Hanlen Fires to 8th at Mountainbike World Cup, South Africa
Whakatane's Karen Hanlen raced to a stunning 8th at the first round of the 2012 UCI Mountainbike World Cup in
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa overnight. In a world class quality field of competitors, containing every Olympic
nations top Elite cross country athletes Hanlen put herself in a position to not only challenge for the race lead, but
to claim a result that will allow her to build on what has already been a form summer.
After winning every national level event in New Zealand this summer, including the National and Oceania Championship
titles Hanlen travelled to South Africa with building form on her side. This first World Cup of 2012 has been her first
opportunity since the 2011 World Championships to benchmark her rapid progress in this sport against the world's best -
and at the end of the first lap Hanlen was not only in the lead group on course, but outright second. Lining up beside
Hanlen on the fourth row of the start grid was Wellington's Rosara Joseph, and with the London Olympics forefront in
both athletes minds also a very clear understanding of the importance of performing well in Pietermaritzburg.
Hanlen's aggressive start rocketed her into contention at the front of the field, and after the second lap and some
settling on the very technical race course she solidified a position behind the lead group of 8th, which she protected
and held through to the end of the five lap race. Hanlen had been targeting a breakthrough into the top 12 at this first
World Cup, and was delighted to finish inside the top ten and only 2:17 behind the race winner, Maja Wloszczowska
(Poland). Joseph meanwhile worked steadily away after a slower start, and recovered course position to eventually finish
11th and 3:05 down on the winner.
Hanlen returns to Whakatane on Wednesday to continue preparations for the next Mountainbike World Cup event at
Houffalize, Belguim on the 14th April where she will again line up against Joseph at this World Cup venue - one which
both athletes are very familiar with.
ENDS