May 24/09 6:40 am - Madrid World Cup: Men's XC Updates

Posted by Editoress on 05/24/09
 

The men will do 6 laps of the course.

Lap 1
At the 1/2 way point of the first lap it is Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida Biking Team) leading a long long line.  Geoff Kabush    (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles) is sitting in the mid 20's.  Christoph Sauser    (Specialized Factory Racing) has had a bad start and is well back in the 30's

Lap 2

Across the line Näf still leading with Roel Paulissen    (Cannondale Factory Racing) in 2nd at 2 sec  with then ~ 20 riders all together.  Kabush 22nd at 33 seconds down

6:50 am:  Absalon has jumped to the front on the  climb and is being tracked by Näf.  Burry Stander   (Specialized Factory Racing) sitting 3rd, but gapped a bit.  Huge crowds are now out to watch the men's race and the sides of the climbs are filled with enthusuastic fans

Stander now in a group of ~9 chasing with Sauser, Paulissen, Hermida, Fontana, Wells, Kurschat,

Lap 3

Absalon and Näf cross the line together to start the 3rd lap, with a time of 34:46 for 2 laps completed.    With a chase group of 4 now at 29 sec -  Hermida, Paulissen, Stander and Nino Schurter. Another chase group of 8 at 44 sec (Peraud, Fontana, Manuel Fumic, Moritz Milatz, Stéphane Tempier, Gutierrez, Todd Wells, Sauser.   Kabush 26th at 1:20 back

Lap 4

Näf leads Absalon  across the line to start the 4th lap. Gap to the chasers (now only 7 riders - Gutierrez is gone) is 48 seconds.  The 2nd chase group  now 3 at 1 min with 2 more chasers - Sauser and Tempier at another 13 sec.  Kabush 27th at 2:30 back

7:26am :  Midway through the lap, Näf and Absalon.  Stander, Schurter, Hermida and Paulissen at 49 sec.  Peraud, Fontana and Milatz at 1:05, Fumic, Wells and Gutierrez at 1:15, Sauser at 1:20,  Kurschat at 1:40, Kabush moved up to 26th

19C is the current temperature in Madrid, unusual weather for this venue.  Normal is hot and dry with riders struggling with excess heat (often high 3o's) and riding through clouds of dust.

Lap 5

As they head out for the 2nd last lap, Näf and Absalon go through with a time of 1:09:39.  Chase group at 1:25 being led by Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez, with Roel Paulissen, Fontana, Perraud, Stander, Hermida, Schurter, Milatz.  Next chase group is 6 riders with Wells, Sauser, Tempier, Fumic.  Nys is sitting 17th, Kabush 31st

7:54 am: Näf has attached up the 2nd climb and has opened up a gap on Absalon of 10 seconds now on the downhill heading to the end of the 5th lap.

Last Lap

Näf hits the line with 11 seconds clear on Absalon.  3rd rider and chasers at 2:08+.  Kabush 27th at 4:40 back

8am:  Absalon attacks on the climb, catching and passing Näf.

8:04am Up over the top of the climb Absalon has 5 seconds on Näf

8:06am:  Absalon now has a 30 second lead

Final

Unofficial

1 Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea, 1:44:32
2 Ralph Näf (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 1:06
3 Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 1:59