June 25, 2006 (Mont Ste-Anne, Que.) – Christoph Sauser (SUI, Specialized) has taken the victory at MSA after 36 kilometres of exciting and action-packed men’s World Cup Cross Country racing.

Riders powered through seven laps of demanding rocky terrain and with some jockeying early in the race, Sauser, Liam Killeen (GBR, Specialized) and Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) established themselves as the top three. Working together Sauser and Killeen as teammates were able to eventually drop and gap the Frenchman. By the fifth lap, Sauser took the lead from Killeen and led the charge to the finish with 10 seconds to spare. Absalon finished third, 2:55 minutes back.

Canadian Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) claimed the host nation’s best result, with an impressive fifth-place ride. Ricky Federau (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) was in 10th position when his chain broke on the last lap. He finished 23rd.

Results (start loop + 7 laps, 36 km)

1. Christoph Sauser (SUI, Specialized) 2:00:29
2. Liam Killeen (GBR, Specialized) at 0:10
3. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 2:55
4. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) 3:30
5. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) 6:08
6. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) 6:29
7. Ludovic Dubau (FRA, Pro Race) 6:57
8. Marti Gispert Labarta (ESP, Freebike) 7:04
9. Adam Craig (USA, Giant) 7:23
10. Balz Weber (SUI, Bikepark.ch-TUI) 7:43

23. Ricky Federau (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 11:43
31. Max Plaxton (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 14:08
33. Raphael Gagne (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 14:36
34. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) 14:58
35. Neal Kindree (CAN, Kona-Team Squamish) 15:02
41. Matthew Hadley (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 15:40
43. Andrew Watson (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 17:05
47. Derek Zandstra (CAN, 3 Rox Racing) 18:50
49. Matthew Martindill (CAN) 20:11
54. Kris Sneddon (CAN, Kona-Les Gets) -2 Laps
57. Martin Lazarski (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) -2 Laps
58. Benoit Simard (CAN) -2 Laps
59. Frederic Bussieres (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) -2 Laps
60. Mike Garrigan (CAN) -2 Laps
65. Leni Gelinas-Trudel (CAN) -3 Laps
67. Troy Misseghers (CAN) -3 Laps
69. Stepfan Widmer (CAN) -3 Laps
70. Roddi Lega (CAN, Noroc) -3 Laps
71. Daniel Sessford (CAN) -3 Laps
77. Ian Carbonneau (CAN) -3 Laps
80. Adam Morka (CAN) -3 Laps
81. Sébastien Tremblay (CAN) -3 Laps
82. Peter Glassford (CAN) -3 Laps
87. Jonathan Boulanger (CAN) -3 Laps
89. Alexandre Frappier (CAN) -3 Laps
91. Luc Doiron (CAN) -3 Laps
92. David Gagnon (CAN) -3 Laps
96. Mark Batty (CAN) -4 Laps
97. Kyle Douglas (CAN) -4 Laps
98. Ryan Ingham (CAN) -4 Laps
100. Bruno Lafontain (CAN) -4 Laps
103. Jean-François Vennes (CAN) -4 Laps
106. Georges-Edouard Duquette (CAN) -4 Laps
DNF Mathieu Toulouse (CAN, Maxxis)
DNF Jeremy Trudel (CAN)
DNF Ian McAvity (CAN)
DNF Marc-Andre Daigle (CAN)

Overall after five events:

1. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 1110 points
2. Christoph Sauser (SUI, Specialized) 830
3. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) 810
4. Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant) 715
5. Liam Killeen (GBR, Specialized) 552
6. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) 513
7. Roel Paulissen (BEL, Giant) 508
8. Ralph Näf (SUI, Multivan-Merida) 450
9. Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) 421
10. Frederik Kessiakoff (SWE, Cannondale-Vredestein) 382
Canadians:
14. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) 336
44. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) 113
63. Ricky Federau (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 60
75. Max Plaxton (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 44
82. Raphael Gagne (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 40
84. Neal Kindree (CAN, Kona-Team Squamish) 36
91. Matthew Hadley (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 27
95. Andrew Watson (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 25
100. Derek Zandstra (CAN, 3 Rox Racing) 21
103. Matthew Martindill (CAN) 19
113. Kris Sneddon (CAN, Kona-Les Gets) 14
123. Martin Lazarski (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 11
124. Benoit Simard (CAN) 10
126. Frederic Bussieres (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 9
129. Mike Garrigan (CAN) 8