Friday at Centennial Park was the warm-up to the big show that will happen Sunday when the Fayetteville World Cup takes place. A low-key affair, Friday’s C1 races were a great place to earn points and test the track for Sunday. Sunny skies and warm temperatures led to a fast track with hard-packed dirt and lots of dust. With rain forecast for Saturday night, we may see considerably different conditions on Sunday.
Full results for Friday’s race are available here .
Here’s a selection of images from Friday’s elite men’s and women’s races.
Helene Clauzel is a hole-shot specialist. Friday was no exception. She’s joined by Inge van de Heijden and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado at the front on lap one. The addition of these uphill planks are a nice change to the World Champs course. © 2022 Bill Schieken Before hitting the ground on a dusty corner, Clara Honsinger was making the leaders work. She leads van de Heijden, Alvarado, Clauzel and Mannon Bakker on the descent. © 2022 Bill Schieken After Honsinger hit the ground and Alvarado withdrew, van de Heijden was able to separate herself from the leaders. © 2022 Bill Schieken Inge van de Heijden wins the Oz Cross C1. © 2022 Bill Schieken Bakker, van de Heijden and Clauzel on the podium. The wind was strong all day leading to some necessary podium backdrop reinforcements. © 2022 Bill Schieken Remi Lelandais puts in some time in the wind, leading a large group early in the men’s race. © 2022 Bill Schieken Lead early and get in the photos, even if it’s your teammate who fights for the win. Lelandais eventually finished sixth, while his teammate Timon Ruegg sprinted for the win. © 2022 Low light and woods. Timon Ruegg leads Lander Loockx with two laps to go. © 2022 Bill Schieken After playing it conservatively with Sunday in mind, Curtis White concentrated on winning the race for third after the two leaders escaped. Here, he is keeping to his plan of not ever touching the front of the group until the last possible moment. © 2022 Bill Schieken Loockx beats Ruegg to the line. He went to the front in the final lap and never looked back. © 2022 Bill Schieken White played it perfectly, jumping one turn before the group expected anyone to make a move, and securing the third spot on the podium. © 2022 Bill Schieken
