Michal Prokop, two-time Jeep KOM Champion, stated that it was a fast course today which affected my braking and passing in each heat. I had a bad gate in the finals and tried to follow Jared Graves closely. I was able to maintain a good lead in the second race and kept my lanes protected while riding smoothly all the way to its end. It was a great start for the season.
World Champion Prokop started the day by sweeping 2004 Jeep KOM Champ Wade Bootes, (Aus), to reach semifinals. He met Cody Warren at the semifinals, where he won consecutive races to secure a spot in Championship Heat.
Warren’s attempt to reach the semifinals was the upset, with a crash-induced, time differential win over Brian Lopes.
Jared Graves from Australia, who was the 2nd-best World Cup 4-Cross rider last year, was also dominant in the first rounds. He defeated Chris Van Dine, an open qualifier, before sweeping past Eric Carter, the U.S. 4-Cross Champion.
Prokop was stunned by Graves’ flawless run in the Championship Heat. He just missed the title-holder. Prokop showed his brilliance in the second race and fought hard to regain the title. Warren was beaten by Carter in Consolation Heat, resulting in Carter taking third place in the standings.
WOMEN
World Champion Kintner was a blazer in the women’s competition. She won both the sweeps and the South African Norba 4-Cross Champion Joanna Petterson in the first round. Then she beat Anneke Beerten from Denmark to reach the finals.
Melissa Buhl, the U.S. National Dual Slalom Champion, was showing her true talent. She won first against Gale Dahlager, an open qualifier, and then she beat Tara Llanes in a dual. Llanes won the first match in a stunning performance, but the defending U.S. National DH Champ fell into the rocks on the racecourse in heat 2. Buhl advanced straight to the Championship final.
Buhl was no match for Kintner in the last two runs of the day. Kintner won the title. Despite a remarkable performance by Llanes who was injured, Beerten maintained third place in Consolation Heat. This was praised with a standing ovation from the crowd.
Kintner said that today was great fun because of the speed of the course, and the competition. In the heat, it was tough. However, I was able get the energy I needed when I needed it, especially against Melissa Buhl. Her determination and will not let you down makes her a formidable opponent. It was a great win for me.
RETURN FOR MORE
Prokop and Kintner hold back-to-back World Professional Champion honors and are in line to take the crown for an unprecedented third consecutive year. The record lion’s share and keys to a new Jeep Liberty 2008, for each participant.
The Jeep King of the Mountain Series will now travel to the Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo (CA) on Saturday, August 18th, before returning to Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado, for the season’s grand finale on Saturday September 1.
TV TIME
The 2007 Mountain Biking World Professional Championships will have each race televised on CBS Sports to a national audience. This is the largest coverage of professional mountain biking in recent history. The race at The Canyons
Park City will be broadcast on CBS Sports Saturday, August 18 at 5:? 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (check your local listings).
JEEP KING OF MOUNTAIN RESULTS
1. Michal Prokop (CzeAuthor)
2. Jared Graves (Aus).YetiFox
3. Eric Carter. Mongoose
4. Cody WarrenC-Dub
5. Rich HousemanYetFox
6. Brian LopesOakley – GT
7. Wade Bootes (Aust)
8. Chris Van DineCannondale the Cut
WOMEN
1. Jill Kintner.GT
2. Melissa BuhlKHS
3. Anneke Beerten (Den)Bikepark
4. Tara LlanesGiant
5. Fionn Griffiths (GBr)Norco-Griffiths
6. Leana GerrardBear naked-Cannondale
7. Gale Dahlager
8 Joanna Petterson, RSA (Brodie)
