Sauser to lead star field at Bike the Rock

Swiss world championship runner-up Christoph Sauser (Specialized) will ride his first Bundesliga race at the seventh annual edition of Bike the Rock in Heubach, Germany, May 5-6. Heubach is located at the eastern edge of the Schwäbische Alb.

Ever since his first World Cup win in 1999, Sauser has been one of the most dominating cross country riders. He has eleven World Cup wins under his belt, and snatched the World Cup overall win in 2004 and 2005. He just missed out to Frenchman Julien Absalon at the last two World Championships. But despite his years of experience, this will be Sauser's first Budesliga race.

Sauser will be joined by a star studded field including Sweden's Fredrik Kessiakoff, Switzerland's Florian Vogel, Spain's Josè Antonio Hermida, Dutchman's Bart Brentjens, Belgium's Roel Paulissen, and Switzerland's Ralph Näf and Nino Schurter. Hermida won the opening cross country World Cup two weekends ago in Belgium.

The women's field is just as impressive. Norway's Gunn-Rita Dahle is among the favorites along with Russia's Irina Kalentieva, China's Ren Chengyuan, America's Mary McConneloug, Germany's Nina Göhl, Swizterland's Petra Henzi, and Norway's Lene Byberg. Chengyuan is among three Chinese riders, including also Ying Liu and Jingjing Wang, who will make their first appearance in Germany. Chengyuan is the U23 world champion and the winner of the Houffalize World Cup.