JEEP KOM PROFESSIONAL CHAMPS
The Czech Republic’s Michal Prokop, the defending World Champ, won the individual title and was also crowned the third consecutive World Professional Champion. Jill Kintner from Seattle won the individual title. Anneke Beerten of the Netherlands was the World Professional Champion for the entire season.
One athlete was convinced that capturing the long-running Jeep King of the Mountain Mountain Biking World Professional Championships at Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado was impossible. The other was so excited to get on the track, she couldn’t sleep the entire night. The day ended with no doubt as Anneke Beerten and Michal Prokop took home the coveted crowns.
The final race saw the women and men’s standings tied for first time in five years of the JKOM summer bike series. Five athletes shared the top prize, and seven others had a chance to drive off the mountain in the new 2008 Jeep Liberty with the full lion’s share of the purse.
The action was up to the high expectations as thousands of race fans congregated at the track to determine which competitor would do best on the highly technical Ycross coursecourse created by Eric Carter, a 2007 Norba Champ.
Prokop was also the JKOM Champ twice-defending. He won the first race in Park City, UT but lost race two when he went to China to compete at the World Cup BMX.
In order to qualify for the Olympics, Championships were held. Jared Graves, Jill Kintner and others had also participated. The Czech BMX and Mountain Biking National Champion was aware that there was much ground to cover when he arrived in Beaver Creek and he took no time to reestablish the lead. First, he swept past Temeculas Richhouseman, who was tied for the overall lead at Beaver Creek. In the semifinals, Prokop defeated Open Qualifier Cody Warren. Warren had earlier given Prokop a tremendous gift by eliminating Brian Lopes, his co-leader in the first round. Australia’s Jared Graves was awarded a bye in the first round. This was due to the news that Eric Carter, race course designer and competitor, would not be racing because of an injury sustained during the seeding runs. Graves met Wade Bootes, his 2004 JKOM Champion, in the semifinals. These two friends fought fiercely. Bootes won the first race, while Graves took control to win the second. Graves then stormed back to win and advance based upon the time differential. This set the stage for a Championship Heat, in which Prokop would face Graves. Prokop won the first race but lost the second heat. He was awarded the title and the three-peat of World Professional Champion status based on his time differential. Warren was defeated by Bootes in the Consolation Heat, securing third place.
Prokop said that although I didn’t believe I could win today’s competition, I did my best and it worked out for me. I tried to be as fast out there as possible, but was careful to keep my eyes on my turns and cover my inner. Lopes went down early for me, but I was thrilled to win again.
Beerten, who won the Jeep King of the Mountain race in San Luis Obispo (CA) earlier, had to face Melissa Buhl, her co-leader, for the first day of the event. Buhl is currently the Norba Downhill Champion and the 4-Cross Champion. She also holds the title of U.S. Dual Slalom Champion. Beerten, who is the second-ranked racer in the world, with two World Cup wins in 2007, was successful in beating her rival to advance to the semifinals. She defeated Fionn Griffiths from the U.K. to reach the finals.
Jill Kintner was on the other end of the bracket, taking care of business. She is the world’s number one mountain bike racer, and the two-time JKOM Champ. In the first round she defeated Lisa Myklak, Open Qualifier. This set up a match against Tara Llanes for the semifinals. It was a tough, physical race. Llanes suffered an injury in the first round, ending her day prematurely. Kintner took her to the Championship Heat. Kintner, fighting for her second title, beat Beerten, but the Dutch phenom won the overall season crown. Griffiths was third in the Consolation Heat.
Beerten said that although I enjoyed the course, it was too hot and made it slippery at times. Although it was almost impossible to run a perfect course, I knew that I needed to be aggressive and smooth if I wanted the Jeep to win. It all worked out for me.
World Professional Champions are determined based on the cumulative points gained during the three events of the Jeep King of the Mountain Series. In addition to Beaver Creek Races, there were previously races at The Canyons Resort, Park City, UT and at the Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo (CA).
The 2007 Mountain Biking World Professional Championships are televised on CBS Sports to a national audience. This is the largest coverage of professional mountain biking in recent history. The Beaver Creek Resort race will be televised on CBS Sports on Oct 21 (check your local listings).
BEAVER CREEK JKOM RESULT
1. Michal Prokop (CzeAuthor)
2. Jared Graves (Aus).YetiFox
3. Wade Bootes (Aust)WBR
4. Cody WarrenFoes
5. Brian LopesOakley – GT
6. Chris Del Bosco
7. Rich HousemanYeti-Fox
8. Eric CarterMongoose-Sram-Kenda
WOMEN
1. Jill KintnerGT
2. Anneke Beerten (Ned)Bikepark
3. Fionn Griffiths (GBr)Norco-Griffiths
4. Tara LlanesGiant
5. Lisa MyklakLeelikesbikes-Morewood
6. Joanna Petterson (RSA).Brodie
7. Melissa BuhlKHS
8. Neven Steinmetz Totally Wired
2007 OVERALL STANDINGS
Race 1 PointsRace 2 PointsRace3 PointsTotal
1. Michal Prokop100No Points200300
2. Wade Bootes4080160280
3 Cody Warren7070140280
4. Jared Graves90No points180270
5. Brian Lopes50100120270
6. Rich Houseman609080230
7. Eric Carter806060200
8. Chris Del Bosco50100150
WOMEN
1. Anneke Beerten80100180360
2. Jill Kintner100No points200300
3. Fionn Griffiths6080160300
4. Tara Llanes7070140280
5. Melissa Buhl909080260
6. Joanna Petterson3060100190
7. Lisa MyklakNo PointsNo Points120120
8. Neven SteinmetzNo Points4060100
