Posted by Editoress on 08/14/11
The men are now on course for their 7 lap (plus 3.2 km start loop) race
It is not a large start group - 123, but even this number will make it difficult for the riders who do NOT get to the front on this narrow course
Local favourite Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Racing) is clear at the front as they come round the start loop. Nino Schurter (Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing) and Florian Vogel (Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing) chasing.
Lap 1
Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Racing) heads out onto the first full lap with a gap of 8 seconds in Schurter and Vogel. Thomas Litscher (Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team) 4th at 14 sec
Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain) goes through in 37th at 1:18 back
Derek Zandstra (3rox Racing) 69th at 2:01
Cameron Jette (3Rox Racing) 94th at 2:32
8:12 am
Kulhavy is motoring along and pulling away - a chase group is forming behind, but if Kulhavy keeps this pace, the rest will be fighting for 2nd. Vogel is chasing alone, with Schurter 3rd with Hermida on his wheel.
Absalon is well back in 12th?
Lap 2
8:21 am - Kulhavy sets out on Lap 3. Vogel and Hermida together at 33 sec back. and Vogel has a flat
Manuel Fumic (Cannondale Factory Racing) 4th at 50 sec, Thomas Litscher (Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team) 5th at 51 sec, Nino Schurter (Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing) 6th, Marco Aurelio Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing) 7th, Rudi Van Houts (Multivan Merida Biking Team) all s.t.
Kabush 36th at 2:21
Zandstra 56th at 3:11
8:25 am
Kulhavy still well out front. Hermida is now alone in 2nd. Chasers Fontana, Fumic, Schurter, Litscher, Van Houts
Huge crowds out to give Jaroslav Kulhavy support.
4X rider and Czech national Michal Prokop rode the start lap of the course and then exited after coming across in 117th position
José Hermida is one of few riders who still uses bar ends, once used by nearly all xc riders, now a rarity
Lap 3
Kulhavy heads out onto the 3rd lap with a gap of 31 seconds on Hermida. Fumic, Fontana, Van Houts and Schurter all together at 58 seconds
Litcher 7th at 1:05
Vogel 8th at 1:12
Lukas Flückiger (Trek World Racing) 9th at s.t.
Absalon 10th at 1:17
Sam Schultz (Subaru - Trek) top N. American in 18th at 1:51 back. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru - Trek) 32nd
Kabush 34th at 3:08
8:39 am
The 2 chase groups are about to merge, though on this course there is little advantage to a large bunch
Schurter has moved to the front of the 1st chase group, but they are 28 sec behind Hermida
Lap 4 8:47 am
Heading out onto the 4th (of 7) laps. Kulhavy, Hermida at 36 sec. Fumic and Schurter together at 1:22, Fontana, Van Houts, Lukas Flückiger all together at 1:24
Maxime Marotte (BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry) 8th at 1:27
Moritz Milatz (BMC Mountainbike Racing Team) 9th at 1:34 and Absalon 10th at s.t.
Sam Schultz (Subaru - Trek) up to 15th
JHK 28th
Kabush 33rd
8:58
Hermida has been caught by Schurter who goes past and takes over 2nd spot. Fontana sits on Hermida's wheel and Fumic in 5th
Lukas Flückiger (Trek World Racing) 6th Maxime Marotte (BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry) 7th.
Fumic is allowing a gap
Lap 5 9:01 am
Kulhavy heads out onto Lap 5.
Schurter, Hermida and Fontana at 1:24
Fumic 5th at 1:34
Lukas Flückiger 6th at 1:35
Marotte 7th at 1:41
Absalon 8th at 1:46
Schultz 14th at 2:29
JHK 29th
Kabush 33rd
9:09 am
Fontana in 2nd now. Schurter 3rd, Hermida 4th
Absalon is moving up passing Marotte and Fluckiger and moving on Hermida
9:11 am
Absalon has caight and passed Hermida and is now making a move on Schurter and Fontana
Fumic has gone over the bars and crashed, nearly taking out Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Wildwolf - Trek Racing) who was right behind him
Lap 6 9:14 am
Kulhavy heads out onto lap 6. Schurter and Fontana at 1:25
Absalon 4th 1:31
Hermida 5th at s.t.
Lukas Flückiger 6th at 1:39
Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Wildwolf - Trek Racing) 7th 1:41
Marotte 8th at 1:54
Van Houts 9th at 2:04
Fumic 10th at 2:12
Sam Schultz 14th at 2:39
JHK 26th
Kabush 31st
9:20 am
Schurter and Absalon have dropped Hermida and Fontana and are making a last attempt to rein in Kulhavy
9:25
Hermida has dropped Fontana and is making an atempt to join the 2 chasers
9:27
Schurter has attacked and Absalon is having to chase
Last lap 9:28 am
Kulhavy sets out on the final lap and gets a huge cheer from the fans.
Absaon and Schurter at 1:14
Hermida at 1:26
Lukas Flückiger, Mantecon and Fontana at 1:57
Marotte 8th at 2:16
Fumic 9th
Marotte 10th
Schultz 14th
Kabush 30th
Zandstra 50th
The stands at the finish line are now full. Fans await the finish of Kulhavy.
9:35 am
Absalon and Shurter are still together. Absalon letting Schurter lead and waiting for a chance to go by. Hermida it seems has not been succesful catching the 2 chasers and will have to settle for 4th.
9:40 am
Schurer has dropped Absalon and has a small gap
Finish
1 Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Racing), 1:41:52
2 Nino Schurter (Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing) at 0:45
3 Julien Absalon (Orbea), 0:54
Course Profile (map below)
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