2009 UCI Mountain Bike Championships: Silver for Norway
Norwegian cross-country mountain biker Lene Byberg (26) captured silver in the women’s world championships at Camberra, Australia on Sept. 5.
Byberg crossed the finish line 13 seconds behind the winner, Russia’s Irina Kalentieva, who overcame a disastrous start in the 32.35km women’s elite cross country event to claim her nation’s first gold medal of the world championships.
Byberg led the race from the start, but on the last lap Kalentieva proved too strong, and secured her second world title in three years.
“I went for it from the start, good legs and a great bike. I was in front from the moment the startgun went off!” says Lene, who tried her best to get the title, but Irina was to strong on the last lap and the Norwegian was not able to answer to her attack 2km from the finish line.
American Willow Koerber captured the bronze medal.
Byberg, who hails from Stavanger, has participated in the Olympic Games in both road cycling and mountain biking. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, where she finished 13th in the cross country event.
This was her first medal in a big Championship.
Read more about Lene on Lenebyberg.no
