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Grotts 6th in Czech World Cup

Durango rider battles from behind
Grotts

Durangoan Howard Grotts started well, then had to recover from mechanical difficulties to fight his way back and finish sixth Sunday in the U23 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup race in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.

Grotts, who placed third in the U23 World Championships last year, finished 1 minute, 8 seconds behind winner Lars Forster of Switzerland on the 14-mile course. There were 138 riders at the start line. Keegan Swenson, who trained in Durango recently, finished what for him was a disappointing 119th place.

Meanwhile, Czech rider Jaroslav Kulhavy made the home fans – an estimated 14,300 – happy with his win in the pro men’s race. Nino Schurter of Switzerland placed second, 24 seconds back. The top American was Stephen Ettinger of Bozeman, Montana, who was 21st, 5:50 back.

Rotem Ishay, a Durango resident and Fort Lewis College graduate riding for Israel, placed 109th.

In the women’s race, 22-year-old Jolanda Neff of Switzerland nipped 42-year-old Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjna of Norway for first place.

The next UCI World Cup is this weekend in Albstadt, Germany.

johnp@durangoherald.com

Sep 5, 2014
Grotts casts himself in worlds bronze


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