1998 Grundig-UCI World Cup Opener

Pictures of Women and Men

March 28, 1998, Napa, CA

Alison Sydor reversed the roles of dominance in women's Grundig-UCI World Cup

racing at this season's opener in Napa, California, March 28. The Volvo-

Cannondale rider got around Caroline Alexander, who led on the opening climb,

to lead into the course's initial single track, coming before a steep uphill.

 

"My advantage is certainly on the descents, and I made an effort to lead on

the first descent," said Sydor. She got away from Paola Pezzo (Gary Fisher) on

the downhill, and third-placed Alison Dunlap (GT) got a gap on Caroline

Alexander (Ritchey) there, as well. Sydor continued to build on her lead until

she was 2:07 ahead at the finish. Pezzo put up a strong battle, but later said

that her training is targeted to peak in mid-season and during the world

championships, so she was not surprised at Sydor's early-season dominance.

 

Third-placed Dunlap was thrilled with her podium place in the World Cup

opener, especially because she didn't lose any ground on the descents and

could increase her gap over Alexander on the climbs.

 

The 20-mile women's race took place over four five-mile laps, with 1040 feet

of climbing per lap. The track, which was dusty last year, was tamped down due

to rain in earlier days and was fast and perfect for high speeds on race day.

The women's field was visibly tired on the fourth lap, with some riders more

exhausted than others. But as Sydor said, "When you're leading the race,

there's no pain at all. When you're leading you're going at your race pace."

 

With her victory at Napa (and Cactus Cup and Sea Otter), the three-time world

champion looks set to put her stamp on this season after last year was marred

by a snowboarding injury. But whatever this season's outcome, three leading

ladies, Sydor, Pezzo and Dunlap, look ready to take on each other in closer

competition than the sport has seen in years.

 

March 29, 1998

Rune Hoydahl of Giant rode to victory in the 100th Grundig-UCI race ever, the season opener in Napa, California, March 29. He took over the lead early in the race, passing Miguel Martinez of Sunn, no small feat in itself, and expanding his gap on the downhill. Martinez said he let Hoydahl go around him due to the former World Cup downhiller's superior technical skills on descents.

Behind Hoydahl and Martinez, Australia's Cadel Evans (Volvo-Cannondale)

followed in third, only to lose time to a flat tire with two-and-a-half laps

to go in the six-lap race. Evans rose from 18th to sixth place after that

flat, but the time he lost to the mechanical kept him out of the top five.

Sunn rider Christophe Herisset took over the third-place position, only to

lose it to Ritchey's Thomas Frischknecht with 1km to go in the race. "You

don't want to play with Frischy," said the happy Ritchey rider about his

definitive move in the 30-mile men's race.

 

Hoydahl takes the series' lead now, with victory in the first race, and

Martinez takes the espoirs' jersey, as leader of the under-23 category in the

World Cup.

 

 

BACK