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14 May 2007-05-17

Hello

This weekend started the World Cup series with the first leg in Vigo , Spain .

As the first big date of the season for World Class riders, I have been
impatient to compare my level of riding to the other women contestants who
have been riding all winter.  The piste had been changed slightly from
previous years producing a high speed course. Less technical, a course where
you had to have no fear of letting go of the brakes to cope with the huge
jumps.  The Piste was humid and damp for the weekend, although, on Sunday
the women were lucky that a massive rain storm had just finished before the
race.
Training did not start well for me on Friday as I fell heavily on my second
run and injured my arm ( a hole that could not be stitched as some flesh was
missing and a VERY large bruise) and my back.  I could not train anymore
that day.
Saturday  I tried to do the best I could as I could not really control the
handle bars.  In spite of the pain and with alot of anti inflammatories I
managed 4 trial runs before the semi final on the Saturday afternoon.
To the astonishment of everyone I managed my semi final run without falling
or stopping and came 6th, only 2 seconds from 3rd position.  I was very
happy with that result and it gave me confidence for the final.
The Sunday final happened between two severe rainfalls, which left the paste
slippery and tricky for everyone.  For this race I took my courage in my
hands and gave it everything, it hurt so much that I let go of the handle
bar twice and nearly fell twice.  Despite that and to my great satisfaction
I finished on the podium in 4th position, something fantastic bearing in
mind the circumstances.

Here are the results :-

   - 1ere Jonnier Sabrina FRA 2mn52s
   - 2eme Moseley Tracy GBR 2mn59
   -3eme Ragot Emmeline FRA 3mn02
   - 4eme Gros Céline FRA 3mn06.13
   - 5eme Saner Marielle SUI 3mn06.66

and the General Classification of the World Cup after this first leg :-

   - 1ere Jonnier Sabrina FRA 250pts
   - 2eme Moseley Tracy GBR 190pts
   - 3eme Ragot Emmeline FRA 180pts
   - 4eme Gros Céline FRA 142pts
   - 5eme Saner Marielle SUI 135pts

This weekend was particularly testing for me with the injury and I had not
felt comfortable during the any of the training on this course.  I did not
believe that I would make the podium.
Next rendez vous weekend 19 May, if I am able to race, otherwise the 9 and
10 June for the World Cup in Champery, Switzerland .

Thank you for your support.

Celine Gros