May 22, 2006 (Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium) – Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) took the victory yesterday at the UCI World Cup cross country event round #3 in Belgium, following a win the previous weekend in Madrid. Absalon now leads the series with 700 points. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) took second spot and Ralph Näf (SUI, Multivan-Merida), notorious for leading out fast and then fading, did just that, but still managed to hold on for third.

Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant) is second overall in the series with 475 points, followed by Hermida Ramos in third place, with 460 points. Top Canadian is Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) in 28th with 126 points.

The start of round #3 – which saw a wave of 250 riders sprint up the Francorchamps Formula One track – was key, with Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL, Groep Versluys-Sportstech-Landbouwkredie) and Näf taking the holeshot, followed closely by Absalon, Hermida Ramos, Roel Paulissen (BEL, Giant) and Brentjens. The other riders who didn’t manage to get clear, battled through mud, bikes and bodies the entire race to get ahead.

Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) logged the best Canadian result with a 47th place finish. Marty Lazarski (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) was 128th, two laps back. McGrath abandoned and Mathieu Toulouse (CAN, Maxxis) didn’t make it to the start.

The men were assigned 5.5 laps of a 5.4-kilometre course, which turned largely into a footrace after races all day Saturday, followed by the women’s race just before, churned up the soggy earth. One of the bad stretches was taken out and the race was rerouted along a paved service road. The weather remained a mixed bag, with riders experiencing wind, cold and rain at times, followed by short periods of sun – the same classic Belgian weather that plagued the women.

Cycling crazy that they are, the Belgians were out in force despite the nasty weather, actually paying to get in and cheer on competitors who braved the unforgiving course. Between laps, they were able to fill up on beer and waffles in the expo area and check out the latest cycling
products.

Results (5.5 laps, 35.5km)

1. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 2:14:53
2. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) at 0:27
3. Ralph Näf (SUI, Multivan-Merida) 2:13
4. Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL, Groep Versluys-Sportstech-Landbouwkredie) 3:36
5. Roel Paulissen (BEL, Giant) 5:10
6. Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant) 5:15
7. Christoph Sauser (SUI, Specialized) 6:53
8. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (ESP, Proflex) 7:03
9. Jader Zoli (ITA, KTM International) 7:11
10. Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) 7:16
—
47. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) 14:59
128. Marty Lazarski (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) -2 laps DNF Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) DNS Mathieu Toulouse (CAN, Maxxis)

Overall after 3 events

1. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 700 points
2. Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant) 475
3. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) 460
4. Christoph Sauser (SUI, Specialized) 460
5. Ralph Näf (SUI, Multivan-Merida) 450

28. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) 126
52. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) 53
83. Mathieu Toulouse (CAN, Maxxis) 20