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Road To 2012
European Mountain Bike Championships
Posted July 9 2010
Words By Luke Webber
Homepage: Road To 2012 | British Cycling's Performance Programs Explained
Team GB Mountain Bike Roster | Join Team GB
Mountain Biking: Olympic Qualification Explained | UCI National Rankings
Annie Last finished fourth and Lily Matthews eighth in the European Mountain Bike Championships. Racing in the under-23 category, riders tackled the Haifa course in seering 36-degree heat. We have news from British Cycling's Olympic Mountain Bike Coach Phil Dixon.
Following the reivsed schedule for Olympic Qualification from a four year period to a two year period, British Cycling changed its policy to take no riders to the European Championships in a bid to secure a high count of UCI points. Lily Matthews and Annie Last vindicated this plan in the under-23 women's race, scoring eighth and fourth respectively, while Liam Killeen races on Friday.
Texting in from Isreal, Phil Dixon commented:
"Perfect. Girls rode really well today - it was 36 degrees as well. Solid start to the month of racing in July. They both scored good points here and the Tour d'l'Ain two weeks previous. This new two-year criteria is good for both GB men and women's qualification."
1. Alex Engen (SWE) 1.27.45
2. Kathrin Stirnemann (SUI) 1.28.19
3. Tanja Zakelj (SLO) 1.29.46
4. Annie Last (GBR) 1.30.21
5. Barbara Benko (HUN) 1.30.46
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8. Lily Matthews (GBR) 1.34.35
The following day saw a continuation of the hot conditions and a continued return to form by Liam Killeen who finished seventh. Phil Dixon commented on the positive performance:
"This result shows that Liam is moving on as the season progresses; again it was a hot day at 36 degrees and a long race, with the winner going over two hours, so it was a challenging day in the saddle for the elite riders."
Annie, Lily and Liam now travel back to the UK for the British XC Championships.
1. Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE) 2.07.40
2. Lukas Flukiger (SUI) 2.08.20
3. Marco Aurelio Fontana (ITA) 2.09.17
4. Christoph Sauser (SUI) 2.09.52
5. Jose Antonio Hermida (ESP) 2.10.03
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7. Liam Killeen (GBR) 2.11.34
