Hanlen fights back for best world mountain bike finish

A crash in the warm-up did not stop Olympian Karen Hanlen from her best finish at a UCI World Mountain Bike Championship in South Africa today.

Hanlen finished 22nd after recovering from her a potential race-ending crash pre-race and a sluggish opening lap at the Cascades Mountain Bike Park in Pietermaritzberg.

The London Olympian was 40th after the opening lap of six, before finding her rhythm, picking off a bunch of riders over each of the remaining five laps to finish in 1:51.46.

Hanlen was through the first lap in 20:16 before reeling off four laps in the mid-18 minute range and one sub-18 minute lap as she scythed through the field.

The Olympic champion Julie Bresset of France successfully defended her title in a sprint finish from the 2010 champion Maya Wloszczowska from Poland.

Hanlen said her pre-race fall and opening lap blues proved costly.

"My warm-up shook me up a bit after a pretty big crash. The starts always seem to be my weak point but once I got into the race, as usual, I love it,'' Hanlen said. ``I just got in to it from there and picked riders off each lap to build myself back to a respectable place.

"I was definitely targeting a top-10 but having said that it was my best finish at a world championship and I am rapt with that.''

The Whakatane mother of two prepared exclusively at home this year without any European racing.

"I am the fittest I have ever been but just not race ready. The team relay didn't go too well for me but it did help get me back into the swing of things.''

Hanlen said she has the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in her plans where she wants to be a medal contender.

"I still have to sort out my starts because I want to go as a potential medallist but I have a lot of work to do. If I can get my head around it at the start of next year I will definitely work towards it.

"I will head to the World Cup circuit, at least for the round in Cairns. Funding will be a big issue. So I will do the national season and Cairns as the second World Cup. If it is looking good I will look to carry on.''

Switzerland's Nini Schurter, the Olympic silver medallist, defended his elite men's world title after a close tussle with Germany's Manuel Fumic, who is a teammate of Kiwi Anton Cooper at Cannondale Factory Team.

Wanganui's Sam Blenkinsop (Lapierre International) was the best of the New Zealand riders in the official timed session for tomorrow's downhill.

Blenkinsop was the sixth fastest headed by Canada's Steve Smith, with fellow Kiwis George Brannigan and Wyn Masters both enjoying outstanding runs to be 12th and 13th respectively.

It was not such a good day for world No 10 ranked Brook MacDonald (Trek World Racing), who went off the track to finish at the back of the field along with other top ranked riders Sam Hill (Australia) and Aaron Gwin (USA).

Results, Women Elite Cross-country, 6 laps (28km): Julie Bresset (FRA) 1:42.54, 1; Maja Wloszczowska (POL) 1:42.59, 2; Esther Suss (SUI) 1:44:00, 3; Irina Kalentieva (RUS)1:44.23, 4; Tanja Zakelj(SLO) 1:44.57, 5. Also: Karen Hanlen (NZL) 1:51.46, 22.

Elite men, 7 laps (33km): Nino Schurter (SUI) 1:40.17, 1; Manuel Fumic (GER) 1:40.24, 2; Jose Hermida Ramos (ESP) 1:40.38, 3.