July 31, 2010 (Val di Sole, Italy) – The Elite men’s xc race is underway as the riders will complete 6 laps for a total of 31.8km at the 5th round of the UCI MTB World Cup. All eyes will be on last weekend’s winner Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing and World Cup leader Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea. Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) will lead the charge for Canada.

Start Loop
Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Rubena-Birell-Specialized Cycling Team and Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing jump to the front – Kabush is also near the front.

Lap 1
Vogel is leading as the men start the first lap of six – Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing is in second. A group of six riders has established a gap including Absalon, Hermida, Naef and U23 rider Mathias Fluckinger.

Lap 2
Absalon is at the front of the six-pack of leaders at they come thru in 19:01 to start the second lap. Through the lap Vogel takes over the lead… there are four Swiss riders in this front group. Naef is now yo-yoing off the back… Burry Stander (Specialized Factory Racing) and Kulhavy are at 10-15 seconds behind in 7th and 8th – Todd Wells is 26th with Kabush just behind. Naef has been dropped from the lead group.

Lap 3
The leaders come thru 5-strong in 35:55 with Schurter leading followed by Hermida with Absalon, Vogel and Fluckinger all together. Hermida is leading the charge thru the lap as Fluckinger is now off the back of the leaders and looks like he’s struggling.

Lap 4
The five leaders come thru in 53:02 with Absalon in front followed by Schurter, Hermida, Vogel and Fluckinger who has caught on again. Naef is in 6th at 20s and Kulhavy is in 7th on his own at 44s and has dropped Stander.

Hermida is now off the back about 5s as Schurter takes the lead follow by Vogel, Absalon and Fluckinger – Kabush is much farther back now.

Lap 5
It’s Absalon in front followed by Schurter in second with Vogel in 3rd and Fluckinger in fourth – the time is 1:10:15 as the riders are consistently completing the laps in 17min. The first lap time of 19min included the start loop.

Schurter is leading followed by Vogel in second with Fluckinger in 3rd followed by Absalon in fourth – the Swiss are ganging up on the Olympic champ. Naef is holding on to 5th as his team mate Hermida has dropped back – Kulhavy is in 6th.

Abasalon has attacked and moved to the front with Schurter in second and Vogel in third as Fluckinger looks like he may get dropped.

Lap 6 Final
It’s Abasalon, Schurter and Vogel coming thru in 1:27:14 to start the final lap… Fluckinger is in 4th at 30s, Naef is in 5th and gaining on him with Kulhavy in 6th.

Schurter takes the front with Abasalon on his wheel… Vogel is just behind. Abasalon attacks and Schurter goes with him as Vogel is waning. Now it’s Schurter in front of Absalon as Vogel is at 5s.

Absalon attacks but Schurter counters… now Abaslon attacks again and is in front.

Schurter attacks just before the feed zone and has a gap.

Schurter wins – and takes over the lead overall with 936 points.

Results

1. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing 1:44:09
2. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea 0:04
3. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing 0:20
4. Mathias Flückiger* (Sui) Trek World Racing 1:26
5. Ralph Näf (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team 1:46
6. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Rubena-Birell-Specialized Cycling Team 2:31
7. Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 3:05
8. José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 3:27
9. Cédric Ravanel (Fra) lapierre International 3:45
10. Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Factory Racing 3:51
11. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 4:05
12. Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Esp) Orbea 4:06
13. Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi 4:23
14. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Esp) Giant Italia Team 4:33
15. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 4:44
16. Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing 4:57
17. Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 5:10
18. Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team 5:14
19. Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory Racing 5:34
20. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo 5:43
21. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) MSC Bikes 5:45
22. Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 6:28
23. Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing 6:29
24. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Trek 6:55
25. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing 7:14
26. Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 7:17
27. Tony Longo (Ita) 7:37
28. Marek Konwa* (Pol) Elettroveneta-Corratec 7:57
29. Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-Suntour 8:12
30. Niels Wubben* (Ned) Team Merida Combee 8:20
31. Alexey Medvedev (Rus) Elettroveneta-Corratec 8:29
32. Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 8:34
33. Marco Minnaard* (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 8:35
34. Henk Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 8:48
35. Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Esp) Orbea 8:53
36. Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Team New Cycling 9:09
37. Patrik Gallati* (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing 9:23
38. Marc Colom (Fra) 9:28
39. Robert Gehbauer (Aut) 9:36
40. Jelmer Pietersma (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team 9:40
41. Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek 9:41
42. Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team 9:44
43. Oliver Beckingsale (Gbr) Giant Factory Team 9:51
44. Pascal Meyer* (Sui) M.I.G. Team 9:53
45. Frank Schotman (Ned) Stappenbelt Specialized MTB Team 10:01
46. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing 10:03
47. Alexander Gehbauer* (Aut) 10:10
48. Hannes Metzler (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team 10:11
49. Sepp Freiburghaus (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team 10:26
50. Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Lingier-Versluys Team 10:33
51. Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team 10:34
52. Derek Zandstra (Can) Team Canada 10:34
53. Sebastien Carabin* (Bel) Lingier-Versluys Team 10:54
54. Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Surfing Shop 11:13
55. Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 11:15
56. Rene Tann (Ger) 11:26
57. Filip Eberl (Cze) 11:47
58. Thomas Litscher* (Sui) M.I.G. Team 11:55
59. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 11:59
60. Bas Peters (Ned) Team Merida Combee 12:06
61. Cristian Cominelli* (Ita) TX Active Bianchi 12:12
62. Ruben Scheire* (Bel) Team Saeco 12:15
63. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Factory Racing 12:17
64. Andrew Watson (Can) Team Canada 12:38
65. Marcus Schulte-Luenzum* (Ger) M.I.G. Team 12:50
66. Magnus Darvell (Swe) 12:58
67. Michal Lami (Svk) 13:18
68. Samuele Porro* (Ita) 13:19
69. Bjorn Brems (Bel) G-Skin-Deforche MTB Racing Team 13:20
70. Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) 13:22
71. Yader Zoli (Ita) Surfing Shop 13:27
72. Andras Parti (Hun) 13:51
73. Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) ISD Cycling Team 14:00
74. Jiri Hudecek (Cze) 14:23
75. Jelmer Jubbega* (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 14:32
76. David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por) 14:36
77. Diego Rosa* (Ita) Giant Italia Team 14:44
78. Jérémy Huguenin* (Sui) Giant Swiss Team 14:54
79. Dmytro Titarenko* (Ukr) ISD Cycling Team 14:54
80. Balz Weber (Sui) 15:19
81. David Fletcher* (Gbr) 15:36
82. Michael Broderick (USA) Kenda/Seven/NoTubes 15:52
83. Gerhard Kerschbaumer* (Ita) 16:11
84. Thibaut Bellanger* (Fra) 16:30
85. Ondrej Cink* (Cze) Merida Biking Team 16:39
86. Stephen Ettinger* (USA) 16:41
87. Reto Indergand* (Sui) FRM TG Zentralschweiz 17:14
88. Tim Wynants (Bel) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team 18:35
89. Periklis Ilias (Gre) ISD Cycling Team -1 lap
90. Irjan Luttenberg* (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team -1 lap
91. Giancarlo Sax* (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team -1 lap
92. Ola Kjören (Nor) Team Fokus-Danica -1 lap
93. Cristobal Silva Ibaceta (Chi) -1 lap
94. Peter Glassford (Can) Trek Canada -1 lap
95. Matthias Hoi* (Aut) -1 lap
96. Dirk Peters* (Nzl) -1 lap
97. Mattias Nilsson* (Swe) -1 lap
98. Christopher Maletz (Ger) -1 lap
99. Roberto Giacobazzi* (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. -1 lap
100. Tim Lemmers* (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team -1 lap
101. Matthias Stirnemann* (Sui) -1 lap
102. Marco Schätzing (Ger) Team Firebike-Droessiger -1 lap
103. Matthias Rupp* (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing -1 lap
104. Benjamin Sonntag (Ger) -1 lap
105. Jakub Magnusek* (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team -1 lap
106. Elia Silvestri* (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec -1 lap
107. Hugo Drechou* (Fra) -1 lap
108. Zsolt Juhasz* (Hun) Euro One-Cube MTB Team -1 lap
109. Thomas lapeyrie* (Fra) Scott Les Saisies -1 lap
110. Oleksandr Gerashchenko (Ukr) ISD Cycling Team -1 lap
111. Guillaume Vinit (Fra) BH-Suntour -1 lap
112. Roberto Crisi* (Ita) Hard Rock FRW A.S.D. -1 lap
113. Sebastian Szraucner (Ger) -1 lap
114. Marcel Fleschhut* (Ger) -1 lap
115. Benjamin Buchi* (Sui) -1 lap
116. Fabien Canal* (Fra) Keops ITWO -1 lap
117. Kornel Osicki* (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team -1 lap
118. Olof Jonsson* (Swe) Eliza-Orbea Team -1 lap
119. Gilles Sarrazin* (Fra) -1 lap
120. Russell Finsterwald* (USA) Subaru-Trek -1 lap
121. Robby De Bock* (Bel) -1 lap
122. Cameron Jette (Can) Trek Canada -1 lap
123. Frank Beemer (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team -2 laps
124. Kyosuke Takei (Jpn) -2 laps
125. Fabian Rabensteiner* (Ita) -2 laps
126. Florian Thie* (Sui) -2 laps
127. Ole Christian Fagerli (Nor) -2 laps
128. Heiko Gutmann (Ger) -2 laps
129. Joshua Carlson (Aus) -2 laps
130. Steven Garcin (Fra) -2 laps
131. Marcus Nicolai* (Ger) -2 laps
132. Daniel Eymann* (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team -2 laps
133. Marek Rauchfuss* (Cze) -2 laps
134. Adrian Jackson (Aus) -2 laps
135. Manfred Zöger* (Aut) -2 laps
136. Fabrice Leguevaques* (Fra) -2 laps
137. Matej Nepustil* (Cze) Merida Biking Team -2 laps
138. David Simon* (Ger) -2 laps
139. Christopher Schwab* (Aut) -2 laps
140. Christian Bickel* (Sui) -2 laps
141. Ricardo Paulo Reis Marinheiro* (Por) TX Active Bianchi -2 laps
142. Tomas Pesek* (Cze) -2 laps
143. Adam Morka (Can) Trek Canada -2 laps
144. Daniel Kaufmann* (Sui) -2 laps
145. Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. -2 laps
146. Jack Hinkens* (USA) -2 laps
147. Jonas De Backer* (Bel) Team Saeco -2 laps
148. Cal Britten* (Aus) -2 laps
149. Oleksandr Kachanov* (Ukr) -2 laps
150. Martino Di Pierdomenico* (Ita) Hard Rock FRW A.S.D. -2 laps
151. Rob Vangenechten* (Bel) Team Saeco -2 laps
152. Simon Stiebjahn* (Ger) -2 laps
153. Michael Pesse* (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. -2 laps
154. Nicolas Jeantet* (Ita) ISD Cycling Team -2 laps
155. Joris Massaer (Bel) G-Skin-Deforche MTB Racing Team -2 laps
156. François Bailly Maitre (Fra) Scott Les Saisies -2 laps
157. Andrew Blair (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition -3 laps
158. Dana Weber (USA) -3 laps
159. Kerry Werner* (USA) -3 laps
160. Mark Csielka* (Hun) Euro One-Cube MTB Team -3 laps
161. Francesco Niccoli* (Ita) Hard Rock FRW A.S.D. -3 laps
162. Artyom Golovaschenko* (Kaz) -3 laps
163. John Whittington* (Gbr) -3 laps
164. Andras Szatmary* (Hun) Euro One-Cube MTB Team -3 laps
165. Mirco Widmer* (Sui) Giant Swiss Team -3 laps
166. Dror Pekatch (Isr) Subaru-Trek -3 laps
167. Gabor Bogar (Hun) Euro One-Cube MTB Team -3 laps
168. Mykhaylo Batsutsa* (Ukr) ISD Cycling Team -3 laps
169. Sebastian Batchelor* (Gbr) Infotre – Leecougan -3 laps
170. Severin Disch* (Sui) Giant Swiss Team -3 laps
171. James Peacock* (Aus) -3 laps
172. Timothy Carleton (Can) Trek Canada -3 laps
173. Nikolay Zaitsev* (Kaz) -3 laps
174. Kirill Kazantsev (Kaz) -3 laps
175. Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) -4 laps
DNF Jan Skarnitzl (Cze)
DNF Martino Fruet (Ita)
DNF Simon Scheiber* (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team
DNF Rourke Croeser* (RSA)
DNF Johannes Schweiggl (Ita)
DNF Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain
DNF Alexis Vuillermoz* (Fra) lapierre International
DNF Martin Fanger* (Sui) Giant Swiss Team
DNF Christoph Soukup (Aut) Merida Biking Team
DNF Nicola Rohrbach (Sui)
DNF Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec
DNF Markus Preiss* (Aut)
DNF Kristian Hynek (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team
DNF Robert Mennen (Ger)
DNF Lukas Kaufmann (Sui) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team
DNS Erik Groen* (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team
DNS Henrik Kippernes* (Nor) Team Fokus-Danica
DNS Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team

Overall after 5 events

1. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing 936 pts
2. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea 910
3. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Rubena – Birell – Specialized Cycling Team 790
4. José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 675
5. Mathias Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 640
6. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing 635
7. Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing 490
8. Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Factory Racing 457
9. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Factory Racing 440
10. Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Esp) Orbea 428
11. Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team 420
12. Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 360
13. Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing 349
14. Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi 344
15. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo 334
16. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 284
17. Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 284
18. Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory Racing 283
19. Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-Suntour 282
20. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Esp) Giant Italia Team 282
21. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) MSC Bikes 272
22. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing 268
23. Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 264
24. Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team 260
25. Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Esp) Orbea 247
26. Roel Paulissen (Bel) Cannondale Factory Racing 229
27. Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain 228
28. Henk Jaap Moorlag (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 223
29. Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) lapierre International 211
30. Martin Fanger (Sui) Giant Swiss Team 202
31. Cédric Ravanel (Fra) lapierre International 200
32. Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Team New Cycling 198
33. Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing 196
34. Tony Longo (Ita) 182
35. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 177
36. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) 176
37. Marek Konwa (Pol) Elettroveneta-Corratec 172
38. Thomas Litscher (Sui) M.I.G. Team 152
39. Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 150
40. Christoph Soukup (Aut) Merida Biking Team 148
41. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 143
42. François Bailly Maitre (Fra) Scott Les Saisies 136
43. Sven Nys (Bel) 132
44. Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 132
45. Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 127
46. Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 123
47. Patrik Gallati (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing 119
48. Robert Mennen (Ger) 118
49. Jelmer Pietersma (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountain Bike Racing Team 116
50. Martino Fruet (Ita) 108
51. Johnny Cattaneo (Ita) 102
52. Bas Peters (Ned) Team Merida Combee 102
53. Nicola Rohrbach (Sui) 96
54. Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Ita) 88
55. Derek Zandstra (Can) 3 Rox Racing 86
56. Oliver Beckingsale (Gbr) Giant Factory Team 85
57. Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) 82
58. Niels Wubben (Ned) Team Merida Combee 75
59. Jelmer Jubbega (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 73
60. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) 70
61. Pascal Meyer (Sui) M.I.G. Team 63
62. Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D. 62
63. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing 62
64. Hannes Metzler (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team 58
65. Fabien Canal (Fra) Keops ITWO 54
66. Marc Colom (Fra) 52
67. Filip Eberl (Cze) 49
68. Lukas Kaufmann (Sui) Trek-Brentjens Mountain Bike Racing Team 49
69. Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Trek-Brentjens Mountain Bike Racing Team 48
70. Frank Schotman (Ned) Stappenbelt Specialized MTB Team 48
71. Alexander Gehbauer (Aut) 48
72. Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita) Hard Rock FRW A.S.D. 46
73. Liam Killeen (Gbr) 45
74. Alexey Medvedev (Rus) Elettroveneta-Corratec 44
75. Marco Minnaard (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 40
76. Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team 38
77. Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 37
78. Piotr Brzozka (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 37
79. Magnus Darvell (Swe) 35
80. Cristian Cominelli (Ita) TX Active Bianchi 34
81. Christof Bischof (Sui) 33
82. Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Surfing Shop 32
83. Robert Gehbauer (Aut) 29
84. Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Lingier-Versluys Team 28
85. Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 27
86. Michael Broderick (USA) 26
87. Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) ISD Cycling Team 26
88. Jiri Novak (Cze) 22
89. Guillaume Vinit (Fra) BH-Suntour 21
90. Balz Weber (Sui) 20
91. Sepp Freiburghaus (Sui) Thoemus Racing Team 19
92. Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Lingier-Versluys Team 18
93. Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team 17
94. Bjorn Brems (Bel) G-Skin-Deforche MTB Racing Team 15
95. Rubens Valeriano (Bra) 14
96. Matthias Rupp (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing 14
97. Jiri Friedl (Cze) Merida Biking Team 13
98. Rene Tann (Ger) 12
99. Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec 12
100. Severin Disch (Sui) Giant Swiss Team 11
101. Maxim Gogolev (Rus) 11
102. Sebastian Szraucner (Ger) 11
103. Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition 11
104. Andrew Watson (Can) Norco 10
105. Thomas lapeyrie (Fra) Scott Les Saisies 9
106. David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por) 9
107. Markus Bauer (Ger) 9
108. Lachlan Norris (Aus) 8
109. Irjan Luttenberg (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountain Bike Racing Team 8

*U23