Trentino, Italy (June 18, 2008)—
Jamie Dinkins (Powell, Tenn.) turned in the top American performance on the second day of competition at the 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. After starting 37th, Dinkins moved up 18 spots to finish 19th in the U23 women’s cross country contest.
Jill Behlen (Boulder, Colo.) and
Diedre York (Indio, Calif.) finished 31st and 33rd respectively in the Junior Women’s Cross Country race earlier in the day.
 Dinkins |  Behlen and York |
Dinkins was the sole American to take the start in the U23 women’s race and with no international racing experience was seeded at the back of the nearly 40-rider field. The 22-year-old didn’t waste any time however, passing numerous riders on the first of the four-lap affair.
“I think I did two or three endos out there,” said Dinkins. “This is my first Worlds. I was so pinned and nervous I couldn’t think straight. I am tickled to be in the top 20.”
Team USA’s Dinkins finished 16:14 back from overall winner Tanja Zakel of Slovenia who scorched through the 23-kilometer course in 1:35:31. Nathalie Schneitter (SUI) earned the silver medal 2:58 later and Aleksandra Dawidowicz (POL) won the bronze 3:14 behind the overall winner.
Both competing in their first international contest, Behlen and York rode steadily throughout the 17.6-kilometer junior women’s cross country competition. Against a much more experienced international field, the pair of Americans had their hands full from the start, both encountering difficulty as they attempted to tackle the first climb, a 550-meter, damp, grassy ascent with a more than 18 percent grade.
“I was warned by my sister, Danae, who competed at Worlds a few years ago that the start would be tough,” stated York. “It still didn’t prepare me for how fast and how hard everyone went right out of the gate.”
Behlen echoed York’s sentiments, emphasizing the difficulty of the mushy, grassy climbs rarely found on courses in the United States. Yesterday’s rain left much of the course very damp, forcing many of the junior competitors to walk the steep sections.
“I just couldn’t run as fast as some of the other girls,” explained Behlen. “Because the climbs were so steep and exhausting, you were tired for the descents.”
Laura Abril of Columbia won the three-lap junior women’s contest in 1:16:08 with Barbara Benko (HUN) taking the silver only 37 seconds later. Germany’s Mona Eiberweiser finished third, 2:11 behind Abril. Behlen crossed the line 21:52 later and York finished 24:14 behind the winner.
2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
Trentino, Italy
June 17-22
U23 Women’s Cross Country:
1. Tanja Zakel (SLO) 1:35:31
2. Nathalie Schneitter (SUI) +2:58
3. Aleksandra Dawidowicz (POL) +3:14
19. Jamie Dinkins (Powell, Tenn.) +16:14
Junior Women’s Cross Country
1. Laura Abril (COL) 1:16:08
2. Barbara Benko (HUN) +0:37
3. Mona Eiberweiser (GER) +2:11
31. Jill Behlen (Boulder, Colo.) +21:52
33. Diedre York (Indio, Calif.) +24:14
