Leogang 4X Qualifying - UCI World Championships 2012

Aug 31, 2012
by Ian Hylands  
photo

It started raining last night in Leogang, and it's still coming down, turning the previous few days dry dusty track into a slow wet one. Anneke Beerten qualified first for the women, and David Graf for the men, no real surprises in that. But with so many top men racing tomorrows finals should be exciting, especially if the rain lets up.

Complete Results at bottom

Tomas Slavik, Scott Beaumont, Joost Wichman and Felix Beckeman got together to film this GoPro POV Course Check.

// video deleted //

The view out of the press tent was depressing enough but the way the roof acts to amplify the sound of liquid fury from the heavens... let s just say most of the photographers and videographers were reluctant at best to head out for 4X Qualifying.
  The view out of the press tent was depressing enough, but the way the roof acts to amplify the sound of liquid fury from the heavens... let's just say most of the photographers and videographers were reluctant at best to head out for 4X Qualifying.

Rider 111 Sylvain Andre checking tire pressure on the bottom section of track.
  Rider 111, Sylvain Andre, checking tire pressure on the bottom section of track.

Norbert Papp pinning it for home.
  Norbert Papp pinning it for home.

The steady rain made for a slow track. Slow enough that very few riders attempted the big double and most that did cased the landing a bit.
  The steady rain made for a slow track. Slow enough that very few riders attempted the big double, and most that did cased the landing a bit.

David Graf stopped the clock at 43.915. Only .006 sec faster than Slavik
One rider who didn t case the big double was David Graf. The Swiss rider drilled the 4X course taking the pole position over Slavik by a mere .006 seconds.
  One rider who didn't case the big double was David Graf. The Swiss rider drilled the 4X course, taking the pole position over Slavik by a mere .006 seconds.


another rider that didn't have any problems clearing the big jump today in the muddy conditions was Tomas Slavik!

Roger Rinderknecht qualified 4th.
Legendary form legendary rider Roger Rinderknecht.
  Legendary form, legendary rider: Roger Rinderknecht. Into 4th

Unfortunately a DNF for Felix Beckeman.
I imagine that 21 year old Felix Beckemen is somewhere here in Leogang getting quietly drunk tonight and trying to forget qualifying. Or rather not qualifying. Not that he s a drinker per say but the guy crashed out in qualifying. At Worlds. That s enough to make almost anyone want to go curl up with a bottle for a while.
  I imagine that 21 year old Felix Beckemen is somewhere here in Leogang, getting quietly drunk tonight and trying to forget qualifying. Or rather, not qualifying. Not that he's a drinker, per say; but the guy crashed out in qualifying. At Worlds. That's enough to make almost anyone want to go curl up with a bottle for a while.

Prokop s countryman Thomas Slavik would like nothing better than to rip the rainbow jersey off Prokop s back but I don t think Prokop s going to just let that happen. However Slavik did edge Prokop out by .013 seconds in qualifying. Maybe half a pedal stroke. It s only qualifying but the odds for Prokop to successfully defend look a bit slimmer than they did before qualifying.
  Prokop's countryman Thomas Slavik would like nothing better than to rip the rainbow jersey off Prokop's back; but I don't think Prokop's going to just let that happen. However, Slavik did edge Prokop out by .013 seconds in qualifying. Maybe half a pedal stroke. It's only qualifying, but the odds for Prokop to successfully defend look a bit slimmer than they did before qualifying.

Prokop the 2011 World Champ.
The reigning 4X World Champ Michal Prokop. Prokop s one of the nicest guys out there. Except on the track. Nobody pays 4X racers to be nice on the track.
  The reigning 4X World Champ Michal Prokop. Prokop's one of the nicest guys out there. Except on the track. Nobody pays 4X racers to be nice on the track.

Melissa Buhl pinning it in but not as fast has she had hoped for. The former World Champ was only 1.776 seconds off of Beerten s time but she was 7 spots back. That s not going to mean good gates for Buhl but she is qualified for the 8 rider women s 4X final.
  Melissa Buhl pinning it in, but not as fast has she had hoped for. The former World Champ was only 1.776 seconds off of Beerten's time, but she was 7 spots back. That's not going to mean good gates for Buhl, but she is qualified for the 8 rider women's 4X final.

Romana Labounkova crossed the line just .322 sec behind Anneke. The gap between first and fift place was less than one second Expect some great racing tomorrow
  Romana Labounkova crossed the line just .322 sec behind Anneke. The gap between first and fift place was less than one second! Expect some great racing tomorrow!

Bas de Bever and Anneke Beerten just a few short moments before her winning run.
  Bas de Bever and Anneke Beerten just a few short moments before her qualifying run.

Anneke Beerten shutting it down after laying down the fastest qualifying time.
  Anneke Beerten shutting it down after laying down the fastest qualifying time.


4X QR ME Results
4X QR WE Results

Tomorrows start list for 4X Finals
4X FI ME StartList
4X FI WE StartList




Author Info:
IanHylands avatar

Member since Jun 23, 2008
588 articles

17 Comments
  • 13 0
 Wuh teh fuh is the point in having 4X Champs if there's no WC circuit? Absolute farce.
  • 4 0
 Yeah I hear ya, seems strange uci dropped the series but still holds a world champs for it. At least there is still the world tour.
  • 6 0
 yeah G-Raf!
  • 4 0
 where's the US pack we saw back in the day with Carter, Lopes etc
  • 4 8
flag tstep3 (Aug 31, 2012 at 11:59) (Below Threshold)
 We only race dual slalom in the US now. none of this 4x nonsense haha
  • 2 0
 fuck yeah Blake Carney!!!!!
  • 1 0
 is looking good to Luana! força Luana!!! traz a medalha de ouro pro Brasil! boa corrida!!!
  • 1 0
 At least the track looks great!
  • 1 0
 That RedBull media house player is crap! ruins the picture quality.
  • 1 0
 what time is this showing in the uk?
  • 1 0
 Wel jack, don't count out Anneke, your current world champ!
  • 1 0
 guaranteed semi final for all the women.
  • 1 0
 What happened to curd?
  • 1 0
 Snapped her chain Frown Real shame as she was a definate favorite for the win!
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