Posted by Editoress on 07/26/09
Welcome to our coverage of the Men's XC. Our coverage is brought to you with the sponsorship of Shimano
The men have started and will do 6 laps. It has been raining off and on.
Lap 1
Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida Biking Team) has taken the early lead and has a 15 second gap on Martin Gujan (Cannondale Factory Racing) at the front of a group. A small crash at the beginning has caused a split.
At the 1/3 way mark Ralph Näf is still leading and Geoff Kabush (Maxxis/Rocky Mountain) has moved into the 3rd spot.
At the end of lap 1, Ralph Näf still holding onto the lead with Kabush in 2nd and Absalon 3rd
Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida Biking Team)
Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles) at 0:32
Julien Absalon (Orbea), 0:41
Martin Gujan (Cannondale Factory Racing)0:42
Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower Mtb-Racing)
José Hermida (Multivan Merida Biking Team)
Gagne sitting 32nd and McGrath 34th, Plaxton 46th
Lap 2
Absalon is now in the hunt, He has caught and passed Kabush and has moved within 25 seconds of the leader Näf.
Some top ranking riders are having real problems on the new technical course. Chistophe Sauser sitting 30th, Wolfram Kurschat 49th
Up the climb, Näf still leading, but Absalon is closing in. Kabush is a couple seconds behind Absalon. Hermida is slowly reeling in the leaders
Lap 3
As they start the 3rd lap, Näf still leading but Absalon is at 1 second back. Kabush at 20 seconds, Hermida at 23 seconds. Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower Mtb-Racing) is 4th at 38 seconds behind Hermida. Todd Wells 9th, Burry Stander 10th. Gagne 26th, McGrath 28th, Zandstra 41st, Plaxton 52nd
Heading into the woods, Absalon has passed Näf
Up the gravel climb, ~ 1/2 way through the lap, Absalon leading
Down the rocky descent Absalon goes through with a 30 second lead on Hermida and 35 seconds on Kabush. Näf has dropped back into 4th at 40 seconds back.
next riders are:
Alexis Vuillermoz (Lapierre International), Jean-Christophe Peraud (Massi), Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing), Martin Gujan (Cannondale Factory Racing) all over 1 min back
Sauser is getting the lay of the course and has gotten himself up to 12th
The other Canadians are starting to move up
Lap 4
Starting the 4th lap
Absalon, then Hermida at 29 seconds, Kabush at 32 seconds, Näf at 58 seconds
5 Alexis Vuillermoz , 6 Jean-Christophe Peraud, 7 Todd Wells, 8 Burry Stander
McGrath 25th, Gagne 30th, Zandstar 36th,
The downhillers have collected on the rocky descent. They are critiquing the descending tecniques of the various XC riders
On the descent: Absalon has 30 seconds on Hermida, 35 seconds on Kabush, 1:30 on Näf - Naf crashed on the descent
then Wells, Perraud and Vuillermoz at 3:30
Lap 5
Starting the 5th lap
Absalon, Hermida at 0:47, Kabush at 1:00, Näf at 2:20, Stander 3:40, Wells 3:47, Gujan 4:59, Vogel 4:59,
McGrath 22nd, Zandstra 29th, Gagne 34th
Plaxton has DNF'd after a crash on the descent
3/4 through the lap: Absalon is 45 seconds ahead of Hermida. 3rd is still Kabush is at 1:05, 4th Näf at 2:50, 5th Stander at 4:15
Lap 6:
Starting the last lap
Absalon , then Hermida at 0:39, Kabush at 1:22, Näf at 3:20, Stander at 4:37, Wells at 5:48
Adam Craig 17th, McGrath 24th, Zandstra 25th
Näf has flatted and loses a few seconds to Stander
Down the rock descent The lead motto crashed at the top section.
Absalon with Hermida at ~ 35 seconds, Kabush holding comfortably on to 3rd
Final
Unofficial
1 Julien Absalon (Orbea), 2:06:05
2 José Hermida (Multivan Merida Biking Team) at 0:32
3 Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles), 2:48
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