Kulhavy and Langvad dominate at Marathon Worlds

On Sunday 29^th June, the world of Marathon mountain bike (XCM) racing turned to Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzberg, South Africa, as over 160 of the best XCM racers contested the XCM World Championships. Australia was represented by Australian XCM Champs Andy Blair and Mel Anset, along with Italian resident Morgan Pilley. Jenny Fay, although an Australian resident, races for Ireland, to match her passport.

Rain on Saturday settled the dusty course, and the pace was hot from the gun, with riders saying the pace that was set was realistic only for the top 10. Olympic champion Jaroslav Kulhavy was pushing the pace in a group that also contained Swiss bull Urs Huber, Czech Kristian Hynek, Swiss Christoph Sauser, 2012 XCM Champ Periklis Ilias from Greece, German Robert Mennen and more. The pace whittled the bunch down, and there were numerous top riders pulling out, including Karl Platt, Ralph Naef, and eventually Hynek too.

About 50km in, Kulhavy broke away, and had a gap of 1 minute over the chasers. Both Alban Lakata and Sauser had mechanical problems, and were chasing back through the field, but Kulhavy was in a league of his own, winning 3.5 minutes clear of Lakata, and another minute ahead of Sauser who was third.

Andrew Blair finished 42^nd, and noted that the course was notably different to XCM Worlds he has ridden in the past, “It was really rough and brutal on the body, with lots of shorter punchy climbs making it hard to get into a rhythm. It was no surprise to see Specialized Epics (dual suspension bikes) winning both the men’s and women’s race.” Blair is now training for the Commonwealth Games. Morgan Pilley is an Italian resident and full time Pro, and finished 57^th in his second XCM Worlds. He found it quite a different course to those in his new home. “The course was lots of shorter climbs and singletrack, very much XC style of course. In Italy, it’s mainly long climbs and fire roads with nothing too difficult, technically speaking. I didn’t really get into much of a rhythm, and found it a pretty hard course in terms of it being awkward… but physically not too bad.”

With 30 women starting the women’s event, the field was wide open. Sally Bigham hadn’t started due to illness, and 2013 champ Gunn-Rita Dahle wasn’t in attendance. Milena Landtwing, another favourite, was soon out – but 2011 and 2012 champion Annika Langvad was alone in the front after just the second checkpoint. With Hungarian Tereza Hurikova (European XCM Champ) chasing, and Sabine Spitz, the field was strong. But Langvad created an insurmountable lead, winning with a big margin ahead of Spitz and then Hurikova.

Mel Anset is Australian XCM Champion, and finished a brilliant16th, really lifting to a new level in XCM racing this year. “Having such a successful year in marathon racing and going to the XCM worlds has definitely set a new benchmark. It would be awesome to to do it all again next year! I’m also pretty keen to do more stage racing later this year.,” Ansett said post race.

Irish XCM Champ and citizen, but an Australian resident, Jenny Fay rode her first XCM Worlds finishing 12^th. This was the end of a long block of domestic racing topped with European XCM Champs (where she finished 7^th) and then Worlds. “I am taking a mid season break & starting a full time job, so I am planning domestic racing around that for the remainder of the year,” Fay remarked. Watch out Australian ladies.

Words: Mike Blewitt

Images: Gameplan Media