MTB World Cup XC #3 - CDM

Madrid, Spain, May 3-4, 2008

Photos

Race 4 - May 4: Elite men cross country,

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Dave McElwaine / www.trailwatch.net

Barry Wicks (Kona) relaxes before his warm-up begins.
Nino Schurter (Swisspower MTB Team) is hoping to be a major player again this week.
Julien Absalon (Orbea) has been unbeatable in this World Cup season so far.
Candian Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis) is leading his country's competition for an Olympic spot.
Julien Absalon (Orbea) gets the hole shot in a field of 158 elite men.
The world's best racers make a hard left at the start. Julien Absalon is leading Florian Vogel (Swisspower) and his team-mate Nino Schurter.
Mathieu Toulouse (Team Maxxis) rides mid-pack. He crashed later, but still finished.
Todd Wells (GT/Mongoose) was able to stay with the leaders on lap one. He finished 18th for the day.
Riders near the front of the race round a 180 degree turn and head up a steep climb.
Julien Absalon (Orbea) let others set the pace for most of the race.
Racers tackle one of the steep climbs on the dusty Casa de Campo course.
Julien Absalon (Orbea) leads crowd favorite Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Multivan Merida- ESP) as they break away from all other racers.
Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW) leads a pack down a steep grade. He was hampered by leg cramps.
Kris Sneddon (Kona) rides strong despite suffering a nasty crash
Jose Hermida Ramos (Multivan Merida) leads Julien Absalon (Orbea) down the course's steepest descent.
Julien Absalon (Orbea) got away from Jose Hermida Ramos on the last lap to take his third straight World Cup victory this year.
Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Multivan Merida) thanks the cheering crowd as he finishes in second place
A very dirty Jean-Christophe Peraud (Orbea) takes third place.
A racer is so elated with his finish that he rolls his bike over the line without being on it.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Suburu) having his best World Cup race this season by finishing 15th. In the last lap he moved up at least six postitions.

Images by Lejarreta

The men's peloton round a corner early in the race.
Ruben Ruzafa Cueto leads Orbea team-mate Julien Absalon.
The leaders in the men's race pass by some spectators.
The men take on a small climb on the course.
Julien Absalon (Orbea) pulls out a gap on José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Multivan Merida Biking Team).
The Orbea team celebrate on the podium.
Podium (L-R): José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Multivan Merida Biking Team), Julien Absalon (Orbea) and Jean-Christophe Peraud (Orbea).
France's Julien Absalon (Orbea) on the podium.

Images by Luke Webber

Julien Absalon (Orbea), focussed as always.
Adam Craig (Giant Mountain Bike Team) was one of many to use ice before the start.
Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida Biking Team) was lifted into second by the home crowds.
Christoph Sauser (Specialized Factory Racing) was not so suited to this flatter course.
Julien Absalon (Orbea) cruises through the early stages of the race.
Julien Absalon (Orbea) delivers victory number three.

Race 3 - May 4: Elite women cross country,

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Dave McElwaine / www.trailwatch.net

Up and comer Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) and veteran racer Sue Haywood (Trek/VW) both had solid races in Offenburg, Germany, last weekend.
Norway's Lene Byberg (Specialized Factory Racing) warms up.
Former World Champion Alison Sydor and team-mate Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain)
Ren Chengyuan (Chinese National Team) is ready to go after suffering a facial injury in Offenburg last weekend.
Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/ Suburu) is recovered from an illness last week and ready to race.
Gunn Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida) is mobbed by fans like a rock star at World Cup races.
Madrid Municipal Police help to guard the Multivan team. They have already been robbed twice during this young World Cup season.
Sabine Spitz (Central Ghost Pro Team) gets the hole shot and goes on to finish fourth.
Former World Champion Dahle Flesjaa goes to the front early in the race.
Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain) chases Gunn Rita Dahle Flesjaa.
Crowd favorite Margarita Fullana (Massi) rides in the top three.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB Team) stays on her bike on steep climb.
Czech Republic National Champion Katerina Nash (Luna Women's MTB Team) looks fully recovered from her knee injury sustained in Arizona.
Catherine Pendrel's addition to the Luna team has helped it win the team competition in three straight World Cups. She went on to finish ninth.
US National Champion Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven) goes on to finish 15th.
Sweden's Alexandra Engen forces a chain reaction back-up when she dismounted on a steep climb.
Elizabeth Osl (Team Ghost International) seems to be riding well.
Wendy Simms (Kona) rides a very steep climb.
Mical Dyck (Trek/VW) handles the steep climbing with ease.
Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida) leads Marga Fullana (Masi) on the steepest descent.
Swiss Natalie Schneitter (Colnago) on the steepest descent
The hard surface on this steep descent prevents riders from being able to brake effectively.
Gunn Rita Dahle-Flesjaa (Multivan Merida) is elated with her first major victory since coming back from her illness last year.
The crowd goes beserk when Margarita Fullana (Masi) comes across the line in third.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB Team) is very pleased with a fifth place finish. She is well on her way to qualifying for the US Olympic Team.
Katerina Nash (Luna Women's MTB Team) is congratulated by the crowd as she finishes in the top ten.

Images by Luke Webber

Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida Biking Team) was all smiles before the start.
Chengyuan Ren (China) could not have predicted what was to follow.
The women's start was less chaotic than the previous races.
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida Biking Team) storms to victory while a local hardly notices.

Images by Lejarreta

The Luna women's team on the podium.