First for Colombia, second title for Tanja Zakelj

In the second day of the World Championship in Val Di Sole, Colombia won the first Junior World title in mountain bike with Laura Abril while the surprise came from Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia) and her victory in the Under 23 category.

Since 1990, year of the first World Championships, no South American rider had won a world title in mountain bike. For Colombia, even if Santiago Botero has already been sacred road time trial World Champion in 2002, few Colombians had managed to shine on the international scene. In 2006, Leo Paez won the XCM World Cup, but no rider had ever won the supreme title: world champion! Laura Abril will remain the first in the history. The young rider, totally unknown, realized a perfect race and left behind the Hungarian Barbara Benko. Barbara who won in Houffalize takes the second place and still signs the best results of her young career. The German Mona Eiberweiser European Champion and only first year in junior is third.

For the third title of the Under 23 category, it was not easy to define a winner. Ren Chengyuan (China), Nathalie Schneitter (Switzerland) and Tereza Hurikova (Czech Republic) appeared as the favourites after their World Cups results, but not! Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia) took the lead straight after the start. But the 2006 Juniors World Champion is followed by the European Champion, Nathalie Schneitter (Switzerland). Behind them, the French rider Caroline Mani is surprising. But Nataliya Krompets (Ukraine) and Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Poland) are not far away. The Slovenian, definitely in a good day gets rid of Schneitter. On her way to a second world title! The Swiss, with a flat tire on the rear wheel, will even have to fight to keep her second place while Davidowicz gets her first medal at this level.

Tomorrow cross country junior men (11am), and seeding run downhill (2.15pm).

(Credit: UCI. Click here for further information.)