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Green, Redden settle for silver in tight World Cup races

Swiss cyclists claim cross country gold medals; French, U.S.

Swiss cyclists claim cross country gold medals; French, U.S. and Aussie riders dominate downhill events

Somehow the dictionary definition of "frustration" falls short of what Canada’s Roland Green must have felt crossing the finish line in the Grouse Mountain World Cup on Sunday (July 8).

After dominating the entire cross-country race and building a lead of more than a minute and a half heading into the home stretch, the 26 year old from Victoria flatted out just 1.5 kilometres from the finish.

Although he made an emergency pit stop that would have made Michael Andretti proud, Swiss rider Christoph Sauser managed to close the gap and take the lead and the gold medal. Although he held the lead for most of the race’s 36 kilometres, a frustrated Green crossed the line 11 seconds back of Sauser and two seconds ahead of Australian Cadel Evans.

"It’s just luck," said Green, who extended his lead in the overall World Cup standings with his second place finish. "What can you say – it’s unfortunate when it happens, especially in front of the home crowd. My front tire rolled off the rim in a singletrack section and Sauser passed me.

"It’s hard to catch someone after that. It’s the worst flat tire I’ve had in my life."

This season, Green became the first Canadian man to win a World Cup event and to lead the overall standings. He is also the first male competitor to win a cross-country event on a dual suspension bike. A win at home, in front of thousands of supporters, would have been another first.

For his part, Sauser sympathized with Green’s luck.

"I feel sorry for him, but I really needed a good result after inuring my ribs in the first round."

After a slow start and some trouble in the technical and wooded sections, Sauser was one of the only riders to match Green’s pace of between 14 and 15 minutes a lap. He managed to break out of the pack at the midway point to pull into second, but he couldn’t gain on Green until the Canadian flatted out.

Victoria’s Ryder Hesjedal, Green’s training partner, posted a career-best fifth behind Miguel Martinez of France.

After four races, Green is leading the eight-race World Cup cross country season with 721 points. Jose Antonio Hermida of Spain, eighth at Grouse, is second with 600 points. Martinez is third with 587. Hesjedal has also managed to crack the top 10 with 317 total points, and currently sits in ninth overall.

Victoria’s Geoff Kabush finished in seventh place at Grouse, Ontario’s Seamus McGrath finished 18 th , and Andreas Hestler, yet another Victoria racer, was 30 th .

In the women’s race earlier that morning, mechanical problems cost Italy’s Annabella Stropparo the lead, and flat tires actually helped Ontario’s Chrissy Redden to claim her own career-best silver medal.

Switzlerland’s Barbara Blatter, the current leader in the overall standings, got off to her usual strong start but Stropparo pulled ahead and built a 38-second lead after the first four laps. Stropparo threw her chain, which got caught in the rear wheel. In the two-minutes it took to repair, Blatter took over the lead and the second group, led by Redden and Australian Mary Grigson, caught up.

In the final lap, Grigson blew her rear tire in the same section that Green would blow his front tire later that afternoon. Redden pulled into second place and put some distance between herself and the group. Alison Dunlap of the U.S. finished the day in third place.

"I was fast in the singletrack," said Redden, who moved into seventh in the overall standings. "It was two hours of smart riding and keeping calm and not losing your head. It was an awesome course and this is my best finish of the season."

Also for Canada, Victoria’s Alison Sydor, a three-time World Champion and Olympic silver medalist, finished in sixth place. Marie-Helene Premont was 13 th . Lesley Tomlinson 16 th , Trish Sinclair 17 th , Kiara Bisaro 20 th , Claire Townend 22 nd , Wendy Simms 24 th , Sandra Walter 25 th , Linda Robichaud 28 th , and Eron Chorney 29 th .

On the previous day (July 7), the Canadians didn’t have as much luck in either the dual slalom or downhill races. The best Canadian finishes came in the dual, with Annie Bisson of Coquitlam and Lorraine Blancher of Kelowna finishing 10 th and 12 th .

For a complete overview of results from the Grouse Mountain, visit the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Web site at www.uci.ch .

Grouse Mountain Results:

Men’s Downhill

1. Fabien Barel (FRA)

2. Christopher Kovarik (AUS)

3. Mick Hannah (AUS)

20. Jordie Lunn (CANADA)

27. Andrew Shandro (CANADA)

38. Brant Lyon (CANADA)

39. Leon May (CANADA)

43. Kurt Lindemark (CANADA)

45. Trevor Porter (CANADA)

46. Todd Leduc (CANADA)

51. Chad Onyschuk (CANADA)

Women’s Downhill

1. Anne-Caroline (FRA)

2. Missy Giove (USA)

3. Tracey Moseley (GBR)

13. Cassandra Boon (CANADA)

18. Tera Mead (CANADA)

23. Karey Watanabe (CANADA)

24. Sylvie Allen (CANADA)

25. Kim Huard (CANADA)

28. Barb Haley (CANADA)

Men’s Dual Slalom

1. Brian Lopes (USA)

2. Eric Carter (USA)

3. Mickael Deldycke (FRA)

23. David Watson (CANADA)

32. Jordie Lunn (CANADA)

Women’s Dual Slalom

1. Leigh Donovan (USA)

2. Anne-Caroline Chausson (FRA)

3. Tara Llanes (USA)

10. Annie Bisson (CANADA)

12. Lorraine Blancher (CANADA)

Men’s Cross Country (Top 30)

1. Christoph Sauser (SUI)

2. Roland Green (CANADA)

3. Cadel Evans (AUS)

5. Ryder Hesjedal (CANADA)

7. Geoff Kabush (CANADA)

18. Seamus McGrath (CANADA)

30. Andreas Hestler (CANADA)

Women’s Cross Country (Top 30)

Barbara Blatter (SUI)

Chrissy Redden (CANADA)

Alison Dunlap (USA)

6. Alison Sydor (CANADA)

13. Marie-Helene Premont (CANADA)

16. Lesley Tomlinson (CANADA)

17. Trish Sinclair (CANADA)

20. Kiara Bisaro (CANADA)

22. Claire Townsend (CANADA)

24. Wendy Simms (CANADA)

25. Sandra Walter (CANADA)

26. Erica Drew (CANADA)

28. Linda Robichaud (CANADA)

29. Eron Chorney (CANADA)