Start Loop
Germany’s Manuel Fumic (Cannondale) takes the lead with Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower in second followed by Julien Abaslon (Fra) Orbea in 3rd with Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized in 4th… Canada’s Kabush (Scott-3Rox) is in the 30s.
Kulhavy attacks and takes over the lead… up the climb it’s Kulhavy but now Schurter says “I’m here too…” and takes over the lead – Fumic is 3rd with Absalon 4th – Burry Stander (RSA) is 5th.
Lap 1
Schurter starts the first of 5 laps in 12:07… at 5s it’s Kulhavy, Fumic, Absalon with Stander in 5th.
Fontana is 6th, Naef is 7th…
Kabush has moved up to 16th.
Absalon takes over 2nd place with Fumic in third as Kulhavy drops to 4th… a group of 6 riders has formed at the front with Absalon now taking the lead – the gap to the chasers is 14 seconds.
Stephane Tempier (Fra) is up there as is Emil Lindgren (Swe) are up there and Hermida who had a rough start has moved into 9th.
Absalon and Schurter are pulling away as Kulhavy takes over 3rd – Fumic has dropped back to 6th.
The gap is growing as the two leaders have opened up a 15s gap… Kulhavy is now 5th as Fontana and Stander are 3rd and 4th… Fumic is just behind.
Schurter attacks Absalon on the downhill switchback and takes over the lead.
Lap 2
Schurter is thru in 27:43 followed by Absalon at 2s… Fontana is 3rd at 8s.
Stander is 4th, Kulhavy is 5th, Fumic is 6th… Tempier is 7th Vogel is 8th.
Absalon takes over the lead as the two leaders pull away… Kabush is at 1:05 in 15th.
Thru the swithback section and now on the big climb it’s Absalon still leading – Fontana now at 14s almost crashes but uses his leg to balance himself off the side padding.
Now Schurter takes over the lead…down the switchback downhill and both take the inside line.
Lap 3
Beginning lap three it’s Schurter at 43:20 with Absalon at 1s as Fontana falls back to 20s. Stander is 4th at 39 with Fumic on his wheel in 5th… Vogel is 6th at 1:07, Kulhavy is 7th – it’s not his day.
Tempier is 8th, Peraud is 9th at 1:25, and Fluckinger is 10th.
Kabush has moved up into 12th.
Absalon takes over the lead as the two front runners continue to dominate the race – for the time being they have worked together but soon their collaboration will end.
Schurter takes over the lead once again down the switchback and soon lap 3 will be completed.
Lap 4
It’s Schurter out front at 59:07 followed closely by Absalon… then Fontana is third at 24s.
Fumic is 4th at 44s and has a bit of a gap on Stander at 47s in 5th…
In 6th at 1:28 it’s Tempier then Vogel followed by Kulhavy – Peraud is close behind in 9th at 1:34.
Canada’s Kabush has taken over 10th at 1:47 – two laps to go.
Absalon took back the lead but Schurter quickly regained it as their partnership to gain a gap is waning.
The Red Bull announcers estimate 20,000 fans are on hand for the Houffalize WCup.
Up the climb Fumic is trying to drop Stander… but the South African is not done yet – thru the feed zone he overtakes Fumic.
Lap 5 FINAL
Schurter starts the final lap with a time of 1:14:57… Abasalon is 3s behind – Fontana is at 33s.
The two leaders are together but now Absalon attacks… up a small climb the French rider is forcing Schurter’s hand.
Schurter almost crashes as Absalon opens up a gap – can Schurter catch back on…?
Absalon is on fire and he’s dropped his Swiss rival – he knows he’s got a strong lead now – 21 seconds.
Fontana is holding on to third now at 57s… Fumic has regained 4th at 1:18 with Stander at 1:19.
Stander is not done yet and overtakes Fumic – up the climb they’re gaining on Fontana.
Stander has broken Fumic…
Absalon is down the switchback descent one last time – the finish line is close now.
Results
1. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea Racing Team 1:30:22
2. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 0:38
3. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing 1:03
4. Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing 1:20
5. Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing 1:34
6. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 2:17
7. Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi 2:23
8. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) 2:34
9. José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 2:38
10. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 2:47
11. Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 3:05
12. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing 3:15
13. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 3:32
14. Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 3:58
15. Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team 4:04
16. Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 4:10
17. Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing 4:20
18. Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 4:26
19. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Racing 4:28
20. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 4:34
21. Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Esp) Orbea Racing Team 5:03
22. Thomas Litscher (Sui) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 5:06
23. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 5:16
24. Mathias Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 5:25
25. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 5:32
26. Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 5:36
27. Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi 5:38
28. Henk Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 5:42
29. Liam Killeen (Gbr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 5:44
30. Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing 5:46
31. Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 5:53
32. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 6:05
33. Sven Nys (Bel) 6:20
34. Marek Konwa* (Pol) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 6:29
35. Fabien Canal (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 6:34
36. Stephen Ettinger (USA) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 6:37
37. Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek
38. Jürg Graf (Sui) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team 6:45
39. Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 6:51
40. Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 6:57
41. Jiri Novak (Cze) 6:58
42. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Esp) Elettroveneta-Corratec 7:06
43. Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) lapierre International 7:16
44. Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 7:21
45. Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing 7:22
46. Julien Taramarcaz (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 7:24
47. Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team 7:44
48. Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 7:53
49. Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 8:10
50. Piotr Brzozka (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 8:18
51. Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec 8:23
52. Lachlan Norris (Aus) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 8:25
53. Patrik Gallati (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 8:37
54. Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 8:39
55. Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 8:42
56. Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 8:44
57. Martino Fruet (Ita) 8:52
58. David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por)
59. Max Plaxton (Can) Team Canada 8:58
60. Lukas Sablik (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 9:02
61. Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing 9:10
62. Robby De Bock (Bel) 9:17
63. Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) 9:21
64. Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Esp) Orbea Racing Team 9:27
65. Christoph Soukup (Aut) 9:28
66. Martin Loo (Est) Hard Rock Canossa Merida 9:38
67. Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 9:43
68. Shlomi Haimy (Isr) Focus Mig Team
69. Hannes Metzler (Aut) 9:44
70. Hans Becking (Ned) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 10:02
71. Kristian Hynek (Cze) 10:08
72. Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 10:09
73. Marc Colom (Fra) Team Newcycling 10:15
74. Klaus Nielsen (Den) 10:18
75. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 10:24
76. Michal Lami (Svk) 10:35
77. Dariusz Batek (Pol) 10:38
78. Jérémy Huguenin (Sui) Giant Swiss Sr-Suntour 10:51
79. Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) ISD MTB Team 11:02
80. Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) lapierre International 11:09
81. Giancarlo Sax (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team 11:19
82. Magnus Darvell (Swe) Team Herbalife 24 Raumerrittet 11:22
83. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Trek 11:33
84. Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop 11:39
85. Ola Kjören (Nor) Team Herbalife 24 Raumerrittet 11:43
86. Alexis Chenevier (Fra) Scott Les Saisies 11:51
87. Spencer Paxson (USA) Kona 11:57
88. Martin Fanger (Sui) Giant Swiss Sr-Suntour 11:58
89. Karl Platt (Ger) Team Bulls 12:00
90. Filip Eberl (Cze) 12:04
91. Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 12:05
92. Andy Eyring (Ger)
93. Andras Parti (Hun) 12:06
94. David Fletcher (Gbr) Orange Monkey-Cannondale 12:21
95. Tim Wynants (Bel) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team 12:22
96. Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team 12:34
97. Oliver Beckingsale (Gbr) 12:45
98. Tiago Jorge Oliveira Ferreira (Por) Bi&Esse-Infotre Protek 12:46
99. Daniel Eymann (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team
100. Frank Beemer (Ned) 12:49
101. Bjorn Brems (Bel) 12:50
102. Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 13:09
103. Markus Bauer (Ger) 13:25
104. Irjan Luttenberg (Ned) 13:41
105. Ludovic Dubau (Fra) Team Newcycling 13:48
106. Periklis Ilias (Gre) Team Protek 13:50
107. Pascal Meyer (Sui) 14:13
108. Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita) 14:15
109. Simon Gegenheimer (Ger) 14:19
110. Fredrik Edin (Swe) 14:20
111. Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Versluys Team 14:24
112. Lee Williams (Gbr) 14:34
113. Oleksandr Gerashchenko (Ukr) ISD MTB Team 15:56
114. Robert Gehbauer (Aut) 16:55
115. Ole Christian Fagerli (Nor) Team Herbalife 24 Raumerrittet -1 lap
116. Sang Hoon Na (Kor) -1 lap
117. Frank Schotman (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team -1 lap
118. Tim Lemmers (Ned) Feenstra Stevens Bike Team -1 lap
119. Severin Disch (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team -1 lap
120. Davy Huygens (Bel) -1 lap
121. Steffen Thum (Ger) -1 lap
122. Patrick Gaudy (Bel) -1 lap
123. Jimmy Tielens (Bel) -1 lap
124. Seiya Hirano (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor Cycling Team -1 lap
125. Benjamin Sonntag (Ger) -1 lap
126. Pascal Hossay (Bel) Merida Wallonie Mountain Bike Team -1 lap
127. Michael Broderick (USA) -1 lap
128. Paul Oldham (Gbr) -1 lap
129. Kazuhiro Yamamoto (Jpn) -1 lap
130. Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team -1 lap
131. Sepp Freiburghaus (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team -1 lap
132. Rafal Alchimowiz (Pol) -1 lap
133. Marios Athanasiadis (Cyp) -2 laps
134. Christopher Maletz (Ger) -2 laps
135. Abdulkadir Kelleci (Tur) -2 laps
136. Jonas Baumann (Sui) Wheeler-Ixs Team -2 laps
137. John Whittington (Gbr) -2 laps
138. Mariusz Gil (Pol) -2 laps
139. Vitalii Zubchenko (Ukr) ISD MTB Team -2 laps
140. Marco Schätzing (Ger) -2 laps
141. Ruben Almeida (Por) -3 laps
142. Dennis Ebert (Ned) -3 laps
143. Marc Metzler (Sui) -3 laps
144. Matthias Waldhart (Aut) -3 laps
145. Bostjan Hribovsek (Slo) -3 laps
146. Giorgos Fattas (Cyp) -3 laps
DNF Nicola Rohrbach (Sui)
DNF Simon Scheiber (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team
DNF Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team
DNF Tomasz Drozdz (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team
DNF Weisong Tong (Chn)
DNF Rafal Hebisz (Pol)
DNF Lukas Kaufmann (Sui) Team Fujibikes Rockets
DNF David Collins (Gbr)
DNF Miha Halzer (Slo) Energijateam.Com
DNF Matthias Wengelin (Swe) Team Herbalife 24 Raumerrittet
DNF Jorgen Flion (Bel)
DNF Przemyslaw Ebertowski (Pol)
DNS Daniel Federspiel (Aut) Notebooksbilliger.De Team
DNS Brian Lopes (USA)
Standings after 2 events
1. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 450
2. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea Racing Team 400
3. Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing 350
4. Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing 300
5. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing 260
6. Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi 230
7. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing 225
8. José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 220
9. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 210
10. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 180
11. Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 160
12. Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 158
13. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Racing 144
14. Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team 142
15. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) 139
16. Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Esp) Orbea Racing Team 136
17. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team 130
18. Thomas Litscher (Sui) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 130
19. Mathias Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 128
20. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 128
21. Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 124
22. Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing 124
23. Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 122
24. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 120
25. Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 118
26. Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing 106
27. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Esp) Elettroveneta-Corratec 100
28. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 98
29. Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team 95
30. Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi 88
31. Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 83
32. Liam Killeen (Gbr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 82
33. Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 76
34. Fabien Canal (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 74
35. Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 68
36. Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 65
37. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 60
38. Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) 58
39. Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek 58
40. Marek Konwa* (Pol) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 57
41. Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing 56
42. Stephen Ettinger (USA) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 56
43. Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 53
44. Henk Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 50
45. Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) Lapierre International 49
46. Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team 48
47. Martin Fanger (Sui) Giant Swiss Sr-Suntour 46
48. Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec 45
49. Piotr Brzozka (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 41
50. Sven Nys (Bel) 40
51. Julien Taramarcaz (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 40
52. Jürg Graf (Sui) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team 38
53. Max Plaxton (Can) Team Canada 34
54. Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team 30
55. Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 30
56. Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 29
57. Jiri Novak (Cze) 27
58. Patrik Gallati (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 24
59. Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing 23
60. Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team 20
61. Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 20
62. Philip Buys (RSA) 17
63. Lachlan Norris (Aus) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 16
64. Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 16
65. Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop 14
66. Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 13
67. Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 12
68. Nicola Rohrbach (Sui) 12
69. Martino Fruet (Ita) 11
70. David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por) 10
71. Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Versluys Team 10
72. Lukas Sablik (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized 8
*U23
