August 09, 2015 (Windham, NY) – Recently crowned national champ, Raphael Gagne (Can) Rocky Mountain Factory Team, claimed a career-best 6th as Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Odlo MTB Racing Team won his second World Cup this season despite a flat in the 30.7km Elite Men’s XCO race, (start loop – 7 laps), in Windham, NY, at round #5 of the UCI MTB World Cup.

Julien Absalon (Fra) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team finished second and Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing XC made a strong bid as well but settled for third. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Trek Factory Racing finished fourth with Daniel McConnell (Aus) Trek Factory Racing earning the final podium spot, a fitting gift on his birthday.

Schurter and Absalon took an early lead as expected but the Swiss rider flatted at the start of the third lap as Fumic joined Absalon and they gapped Schurter. Gagne who was 25th after the start was now 17th.

Schurter joined McConnell and Florian Vogel (Sui) Focus XC Team behind the leaders as Fumic attacked and Schurter bridged to take over second. By lap four Absalon had joined them with McConnell soon to make it four leaders while Gagne was now 8th.

Then Absalon attacked and only Schurter could respond with Fumic trying to contain them. On the final lap Schurter took the inside line on a crucial rocky descent to pass Absalon and never looked back taking his second win this season.

Behind Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Trek Factory Racing passed McConnell for 4th with the Aussie finishing 5th for the final podium spot. Canada’s Gagne was able to move up and cross the line in 6th, just off the podium for his best-ever World Cup result.

Results

1. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Odlo MTB Racing Team 1:30:55
2. Julien Absalon (Fra) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 0:04
3. Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing XC 0:27
4. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Trek Factory Racing 0:51
5. Daniel McConnell (Aus) Trek Factory Racing 1:14
6. Raphael Gagne (Can) Rocky Mountain Factory 1:57
7. Lukas Fluckiger (Sui) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team 2:21
8. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) 2:34
9. Florian Vogel (Sui) Focus XC Team 2:48
10. Ondrej Cink (Cze) Multivan Merida Biking Team 3:14

26. Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing 5:29
40. Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing 8:22
44. Leandre Bouchard (Can) 8:51
45. Jeremy Martin (Can) 9:32
55. Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing 10:32
60. Evan McNeely (Can) Norco Factory 13:49
61. Antoine Caron (Can) Pivot Cycles – OTE -1 Lap
73. Andrew L’Esperance (Can)  -1 Lap