MTB World Cup: Chengyuan wins women's cross country
Ren Chengyuan on her way to victory (Luke Webber)
China's Ren Chengyuan made it two wins from two in Houffalize, Belgium, winning the women's cross country at the first round of the mountain bike world cup on Sunday.
Celebrating with arms aloft over the finish line, this was a win taken in a very different fashion to her 2007 victory. Today's course was made slippery by the weekend's rain and was further cut up by Saturday's support races and eager supporters.
After the race Chengyuan spoke through an interpreter and explained her slow start: "The conditions were very different to the dust of 2007 - it took me some time to get used to the mud. But on the final two laps I became comfortable and found my rhythm. I could make up the early gap and take the win."
The result not only clinched the world cup leader;s jersey for Chengyuan but also first place in the under-23 competition.
Results
| 1 Ren Chengyuan (Chn) | 2:11:06 |
| 2 Irina Kalentieva (Rus|Topeak Ergon Racing Team) | 0:00:35 |
| 3 Marie-Helene Premont (Can|Rocky Mountain) | 0:01:08 |
| 4 Margarita Fullana (Spa|Massi) | 0:02:23 |
| 5 Georgia Gould (USA|Luna Womens Mtb Team) | 0:02:47 |
| 6 Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor|Multivan Merida Biking Team) | 0:04:00 |
| 7 Nathalie Schneitter (Swi|Colnago Cap Arreghini) | 0:04:13 |
| 8 Petra Henzi (Swi|Fischer-BMC) | 0:04:26 |
| 9 Tereza Hurikova (Cze|Ceska Sporitelna Mtb) | 0:05:06 |
| 10 Sabine Spitz (Ger|Central Ghost Pro Team) | 0:05:38 |
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