UCI SX Round Two is Hoppin in Papendal
By Mike Carruth, with Carl Lein.
On what many are calling the most challenging BMX Supercross track to date, 128 of our sport’s top male and female Elites are through the first phase of round two of the 2011 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup series, in Papendal Netherlands.
And while there has been no “official” announcement, there have been reports, and even a few press releases circulating, that the Papendal track is a “prototype” for the London 2012 Olympic track (perhaps trying out certain layout components). We are supposed to get an eyeball on that London track sometime in June, with the London test event set for August.
With the Papendal track, we might have discovered how far a BMX track can go. With berm jumps, multiple hips, and a box jump, this track will test the limits of every rider. Seeing eight riders attack it at full speed is going to be something to remember.
The top riders made it look easy in practice and through the Time Trials, but the other 2/3 of the pack struggled; hard. As the time trials progressed from the less experienced riders (who do their runs first) to the cream of the crop you could start to see who would be the contenders this weekend.
Of 133 Elite Men on the time trial start list, a total of 93 actually started. There were nine DNFs (presumably due to crashes), and 12 riders logging a time 10 seconds or higher than that of Jelle van Gorkom, the Time Trial Superfinal Winner (pictured above).
Jelle’s time of 39.830 was quite a bit quicker than even the Dutch team themselves thought would be possible in some of the videos they released leading up to the event. By contrast, Maris Strombergs’ winning Time Trial lap at last year’s Chula Vista SX was 34.689–a testament to the length (1,525 feet) and complexity of this Papendal track.
Corben Sharrah topped the USA men in the Time Trial, with a fifth place in the Superfinal (40.716 seconds, which was +0.886 off van Gorkom’s winning time). Josh Meyers, Mike Day and Nic Long were 10, 11, 12 in the Superfinal, with David Herman and Tyler Faoro just outside the Superfinal zone in 17th and 18th overall. It was J-Rog, Jason Rogers in 23rd…then down to 46th and 47th, where we find Donny Robinson and Tyler Brown. Double-A-Alex-Anthony was in a still-qualifying 58th overall, and Johnny Woodmansee was the only USA rider who got a DNS (unsure what happened, but will try to find out and report tomorrow).
Way to go, you Hombres Gringos, with all who started, making it into Saturday’s program.
Marc Willers logged a DNF in the Superfinal. According to BMX News man-on-the-ground, Carl Lein, he “blew both pedals out of the gate in his Superfinal run.”
Amongst women, it was Czech Romana Labounkova who made the magic happen in the Time Trial Superfinal, with a time of 36.89 on the 137-foot-shorter women’s side of the track. Sarah Walker was back, and said to be looking good on the track (and off as well, no doubt).
Arielle Martin gets top American in the ladies, with Amanda Carr turning a ninth place time, and “Crooke Brain” in for lucky 13. Out of the Superfinal, but still in the mix for tomorrow’s racing from the USA was Dani George, who finished 28th, with a 41.273, and Ashley Verhagen, who finished 31st, with a 41.531.
With 41 women on the start list, there were six that Did Not Start–three of whom being notable names (Alise Post, Eva Ailloud of France, and Merle van Benthen from the Netherlands). Interestingly, there were no DNFs in the women’s time trials, so glad to see everyone made it around to cross the line.
As with all UCI Supercross World Cup events, tomorrow’s racing will be webcast live on Freecaster.tv, beginning at 9AM eastern time. Looking forward to seeing BMX News pal, Pete Dylewski rockin the mic from high atop the Papendal “BMX Baan.”
Meanwhile, click here to check out a little photo appetizer from Carl Lein.
UCI BMX Supercross World Cup – Papendal
Time Trial Official Results
