July 28, 2012 (Val d’Isère, France) – The rain is coming down as the men’s race is underway with Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott Swisspower battling for the overall WCup title against South Africa Burry Stander (Specialized). A strong field is on the line with Julien Absalon (Orbea), the two-time defending Olympic champion, and reigning World Champ Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized). For Canada it’s Geoff Kabush (SCOTT-3Rox Racing) looking to keep on form for London 2012 and he’s joined by Peter Glassford (Trek Canada) – the men will complete 6 laps.

Lap 1
Schurter is off the front with Fontana in second and Vogel in third… Mantecon is up there with Stander around 5th.

Schurter is out front forcing the pace… Fontana is chasing – Stander drops to 10th – Kabush is in the 20s

Kulhavy is in the teens… as Schurter powers ahead looking smooth – Absalon is 6th

Lap 2
It was a fast lap for Schurter in 15:08 followed by Vogel with Fontana in 3rd.

Stander is in 10th at 34s – his work is cut out for him.

Kabush is 25th at 1:44 – now Fontana takes over the lead as Hermida is moving up thru the lap as Mantecon struggles to keep pace.

Absalon wasn’t happy with his tires and lost time swapping them and is around 10th.

The three leaders continue out front with Schurter back leading with about 30 sec. over the chasers – Stander is moving up slowly.

Lap 3
Fontana comes thru in 31.00 with Schurter and Vogel with him.

Then it’s Hermida and Lukas Flukinger at 27s followed by Fumic at 33s in 6th then it’s Stander in 7th at 51s.

Fontana and Schurter are on their own out front… the rain has stopped and the sun is now out.

Lap 4
Fontana and Schurter come thru together in 46:59 with a strong lead over Vogel in 3rd at 29s then it’s Hermida at 42s with Flukinger in 5th, Fumic is 6th, Stander is 7th at 1:02.

Fontana would dearly love to win his first WCup.

The race within the chase group behind heats up..

As the lap comes to an end Stander crashes and is covered in mud.

Lap 5
Fontana and Schurter are on their penultimate lap in 1:02:54… Flukinger takes over 3rd at 34s then it’s Hermida in 47s with Vogel on his wheel – Stander has recovered and is 6th.

Thru the lap it’s a battle up front between Fontana and Schurter as Flukinger is strong in 3rd.

Schurter looks like a shoe-in for the overall title – but can Fontana win his first WCup over one of the best spinters.

Lap 6 FINAL
The final battle begins as Fontana and Schurter start their final lap at 1:18:39.

Schurter takes over the lead as Fluckiger comes thru at 16s in third – Hermida is 4th at 58s and Fumic 5th at 1:04. Then its Vogel in 6th…

The Swiss star Schurter is gapping Fontana on the climb and the Italian champ has to watch out for Fluckiger behind.

Schurter has opened a strong 18s gap.

Fluckiger looks strong as Fontana fades – he passes him.

Results

1. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 1:34:03
2. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 00:13
3. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing 00:33
4. Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing 01:17
5. José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 01:22
6. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 01:49
7. Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing 02:16
8. Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team 02:28
9. Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi 02:54
10. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 03:08
11. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 03:37
12. Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 04:05
13. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing 05:11
14. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Racing 05:12
15. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 05:20
16. Marek Konwa* (Pol) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 05:21
17. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 05:23
18. Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 05:43
19. Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team 05:52
20. Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 06:02
21. Martin Fanger (Sui) Giant Swiss SR-Suntour 06:05
22. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 06:22
23. Michal Lami (Svk) 06:57
24. Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing 06:58
25. Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Esp) Orbea Racing Team
26. Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 07:08
27. Thomas Litscher (Sui) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 07:15
28. Martin Loo (Est) Hard Rock Canossa Merida 07:29
29. Periklis Ilias (Gre) Team Protek 07:51
30. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team
31. Martino Fruet (Ita) 07:52
32. Jiri Novak (Cze) 07:53
33. Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 08:19
34. Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 08:23
35. Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek 08:24
36. Nicola Rohrbach (Sui) 08:34
37. Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop 08:35
38. Philip Buys (RSA)
39. Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 08:53
40. Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) 09:05
41. Andy Eyring (Ger) 09:08
42. Fabien Canal (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 09:34
43. Andras Parti (Hun) Euroone-Waberer’s-Cube MTB Team 09:51
44. Paolo Cesar Montoya Cantillo (CRc) 10:13
45. Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 10:17
46. Alexis Chenevier (Fra) Scott Les Saisies 10:23
47. Jürg Graf (Sui) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team 10:32
48. Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 10:43
49. Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 11:19
50. Lukas Sablik (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 11:26
51. Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Versluys Team 11:31
52. Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing 11:40
53. Julien Taramarcaz (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 11:52
54. Piotr Brzozka (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 12:01
55. Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 12:07
56. Jérémy Huguenin (Sui) Giant Swiss SR-Suntour 12:19
57. David Fletcher (Gbr) Orange Monkey-Cannondale 12:34
58. Jan Jobanek (Cze) Merida Biking Team 13:14
59. Giancarlo Sax (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team 14:22
59. Hans Becking (Ned) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team -1 lap
60. Ramon Sagues Portabella (Esp) -1 lap
61. Filip Eberl (Cze) -1 lap
62. Gareth Montgomerie (Gbr) -1 lap
63. Pascal Meyer (Sui) Jb Felt Team -1 lap
64. Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita) -1 lap
65. Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Lapierre International -1 lap
66. Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team -1 lap
67. Patrik Gallati (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team -1 lap
68. Florian Thie (Sui) -1 lap
69. Ruben Almeida (Por) -1 lap
70. Jonas Baumann (Sui) Wheeler-Ixs Team -1 lap
71. David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por) -1 lap
72. Daniel Eymann (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team -2 laps
73. Shlomi Haimy (Isr) Focus MIG Team -2 laps
74. Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team -2 laps
75. Rafal Hebisz (Pol) -2 laps
76. Marios Athanasiadis (Cyp) -2 laps
77. Michael Broderick (USA) -2 laps
78. Dave Henderson (Gbr) -2 laps
79. Sepp Freiburghaus (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team -2 laps
80. Sang Hoon Na (Kor) -2 laps
81. Seiya Hirano (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor Cycling Team -3 laps
82. Tiago Jorge Oliveira Ferreira (Por) Bi&Esse-Infotre Protek -3 laps
83. Robby De Bock (Bel) -3 laps
84. John Whittington (Gbr) -4 laps
DNF Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea Racing Team
DNF Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec
DNF Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Esp) Orbea Racing Team
DNF Ismael Ventura Sanchez (Esp)
DNF Robert Wardell (Gbr)
DNF Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team
DNF Kornel Osicki (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team
DNF Mathias Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing
DNS Liam Killeen (Gbr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team
DNS Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Esp) Elettroveneta-Corratec
DNS Peter Glassford (Can) Trek Canada
DNS Thomas Christian Bonne (Den)

Final World Cup Standings

1. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 1,200
2. Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing 1,058
3. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing 865
4. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing 830
5. José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 797
6. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 760
7. Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing 715
8. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 697
9. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 660
10. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 657
11. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea Racing Team 650
12. Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team 595
13. Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 562
14. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 543
15. Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi 529
16. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Racing 506
17. Max Plaxton (Can) Specialized 472
18. Mathias Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 456
19. Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing 450
20. Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 430
21. Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 405
22. Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 394
23. Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team 383
24. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 380
25. Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek 359
26. Thomas Litscher (Sui) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 336
27. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) 331
28. Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing 306
29. Martin Fanger (Sui) Giant Swiss SR-Suntour 304
30. Liam Killeen (Gbr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 304
31. Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing 295
32. Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 258
33. Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) 248
34. Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 247
35. Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 243
36. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 230
37. Marek Konwa* (Pol) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 217
38. Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Esp) Orbea Racing Team 216
39. Henk Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 199
40. Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 193
41. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Esp) Elettroveneta-Corratec 190
42. Fabien Canal (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 188
43. Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 173
44. Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 162
45. Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing 158
46. Martin Loo (Est) Hard Rock Canossa Merida 150
47. Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 144
48. Martino Fruet (Ita) 142
49. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 137
50. Philip Buys (RSA) 136
51. Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec 135
52. Jiri Novak (Cze) 133
53. Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team 121
54. Jürg Graf (Sui) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team 119
55. Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi 111
56. Stephen Ettinger (USA) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 111
57. Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) Lapierre International 105
58. Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 105
59. Raphael Gagne (Can) Rocky Mountain 104
60. Jérémy Huguenin (Sui) Giant Swiss SR-Suntour 102
61. Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop 102
62. Sven Nys (Bel) 100
63. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Trek 88
64. Andras Parti (Hun) Euroone-Waberer’s-Cube MTB Team 88
65. Julien Taramarcaz (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 86
66. Sepp Freiburghaus (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team 84
67. David Fletcher (Gbr) Orange Monkey-Cannondale 81
68. Periklis Ilias (Gre) Team Protek 75
69. Michal Lami (Svk) 70
70. Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 68
71. Nicola Rohrbach (Sui) 68
72. Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Esp) Orbea Racing Team 67
73. Piotr Brzozka (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 65
74. Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 61
75. Paolo Cesar Montoya Cantillo (CRc) 60
76. Lukas Sablik (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 60
77. Severin Disch (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team 56
78. Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team 56
79. Andy Eyring (Ger) 54
80. Adam Morka (Can) Trek Canada 48
81. Andrew Watson (Can) Norco 46
82. Lachlan Norris (Aus) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 41
83. Alexis Chenevier (Fra) Scott Les Saisies 41
84. Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 37
85. Mitchell Hoke (USA) 36
86. Michael Broderick (USA) 32
87. Peter Glassford (Can) Trek Canada 31
88. Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 30
89. Alex Grant (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing 29
90. Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 29
91. Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Versluys Team 27
92. Neal Kindree (Can) 26
93. Spencer Paxson (USA) Kona 24
94. Patrik Gallati (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 24
95. Hector Riveros (Col) 23
96. Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 23
97. Matthys Beukes (RSA) 21
98. Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 20
99. Rotem Ishai (Isr) 20
100. Kristian Hynek (Cze) 20
101. Daniel Eymann (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team 18
102. Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 16
103. Rubens Valeriano (Bra) 15
104. Matthew Hadley (Can) Xprezo-Borsao 15
105. Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) Isd MTB Team 15
106. Ignacio Torres (Mex) 14
107. Pete Ostroski (USA) 13
108. Ruben Almeida (Por) 13
109. Sid Taberlay (Aus) 12
110. Hannes Metzler (Aut) 12
111. Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona 11
112. Kevin Pauwels (Bel) 11
113. Jan Jobanek (Cze) Merida Biking Team 10
114. Craig Richey (Can) 10
115. David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por) 10
116. Giancarlo Sax (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team 9
117. Justin Lindine (USA) 9
118. Marc Bassingthwaighte (Nam) 9
119. Hans Becking (Ned) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 8
120. Luciano Caraccioli (Arg) 8
121. Dave Henderson (Gbr) 8