Last weekend saw the second round of the Cross Country World Cup take place in Offenburg Germany.  The course is renowned for its technical nature and being the first European round of the series, attracted a big entry.

First up were the girls with 6 laps of the course for a 36 kilometre distance. Having not started the first round defending champion Marie-Helene Premont (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) of Canada was started over half way down the grid of 93 riders and had to work hard to get up near the front.  Her compatriot Catherine Pedrel (Luna) started beside her but worked up to sixth, an amazing result.

the race quickly settled into a rhythm, with world champion Marga Fullana (Massi), Lene Byberg (Specialized) and Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon) at the front followed by  Elisabeth Osl (Central Ghost Pro Team), Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) and Catharine Pendrel (Luna Women’s Team).

Fullana shot of the front with no one able to follow her.  Meanwhile the chase group had been caught by Chengyuan Ren, who had also started well down the field.  ren used explosive power on one of the climbs to drop the chasers with only Pendrel able to go with her before eventually dropping back such was the pace.

Ren managed to catch Fullana and pass her to take the win.  Osl holds on to the overall leaders jersey thanks to her 5th spot.

Mel Spath started 35th on the grid in only her second ever World Cup.  The Cycleways sponsored, MAD club rider finished 65th among the strong field, still a top result given the large start list.

Results

1 Chengyuan Ren (Chn)                                                     1.49.56
2 Margarita Fullana Riera (Spa) Massi                                        0.49
3 Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Racing                               1.24
4 Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team                            1.37
5 Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Central Ghost Pro Team                                 1.51
6 Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team                                      2.05
7 Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini                                    3.44
8 Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team                                  4.06
9 Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Colnago Cap Arreghini                            4.08
10 Emiliy Batty* (Can)                                                           

14 Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles            5.18

65 Melanie Spath (Ger)                                                      18.37

The Men faced a daunting challenge as 220 riders lined up for their seven laps. When the race started it took over a minute for everyone to roll through.  A large group formed of the front containing many of the favourites including Julian Absalon (Orbea), the World Cup leader Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida), World Champion Christoph Sauser (Specialized), Under 23 World Cup leader Burry Stander (Specialized), Florian Vogel (Scott-Swisspower), Lukas Fluckiger (Trek World Racing), Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower), Roel Paulissen (Cannondale) and Jean-Christophe Peraud (Massi).  This was too large a group for Absalon’s liking and he saught to shake things up with a blistering move early on in lap 3.  Quickly gaining a lead of 25 seconds, the Frenchman never looked back, soloing all the way to the podium, a record 18th World Cup win.  The record had previously been held by MTB legend Thomas Frischnech.

“It was a tactical move to go so early,” said a jubilant Absalon after wards. “A big group is so difficult to control, and I was in a good position when Nino did his attack to follow and then attack again. My goal was to be in good shape coming into these European World Cups, so this was very good for me.”

Sauser and Stander decided enough was enough on lap 5 and the teammates worked together to try and catch Absalon.  The pair got a 20 second gap on the chasers only for Sauser to crash hard in one of the technical sections damaging his bike and forcing a withdrawel. Stander forged on but was eventually reeled in by Wolfram Kursch (Topeak Ergon) and Jean-Christophe Peraud (Massi).  The South African still managed 4th and top Under-23 finisher.

Irish rider and Under-23 Connor McConvey finished an impressive 88th out of the 220 riders.  Next stop on the World Cup circuit is Houffalize in Belgium.

Results

1 Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea                                              1.49.26
2 Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team                            1.09
3 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Massi                                         1.24
4 Burry Stander* (RSA) Specialized Factory Racing                            1.32
5 Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team                               1.54
6 Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing                                    2.13
7 Roel Paulissen (Bel) Cannondale Factory Racing                             2.19
8 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing                      2.34
9 Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles                     2.57
10 Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing
11 Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze)                                                    3.03
12 Manuel Fumic (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International                           3.11
13 Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team            3.37
14 Adam Craig (USA) Giant Mountain Bike Team                                 3.41
15 Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team                             3.49

88 Connor Mcconvey* (Irl) Felt International MTB Team                       14.42