Switzerland euro rd- race report. By Caroline Buchanan

Jun 07, 2011

Written by Bart de Jong

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Rounds 7 & 8 of the European series were held in Winterthur Switzerland over the weekend. Having the recent World Cup held in Holland last weekend my coach Wade Bootes decided it would be good for the Australian team to stay in Europe an extra week, collect UCI world ranking points and get world cup level race competition. The week in between these 2 events the Australian team spent 3 days training on the Copenhagen Denmark track in preparation for the BMX World Championships being held there in 7 weeks time. Whilst we were there Sam Willoughby, Khalen Young, Luke Madill,

Lauren Reynolds, Rach Bracken, Melinda Mcloud and myself ran a coaching clinic for roughly 60 local Copenhagen riders from all ages.

It was nice to come back to Switzerland again this is one of my favorite places in Europe. The level of competition at these European rounds is very hard..with the Australian girls being here and Columbians it was World Cup racing without the Americans.

Day 1: I was riding good in my races leading up to the semi final where I didn't have the smoothest lap and lost a photo finish for 4th qualifying spot for the final and didn't progress through into the final.

Day 2: The whole Australian team was feeling feeling pretty worn out after the last 2 weeks we have practiced and raced in Holland then rode for 3 days in Denmark then practiced and raced again in Switzerland. I won all of my races leading into the semi final where I we drew 4 of the top 5 girls from the last World Cup in Holland. I came 4th in the Semi final progressing through to the final.

In the final Mariana Pajon got out in the lead early with Magalie pushing me wide on the 1st turn I slotted into 3rd place. I almost passed Magalie Pottier on the last corner but couldn't quite pull it off and ended up with 3rd place on the podium :)

Results Day 2:
1st: Mariana Pajon COL
2nd: Magalie Pottier FRA
3rd: Caroline Buchanan AUS

The countdown has started to the BMX World Championships being held in Copenhagen Denmark in 7 weeks time. Next stop for me America where I will compete in Rockford near Chicago in 2 weeks time..keep you posted!