The reigning cross-country king Julien Absalon was the dominant force throughout, but could not keep up with Spain’s Jose Hermida. Rob Jones photo
CROSS-COUNTRY
WOMENS XC
The action started with women’s cross-country, the first World Cup in this discipline ever held in Africa. It was fitting that Austrias Elisabeth Osl (Central Ghost Pro Team) won the victory. Her previous World Cup best result was sixth. Today was her day. She rode away from the field for more than two minutes to beat Olympic bronze medalist Irina Kaletieva (Topeak Ergon). Norways Lene Byberg, Specialized, took third.
An Austrian Elisabeth Osl storybook win saw her race away on lap one, and she never looked back. Rob Jones photo
Osl and Mary McConneloug (Kenda Seven), the American national champion, took the lead in the first lap. Osl then increased the pace and McConneloug was forced to fall back.
I was the first to go singletrack, Osl said, and I thought Come and catch me. But they never did.
Osl was the fastest lap time for every lap, her first lap being sub-19 minutes, the rest sub-21 minutes.
Osl exclaimed, « This was amazing! » It is unbelievable. Last weekend I won the Swiss Cup, but I had no idea that I would win the World Cup. My trainer, who had been with me for six years, was replaced by a new one during the winter. It has made a big difference that I spent more time focusing on my power. I didn’t have anything to lose so I rode my best.
Mary McConneloug was by far the most successful US rider. Mary McConneloug was the best finishing US rider by a huge margin.
Kalentieva also beat McConneloug in the first lap. McConneloug dropped back to rejoin her compatriot Willow Koerber, Subaru-Gary Fisher. McConneloug fought for third, while Koerber quickly fell back. The heat and rapid pace of the first lap proved too much for Koerber, who was passed by Marga Fullana, world champion, in the fourth lap.
My usual riding style is to start slower than usual, but today I was stronger and finished in the top six for the first lap. Because it was hot, I had to find the right pace. Marga is very strong on climbs so I knew I had to keep up with her. I didn’t realize how close I was to Irina. But it was too small to catch her second.
Top 5 Women: (scroll down for complete results).
1. OSL, E (AUT). KALENTIEVA (I (RUS), 3. BYBERG L (NOR). FULLANNA ROERA, M (ESP). M. CONNELOUG, M. (USA)
MENS XC
Spain’s Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida) finished third in the series last year and won the fourth World Cup in his 12-year career. Canada’s Geoff Kabush (Maxxis Rocky Mountain) was the leader on the first climb. However, he paid the price later and finished 30th.
Absalons’ suffering was just beginning when Jose Hermida (#3) pulled into first on lap 5 and started riding away. Rob Jones photo
Kabush explained that I used my start position, but I was forced to backtrack in the heat. Although it was not the best I could have hoped for, it means that I still have a good starting position for the European races.
Geoff Kabush was the first to climb the mountain, but the heat in South Africa quickly made him lose his footing. Rob Jones photo
A large pileup occurred shortly after the start, bringing down a few riders, including Canadas Raphael Gagne from Maxxis-Rocky Mountain and Jeremy Horgan Kobelski (Subaru–Gary Fisher), whose race was ended with a ruined rear wheel.
Burry stander sat in third place, hoping, but not able to take the second-place Absalon. Rob Jones photo
The relentless pace caused riders to drop off, and was further exacerbated when Absalons attacked on lap four’s first climb. After the dust settled, there were still three riders at the front: Absalon, Hermida, and Stander. Sauser and Schurter were at 20 seconds each, and Peraud was rapidly fading. Wolfram Kurschat (Topeak Ergon) moved up steadily after he had won the circuit’s previous week.
One lap later, Hermida decided that he wanted to test his lead riders and quickly established a gap of 10 seconds on Absalon. Stander struggled to keep up with the French rider. Hermida kept working hard on Absalon throughout the race and finished 32 seconds ahead.
After last week’s race on this course, I could feel that my legs felt very strong, said Hermida. I believe I had a good plan for my preparation and arrived at the race more rested than other riders. This is my fourth World Cup win in 12 years, and it’s a great result. I’m going to try to keep it through the next races.
Stander, energised by the cheers from his fellow comrades, yo-yod to Absalon. At one point, he pulled within six seconds of Absalon but would continue to fade on the climbs. He finished third and won the U23 category. Sauser finished fourth just ahead Kurschat.
JHK was involved in a crash just before the race began and was out of the race.
started. Rob Jones photo
Absalon said that despite losing the leader’s jersey, he was still happy with this result. My goal was to finish in the top five. Hermida was faster today and attacked mid-race, so I couldn’t keep up with him. Burry was always behind him, so he was pushing it was hard.
Stander also agreed that the crowd was an important motivator for him. It was amazing, it motivated me so greatly, with that amazing crowd driving me to catch them back every time. It was a three-way fight, and Hermida was so aggressive. I tried to come back a few more times, but I couldn’t get the gap closed.
Top 5 Men: (scroll down for complete results).
1. HERMIDA RAMOS J.A. (ESP) 2. ABSALON J (FRA). STANDER B (RSA). SAUSER C (SUI). KURSCHAT, W (GER)
American’s top finisher was Todd Wells, Specialized (23rd), followed by Sam Schultz (Subaru–Gary Fisher) at 29th.
FOUR CROISS
Immediately after the cross-country, spectators moved to the 4-Cross track to see the riders train for the competition. Over the course of one hour, 32 men and eight women were reduced to just four Finalists.
The Four Cross course is located in Pietermaritzburg (South Africa). It was fast and large.
Rob Jones photo
Womens 4X
The women’s race was expected be decided by Anneke Beerten (Suspension Center), the defending World Cup champion, and Jill Kintner, the American. Kintner had previously dominated womens 4-Cross before she left the sport to train for the Olympic bronze medal in BMX. Kintner was four tenths faster than Kintner, who had qualified as 1-2.
Anneke Beerten was the defending world champion. She had nothing to worry about as she climbed to the number one position. Rob Jones photo
The meeting was canceled after Kintner’s poor first round and he did not progress to the Final. Beerten, however, was able to qualify easily and was joined by Fionn Griffiths, (Norco World Team), as well as two Czech riders Jana Horakova and Romana Labounkova in the Final. Beerten, Griffiths, and Labounkova were close behind in the gold medal ride.
Beerten said that the course has made me feel really good over the past three days. Jill was a little disappointed that I did not get to meet her, but I am thrilled that I will be wearing the jersey in Houffalize, which almost feels like wearing it in front a home crowd.
Mens 4X
The men’s race saw two strong competitors: Rafael Alvarez de Lara Lucas, the defending World Cup champion, and Jared Graves, an Australian (Yetifox Shox Factory), who were both world champions.
Jared Graves, winner of the Four Cross Award, says he doesn’t have a problem with speed. Four Cross is also helped by a little luck. Rob Jones photo
They both easily made it through the heats and reached the Final alongside Roger Rinderknecht from the Netherlands and Michal Prokop, a former world champion.
Michal Prokop is in great shape and comes from the friendly Czech Republic. Rob Jones photo
Alvarez struggled in the first turn of Final and dropped to third behind Prokop. Graves took back the lead spot to win the victory and the leader’s jersey for the first times in his career.
Graves explained that Graves’ downhill experience was a major advantage on this course. This course was a good fit for me because I enjoy high speed stuff. I will be using the jersey to train for the next World Cup.
Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas, current champion, at speed.
Rob Jones photo, third overall
Results for 4 X
Women
1 Anneke Beerten (Ned) Suspension Center
2 Fionn Griffiths (GBr), Norco World Team
3 Romana Labounkova (Cze)
4 Jana Horakova (Cze)
5 Jill Kintner (USA).
6 Emmeline Ragot (Fra), Suspension Center
Men
1 Jared Graves (Aus), Yeti Fox Shox Factory Racing Team
2 Michal Prokop, Cze
3 Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas (Esp) Specialized Factory Racing
4 Roger Rinderknecht (Sui)
5 Romain Saladini, (Fra), Team Sunn
6 C?dric Gracia (Fra)
7 Scott Beaumont (GBr), Rocky Mountain Uk
Yes, friends! This is Africa with Zulu tribesmen dressed in ceremonial gear. Rob Jones photo
Complete XC Men
Men: 37.1 km (7 laps).
2 Julien Absalon, (Fra), Orbea +0 4 Christoph Sauser(Sui), Specialized Factory Racing +1 5 Wolfram Kurschat/Ger), Topeak Ergon Racing Team +1 6 Nino Schurter/Sui), Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing +1 7 Nino Schurter/Sui), Topeak Ergon Racing Team +1 18 Rudi Alvarez Gutierrez/Esp), Multivan Merida Biking Team CBE Tecnoimpia Corti (Ita), Umberto Corti) Tecnoimpianti (Suia) Tecnoimpia-B. +1 46 Ludovic Dubau (Fra) +1 47 Silvio Bundi (Sui) Giant Mountain Bike Team GMT +1 48 Guillaume Vinit* (Fra) Team Scott Valloire Galibier +1 49 Adam Craig (USA) Giant Mountain Bike Team GMT +1 50 Hannes Metzler (Aut) +1 51 Bjorn Brems (Bel) Team Saeco +1 52 Balz Weber (Sui) DS-Rennsport +1 53 Milan Spesny (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna MTB +1 54 Nicola Rohrbach (Sui) Central Ghost Pro Team +1 55 Juan Pedro Trujillo Hernandez (Esp) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo +1 56 Roan Exelby (RSA) +1 57 Fran? ?ois Bailly Maitre (Fra) Team Scott Valloire Galibier +1 58 Lachlan Norris* (Aus) Discovertasmania.com +1 59 Andrew Blair (Aus) +1 60 Severin Disch* (Sui) Giant Mountain Bike Team GMT +1 61 Dario Alejandro Gasco* (Arg) Massi +1 62 Frank Schotman (Ned) +1 63 Michael Broderick (USA) Kenda Seven +1 64 Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Giant Mountain Bike Team GMT +1 65 Fabien Canal* (Fra) Lapierre International -1LAP
66 Andreas Kugler (Sui) Felt International MTB Team -1LAP
67 Bas Peters (Ned), -1LAP
68 Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team -1LAP
69 Johnny Kritzinger (RSA) -1LAP
70 Barry Wicks (USA), Kona -1LAP
71 Renay Groustra (RSA) -1LAP
72 Thomas Dietsch (Fra) Team Bulls -1LAP
73 Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-Suntour -1LAP
74 Heiko Gutmann* (Ger) -1LAP
75 Periklis Ilias (Gre) ISD Cycling Team -1LAP
76 Stefan Sahm, (Ger), Team Bulls -1LAP
77 Rene Tann (Ger) -1LAP
78 Nathan Haas*, Aus (Discovertasmania.com 1LAP)
79 Alban Lakata, (Aut), Topeak Ergon Racing Team 1LAP
80 Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Felt International MTB Team -1LAP
81 Matthys Bukes* (RSA), -1LAP
82 Kris Sneddon, Can) Kona 1LAP
83 Karl Platt (Ger) Team Bulls -2LAP
84 Frank Beemer* (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team -2LAP
85 Charlton Durie*, Aus (Discovertasmania.com 2LAP)
86 Marc Bassingthwaighte (Nam) -2LAP
87 Craig Paul (RSA) -2LAP
88 Martin Fanger*(Sui) Giant Mountain Bike Team GMT-2LAP
89 Alexander Gehbauer* (Aut) -2LAP
90 Josef Kamler* (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna MTB -2LAP
91 Philip Buys* RSA -2LAP
92 Matous Ulman (Cze) Scott & Hagget MTB Team -2LAP
93 Joel Graf (Sui) Felt International MTB Team -2LAP
94 Erik Kleinhans (RSA) -2LAP
95 Thomas Nicke (Ger) -2LAP
96 Brandon Stewart (RSA) -2LAP
97 Ryan Sherlock (Irl) -2LAP
98 Max Knox* RSA -3LAP
99 Vivien Legastelois* (Fra) BH-Suntour -3LAP
100 Kristian Hynek (Cze) Scott & Hagget MTB Team -3LAP
101 Robert Gehbauer* (Aut) Multivan Merida Biking Team -3LAP
Raphael Gagne* (Can), Team Maxxis -Rocky Mountain Bicycles, -4LAP
103 Nathan Byukusenge (Rwa) -4LAP
104 Hugo Caetane* (Mri) -4LAP
105 Poloko Makara (Les) -4LAP
106 Orbert Chembe* (Zam) -5LAP
107 Trust Munangandu (Zam) -6LAP
Complete XC for Women
Women: 26.5km (5 laps).
1 Elisabeth Osl, (Aut), Central Ghost Pro Team 2 Irinakalentieva (Rus), Topeak Ergon Racing Team @ + 3 Lene byberg (Nor), Specialized Factory Racing + 5 Mary Mcconneloug USA) Kenda 7 + 6 Willow Koerber USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher +7 Katrin Leumann SUI) Goldwurstpower ch/Sputnik + 8 Heather Irmiger USA Subaru-Gary Fisher +9 Petra Henzi(Sui] Fischer-BMC +10 Janka Stevkova/Svk CK MTB DohHany +11 Sabine Spitz/Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team+12 Adelheid Morath, (Ger), Team Rothaus/Cube +13 Helene Marcouyre, (Fra), Breiz Mountain +15 Marielle Saner Guinchard (Is) CCC Polkowice +136 Inbar Ronen (Isr), +137 Nathalie Schneitter 38 Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) -1 lap
39 Tania Raats, RSA – 1 lap
40 Sara Muhl (RSA) -1 lap
41 Shawna Thunder (RSA), -2 laps
42 Janneke Leesk (RSA), -2 laps
43 Heletje Van Staden (Nam) -2 laps
44 Hilana Marais (RSA) -2 laps
45 Ivonne Kraft (Ger) -2 laps
46 Carmen Bassingthwaighte (Nam) -3 laps
47 Carla Freysen (RSA) -4 laps
