Mountain: Trek World Racing Take 3 Podium Places and Retain Leader Jersey After Challenging Weekend At Champery

This weekend in Champery, Switzerland, saw the fourth rounds of both the XC and DH UCI Mountain Bike World Cups. Star of the weekend was XC rider, Mathias Flueckiger (SUI), who had an outstanding ride in his home country securing 4th place on the podium in the Men's Elite, and in so doing, also taking 1st place in the Under 23 category and retaining the Under 23 Leader's Jersey for the 4th consecutive race. Mathias, who's not let go of the jersey since the start of the series, rode sensationally, locked in a tough battle with current World Champion and fellow Swiss, Nino Schurter, for most of the race, and finishing ahead of multi-World and Olympic Champion, Julien Absalon (FRA).

Last year Mathias finished 5th on this course and with the World Championships set for Champery in 2011, things are looking good for the young Swiss. Fortune didn't shine on older brother, Lukas, whose rear derailleur was damaged beyond repair when a wayward tree branch was flung into his drive train as another rider innocently ran over it. The damage was severe and as it happened in the start loop, Luk found himself in last place (175th) and a long way from the Tech Zone. He decided to retire, hand over to younger brother Mathias, and save his legs for next week.

In the Women's Elite race, Emily Batty (CAN) rode strong and hard to secure a fantastic 3rd place on the podium in the Under 23 title race. Fighting hard from her starting position of 28, Emily moved up 8 places in the start loop dropping only slightly to finish 23rd by the end of the 5 lap race, out of a field of 120 elite women.