[CROWD NOISE]
ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE]
looking really good.
BENNO WILLEIT: Yeah, the team is here since Sunday, Monday.
Everybody's giving 110%.
It starts from the soigneurs to the
mechanics to the riders.
Everybody is so stoked about being here.
And we are all looking forward for a great event here.
LEA DAVISON: Yeah, so for world champs, Specialized is
doing something really cool, and they gave us all special
frame designs.
So mine is a specially-painted fate.
It's sparkly white with red specialized writing and blue
highlights for the red, white, and blue of the American flag.
So it's really cool.
Everything else, it's nerve wracking, especially when you
know you can do well.
So I know my fitness is right there.
And I tried the log stepdown, which has been claiming a lot
of people, and unclipped on the first log.
I managed to get down it, but then crashed at the bottom
into the fence.
That's why I have this little mark here.
TEREZA HURIKOVA: The course is same like last year, many
technical sections which are quite scary.
But if you do it once, then you feel more confident.
And then it's getting smoother and smoother, and you can
enjoy it, and it's more fun.
JAROSLAV KULHAVY: I think it will be really
fast after the start.
And there will be a very important good position to do
the first climb, because it is narrow.
And so we will see.
But the coarse is super-technical.
There is a lot of rock gardens, rock sections, and--
eh, I like it.
TODD WELLS: Last year, I crashed out about 10 minutes
into practice, was done for almost a month.
This year, I made it around the course a couple of times
no problem.
So it's a great opportunity.
I more enjoy the chance to have another shot at world
championships trying to get a medal, so--
KOHEI YAMAMOTO: Yeah, course also I like.
Little high speed and some downhill section.
Yeah, Epic World Cup, no problem.
Full gas.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
HOWARD GROTTS: I'll be on the hardtail here.
There's so much climbing, I just think that's definitely
the way to go.
My shoulder is more or less in the same situation right now
as it was in Mont-Sainte-Anne, but I have a brace, and we'll
tape it up a bit.
I think it should work pretty well.
[CHEERING]
HOWARD GROTTS: The a-lines were pretty tricky.
I was taking all of them but one.
I just wanted to make sure that I had a clean race, no
crashes, no shoulder dislocations.
And I succeeded.
So that was really a good goal to accomplish here.
I think I gained quite a few places.
I felt like the first three or four laps it was six people
every lap or something.
[CHEERING]
ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE]
around the world.
Look at the people.
Come on, give them a round of applause, everybody.
Let's go [INAUDIBLE].
Let's get them going here this afternoon.
LEA DAVISON: First half of the race, I was just chasing, it
seemed, just off of the front group.
I could see them.
I couldn't quite bridge up.
I got stuck behind some weirdness on the first lap.
Someone went down.
But I would say I am ha--
I'm content, I would say.
I'm not ecstatic, for sure, because I was aiming for the
podium, and I know I can be on the podium.
So yeah, still on the gas for Norway.
So, should be fun.
TEREZA HURIKOVA: So after the start, I moved forward, and I
felt really good.
But then two Polish girls crashed into each other, and I
had to jump off the bike.
But when the road was clear, I could push
hard and find my rhythm.
And I fighted for every position.
And I kept moving forward, so it was great feelings for me.
No mistakes.
[CHEERING]
ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE]
this afternoon.
Look at this [INAUDIBLE].
There's the riders making way toward the [INAUDIBLE].
Excellent.
This is [INAUDIBLE] the end of the first half
of the first lap.
There goes [INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE] looking good as well.
What a great start [INAUDIBLE].
JAROSLAV KULHAVY: I'm happy.
I am happy with my shape, with my performance today, but I am
not happy with the result.
Because fifth place, it's nice, but I wanted
to be the top three.
I had crash with Miguel Martinez.
I did one of the rock gardens, and I bent my handlebars in
[INAUDIBLE].
I lost maybe six positions.
And could be much better without crashes.
KOHEI YAMAMOTO: Today, start is very good.
After two laps, harder respiration.
And this then last final two laps, full energy.
Next time.
Thank you for support, and keep going.
TODD WELLS: 10 seconds into the race, there was a big
crash, and I saw it, tried to stop, but everyone pushed into
me from behind, and then I'm laying on the ground.
From there, I got up--
I think I was last place-- and had a pretty good
ride, but no result.
Although I conquered my drop from last year that ruined the
first part of my season, so that was a positive.
And it was great to come here and see Burry's memorial and
be part of that.
So that was good.
And that's kind of what I take away from this world champs.
CAMERAMAN: You have a bit of a belly there, Todd.
TODD WELLS: Yeah, you know, got to stay fueled up for
those long flights.