June 23, 2007 (Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec) — The sun is out as the Elite Men’s XC Nissan UCI MTB World Cup race is about to get underway. There are hoards of fans on hand to cheer on their favourites as the men complete one start loop plus 7 full laps to the finishline.

Start Loop
At the end of the start loop it’s Roel Paulissen (Bel) Cannondale-Vredestein leading followed by Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Cannondale-Vredestein in 2nd, Nino Schurter (Sui) Swisspower MTB Team in third and Cédric Ravanel (Fra) Team Lapierre International in 4th as the riders head out to the first climb and begin Lap 1.

Lap 1
As the riders finish lap 1 and begin lap 2 it’s José Hermida (Esp) Multivan/Merida Biking Team and Schurter with 18 seconds over Paulissen and Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea.

Five seconds back is Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized in 5th, Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan/Merida Biking Team is 6th, Cédric Ravanel (Fra) Team Lapierre International is 7th, Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Dolphin Bike Team is in 8th, Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower MTB Team is in 9th and Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Cannondale-Vredestein is in 10th.

Canada’s Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) is in 11th and Seamus McGrath (Rocky Mountain/Haywood) is in 13th. Rocky Mountain/Haywood team mates Max Plaxton and Ralph Gagne are in the top 30s while Mathieu Toulouse (Maxxis) is in 62nd, and Kris Sneddon (Kona/Les Gets) is in 63rd.

Lap 2
At the end of lap 2 Hermida has a 19-sec lead on Schurter and Absalon heading into lap 3. Another 5 seconds back is Paulissen in 4th followed by Sauser in 5th and Kessiakoff in 6th.

Canada’s Kabush has moved up into 7th at 1:04 from the leaders. In 8th is Vogel, 9th is Ravanel, and in 10th is Van Houts.

Seamus McGrath has dropped to 21st with Plaxton in 32nd, Ricky Federau (Trek) in 35th, Gagne is in 57th, Sneddon is 62nd, Derek Zandstra is in 63 and Neal Kindree is in 64th.

Lap 3
As the riders come through the finish of lap 3 and begin lap 4 the clouds are rolling in as Hermida has 15 seconds on Absalon in 2nd followed by Schurter at 32 seconds in 3rd. Kessiakoff is 4th and Paulissen is 5th at 55 seconds.

Sauser is 6th and Canada’s Kabush is in 7th at 1:13 from the leaders. Vogel is still in 8th, Ravanel is 9th but now Canada’s McGrath has launched himself into 10th.

Plaxton has moved up to 28th, Federau is now in 29th, Toulouse is 47th, Zandstra is 59th, Gagne is 60th and Kindree is in 61st.

Lap 4
As the riders finish lap 4 Hermida has 6 seconds on Absalon who is gaining as Paulissen is now in 3rd with Schurter in 4th and Kessiakoff is 5th.

At 1:10 is Canada’s Kabush who has taken over 6th from Sauser now in 7th. Vogel is in 8th, Ravanel is 9th while Leuchs is in 10th as Canada’s McGrath has dropped to 12th.

Federau has moved up to 26th, Plaxton is still in 28th, Toulouse is up to 45th, Kindree has also moved up into 56th, Andrew Watson (Team RACE) is in 59th and Gagne is still in 60th.

Lap 5
Hermida was leading at the end of lap 5 but as they begin lap 6 Absalon has taken over the lead while Canada’s Kabush has had an incredible surge and is now in 3rd at 52 seconds from the leaders.

Paulissen is now in 4th, Sauser is 5th, Schurter is 6th and Kessiakoff is in 7th. Several minutes back are Vogel in 8th, Leuchs is now in 9th and Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Cannondale-Vredestein has taken over 10th — Canada’s McGrath is still in 12th.

Canada’s Federau is in 26th, Plaxton is now in 27th and Toulouse is up to 42nd.

Lap 6
The riders have just finished lap 6 and are now on lap 7 — the final lap — with Absalon leading Hermida by 6 seconds and Kabush is in 3rd just under a minute behind the leaders.

Sauser has taken over 4th, Schurter is now in 5th, Kessiakoff is in 6th and as Paulissen has dropped to 7th. Vogel continues in 8th followed by Leuchs in 9th and Fuglsang in 10th.

Canada’s McGrath is in 13th, Plaxton is now in 22nd, Federau is in 24th, and Toulouse is up to 39th.

Unofficial

1. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea
2. José Hermida (Esp) Multivan/Merida Biking Team
3. Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis
4. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized
5. Nino Schurter (Sui) Swisspower MTB Team
6. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Cannondale-Vredestein
7. Roel Paulissen (Bel) Cannondale-Vredestein leading followed by
8. Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Cannondale-Vredestein
9. Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower MTB Team
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Cannondale-Vredestein

14. Seamus McGrath (Can) Rocky Mountain/Haywood
20. Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain/Haywood
26. Ricky Federau (Can) Trek