English
NORCO TEAM
NEWS OCTOBER 2006
NEWS OCTOBER 2006
Bridgnorth, Shropshire didn't know what hit it today as the DH and 4X world showed up to race the 1st ever Down Town street race in the UK. The event was pretty cool for a first shot.
There were hundreds of spectators lining the tiny alleyways- some were even perched high on the walls above- as the race twisted and turned through the narrow streets. Locals seemed fairly supportive too as most crowded 2nd floor windows to watch the action below. The local shops were stoked as well recieving more business than expected on a Sunday afternoon!
Racing the track was a lot of fun, although the course was somewhat short. The organizers did a great job with the hill they had and there were plenty of smiling faces at the finish. However practice was a bit of a struggle. Most people only got in two practice runs due to the sheer number of riders (200) on the short track. Elite racing was as exciting as ever! Gee Atherton surprised no one winning the event and setting the fastest time. I won Elite Women, only 3 seconds back from Gee. My time was good enough for 12th in Elite men and 22nd overall! Coming in quick behind me was Rachel Atherton (less than a second back) and Helen Gaskell about 1.2 sec. behind me in 3rd. All-in-all it was a great event and an awesome way to finish out a successful season!
The event was huge for media here in the UK. BBC National television was out on the streets filming and MBUK photographers were all over the place. With all the media, fan and local support we will hopefully get to race more of these exciting events!
Once again, special thanks to my family that attended the event and to my sponsors: Norco, Zeal Optics, Fly Racing, Andrews Orme and Hinton, Rich-Art Concepts, 661, Joxwear, Marzocchi and Kenda.
Source: www.fionngriffiths.com
There were hundreds of spectators lining the tiny alleyways- some were even perched high on the walls above- as the race twisted and turned through the narrow streets. Locals seemed fairly supportive too as most crowded 2nd floor windows to watch the action below. The local shops were stoked as well recieving more business than expected on a Sunday afternoon!
Racing the track was a lot of fun, although the course was somewhat short. The organizers did a great job with the hill they had and there were plenty of smiling faces at the finish. However practice was a bit of a struggle. Most people only got in two practice runs due to the sheer number of riders (200) on the short track. Elite racing was as exciting as ever! Gee Atherton surprised no one winning the event and setting the fastest time. I won Elite Women, only 3 seconds back from Gee. My time was good enough for 12th in Elite men and 22nd overall! Coming in quick behind me was Rachel Atherton (less than a second back) and Helen Gaskell about 1.2 sec. behind me in 3rd. All-in-all it was a great event and an awesome way to finish out a successful season!
The event was huge for media here in the UK. BBC National television was out on the streets filming and MBUK photographers were all over the place. With all the media, fan and local support we will hopefully get to race more of these exciting events!
Once again, special thanks to my family that attended the event and to my sponsors: Norco, Zeal Optics, Fly Racing, Andrews Orme and Hinton, Rich-Art Concepts, 661, Joxwear, Marzocchi and Kenda.
Source: www.fionngriffiths.com
Norco Factory Team Racer, Catharine Pendrel (BC) won the silver medal in the elite women's 2006 Mountain Bike cross-country Pan American Championships competition in Camboriu, Brazil, on Sunday (October 15th). American Mary McConnelough took the gold medal and Argentina's Jimena Florit finished third.
The Penticton, BC rider, who was aiming for a top-five finish (which she had captured in the 2005 Pan Am Championships in Mexico), was full of joy after her race: "I worked my way up and in the second lap already found myself in third position. I rode consistently and was feeling really good. Conditions were way better than the training conditions over the past few days, with lots of sunshine and the course much drier. Before the race, I said to Michel (Leblanc, CCA mountain bike coach): I'm going to medal today!"
"It's so exciting, when you imagine that Catharine just learned one week prior to the event that she was selected to replace Alison Sydor (who could not make it to Brazil from the Roc d'Azur in France ñ which she won - in such a short period of time)," added Michel Leblanc, Canadian National Team mountain bike coach.
Source: Canadian Cycling Association
The Penticton, BC rider, who was aiming for a top-five finish (which she had captured in the 2005 Pan Am Championships in Mexico), was full of joy after her race: "I worked my way up and in the second lap already found myself in third position. I rode consistently and was feeling really good. Conditions were way better than the training conditions over the past few days, with lots of sunshine and the course much drier. Before the race, I said to Michel (Leblanc, CCA mountain bike coach): I'm going to medal today!"
"It's so exciting, when you imagine that Catharine just learned one week prior to the event that she was selected to replace Alison Sydor (who could not make it to Brazil from the Roc d'Azur in France ñ which she won - in such a short period of time)," added Michel Leblanc, Canadian National Team mountain bike coach.
Source: Canadian Cycling Association