Madrid was as exciting as ever for the Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. With wins in the fourth round, both World Cup leaders Julien Absalon and Marga Fullana (Massi), increased their overall lead. Fullana won the race by four seconds. There was also a sprint for third place in the men’s race.
Womens podium
WOMENS
After another night of heavy rain, it was decided to reduce the laps for the women’s race from five to four. Some climbs were not possible due to the wet terrain, so every corner had be managed with care. Fullana, 2008 World Cup winner Marie-Helene Premont of Maxxis-Rocky Mountain, world number one Catharine Pendrel from Luna (Specialized Factory Team), and Fullana were the first to leave the field. Pendrel had difficulty following a night of rain and shifting issues.
Marga Fullana navigates through a very slippery ravine
Fullana made her first test attack and Premont and Byberg were able to respond. Pendrel sat alone in fourth place, while a chase group that included round one winner Elisabeth Osl of Central Ghost Team, Maja Wloszczowska from CCC Polkowice and Eva Lechner(Colnago Cap Arreghini), formed behind. On the second lap, Pendrel’s chase of Osl (CCC Polkowice), Maja Wloszowska (CCC Polkowice) and Sabine Spitz (Olympic champion) began to reel the front three in from behind.
Premont began to worry about being caught and picked up the pace. Byberg was dropped with just a lap and half left. Byberg would finish third, but it was only two riders who could win the race for the victory. Fullana won the World Cup by making the winning move on the final climb. She launched an attack on Premont that Premont couldn’t respond to immediately and held on to her victory. Pendrel was behind Byberg. Osl and Spitz caught Pendrel after some mechanical issues, but Pendrel managed to keep on for the fifth spot, just behind Spitz. Georgia Gould, the 14th-place American finisher, was the best.
Marie-Helene Premont led by Lene Byberg
Premont said that in the final laps, the chasers caught up to us and neither Fullana nor Byberg were working. So, I moved to the front to set a pace. Marga attacked me on the final climb and I couldn’t respond fast enough to catch up with her before she finished.
Byberg is at the head of the lead group
Fullanas’ win has increased her lead to 850 points, which is 190 more than Osl second place. Byberg is third at 565. Pendrel is now fifth with 470 points and Premont jumps to ninth with 408 points.
Fullana said that it is an honor to win in my country. Marie-Helene was always strong so I was worried. But I saw that I was stronger on the climbs and knew that I needed to attack that lap.
Mens Podium
MENSXC
The lead group was rapidly being whittled down at the front. By the third lap, Absalon was only Absalon and Nf leading. A chase group of four was formed by Roel Paulissen, Roel Hermida (Multivan Merida), Burry Stander (Specialized Factory Racing), Nino Schurter and Nino Schurter. At 44 seconds, Jean-Christophe Peraud, Olympic silver medalist (Massi), was leading the second group. The two groups would merge in the final lap to form a seven-rider chase. American Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing), joined this tail group for a while, but he had to stop and go at his own pace to finish 16th.
Nf was attacked with a lap-and-half to go
They were not able to catch up to the leaders who maintained their lead on lap four by adding seconds. Burry Stander
Absalon admitted that it was a tactical race with the ralph. He made a good attack on me and took a few seconds. He went off and I couldn’t keep my wheel steady. However, I believe it was too much for him and I was able return to him.
The chase was reduced to just four riders for the final kilometre. Moritz Milatz, Nfs team mate, took third. He was one second ahead Marco Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing) and three seconds ahead Schurter, Peraud, and Schurter.
Absalon racing to his 19th World Cup win
Absalons’ lead in the series is almost unsurmountable. The Olympic champion now has 995 points to second-place Kurschats 625. Stander, who sits in third place at 580 points and leads the U23 standings, is in third at 580. Canada’s Geoff Kabush (Maxxis Rocky Mountain) is top North American, sitting in 24th. Sam Schultz, Subaru-Gary Fisher, sits 33rd. Adam Craig (Giant), skipped this race, is in 33rd.
