July 3, 2005 (Balneario Camboriu, Brazil) – Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) and Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Multivan-Merida) won the men’s and women’s cross country races, respectively in the first-ever South American stop on the World Cup calendar.

Racers faced a heat wave in what is currently winter time in Brazil. Temperatures into the high 20’s (Celsius), humidity and a hot breeze made for a killer concoction. If that wasn’t enough to wear out racers, the 5.5-kilometre course’s many steep climbs did its best to finish them off.

Hermida rode to a decisive victory in the men’s race, which had 65 starters. He gained a minute on his chasers each lap and eventually won by over five minutes. Roel Paulissen (BEL, Giant) couldn’t keep in contact with the charging Hermida and had to settle for second place. Switzerland’s Ralf Naef (SUI, Multivan-Merida) took the third podium spot.

Christoph Sauser (SUI, Siemens Mobile-Cannondale) continues to lead the series, despite not attending the race in Brazil. Hermida has moved up to second spot ahead of Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) and now trails Sauser by only 85 points.

Dahle was back on top in the women’s race when finished 4:36 ahead of second place, Sabine Spitz (GER, Specialized). Ivonne Kraft (GER, Ghost) grabbed third place, followed by Brazilian-Canadian Jaqueline Murao (BRA, Scott) in fourth. Murao’s result marks two World Cup podiums in the past three weeks for her, after she won the World Cup Marathon event in Mont Ste-Anne, Que. in June. No other Canadians made the trip down to Brazil. There were 16 women on the start line.

Dahle is running away with the blue leader’s jersey. She has 1,400 points over Spitz’s 1,090. Canada’s Marie-Helene Premont (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) has dropped down to third place with 1,020 points.

Results

Men

1. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) 2:05:002.
2. Roel Paulissen (BEL, Giant) at 5:16 4.
3. Ralph Naef (SUI, Multivan-Merida) 8:046.
4. Adam Craig (USA, Giant) 9:398.
5. Sid Taberlay (AUS, Specialized) 13:2510.
6. Milan Spesny (CZE) 14:3312.
7. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (ESP) 15:2614.
8. Marti Gispert Labarta (ESP, Maxxis-MSC) 15:5916.
9. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN, Heijdens-Ten Tusscher) 17:1518.
10. Philip Spencer (GBR) 17:5220.

Women

1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Multivan-Merida) 1:30:392.
2. Sabine Spitz (GER, Specialized) at 4:364.
3. Ivonne Kraft (GER, Ghost) 7:476.
4. Jaqueline Mourao (BRA, Scott) 12:088.
5. Lene Byberg (NOR, Multivan-Merida) 16:1210.
6. Erika Gramiscelli (BRA) 34:4812.
7. Roberta Stopa (BRA) -1 Lap14.
8. Lorena Oliveira (BRA) -1 Lap16.
9. Julyana Rodrigues (BRA) -1 Lap18.
10. Alziane Melo (BRA) -1 Lap20.