here in Stellenbosch. Vouilloz, the 22-year-old, six time world champion, who before the race claimed he would not be in top form here, arrived first at the finish in 4 minutes, 5.17 seconds. Vouilloz's time was 3.22 seconds faster than second place finisher David Vazquez (ESP, Volvo-Cannondale). Vazquez's compatriot and Volvo/Cannondale teammate Oscar Saiz took the number three spot.

Vazquez almost missed entry into the the finals when one of his three chains broke on his super-fresh, super-tech Cannondale in the qualifying round; they held true for him in the final.

Vazquez is a 19-year-old on the rise and this race equals his best finish to date, at Nevegal, Italy last year. Guillaume Koch (FRA, SCOTT) took fourth at 5.60 seconds back, earning him his best finish on the World Cup circuit. Karim Amour (FRA, GT) had love and luck on his side and slid onto the podium just 5.87 seconds behind Mr. Vouilloz. Brian Lopes (USA-Mongoose) just missed the podium and took the sixth position, 5.93 seconds off the best time. Bas de'Bever (NED), who won his first world cup here last year, didn't fare as well, but did make up for it in his elbow bending later that night. Shaun Palmer (USA-Mt.Dew/Specialized) got a flat and DQ'd.

Palmer was pumped

This is the second consecutive year Stellenbosch, South Africa welcomed World Cup downhill mountain biking. Situated against the Hottentots Holland Mountains and amidst the cape winelands, Stellenbosch, town of 45,000, proved once again why it was the proposed venue for mountain bike events in the Olympic bid for the 2004 games. On a completely revamped course, this year's downhill was much more difficult and not a "wussy straightaway" as some complained last year. With a sprinkle of rain on Saturday (women's race day) and more rain overnight, tire selection was crucial for the muddy course..

In what could have been a disaster, Team Sintesi's van was involved in a race morning crash. Riders Corrado Herrin, Giovanna and Helen Mortimer were in the van, with Mortimer sustaining a neck injury and wearing a collar later in the day.

The next world cup downhill race is May 23-4 in Nevegal, Italy and we will be there to report on all the happenings.