Will Team GB Darfo win?
By TMX Archives on 16th Sep 09
THE prestigious Trial des Nations International team events, that take place next weekend, September 19/20, at Darfo Boario Terme, in Italy, follow straight on from the final round of the World Championships, with the men having signed-off last week in France. In the case of the Ladies, their TdN follows-on immediately as their third and final World Round takes place at the same venue on Friday September 18 followed by the Trial des Nations on Saturday 19! Looking at the Ladies event first there will be 11 teams gathered in Italy to do battle and the three British girls are as strong a squad as anyone can muster. British champ Becky Cook leads out Emma Bristow and Joanne Coles, the latter two replacing Team GB stalwarts Donna Fox and Maria Conway from last year's squad which came away from the Andorra event disappointed with their eventual third place.
Becky, Emma and the rapidly rising young star that is Jo Coles will be looking for the top spot in Italy and here's an early call for all the Brits who are out there to really get behind the girls.
Spain won last year, mainly thanks to World Champ Laia Sanz's efforts, and defend their crown with the same squad, Laia plus Mireia Conde and Sandra Gomez.
Britain lost out to Germany for the runner-up berth by just a single point in Andorra and will be looking to overturn that finish and Iris Kramer, Rosita Leotta and Ina Wilde.
The remaining Ladies teams battling for a podium slot in Italy are France, Norway, Australia, United States, Italy and Portugal.
On Sunday it will be the turn of the men and on a vastly toughened course just the four teams will contest the Trial des Nations, Spain, Great Britain, Spain and Italy. The remainder of the squads will compete for the International Trophy. It is worth noting that last year's runners-up, Japan, are not sending a team this year claiming the economic climate makes the funding of a squad impossible.
On paper it would take a brave man to bet against Spain's squad which in reality is an all-Catalan quartet of Toni Bou, Albert Cabestany, Jeroni Fajardo and Adam Raga. So in the absence of Japan Dougie Lampkin, still far from fully fit as he sruggles to recover from his broken wrist, James Dabill, Michael Brown and team newcomer Alexz Wigg have just Italy and France to beat for the runner-up berth.
Italy has a solid squad of Daniele Maurino, Fabio Lenzi, Francesco Iolitta and Matteo Grattarola while France will be looking for the talented Loris Gubian to make the difference.
A total of 16 teams will battle it out for the International Trophy over the same course but with eased sections and the Czechs, led by Martin Kroustek, will be back to defend their crown which they won last year from Norway and Australia with Ireland in fourth. The Irish squad remains the same as last year with Gareth Andrews, Michael Burton, Sean Doyle and Andy Perry and will surely be aiming for a podium although competition in this group is definitely hot.
Don't miss our full report and Eric Kitchen's mega pics next week!