Mountain
Bike Race Report
UCI World Championship 4 Cross Finals
Lugano Switzerland. September 5th, 2003
Wade Bootes and Dale Holmes both make the consolation event at the
UCI World Championships
The UCI World Championships is the toughest one day competition there
is in the Professional Mountain bike race series. All of the best
riders from each country around the world come out and go for the
title of world champion and the dreams of a gold medal. This years
World Championship event was bigger than ever, with the best 4 Cross
course ever built for the World Cup level of racing. One of the toughest
course awaited the riders, as they showed up for qualifications on
Thursday night, and the riders loved every inch of the course.
With the tough competition and racing going on, 2 riders seemed to
stand out above the rest in practice. Wade Bootes and Dale Holmes
both looked extremely fast and comfortable on the course. Both of
the Double A Marketing riders have easily qualified for the World
Championship event and both looked for a chance to win another big
event. Wade, who just recently had won the King of the Mountain final
race a few weeks ago in Tahoe, CA, and Dale Holes looked to add another
title to his British 4 Cross National Championships that he won just
a few weeks ago as well.
Wade Bootes has always been a threat at the UCI Worlds, since he was
the winner of the first World Championships just 4 years ago in the
Dual class. Wade has the skills and knows what it takes to be a World
Champions, and his qualifying run showed that he was liking the course,
as he was the 5th fastest guy on Thursday night. As racing took off
of Friday, it was apparent that Wade was looking to be atop the gate
during the finals, as he easily won his first 2 rounds of competition,
and going into the semi finals, looked to be one of the 2 riders to
advance into the finals. But as he lined up with Michal Prokop, Brian
Schmith, and Cedric Gracia, it looked like the finals at most other
World Cups. As the gate fell, Bootes has a slightly bit off timed
start, and was in 4th. He battled his way in front of Gracia and looked
to be catching 2nd, but just missed out at the line. Wade advanced
to the Small finial and won from start to finish, taking home the
5th place for the night. Wade Bootes sponsors include Trek/Volkswagen,
Azonic, O'Neal, Oakley, IRC, AC Components, ATI, THE, Toolshed, Powerbar,
Thomson, Rock Shox, Shimano, Bombshell, WadeBootes.com, and BMXpros.com.
Dale Holmes had some of the best starts of the night, as he holeshotted
every one of his races up to the semifinal. Dale, who had a small
bobble in qualifying, and wound up 30th, showed no signs of inconsistency
one the race started and he handled himself great against some of
the worlds best racers. Dale wound up in the one of the toughest races
of his life in the semi final, as he was grouped up with 2002 World
Champion Brian Lopes and 2003 UCI World Cup overall champion Eric
Carter. Unknown rider Pablo Carrasco had impressed many tonight as
well, being the final rider in the 4 man semi. As the gate dropped,
Lopes grabbed the start of the night, and was gone, but Holmes was
in tow in 2nd. Dale could feel the pressure from Eric Carter all the
way down the course, but held his own, until Cater made the move of
the night and passed Dale, just as he had a slight bobble. Still a
very impressive night for Dale, and it wasn't over yet, as he was
into the small final. Dale would be once again up against the worlds
best riders, and take home 3rd place, giving him 8th for the night
and his best World Championship result in 4 Cross.
Dale Holmes sponsors include KHS, Free Agent, Azonic, O'Neal, Smith
Eyewear, Kenda Tires, Fox Racing Forks(MTB), Bombshell Forks (BMX),
UGP, Sun Ringle, Profile, S & M, ODI Grips, Vans, Shimano, BMXpros.com,
Champion Nutrition, and Daleholmes.com.
2003 UCI World Championship 4 Cross Final Results
1 Michal Prokop CZE
2 Eric Carter USA
3 Brian Lopes USA
4 Brian Schmith USA
5 Wade Bootes Trek/VW AUS
6 Cedric Gracia FRA
7 Dale Holmes KHS/Kenda GBR
8 Pablo Carrasco ESP
