May 14, 2006 (Madrid, Spain) – France’s Wunderkind, Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos), bested 211 competitors to take the win in World Cup XC #2 in front of an enthusiastic Spanish crowd today. Absalon out-sprinted Christoph Sauser (SUI, Specialized) for the victory. Sauser finished second only one second back. Ralf Näf (SUI, Multivan-Merida) made it two Swiss riders in the top three, with a third-place finish. Crowd favourite, Spain’s Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) rode into fourth place.

Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) was the top Canadian in the seven-lap race, battling his way up from an 89th-spot start position finishing in 37th. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) had a good start position after his 9th-place finish in April’s round #1 MTB World Cup in Curacao, but faded to finish in 42nd. Mathieu Toulouse (CAN, Maxxis) was 74th and Marty Lazarski (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) finished 161st.

Absalon averaged a speedy 17.5 minutes per lap on the rolling, fast, hard-packed course.

Results (7 laps, 49km)
1. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 2:02:18
2. Christoph Sauser (SUI, Specialized) 2:02:19
3. Ralf Näf (SUI, Multivan-Merida) 2:02:49
4. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) 2:03:10
5. Roel Paulissen (BEL, Giant) 2:03:25
6. Liam Killeen (GBR, Specialized) 2:03:26
7. Michael Weiss (AUT, Cube) 2:03:49
8. Frederik Kessiakoff (SWE, Cannondale, Vredestein) 2:03:49
9. Lado Fumic (GER, Fumic Brothers Racing) 2:04:36
10. Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant) 2:05:03
—-
37. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) 2:10:49
42. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) 2:11:18
74. Mathieu Toulouse (CAN, Maxxis) 2:15:17
161. Marty Lazarski (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) -2 laps