The Elite are gathered in northern Portugal for this years Mountain Bike Orienteering World Championships. Great Britain has three women competing this year.

Yesterday saw the first race, the Sprint held in and around the town of Cantanhede. With a start on the edge of town in an industrial estate, the courses quickly went into a wooded area with a complex track network before the last few controls led into the centre of the town. Clare Dallimore in her debut race at a World Championships was frustrated with her ride having lost time on some indistinct junctions in the middle part. She is however riding with a chipped bone on the top of her humerus from a fall two weeks ago.

Natalie Creswick achieved her best ever result and was pleased with her flow around the course. She feels she has really improved since her debut to the sport last year. She is looking forward to the hills later in the week which will suit her as a strong rider.

Emily Benham having won so many World Cup races has not won a World Championship race. Starting in the heat of the day with temperatures in the high 30s she commented that as soon as she saw the map she knew a win was possible. Half way through her race she began catching her 1 minute rider which confirmed she was going well. A near perfect race where she always felt in control saw her take the overall lead which is where she remained as the last riders came in. GOLD for Emily!

 

Item posted by Jennie Taylor, Marketing Manager