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LOPES' FINAL WORLD CUP ENDS ON THE PODIUM
May 31, 2008
Vallnord, Andorra- May
31, 2008- Nuzzled in the the middle of the Pyrenees mountains, Vallnord's
breathtaking mountainous views set the ultimate back drop for this years second
4X World Cup.
After
a couple of days of unexpected and welcomed sunshine, the 4X racers were not so
lucky the day of the race. The weather proved to have taken a toll on the
already wet and moist dirt that made up the course. The complications were
obvious, as the Vallnord/UCI crew laid out rubber mats on the first straight way
and filled some jumps at the bottom of the course with cement, in efforts to
move forward with the race.
While
Brian shared the challenge of the weather along with everyone else, he also
needed to overcome the 11th qualifying spot he had earned the day before, which
limited his choice of race lane. Banking on his formidable starts, Lopes made it
out of heat 16, 24 and 28 unscathed. Then in things began to get complicated, as
he found himself in loaded semi-final with D. Atherton (#2 qualifier), K.
Tartakovic and Q. Derbier, Brian made it through along with D. Atherton to the
finals.
As
the gate dropped for the final and deciding race, Lopes once again lead the pack
down the first straight, as the race progressed Atherton made a clean move on
Lopes which earned him the lead and the win. Congratulations Dan on his first 4X
win!
MEN'S
RESULTS
1.
Dan ATHERTON (ENG)
2.
Brian LOPES (USA)
3.
Guido TSCHUGG (GER)
For more information go to www.brianlopes.com
