“It went really well for me today and I’m really happy to have won in the time trial but the big race is tomorrow so we’ll just wait and see,” said Daudet, who put together a staggering second half of his super-final to rocket from fifth to take the line honours.
“I’m really happy with where my speed is at the moment and it’s really awesome for us (France) to have won both the men’s and women’s time trial,” the beaming Frenchman added.
“The track was a little bit soft yesterday but its hardened up today so tomorrow should be good,” he said. “We’ll just chill out tonight and watch some of the footage from today and then hopefully things go well tomorrow.”
2009 Junior Women’s World Champ and Daudet’s fellow French star Manon Valentino was also cautious not to get too far ahead of her but was clearly satisfied with her time trial success.
“This is my best result in a time trial so far and I’m very happy to have won but tomorrow is the big one, the one that really counts, so there’s still lots more work to be done,” she said.
Men’s title favourite Sam Willoughby of Australia finished sixth, after digging deep to get himself onto the start line after being laid low by a stomach bug. The Australian was happy with his performance on the day, particularly in a discipline that
is not his forté. “I wouldn’t exactly call myself a time trial specialist and some of those other guys are really going well at the moment but overall I was happy with today,” said Willoughby.
“Racing and time trails are also two very different things because if you can get in front into the first corner of the race its quite tough for the rest of the guys to get past you after that so we’ll just have to see how things go tomorrow,” he added.
After a week of being frustrated by persistent rain the weather gods co-operated to provide cool overcast, and critically rain-free conditions for the first full days racing.
The second day gets under way at 2pm at Alexandra Park in Pietermaritzburg
More information can be found at www.bmxworldcupsa.co.za
SUMMARY OF RESULTS TIME TRIAL SUPERFINAL. DAY ONE UCI BMX SUPERCROSS PIETERMARITZBURG
MEN
1.Joris Daudet FRA 33.497
2.Raymon van der Biezen NED 33.691
3.Tory Nyhaug CAN 33.805
4.Sylvain Andre FRA 33.9
5.Corben Sharrah USA 33.919
6.Sam Willoughby AUS 33.973
7Nicholas Long USA 34.181
8.Carlos Oquendo Zabala COL 34.223
9.Joshua Meyers USA 34.225
10.Brian Kirkham AUS 34.231
11.Damien Godet FRA 34.296
12. Khalen Young AUS 34. 754
13.Kurt Pickard NZL 34. 848
14.Thomas Hamon FRA 34.859
15.Robert de Wilde NED 35.071
16.Daniel Schlang GER 35.182
WOMEN
1.Manon Valentino FRA 33.541
2.Sarah Walker NZL 33.902
3.Mariana Pajon COL 33.923
4.Caroline Buchanan AUS 34.215
5.Jana Horakova CZE 34.539
6.Magalie Pottier FRA 34.615
7.Joyce Seesing NED 34.629
8.Lauren Reynolds AUS 34.667
9.Eva Ailloud FRA 34.709
10.Samantha Cools CAN 34.818
11.Melinda Mcleod AUS 34.911
12.Rachel Bracken AUS 34.971
13.Amelie Despeaux FRA 35.045
14.Anete Hladikova CZE 35.344
15.Amanda Carr USA 35.571
16.Arielle Martin USA 52.763
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