Buhl earns Four Cross World Titles as U.S. contests gravity events

Trentino, Italy (June 21, 2008)—Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz.) gave the United States its first medal of the 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships on Saturday, winning the Women’s Four Cross contest in convincing fashion.

Women’s Four Cross 1. Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz.) 2. Jana Horakova (CZE) 3. Romana Labounkova (CZE)

After qualifying third in Thursday’s time trials, Buhl breezed through the early rounds of Saturday evening’s Four Cross World Championships, crossing the line in first position each time. The 2007 bronze medalist did however find herself behind out of the gate in the finals, but just as she had done in the second round, the veteran rider waited for the perfect opportunity to make her move.

“I had a decent gate, but didn’t get out front,” explained Buhl. “Thankfully something opened up in the second to last turn and I was able to take advantage of it. I am very excited right now.”

Buhl was able to pass silver medalist Jana Horakova (CZE) in the final portion of the fast, high-flying course, leaving Romana Labounkova (CZE) in the third position. Buhl’s victory allowed the United States to retain the Women’s Four Cross World Title for the fourth straight year after Jill Kintner’s (Seattle, Wash.) victories in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Earlier in the day 13 Americans competed in three Downhill categories, junior men and elite men and women, coming away with three top-25 performances and a pair of top-10 finishes by the American women. After taking their starts near the middle of the pack, both Pruitt and Buhl significantly improved their times from Thursday’s seeding runs, both earning spots inside the top 10. Pruitt rode a 4:19.66, putting her in seventh place, +29.74 back from the overall winner, Rachel Atherton of Great Britain, who earned the victory in convincing fashion, besting her next fastest opponent by more than 12 seconds. Buhl, an 11-year veteran of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, bettered her time from the seeding run by more than one full minute and placed 10th overall, just over 30 seconds behind Atherton’s mark.

1. Rachel Atherton (GBR) 3:49.92

2. Sabrina Jonnier (FRA) +11.99

3. Emmeline Ragot (FRA) +17.11

2. Jana Horakova (CZE)

3. Romana Labounkova (CZE)