Wow, what an awesome performance by the US women in the first round of this year’s Mountain Bike World Cup.

From usacycling.org:

Led by Georgia Gould (Ketchum, Idaho/Luna), who placed eighth as the top American in the series opener in Houffalize, the U.S. is currently ranked number one in the world with 864 points. With an impressive showing in Belgium, China improved from 11th to second with 790 points, followed by New Zealand (712), Australia (640) and Chile (626). Gould is currently ranked third in the world, while compatriot Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven) is ranked fourth.

Individual Women’s Rankings

1. Sabine Spitz (GER) 370

2. Ren Chengyuan (CHN) 360

3. Georgia Gould (Ketchum, Idaho) 340

4. Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass.) 334

17. Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo.) 190

18. Willow Koerber (Horseshoe, N.C.) 188

42. Chloe Forsman (Tucson, Ariz.) 122

65. Melanie Meyers (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 90

70. Shonny Vanlandingham (Durango, Colo.) 84

120. Sue Haywood (Davis, W. Va.) 45

123. Kelli Emmett (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 43

177. Luis Elena Rodriguez Vasquez (Sunnyvale, Calif.) 20

260. Zephanie Blasi (Sparks, Nev.) 6

290. Sarah Bresnick (Somerville, Mass.) 3

294. Nina Baum (Albuquerque, N.M.) 3

299. Heather Svahn (Truckee, Calif.) 3

308. Kristi Lewis (Durango, Colo.) 3

Women’s Nation’s Rankings

1. United States 864

2. China 790

3. New Zealand 712

4. Australia 640

5. Chile 626

The men are hanging in there at 5th, see their rankings and read the full article here.