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MTB World Cup XC #2 - CDM

Offenburg, Germany, April 26-27, 2008

Photos

Race 4 - April 27: Elite men cross country,

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Luke Webber

• The men's start of over 200 riders.
• The riders were strung out in single-file early on.
• Geoff Kabush rode strongly and into 19th place.
• Adam Craig was at times just off of the leaders and ended with a spectacular eighth.
• Jose Hermida led the chase but snapped his chain.
• The course was littered with drops and crowd pleasing sections.
• Absalon made the tricky descents look too easy.
• Absalon celebrates his second consecutive win.
• Men's podium, l-r with Christoph Sauser, Julien Absalon and Florien Vogel.

Images by Dave McElwaine / www.trailwatch.net

• Christoph Sauser (Specialized Factory Racing) on his way to a second place.
• Adam Craig (Giant) briefly is in second place with one lap to go but fell back a few spots.
• World Champion Julien Absalon (Orbea) wins to the delight of the many French fans.
• The riders were treated to spectacular scenery all along the course!
• Max Plaxton (Rocky Mountain) and Kris Sneddon (Kona) before the race
• The start of 238 racers is total chaos.
• Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/ Subaru) does not have as good of a day as he hoped.
• Florian Vogel (Swisspower MTB) leads throught the "Snake Pit" and was very aggressive throughout the race.
• Mathieu Toulouse (Maxxis) takes on the "Snake Pit".
• Michael Broderick (Kenda/ Seven) handles the technical stuff with ease.
• Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Multivan Merida Racing) helps push the pace early.
• World Champion Julien Absalon bides his time then attacks.
• Adam Craig (Giant) blazes down the lower track of "Dual Speed".
• Burry Stander (GT Mongoose) moves up dramatically from his starting grid.
• Todd Wells (GT Mongoose) is competing well for one of the US Olympic spots.
• A photographer sets fashion at the World Cup race.
• Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Multivan Merida Racing) attacks on a climb.
• The crowd at the finish is standing room only.
• The Offenburg area is showing signs of spring everywhere.
• Adam Craig finishes in the top ten (and as first American).

Race 3 - April 27: Elite women cross country,

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Images by Luke Webber

• Georgia Gould of Luna led early on.
• Kalentieva loved the drops and made good time in the singletrack.
• Lene Byberg also impressed and is hitting top form for the World Cups.
• Ren Chengyan took a lot of risks to overtake a third of the field.
• Kalentieva celebrates her first win in 2008.

Images by Dave McElwaine /www.trailwatch.net

• Georgia Gould (Luna MTB Team) leads 121 women at the start.
• Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon Racing Team) takes the victory with a sizable gap.
• The Chinese National Team warms up in the Orbea tent.
• Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida Biking Team) at the starting line.
• Catherine Pendrel (Luna MTB Team) rides in the top ten on the first lap.
• Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain) attacks on her way to a great race.
• A racer survives the treacherous upper track of "Dual Speed".
• US National Champion Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven) goes on to finish 16th.
• Ren Chengyuan (Chinese National Team) crashes later in the race but continues.
• Ren Chengyuan descending "Wolfsdrop" without any problems.
• Wendy Simms (Kona) riding in the top ten is going consistently better this year.
• Nathalie Schneitter (Colnago CAP Arrechini) powers her way up a long climb.
• Silke Schmidt rounds a corner in a series of S-turns.
• Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain) leads the race on a steep descent.
• Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon Racing Team) gets far back on her saddle.
• Georgia Gould (Luna MTB Team) in seventh position riding a big drop-off.
• Sue Butler (MonaVie) rides comfortably mid-pack.
• The crowd at the finish makes a lot of noise for the racers.
• Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain) finishes a strong second.
• Ren Chengyuan (Chinese National Team) finished third despite a facial injury.
• Women's podium (left to right): Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain) 2nd, Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon Racing) 1st, Ren Chengyuan (Chinese National Team) 3rd. Chengyuan also won the U-23 division.

Race 1 - April 26: Junior men and women cross country (non-World Cup event),

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Images by Dave McElwaine /www.trailwatch.net

• Rosalisa Palma (Italy) took up her position on the front row.
• Mona Eiberweiser was relaxed and ready to go.
• Jana Valesova (Czech National Team) on the starting line
• Junior women's field ready to start
• Karin Rappo (Swiss cycling Team) leading second group from the front early in the race.
• The racers were rewarded with a spendid view once they reached the top of the first climb.
• Mona Eiberweiser (BOR) in first place on a very long climb. She had a large gap
• Barbara Benko (LTV Merida Racing) riding second at top of climb.
• Kajsa Snihs (Swedish National Team) riding fourth.
• Barbara Benko (LTV Merida Racing) descends "Dual Speed"
• Vivienne Meyer (Swiss Cycling Team) marks Barbara Benko.
• Racers take the upper line of "Dual Speed" (The lower section had more logs, but less drops).
• Julie Haase on a steep section of "Dual Speed"
• Camille Devi (Equipe de France) descends "Wolfsdrop".
• Sanne Cant (Belgian National Team) gets way back on her saddle.
• Marie Bobanova (Russian National Team) descends "Wolfsdrop".
• Mona Eiberweiser starts celebrating her victory 50 meters from the finish.
• Mona Eiberweiser was jubilant as she greeted the crowd.
• Vivienne Meyer (Swiss Cycling Team) was happy with second place.
• Mona Eiberweiser and Vivienne Meyer congratulate each other
• Barbara Benko (LTV Merida Racing) finished third.
• Barbara Benko and Mona Eiberweiser congratulate each other
• Peter Sagan (Cys Ziluna Slovakia) at the start line
• Szymon Gakczynski (Polish Cycling Federation) at the start
• Jonas De Backer (National Team Belgium) at the starting line
• Junior men's field at the start in perfect racing conditions
• Peter Sagan (Cys Ziluna Slovakia) leads early in the race.
• Silvestri Elia (Italy) early in the race
• Erik Groen (National Mannschaft MTB) leads a pack of riders.
• Racers head uphill and into the woods.
• Peter Sagan descending the lower track of "Dual Speed"
• Jonas De Backer descending upper track of "Dual Speed"
• Rider gets far behind his saddle on steep drop-off
• Szymon Gakczynski descending very fast
• A racer carefully eyes the "Snake Pit" ahead
• Olyf Jonsson (Corratec World Team) descends the treacherous "Wolfsdrop".
• Simon Stiesjahn (MTB Kader Baden) on "Wolfsdrop"
• Mathias Rupp (Swiss Cycling Team) out of the saddle coming out of a corner
• Peter Sagan (Cys Ziluna Slovakia) enters a long flat section of the course alone.
• Peter Sagan (Cys Ziluna Slovakia) does a wheelie at the finish to celebrate his victory.
• Markus Schulte-Lünzum (BDR) finished third.