Elisabeth Osl, Austria’s premier mountain biker, arrives at the UCI Cross-Country World Cup season finale on September 19 in Schladming as the overall leader. Here are five facts about her fight for the title.
Second will do
With 1,190pts, Osl is 65pts ahead of her second-placed title rival Lene Byberg of Norway in the Cross-Country World Cup. Because an event winner gets 250pts and the runner-up 200pts, coming second in front of her home crowd would be enough for the 23-year-old to don the World Cup crown.
2008: Osl ahead of Byberg in Schladming
At the World Cup finals in Schladming last year, Osl came 10th with a time of 1h 30m 43s – 31s ahead of Byberg, who came in one place behind the Tyrolean. The winner was Maja Wloszczowska from Poland – her victory time was 1h 26m 42s.
5.4km × 5
The Olympic Cross-Country is the only Olympic discipline in Schladming, and – alongside the 4X and Downhill – is the opening contest of the season finale. The circuit runs over about 5.4km, challenges the riders both technically and stamina-wise, and has to be conquered five times.
Up the Planai
The ascent of the Planai’s finishing slope is the toughest in this year’s Cross-Country World Cup and is one of the steepest and longest in World Cup history. After the slope, the track goes downhill through forests and across fields, straight through Schladming’s city centre and back towards the Planai stadium.
11.15am start
On Saturday, September 19, Osl will start the last race of the World Cup season at 11.15 on the dot. Shortly after the race, the award ceremony will be held – at which the girl from Kirchberg naturally wants to be on the top step…
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