UCI BMX SX: Willoughby and Le Corguillé pull out the stops Autor: Administrator (marek.psenicka@centrum.cz), Téma: News BMX, Source: uci Vydáno dne 30. 03. 2010 (2623 přečtení) Sam Willoughby once again tasted victory in the men’s final of the UCI BMX Supercross in Madrid at the weekend. In the final of the first Supercross leg of the season, the Australian battled with Olympic Champion Maris Strombergs (LAT) for the lead in a very crowded first turn. Willoughby, the Juniors World Champion and last year’s UCI World Cup series winner managed to take the advantage coming off the bend. He never looked back and went on to win the race in front of Conner Fields (USA). Yvo van der Putten (NED) came third, with Strombergs finishing in fourth place. BMX World Champion Donny Robinson crashed in the earlier qualifying round and was taken to hospital for a routine check. Laetitia le Corguillé (FRA) won the women’s event despite a strong start from Great Britain’s Shanaze Reade (GBR). After gaining an advantage at the gate and leading out of the first turn, Reade made a mistake in the second straight. Her French rival quickly overtook and held onto her lead until the finish. Reade, multiple World Champion, finished second in front of Caroline Buchanan (AUS). “The box” adds difficulty to men’s race More than 4000 spectators watched the racing in the Palacio des Deportes, downtown Madrid. The course was rendered especially spectacular by the introduction of ‘the box’ in the men’s race. This box can best be described as a massive, steep, almost square tabletop obstacle. The riders had to jump on and off the box, which was placed in the second straight. The enthusiastic Spanish crowd loved this challenging element that combines BMX freestyle, slope style and racing. A record number of 174 participants from 27 countries entered the first rendez-vous of the 2010 UCI BMX Supercross season and excitement mounted throughout the qualifying time trial rounds, culminating in the finals. Reade puts injury behind her Shanaze Reade, making her comeback after serious injury in 2009, was pleased with her second place: “I started the event a bit shaky but I improved. I am happy with this result. But it was a very difficult track, the first turn especially. I really took time away from BMX racing with my injury. I took my time and tried to get some things sorted like buying a house. I am 3 months back on the bike again after my injury. I need to sharpen up a bit but this is a good beginning.” Sam Willoughby (AUS): “A BMX race is so short. Anything can happen. I do not plan a race. I go step by step. First a good gate, then the first turn and so on. I really benefit from racing a lot. It is a big bonus to have experience on the track and be able to react to situations. 70% of winning is mental. The best races are the ones I don’t really remember. You are so focused then.” Ivo van der Putten happy with third Yvo van der Putten (NED): “I was between Maris Stromberg and Sam Willoughby on the gate. They got a bit ahead of me. I dropped back so I would not get caught up in the mix. From then on I was able to follow my own line. I am happy with this result so early in the World Cup season.” Conner Fields (USA): “When I stand at the gate of a final I tell myself that I have done everything right; worked hard, trained hard, done all I can. That gives me confidence. It was a very hard race. I was close to Sam in the last turn. There was little space. But I didn’t want to risk both of us crashing.”