September 19/09 8:37 am - Schladming World Cup: Men's XC UPDATES

Posted by Editoress on 09/19/09
 

The men's race has started for the first of 6 laps.  157 on the start list

Lap 1

Roel Paulissen (Cannondale Factory Racing) is leading a large group up the climb.  Florian Vogel (Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing)

Nino Schurter  (Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing) on his wheel then Ralph Näf    (Multivan Merida Biking Team).  Geoff Kabush  (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles) sitting about 15th.  Todd Wells  (Specialized Factory Racing) had a very bad start is well back

Over the top of the climb and descending. Schurter leading Vogel and Näf

Lap 2

Heading out for the 2nd lap a long line:  Schurter leading having completed the first lap in 16:13, 2nd is  Vogel, 3rd Näf,  4th Vuillermoz, 5th Hermida, 6th Paullisen, 7th Absalon, 8th M. Fluckiger, 9th Stander, 10th Gutierrez, all within 8 seconds of the leader.  Then Kurschat  11th , Gujan 12th  and Kabush (13th) at 23 sec back

Up the climb, and  a  Lead group of 8:  Schurter, Absalon,, Stander, Hermida, M. Flückiger, Vuillermoz, Paulissen

Kabush 21st

Up over the top and Näf and Absalon attack

Absalon away on the descent with Hermida chasing followed by Fluckiger and Vuillermoz, Paulissen, Schurter, Kurchat, Stander and Lukas Fluckiger and Näf

Lap 3

Absalon crossing with a gap of 10 sec on Hermida.  Fluckiger  3rd at 11 sec, Vuillermoz at 24 sec, Ruben Ruzafa Cueto    (Orbea) 5th at 33 sec, Paulissen 6th at 34 sec, Schurter 7th at 35 sec, Kurschat 8 at 52 sec, Stander 9th at 54 sec, Martin Gujan    (Cannondale Factory Racing) 10th at 57 sec

Christoph Sauser    (Specialized Factory Racing) 21st at 1:42 and Kabush 22nd at 1:45

Up the climb Fluckiger and Hermida are  together -  switching back and forth in the front, battling it out for 2nd.

As they near the top of the climb, Absalon still leading, but Hermida and Fluckiger are closing. Ruzafa Cueto and Vuillermoz together in 4th and 5th.  Kabush has moved up into the top 15 now it appears

Näf has dropped out as has Todd Wells

Lap 4

Crossing the line it is Absalon with Hermida ta 3 sec, Fluckiger at 6 sec.  Ruzafa Cueto  4th at  33 sec, Vuillermoz at s.t.

Kabush 23rd at nearly 3 min back

Half way through the lap and Hermida has caught and passed Absalon

Lap 5

as they hit the line Hermida has a gap of 17 sec on Absalon.  Fluckiger 3rd at 30 sec.  Ruzafa Cueto  4th at 42 sec, Schurter now 5th, Vuillermoz fading to 6th, Paullisen 7th

Orbea manager commented  "not today"

Kabush dropped to 26th, Craig 27th

Midway through the lap, Hermida is growing the gap to Absalon (now 25 sec) who has been joined by Fluckiger with Ruzafa Cueto.. is also moving up

Fluckiger has passed Absalon.

Down the descent and Hermida's gap has really grown

Absalon is coasting down the descent and appears to have a mechanical

Lap 6 - final lap

Hermida goes through to start tthe final lap .  Ruzafa Cueto goes through in 2nd with a gap of 25 seconds and Fluckiger is 3rd at 34 sec,  Schurter 1:35 and Vuillermoz 6th.  Paulissen, Kurcshat, Peraud

Half way through, and there are no changes.  Shurter is attacking, trying to shake Vuillermoz.

Ruzafa Cueto is closing on a tiring Hermida

Absalon has withdrawn from the race after a flat on lap 5

As they head to the finish, Hermida has opened up the gap again to Ruzafa Cueto.  Looks like a Spanish 1/2 today.

Finish

1 José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team , 1:40:42
2 Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Esp) Orbea , at 0:30
3 Mathias Flückiger * (Sui) Trek World Racing , 1:26
4 Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing , 1:52
5 Alexis Vuillermoz * (Fra) Lapierre International , 1:58
6 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Massi , 2:25
7 Roel Paulissen (Bel) Cannondale Factory Racing , 2:29
8 Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiemp O, 2:41
9 Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team , 3:15
10 Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team , 3:26

21 Adam Craig (USA) Giant

23 Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles

DNF Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea

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