September 5/09 0:04 am - MTB World Championships: Men's XC UPDATES
Posted by Editoress on 09/5/09
A beautiful sunny day with almost no cloud. Warmer now that when the women races in the morning.
75 riders take the start. Canada has 4 entries: Geoff Kabush, Seamus McGrath, Max Plaxton and Derek Zandstra
Geoff Kabush, Julien Absalon and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski will all be running a single chainring (we have been told)
Lap 1
The men have just headed out on the first of 7 laps. A big group with Geoff Kabush (Canada) right up front with Absalon.
The Swiss riders Florian Vogel and Nino Schurter took the lead up the climb
Over the climb and through the 1st feedzone there is now a group of 8 clear: Florian Vogel (Switzerland), Julien Absalon (France), Geoff Kabush (Canada)
Nino Schurter (Switzerland), Marco Aurelio Fontana (Italy), Daniel Mcconnell (Australia), Emil Lindgren (Sweden), Sven Nys (Belgium)
Noticable, by their absence from this group are Hermida and Sauser.
The 2 Swiss are at the front as they head to the feedzone for the 2nd time. Abslaon and Kabush are next
They are heading to the line to start lap 2 and it is now a group of 12 or 15
Lap 2
Heading out onto lap 2 - Lap time 17:50
Kabush took the lead position across the line in front of a long line - 18 riders all within seconds of each other.
Schurter, Vogel, Absalon, Lindgren, Nys, Fontana, Tempier, Flückiger, Paulissen, Mcconnell, Hermida and Sauser are making their way up. Hermida 12th, Sauser 14th
Plaxton 28th, McGrath 33rd, Zandstra 39th
Lots of crashes on the Hammerhead
Through the 1st feedzone and the 2 Swiss riders and Abslon are starting to separate from the bunch. Lindgren has tacked onto the back. Kabush 4th at 7 sec followed by Nys
Plaxton 26th at 1:20, Mcgrath 35th at 1:50, Zandstra 39th at 2:15
Through the 2nd feedzone the the quartet at the front is flying as they head to the line to start lap 3
Kabush and Nys have rejoined the lead bunch at the line
Lap 3
9 riders go through within 5 seconds of the first rider across who is Absalon. then Schurter, Vogel, Lindgren, Kabush, Nys, Hermida, Flückiger, Fontana. Sauser 13th at 22 sec back
Up the climb and Absalon is at the front setting the pace
Hermida is starting to move up.. bumping Lindgren for 4th
Down through the Hammerhead, Absalon still at the front followed by the 2 Swiss. Kabush has dropped back into 5th
Hermida is just making contact with the lead group. Kabush still 5th with Nys at 13 sec. Fontana is just behind them
Heading through the 2nd feed and going toward the end of the lap - the 4 at the front have a 20 sec gap on Nys and Fontana who have gapped Kabush
Lap 4
Through the finish, Schurter, Absalon, Hermida, Vogel all s.t., Nys at 9 sec, Fontana at 10 sec and Kabush at 13 sec. Sauser 8th at 58 sec,
Wells 12th, Craig 23rd, Plaxton 24th, McGrath 36th
Filip Meirhaeghe (Belgium) who RETIRED for a 2nd time after Houffalize has unretired (again) and is sitting in 28th
At the top of climb: Abslaon, Schurter, Vogel and Hermida. Nys Kabush and Fontana at 30 sec
Down through the descent Kabush has passed and dropped Nys and Fontana
Through the 2nd feed, Absalon gapping the other 3 again, but they come back together gain as they hit a headwind. Kabush away alone and is sitting 5th at 28 sec. Nys and Fontana at another 5 sec
Hermida at the front now as they go through the 2nd feed. Kabush goes through in a solid 5th position
Heading to the line to finish the 4th lap
Lap 5 - 3 to go
Hermida, Absalon, Schurter, Vogel in a time of 1:19:11. Kabush at 20 sec. Nys at 27 sec, Fontana at 42 sec, Wells up to 8th at 57 sec, Perraud 9th at 1:12, Sauser 10th at 1:15
Craig 21st, Plaxton 22nd
Leaders through the Death Adder and Absalon has gapped the Swiss by ~ 3 sec. Hermida hanging off the back
Down through the swooping descent toward the 1st feed, and his gap is increasing
Through the feedzone and Schurter jumps away from his teamate and has joined Absalon at the front. Vogel has been joined by Hermida at 11 sec back, and is letting Hermida lead as the battle the slight headwind. Kabush 5th at 36 sec. Nys dropping back, now at 1:16. Plaxton 19th now at 3:15 back
Michael Broderick (USA) has stopped for his 2nd time today for mechanical assistance
End of lap 5
Lap 6
Absalon leading Schurter. Hermida and Vogel at 22 sec. Kabush at 48 sec.
Group of 5 (Fontana, Perraud,Nys, Wells, Ravenal) chasing at 1:45
Up the climb Schurter is leading with Absalon on his wheel. 25 sec behind Vogel leading Hermida up the climb
On the downhill Schurter still leading Absalon
Through the first feedzone and Schurter still at the front, but as they head to the single track, Absalon moves again to the front.
Vogel and Hermida are at 36 sec. Kabush at 1 min
Wells in 8th at 2:05
Plaxton 20th at 4:13
Finishing lap 6
Lap 7 - Final lap
Absalon and Schurter go through at the s.t.. Hermida and Vogel at 21 sec. Kabush 5th at 52 sec. Ravenal, Perraud and Wells at 1:55, Kulhavy 9th, Sauser 10th, Fontana 11th, Nys 12th ,
Craig 18th, Plaxton 20th, Schultz 32nd
Up the climb Absalon is leading, but Schurter is right on his wheel
Through Hammerhead they are still together. Behind them the battle for bronze is still on, as Hermida cannot drop Vogel
Through the first feedzone they are still together and Schurter goes to the front as they head to the singletrack, blocking Absalon's attempt to get the lead. Schurter is pushing the pace
Behind the leaders Hermida leads Vogel and are at 36 sec. Kabush at 1:20. Ravanel 6th at 2:14
Through the 2nd feedzone and Schurter is being very aggressive, forcing Absalon to chase and now has a gap of a few seconds clear
Nino Schurter (Switzerland) takes the title over Julien Absalon, Florian Vogel (Switzerland) takes teh bronze
Course
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