Sarkany and Puigblanque supreme in Slovenia

On 16/11 Muriel Sarkany Julian Ramón Puigblanque won the 8th stage of the World Cup Difficulty 2003 in Kranj, Slovenia

November 2003

Another round, a further set of combinations. In the eigth stage of the World Cup held in Kranj last weekend, RamÃ³n JuliÃ¡n Puigblanque and Muriel Sarkany walked away with the top prize, while Alexander Chabot and Angela Eiter placed second. The roller coaster ride towards overall victory in 2003 continues therefore with yet another twist, as Chabot sees his lead whittle to 49 points and Sarkany sees hers extend to 159.

Young CÃ©dric Lachat finally produced a performance all knew he is capable of by placing third in Slovenia, ahead of Patxi Usobiaga and FranÃ§ois Auclair, who continues to hold on to overall third after Evgueni Ovtchinnikov, second in Valence a fortnight ago, placed only 20th. World Champion Tomaz Mrazek was absent.

Muriel Sarkany, Angela Eiter and Sandrine Levet all topped out in the Final, rendering Sarkany's only Semifinal top fundamental to success. Although mathematically speaking all is still possible, with only two legs to go, Sarkany now looks more comfortable than ever: 159 points separate her from Levet, and 193 from Eiter. But, as the first round in Kranj demonstrated, nothing should be taken for granted. Chabot was provisional 15th, Puigblanque provisional 21st. Predictions please?

Results men
1 Puigblanque RamÃ³n JuliÃ¡n ESP
2 Chabot Alexandre FRA
3 Lachat CÃ©dric SUI
4 Usobiaga Patxi ESP
5 Auclair FranÃ§ois FRA
6 Pouvreau GÃ©rome FRA
7 Verhoeven Jorg NED
8 Zardini Luca ITA
9 Millet Sylvain FRA
10 Sapey Anthony SUI
11 Sova Matej SLO
12 Hoppe Markus GER
13 Bindhammer Christian GER
13 Fuselier Mickael FRA
15 Fichtinger Reinhard AUT
16 Repcik Juraj SVK
17 Fischhuber Kilian AUT
18 Roth Cody USA
19 Crespi Flavio ITA
20 Ovtchinnikov Evgueni RUS
21 Skof Miha SLO
22 Becan Klemen SLO
23 Douloub Iouri RUS
24 Valjavec Tomaz SLO
25 Gnerro Alberto ITA
26 PreuÃler Timo GER
27 Jensterle Franci SLO
28 Bindhammer Andreas GER
29 Marin Garcia Eduard ESP
19 Rant Blaz SLO
32 Bornsek Jure SLO
33 Stepanjan David SLO
34 Golob Jurij SLO
34 Svub Ondrej SVK
34 Zazvonil Luka SLO
37 Jaggi Martin SUI
38 Pintar Matev_ SLO
39 Klancnik Rok SLO
40 Knoche Thomas GER
41 Kozmus Matic SLO
42 Tasevski Vasil MKD
43 Ristovski Ilija MKD

Results women
1 Sarkany Muriel BEL
2 Eiter Angela AUT
3 Levet Sandrine FRA
4 Bacher Barbara AUT
5 Ciavaldini Caroline FRA
6 Saurwein Katharina AUT
7 Vidmar Maja SLO
8 Eyer Alexandra SUI
9 Franko Lucjia SLO
10 Knorr Damaris GER
11 Cufar Martina SLO
12 Vidmar Katja SLO
13 Minoret ChloÃ© FRA
14 Kosmac Ana SLO
14 Martin Delphine FRA
16 Louis StÃ©phanie SUI
17 Lavarda Jenny ITA
18 Raffetseder Gerda AUT
19 Cintalova Zuzana SVK
20 Stendal Linn Karin
21 Ribnikar Masa SLO
22 Nilsson Ingela SWE
23 Planinc Katja SLO
24 Gosar Asja SLO
25 _antelj Polona SLO
26 Huang Bai-Le TPE
27 Harnisch Martina AUT