Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens had a trial run on the Olympic course in Athens over the weekend, lining out with many of the riders who will take part in the Games this August. Seymour rode solidly in the E1-ranked race, finishing a good seventeenth of thirty-four starters in the elite men�s race. Julien Absalon of France was first across the line, 11 seconds clear of 2000 Olympic champion Miguel Martinez and a further 46 up on Ralph Naf of Switzerland.

Meanwhile Owens finished 17th of the 25 riders who competed in the women�s event on Saturday, won by Gunn Rita Dahle of Norway. Dahle reached the line 1 minute and 52 seconds clear of Polish rider Magdalena Sadlecka with Canada�s Alison Sydor further back in third.

Jenny McCauley, who will be battling Owens for the one place secured in the women�s Olympic cross-country event, missed the race due to illness. The two will be lining out in the world cup events in Madrid, Houffalize and Fort William over the next three weekends, with the crucial place going to whichever woman scores the most world ranking points there.


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Pre Olympic Event, Athens (E1):

Elite men: 1, Julien Absalon (France) 1 hour 57 mins 7 secs; 2, M. Martinez (France) at 11 secs; 3, R. Naf (Switzerland) at 57 secs; 4, B. Brentjens (Netherlands) at 58 secs; 5, F. Vogel (Switzerland) at 1 min 58 secs; 6, T. Frischknect (Switzerland) at 2 mins 59 secs

Other: 17, R. Seymour (Hibernian Team Ireland) at 9 mins 16 secs

Elite women: 1, Gunn Rita Dahle (Norway) 1 hour 57 mins 37 secs; 2, M. Sadlecka (Poland) at 1 min 52 secs; 3, A. Sydor (Canada) at 2 mins 40 secs; 4, M. Wloszczowska (Poland) at 3 mins 26 secs; 5, P. Pezzo (Italy) at 3 mins 55 secs; 6, K. Leumann (Switzerland) at 4 mins 41 secs

Other: 17, T. Owens (Hibernian Team Ireland) at 19 mins 37 secs