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MTB World Cup XC #4 - CDM
Madrid, Spain, May 23-24, 2009
2008 results Schedule Preview Start List
Schedule
- Race 1 - May 23: Junior men cross country
- Race 2 - May 23: Junior women cross country
- Race 3 - May 24: Elite women cross country
- Race 4 - May 24: Elite men cross country
World Cup racing returns to Spain
By Rob Jones in Madrid, Spain
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As one of the more unique World Cups on the circuit, Madrid offers the highest level of competition in the center of a major capital city. Held in the 1,800-hectacre Casa de Campo park, the event bring out tens of thousands of spectators, who can easily access the site by subway right next to the course.
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However, this year may see the first ever wet World Cup in Madrid. Rain moved in Friday evening, and continues to fall sporadically through training on Saturday, with temperatures falling over ten degrees (Celsius). While the hardpacked dirt is not likely to turn into mud bogs, it is making some downhill sections slick, and the formerly fast singletrack surprisingly slow.
"It was surprising how much extra effort it takes," said Georgia Gould (Luna). "You can feel it just dragging you back."
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The weather forecast calls for it to stay cooler, with the possibility of rain again for race day.
For the men, World Cup Julien Absalon (Orbea) is the clear favourite, coming off two straight victories and as the defending champion in Madrid. However, he can be beaten, as number two ranked Wolfram Kurschat (Topeak Ergon) discovered last week in a German national series event. The course doesn't suit Kurschat as well (he prefers longer climbs), and the German rider is suffering from a cold, but he will still be a podium contender.
Look also to round one winner Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida), who has stated that winning here in front of his home crowd is a major goal for 2009. Of course, the Team Specialized duo of Stander and world champion Sauser can never be counted out – Sauser is particularly hungry, because he is without a win so far this season in World Cup action.
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Looking to score the second World Cup win of her career will be Canada's Catharine Pendrel (Luna), who finished a close second to Fullana in round three, and is also moving into top condition. The rain and mud could suit Pendrel more than Fullana. Other contenders include Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon), round one winner Elisabeth Osl (Central Ghost Team), 2008 World Cup champion Marie-Helene Premont (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) and China's Ren Chengyuan. Any of these riders could prove to be the winner.
In the World Cup rankings, Absalon holds a strong 160 point lead over Kurschat, so it is unlikely we will see a change in the men's jersey holder. The women's race is much closer, with Fullana only 70 points in front of Osl.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rob Jones / www.canadiancyclist.com
- Is that Geoff Kabush's bike? Juniors check out the pro bikes.
- It's wet and sloppy in Madrid
- Julien Absalon (Orbea) wheelies over a trail obstacle.
- Both Ralph Näf and Jose Antonio Hermida (Multivan Merida) could be on the podium
- Jose Hermida is very focussed on winning on home soil.
- Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing)
- Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing) is over the flu that kept him out of racing at Houffalize.
- Always a smile from Lene Byberg (Specialized Factory Racing)
- Sabine Spitz (Central Ghost Pro Team) is still struggling with health issues.
- Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru / Gary Fisher) will stick to his 29er.
- Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida) 'suffers' during training.
- The Specialized duo of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser check out the wet course.
- Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida) shows off his new Signature clothing line.
Images by Dave McElwaine / www.trailwatch.net
- Last year, the men's start was won by Julien Absalon (Orbea).
- Jose Hermida (Multivan) tries to fend off Julien Absalon.
- Julien Absalon (Orbea) takes the win in 2008.
- Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis) is strong on this course
- Catherine Premont (Luna Women's MTB)
- Favorite Margarita Fullana (Massi) is racing in front of her countrymen.
Start list
Elite men 1 Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea 2 Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 3 Burry Stander* (RSA) Specialized Factory Racing 4 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Massi 5 José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team 6 Roel Paulissen (Bel) Cannondale Factory Racing 7 Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing 8 Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team 9 Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing 10 Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi 11 Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Factory Racing 12 Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) 13 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing 14 Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 15 Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 16 Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing 17 Cédric Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International 18 Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing 19 Hector Leonardo Paez Leon (Col) TX Active Bianchi 20 Alexis Vuillermoz* (Fra) Lapierre International 21 Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo 22 Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa) Orbea 23 Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team 24 Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) Orbea 25 Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 26 Manuel Fumic (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International 27 Mathias Flückiger* (Swi) Trek World Racing 28 Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team 30 Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Giant Italia Team 31 Christoph Soukup (Aut) Merida Biking Team 32 Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 33 Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 34 Pierre Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Lapierre International 35 Oliver Beckingsale (GBr) Giant Mountain Bike Team 36 Jiri Friedl (Cze) Merida Biking Team 37 Andrea Tiberi (Ita) TX Active Bianchi 38 Ludovic Dubau (Fra) 39 Milan Spesny (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna MTB 40 Emil Lindgren (Swe) Felt International MTB Team 41 Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) MSC Bikes 42 Cristian Cominelli* (Ita) TX Active Bianchi 43 Sergiy Rusenko (Ukr) ISD Cycling Team 45 Liam Killeen (GBr) Trek World Racing 46 Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition 47 Anders Hovdenes* (Nor) Team Etto Hoydahl 48 Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory Racing 49 Christof Bischof (Swi) ISD Cycling Team 51 Lado Fumic (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International 53 Bas Peters (Ned) 54 Hannes Metzler (Aut) 56 Marc Colom (Fra) 57 Karl Markt (Aut) SRM Stevens Team 60 Jelmer Pietersma (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team 61 Dario Alejandro Gasco* (Arg) Massi 62 Fabian Giger* (Swi) SKS M.I.G. Team 63 Lachlan Norris* (Aus) Discovertasmania.com 64 Connor McConvey* (Irl) Felt International MTB Team 65 Henrique Avancini* (Bra) ISD Cycling Team 66 Frank Beemer* (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team 67 Nathan Haas* (Aus) Discovertasmania.com 68 Irjan Luttenberg* (Ned) 69 Martin Fanger* (Swi) Giant Mountain Bike Team 70 Charlton Durie* (Aus) Discovertasmania.com 71 Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 72 Cristobal Silva Ibaceta (Chi) Chilean National Team 73 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 74 Periklis Ilias (Gre) ISD Cycling Team 75 Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Giant Mountain Bike Team 76 Yader Zoli (Ita) Torpado-4US 77 Sven Nys (Bel) 78 Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-Suntour 79 Michael Broderick (USA) 80 Andras Parti (Hun) SRM Stevens Team 81 Ben Henderson (Aus) 82 Andrew Blair (Aus) 83 Frank Schotman (Ned) 84 Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita) 85 Nicola Rohrbach (Swi) Central Ghost Pro Team 86 Luis Alberto Costa Leao Pinto (Por) Portuguese National Team 87 Bjorn Brems (Bel) Team Saeco 88 Marti Gispert Labarta (Spa) MSC Bikes 89 Alejandro Diaz De La Pena Lopez (Spa) 90 Chun Hing Chan (HKg) Hong Kong National Team 91 Paolo Cesar Montoya Cantillo (CRc) Giant Italia Team 92 Jimmy Tielens (Bel) Team Saeco 93 Mirko Pirazzoli (Ita) ISD Cycling Team 94 Juan Pedro Trujillo Hernandez (Spa) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo 95 Niels Wubben* (Ned) 96 Rene Tann (Ger) 97 David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por) Portuguese National Team 98 Patrik Gallati* (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing 99 Tiago Jorge Oliveira Ferreira* (Por) Portuguese National Team 100 Thomas Litscher* (Swi) SKS M.I.G. Team 101 Josef Kamler* (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna MTB 102 Sebastien Carabin* (Bel) Lingier-Versluys Team 103 Pascal Meyer* (Swi) SKS M.I.G. Team 104 Jose Melitao (Por) Portuguese National Team 105 Fabien Canal* (Fra) Lapierre International 106 Lukas Kaufmann* (Swi) 107 Joan Marc Perarnau Garcia* (Spa) 108 Pierre Lebreton (Fra) BH-Suntour 109 Torsten Marx (Ger) DS-Rennsport 110 Ludovic Mottet (Bel) 111 Marco Arnold* (Swi) 112 Rob Vangenechten* (Bel) Team Saeco 113 Julien Saussac* (Fra) BH-Suntour 114 Hubert Pollinger (Ita) Sunshine Racers ASV Nals 115 David Lozano Riba* (Spa) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo 116 Simon Scheiber* (Aut) Sunshine Racers ASV Nals 117 Evgeniy Nikolaev* (Rus) Russian National Team 118 Severin Disch* (Swi) Giant Mountain Bike Team 119 John Groves (Aus) 120 Alexandre Guilhoto (Por) 121 Vivien Legastelois* (Fra) BH-Suntour 122 Martinez Rus Hugo (Spa) 123 Patxi Cia Apezteguia (Spa) Conor - Camping La Siesta 124 Balz Weber (Swi) DS-Rennsport 125 Mikhail Baryshnikov* (Rus) Russian National Team 126 Pascal Hossay* (Bel) 127 André Anes* (Por) 128 Ricardo Vicente* (Por) 129 Ondrej Cink* (Cze) Merida Biking Team 130 Ivo Santos (Por) 131 David Escolar Ballesteros (Spa) 132 Nicolas Jeantet* (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 133 Peter Sagan* (Svk) Slovakian National Team 134 Jo Thorson Nordskar* (Nor) Team Etto Hoydahl 135 Daniel Marques (Por) Portuguese National Team 136 Jonas De Backer* (Bel) Belgian National Team 137 Diogo Beatriz Gomes Afonso* (Por) Portuguese National Team 138 Sebastian Batchelor* (GBr) British National Team Elite women 1 Margarita Fullana Riera (Spa) Massi 2 Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Central Ghost Pro Team 3 Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 5 Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Racing 6 Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 7 Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team 8 Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini 9 Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 10 Katrin Leumann (Swi) 11 Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice 12 Petra Henzi (Swi) Fischer-BMC 13 Mary Mcconneloug (USA) 14 Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 15 Julie Bresset* (Fra) Breiz Mountain 16 Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 17 Laura Turpijn (Ned) 18 Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt International MTB Team 19 Janka Stevkova (Svk) 20 Cécile Rode Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International 21 Adelheid Morath (Ger) 22 Anna Szafraniec (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 24 Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 25 Rowena Fry (Aus) Discovertasmania.com 26 Aleksandra Dawidowicz* (Pol) CCC Polkowice 27 Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice 28 Caroline Mani* (Fra) Team Bikepark.ch 29 Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Swi) Team Bikepark.ch 30 Anna Villar Argente (Spa) Massi 31 Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Colnago Cap Arreghini 33 Helene Marcouyre (Fra) BH-Suntour 35 Githa Michiels (Bel) Team Saeco 36 Sabrina Enaux (Fra) BH-Suntour 37 Lea Davison (USA) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 38 Alexandra Engen* (Swe) 40 Julie Krasniak* (Fra) 41 Tereza Hurikova* (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna MTB 42 Vera Andreeva* (Rus) Russian National Team 43 Gracie Elvin* (Aus) Discovertasmania.com 44 Stephanie Wiedner* (Aut) DS-Rennsport 45 Judith Pollinger* (Ita) Sunshine Racers ASV Nals 46 Silke Schmidt* (Ger) 47 Ana Zupan* (Slo) 48 Kathrin Stirnemann* (Swi) 49 Barbara Benko* (Hun) 50 Margarita Garcia Artigues* (Spa) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo 51 Rosara Joseph (NZl) 52 Ivonne Kraft (Ger) 53 Maria Osl (Aut) Fischer-BMC 54 Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-Suntour 55 Sandra Santanyes Murillo (Spa) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo 56 Katherine O'shea (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition 57 Rocio Gamonal Ferrera (Spa) 58 Cristina Mascarreras Sabria (Spa) Conor - Camping La Siesta 59 Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) Subaru-Gary Fisher 60 Kristien Nelen (Bel) 61 Oksana Rybakova (Rus) Russian National Team 62 Kate Potter (Aus) 63 Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) 64 Evelyn Staffler (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini 65 Rocio Martin Rodriguez (Spa) 66 Katrin Schwing (Ger) 67 Vivianne Meyer* (Swi) Colnago Cap Arreghini 68 Laure Boulay (Fra) Keops 69 Elena Ondasova (Svk) 70 Camille Pousse* (Fra) 71 Jasmin Achermann* (Swi) Fischer-BMC 72 Joana Barbosa* (Por) 73 Virginie Pointet* (Swi) Team Bikepark.ch 74 Nadine Rieder* (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International 75 Rosemary Barnes (Aus) 76 Catherine Lohri (Swi) Swiss National Team 77 Karin Rappo* (Swi) Swiss National Team * indicates Under 23 Junior men 2 Marc Schärli (Swi) Swiss National Team 3 Matthias Stirnemann (Swi) Swiss National Team 4 Bryan Falaschi (Ita) Italian National Team 5 Benjamin Boulenc (Fra) French National Team 6 Thomas Decugis (Fra) French National Team 7 Hugo Drechou (Fra) French National Team 8 Sebastien Moya (Fra) French National Team 9 Titouan Perrin Ganier (Fra) French National Team 11 Mario Luis Miranda Costa (Por) Portuguese National Team 12 Rodrigo José Jeronimo Gomes (Por) Portuguese National Team 14 Ricardo Paulo Reis Marinheiro (Por) Portuguese National Team 15 David Miguel Costa Rodrigues (Por) Portuguese National Team 16 Ivan Smirnov (Rus) Russian National Team 18 Pablo Bravo Alonso (Spa) Spanish National Team 19 Daniel Guasch Tur (Spa) Spanish National Team 20 Josep Nadal Magrinya (Spa) Spanish National Team 21 Adria Noguera Soldevila (Spa) Spanish National Team 22 Carles Sabadell Ferres (Spa) Spanish National Team 23 Jose Maria Sanchez Ruiz (Spa) Spanish National Team 24 Michael Millerferli (Aut) Austrian National Team 25 Aurélien Daniel (Fra) Breiz Mountain 26 Roberto Giacobazzi (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 27 Quentin Le Dizes (Fra) Keops 28 Clément Rouget (Fra) Keops 29 Maxime Salmon (Fra) Keops 30 Maxime Schmid (Swi) Team Bikepark.ch Junior women 102 Ekaterina Anoshina (Rus) Russian National Team 103 Anne Terpstra (Ned) Dutch National Team 104 Rita Isabel Viegas Barriga (Por) Portuguese National Team 105 Filipa Ferreira Queiros (Por) Portuguese National Team 106 Michelle Hediger (Swi) Fischer-BMC
