May 29, 2006 (Fort Williams, Scotland) – It wasn’t a surprise when Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) won round #4 of the men’s World Cup cross country series in Fort William, Scotland on Saturday. It was his third World Cup win in as many weeks, putting him in a comfortable overall lead with 950 points. The winner of the women’s race was unexpected, however. Germany’s Nina Göhl (GER, Multivan-Merida) grabbed her first World Cup victory.

Conditions were rainy, muddy and cold in the Scottish forest, but the technically and physically challenging 9.4-kilometre loop remained rideable.

After anticipated winner Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Multivan-Merida) flatted while in the lead, Canada’s Marie-Hélène Prémont (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) took over at the front of the women’s race. Chasers Irina Kalentieva (RUS, Topeak-Ergon) and Göhl, however, inched closer, with one lap to go, Göhl had caught Prémont and by the end of the race, the German had put over a minute between herself and the Canadian.

Prémont hung on for second place, with Kalentieva finished third. An impressive Dahle finished fourth, after running two kilometers to the nearest technical zone, receiving a wheel change and chasing her way back from near the back of the pack.

Alison Sydor (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) finished 13th, while Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) and Wendy Simms (CAN, Velo Bella-Kona) rode in together, finishing 15th and 16th, respectively.

Dahle remains in the series lead with 900 points. Sabine Spitz (GER, Specialized) is in second place with 620 points and Prémont moves up to third with 605 points. Sydor is in 10th spot with 322 points, Bisaro is 19th with 228 points, Simms is 24th with 184 points and Trish Sinclair (Scott) is 90th overall with 9 points.

Men’s Race

In the men’s race, Absalon was in the front pack and in control throughout the race, pushing the pace until only Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) could hang on. Absalon then gapped the Spaniard at the end to take the win. Hermida Ramos hung on to second place and Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) won a sprint for third. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) was Canada’s top finisher, with a solid 18th place. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) was 46th.

Hermida Ramos holds second place in the series with 660 points and Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant) is in third with 625 points. McGrath is in 26th place with 196 points.

Women (4 laps, 37.30 km)

1. Nina Göhl (GER, Multivan-Merida) 2:04:18
2. Marie-Helene Premont (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) at 1:11
3. Irina Kalentieva (RUS, Topeak-Ergon) 2:20
4. Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Multivan-Merida) 3:43
5. Lene Byberg (NOR, Bikin’Cyprus) 3:59
6. Sabine Spitz (GER, Specialized) 4:12
7. Margarita Fullana Riera (ESP, Spiuk Illes Balears) 4:48
8. Eva Lechner (ITA, Colnago) 5:04
9. Chengyuan Ren* (CHN) 6:16
10. Blaza Klemencic (SLO, Pintatim-Full-Dynamix) 7:31

13. Alison Sydor (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 8:13
15. Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 8:19
16. Wendy Simms (CAN, Velo Bella-Kona) 8:19

Overall after four events

1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Multivan-Merida) 900 points
2. Sabine Spitz (GER, Specialized) 620
3. Marie-Helene Premont (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 605
4. Margarita Fullana Riera (ESP, Spiuk Illes Balears) 600
5. Irina Kalentieva (RUS, Topeak-Ergon) 586

10. Alison Sydor (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 322

19. Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 228
24. Wendy Simms (CAN, Velo Bella-Kona) 184
90. Trish Sinclair (CAN, Scott USA-Kenda) 9

Men (5 laps, 46.70 km)

1. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 2:16:33
2. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) at 0:07
3. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) 2:24
4. Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant) 2:25
5. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA, Subaru-Gary Fisher) 2:26
6. Moritz Milatz (GER, Multivan-Merida) 2:35
7. Christoph Sauser (SUI, Specialized) 2:38
8. Cedric Ravanel (FRA, Lapierre International) 2:41
9. Nino Schurter (SUI, Swisspower) 2:43
10. Ludovic Dubau (FRA, Pro Race) 2:56

18. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) 5:40
46. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) 11:01

Overall after four events

1. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi-Agos) 950
2. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP, Multivan-Merida) 660
3. Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant) 625
4. Christoph Sauser (SUI, Specialized) 580
5. Ralph Näf (SUI, Multivan-Merida) 450
6. Roel Paulissen (BEL, Giant) 430
7. Florian Vogel (SUI, Swisspower) 383
8. Liam Killeen (GBR, Specialized) 352
9. Nino Schurter* (SUI, Swisspower) 351
10. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA, Subaru-Gary Fisher) 310

26. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Felt) 196
54. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) 75
90. Mathieu Toulouse (CAN, Maxxis) 20