May 13, 2012 (Nove Mesto, Czech Republic) – The Elite Men’s 29.96km race will soon be underway as sunny conditions continue in Nove Mesto for round 3 which will match up home town favourite and World Champ, Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing, against Houffalize (round 2) winner, Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea Racing Team and round #1 winner Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team. Racing for Canada are Scott-3RoxRacing’s Geoff Kabush, Derek Zanstra and Cam Jette along with Canadian MTB Champ, Max Plaxton (Team Specialized Racing USA) and Adam Morka (Trek Canada)… the Elite men will complete 1 Start Loop (3.2km) + 6 Laps for a total of 29.96km.
Start Loop
Ralph Naef (Sui) is off the front with Kulhavy and Schurter up ther – big crash behind at the start takes down a lot of riders..
Up the climb it’s Kulhavy leading with Schurter there and Burry Stander (RSA) in 3rd with Florian Vogel (Sui) in 4th – Abasalon is caught behind in the teens.
Lap 1
Kulhavy is leading at 7:32 followed by Schurter and Stander with Marco Fontana (Ita) Cannondale in 4th… then it’s Vogel, Naef – Kabush is in 16th at 22s – Absalon is having a tough start in 28th.
Fontana takes over the lead with Stander in 2nd…. up the Expert Climb some riders are forced to dismount.
Fontana and Stander are on 29ers as the try to gap the chasers – but Kulhavy and Schurter are right there with Vogel in 5th with Naef in 6th… Kabush has moved up into the top 10.
Fontana, Stander and Kulhavy are together followed by Schurter, Vogel and Naef… then it’s Fumic and Giger (Rabobank). Now Kulhavy takes over 2nd.
Lap 2
Kulhavy catches Fontana and the two come thru in 20:39… then a group of 3 lead by Schurter at 0:06 with Naef and Stander.
Then it’s Vogel, Giger and Fumic… Kabush is 18th at 49s (correction) followed by Absalon in 22 at 1min – Plaxton is 30th.
Kulhavy tries to escape but Fontana is with him with Stander alone in third but Schurter is running him down.
Up the big climb it’s Kulhavy leading as the fans cheer him on – he won here last year and said it was an incredible feeling to win at home.
Now Fontana takes over the lead again… now a group of 5 have formed at the front with Vogel, Fumic and Giger leading the chasers behind.
Schurter moves to the front to lead into the descent as he and Kulhavy and Fontana are ahead of Stander and Naef – Schurter is attacking on the climb trying to break away.
The chasers are gaining on the five leaders…
Lap 3
Stander takes over the lead at 33:56 followed by Schurter and Fontana in third with Kulhavy in 4th and Naef in 5th. Then it’s Giger, Vogel and Fumic followed by Moritz Milatz (Ger), Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) and Sauser and Hermida…
Kabush is 19th as Plaxton has moved up to 22nd – Absalon is 24th.
Schurter takes back the lead as Kulhavy jumps on his wheel – up the climb the 5 leaders are together as the chasers scramble behind to keep pace… Naef is dangling a bit behind the 4 riders up front.
Naef catches back on as there’s as 15s gap to the 4 chasers…
Up the Expert Climb 2 it’s the five leaders lead by Schurter as the crowd cheers on Kulhavy.
Lap 4
The five leaders come thru in 47:20 lead by Kulhavy. The chasers are at 36s including Milatz, Vogel, Giger and Fumic. Then it’s Hermida, Mantecon Gutierrez and Sauser at 57s…
Kabush and Plaxton are together in 18th and 19th at just over a minute. Julien Absalon is now in 29th… it’s not his day.
Abasalon is a DNF – he was sick on Wed. and wanted to try and race today but now wants to rest up for La Bresse.
Schurter takes over the lead again as Naef begins to falter again… Stander passes Fontana on the climb leading to the descent.
Thru the BMX section Naef is struggling to hang on… Schurter powers ahead and has a small gap on Kulhavy and Stander with Fontana in 4th eager to podium again.
Milatz, Vogel and Giger have dropped Fumic.
Lap 5
On the penultimate the five leaders are giving each other no quarter starting the penultimate lap at 1:00:35. Milatz, Vogel and Giger are at 39s… the Fumic is at 51s followed by Hermida, Mantecon Gutierrez and Sauser at 1:05.
Plaxton has moved up to 14th aset 1:28 – Kabush is in 18th ast 1:43
Up the first Expert Climb Kulhavy attacks but Schurter is there… now up the course’s big climb Naef is getting dropped.
Schurter takes over the lead now as Kulhavy wavers as Stander looks behind to see Fontana fading a bit.
Schurter, Kulhavy and Stander have gapped Fontana… now Stander attacks just before the descent and takes over the lead. Fontana is off the bike with a small error and loses a few seconds.
Stander is still leading as Schurter keeps him close with Kulhavy just behind… soon the lap will end and there’ll be one to go. Stander would love to win his second WCup.
Lap 6 FINAL
Kulhavy, Stander and Schurter come thru in 1:13:50… Fontana is alone in 4th at 17s – then it’s Naef at 21s.
Milatz is 6th at 41s then Giger and Vogel are two Swiss riders together at 1:01… Kabush is 14th at 1:47.
Schurter attacks on the first Expert Climb but Stander and Kulhavy respond… the Czech champ could be struggling.
Now Schurter is putting on the pressure as he tries to break Stander as Kulhavy is dangling a bit behind as they’ve passed the half way point.
All together as Kulhavy passes Stander… thru the BMX section it’s Schurter as they come into the final climb where this could decide the race.
Kulhavy tries to edge by Schurter but he can’t make it… Stander is falling back.
Schurter is in the stadium… he takes it – it’s his birthday as well today 26 years old.
Results
Elite Men
1. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 1:26:46
2. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing 00:06
3. Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing 00:17
4. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing 00:46
5. Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team 00:47
6. Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 01:14
7. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 01:20
8. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 01:32
9. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 01:43
10. José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 01:47
11. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Racing 02:03
12. Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing 02:15
13. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 02:23
14. Max Plaxton (Can) Specialized 02:32
15. Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing 02:57
16. Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team 03:13
17. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) 03:15
18. Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 03:17
19. Liam Killeen (Gbr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 03:28
20. Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek 03:29
21. Jiri Novak (Cze) 03:36
22. Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi
23. Sven Nys (Bel) 03:51
24. Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec
25. Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) Lapierre International 04:24
26. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 04:25
27. Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 04:31
28. Henk Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 04:39
29. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Esp) Elettroveneta-Corratec 04:42
30. Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 05:04
31. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 05:08
32. Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing 05:10
33. Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 05:11
34. Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 05:19
35. Marek Konwa* (Pol) Milka- Superior MTB Racing Team 05:25
36. Lukas Sablik (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 05:26
37. Mathias Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 05:27
38. Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) 05:33
39. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 05:50
40. Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop 06:00
41. Periklis Ilias (Gre) Team Protek 06:10
42. Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Milka- Superior MTB Racing Team
43. Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 06:11
44. Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Esp) Orbea Racing Team 06:17
45. Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi
46. Umberto Corti (Ita) Team Cbe Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 06:19
47. Martino Fruet (Ita) 06:20
48. Kristian Hynek (Cze) 06:26
49. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Trek 06:27
50. Thomas Litscher (Sui) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 06:34
51. Andras Parti (Hun) 06:38
52. Jürg Graf (Sui) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team 06:44
53. Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 06:51
54. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 06:54
55. Philip Buys (RSA)
56. Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing 06:55
57. Kevin Pauwels (Bel) 07:01
58. Michal Lami (Svk)
59. Jérémy Huguenin (Sui) Giant Swiss SR-Suntour 07:16
60. Martin Loo (Est) Hard Rock Canossa Merida 07:24
61. Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) ISD MTB Team 07:31
62. Stephen Ettinger (USA) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team
63. Shlomi Haimy (Isr) Focus MIG Team 07:36
64. Martin Fanger (Sui) Giant Swiss SR-Suntour 07:46
65. Pavel Boudny (Cze) 07:55
66. Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team
67. Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 08:09
68. Julien Taramarcaz (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 08:16
69. Lachlan Norris (Aus) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 08:23
70. Ludovic Dubau (Fra) Team Newcycling 08:42
71. Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing 09:15
72. Tom Meeusen (Bel) 09:22
73. Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Versluys Team 09:26
74. Giancarlo Sax (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team 09:35
75. Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 09:41
76. Hector Leonardo Paez Leon (Col) TX Active Bianchi 09:44
77. Simon Scheiber (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 09:50
78. Oleksandr Gerashchenko (Ukr) ISD MTB Team 09:54
79. Marc Bassingthwaighte (Nam) 10:06
80. Markus Bauer (Ger) 10:20
81. Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 10:31
82. David Fletcher (Gbr) Orange Monkey-Cannondale 10:36
83. David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por)
84. Adam Morka (Can) Trek Canada 10:38
85. Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing 10:39
86. Pascal Meyer (Sui) 10:58
87. Jan Jobanek (Cze) Merida Biking Team 11:02
88. Andy Eyring (Ger) 11:09
89. Tiago Jorge Oliveira Ferreira (Por) Bi&Esse-Infotre Protek 11:21
90. Daniel Geismayr (Aut) 11:22
91. Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 11:31
92. Dariusz Batek (Pol) 12:01
93. Fabien Canal (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 12:14
94. Hannes Metzler (Aut) 12:58
95. Sid Taberlay (Aus) -1lap
96. Daniel Eymann (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team -1lap
97. Hans Becking (Ned) Milka- Superior MTB Racing Team -1lap
98. Spencer Paxson (USA) Kona -1lap
99. Lukas Kaufmann (Sui) Team Fujibikes Rockets -1 lap
100. Martin Haring (Svk) -1 lap
101. Tim Lemmers (Ned) Feenstra Stevens Bike Team -1 lap
102. Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Lapierre International -1 lap
103. Paolo Cesar Montoya Cantillo (CRc) -1lap
104. Michael Broderick (USA)-1lap
105. Patrik Gallati (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team -1lap
106. Rafal Hebisz (Pol) -1lap
107. Javier Eduardo Puschel (Chi) -1lap
108. Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team -1lap
109. Sang Hoon Na (Kor) -1lap
110. David Escolar Ballesteros (Esp) -1lap
111. Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing -2laps
112. Steffen Thum (Ger) -2laps
113. Mariusz Gil (Pol) -2laps
114. Rafal Alchimowiz (Pol) -2laps
115. Milan Barenyi (Svk) -2laps
116. Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) -2laps
117. Jan Fojtik (Cze) -2laps
118. Christopher Maletz (Ger) -2laps
119. Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita) -2laps
120. Cristobal Silva Ibaceta (Chi) -2laps
121. Vitalii Zubchenko (Ukr) ISD MTB Team -2laps
122. Simon Seehofer (Aut) -2laps
123. Kirill Kazantsev (Kaz) -2laps
124. Weisong Tong (Chn) -2laps
125. Tomasz Drozdz (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team -2laps
126. Felix Euteneuer (Ger) -3laps
127. Matthias Waldhart (Aut) -3laps
128. Bostjan Hribovsek (Slo) -3laps
129. Zdenek Mlynar (Cze) -3laps
130. Frantisek Zilak (Cze) -3laps
131. Ioan Tudor Radu (Rom) -3laps
132. Brian Lopes (USA) -3laps
133. Gabor Bogar (Hun) -3laps
134. Artyom Golovaschenko (Kaz) -3laps
135. Elisei Miron (Rom) -4laps
136. Miha Halzer (Slo) Energijateam.Com -4laps
137. George Vlad Sabau (Rom) -4laps
138. Lubomir Vojta (Cze) -4laps
139. Besik Gavasheli (Geo) -4laps
DNF Piotr Brzozka (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team
DNF Kazuhiro Yamamoto (Jpn)
DNF Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team
DNF Severin Disch (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team
DNF Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea Racing Team
DNF Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team
DNF Christoph Soukup (Aut)
DNF Matthias Wengelin (Swe) Team Herbalife 24 Raumerrittet
DNF Adrian Brzozka (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team
DNF Davy Huygens (Bel)
DNF Simon Gegenheimer (Ger)
DNF Sepp Freiburghaus (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team
DNF Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team
DNF Robby De Bock (Bel)
DNS Ola Kjören (Nor) Team Herbalife 24 Raumerrittet
DNS Marco Schätzing (Ger)
DNS Markus Loisl (Aut)
DNS Dennis Ebert (Ned)
Standings after 3 Rounds
1. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 700
2. Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing 510
3. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing 425
4. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing 410
5. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea Racing Team 400
6. Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing 385
7. José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 315
8. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 300
9. Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi 292
10. Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 290
11. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 290
12. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 240
13. Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team 235
14. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Racing 234
15. Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team 216
16. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R 211
17. Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 204
18. Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing 200
19. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 198
20. Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 192
21. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 182
22. Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Esp) Orbea Racing Team 160
23. Mathias Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 160
24. Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 158
25. Liam Killeen (Gbr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 150
26. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 149
27. Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 149
28. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Esp) Elettroveneta-Corratec 148
29. Thomas Litscher (Sui) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 148
30. Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek 124
31. Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing 118
32. Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 117
33. Max Plaxton (Can) 112
34. Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi 111
35. Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) Lapierre International 105
36. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 104
37. Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec 103
38. Sven Nys (Bel) 100
39. Henk Jaap * Moorlag (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 100
40. Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 98
41. Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 94
42. Marek * Konwa (Pol) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 93
43. Jiri Novak (Cze) 91
44. Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) 88
45. Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 76
46. Fabien Canal (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 74
47. Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 68
48. Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing 65
49. Stephen Ettinger (USA) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 56
50. Jürg Graf (Sui) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team 54
51. Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 53
52. Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team 48
53. Martin Fanger (Sui) Giant Swiss Sr-Suntour 46
54. Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 46
55. Lukas Sablik (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 42
56. Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop 42
57. Piotr Brzozka (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 41
58. Julien Taramarcaz (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 40
59. Umberto Corti (Ita) Team Cbe Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 34
60. Martino Fruet (Ita) 32
61. Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team 30
62. Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 30
63. Philip Buys (RSA) 30
64. Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 29
65. Periklis Ilias (Gre) Team Protek 27
66. Patrik Gallati (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 24
67. Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 20
68. Kristian Hynek (Cze) 20
69. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Trek 19
70. Andras Parti (Hun) Euroone-Waberer’s-Cube MTB Team 17
71. Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 16
72. Lachlan Norris (Aus) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 16
73. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 14
74. Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 13
75. Nicola Rohrbach (Sui) 12
76. Kevin Pauwels (Bel) 11
77. Michal Lami (Svk) 10
78. David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por) 10
79. Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Versluys Team 10
80. Jérémy Huguenin (Sui) Giant Swiss Sr-Suntour 9
81. Martin Loo (Est) Hard Rock Canossa Merida 8
20. Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3RoxRacing 192
33. Max Plaxton (Can) Team Specialized Racing USA 112
45. Derek Zanstra (Can) Scott-3RoxRacing 76
