Absalon wins men's cross country at Cairns World Cup

Julien Absalon (BMC) was the prohibitive favourite for round 2 of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Cairns, Australia, especially given the absence of his usual rival, Nino Schurter (Scott-Odlo), who is taking a respite from mountain biking to race a few road races.

The chaotic beginning produced two crashes during the start loop of the six-lap race, but the top riders all managed to avoid getting tangled up. One who didn't was American Stephen Ettinger (BMC), who came out the start loop in 43rd place, but rode his way back to 12th by the finish.

Thomas Litscher (Multivan Merida) jumped into the lead in the confusion and rode to an 11-second gap at the end of the first lap, ahead of Marco Fontana (Cannondale Factory) and Sergio Mantecon (Trek Factory Racing), with Absalon and Mathias Fluckiger (Stockli Racing) at 19 seconds.

Absalon was closing on Litscher by the mid point of lap 2 when he flatted his front tire, and dropped to ninth before he was fitted with a new wheel in the technical zone. Fluckiger took up the chase of Litscher, while Absalon began racing back through the field. It was then Litscher's turn to flat in the third lap, which put Fluckiger in the lead, with Maxime Marotte (BH-Suntour-KMC) chasing in second, but being rapidly overhauled by Absalon.

Absalon and Marotte finally made contact with Fluckiger midway through the fifth lap, and Absalon attacked, taking Fluckiger with him as the riders began their final lap. It was merely a matter of time before Absalon attacked again, and he did so on the main climb, almost sprinting away from Fluckiger to then cruise to the finish for the 28th World Cup win of his career, the only man to win this many World Cup cross country races, and tying him with American Julie Furtado and Gunn Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida) for the most wins ever.

"I had the flat in the second lap at the top of the climb," Absalon said, "but it was important to be calm and get down to the tech zone without losing too much time. It was a good course for me, so I knew that I could do well here. But it was important to keep hydrated all race because it was incredibly hot. It is a very good start to the season for me, with two wins, so I just hope that I can continue to do well when we return to Europe for the next races."

Absalon leads the overall World Cup standings with a perfect 500 score of points, followed by Marotte with 320 and Jose Hermida at 310 points.

Full results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Julien Absalon (Fra) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team1:38:22
2Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Stöckli Pro Team0:00:16
3Maxime Marotte (Fra) Bh-Suntour-Kmc0:00:24
4Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) Trek Factory Racing0:00:28
5José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:00:32
6Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Trek Factory Racing0:01:02
7Thomas Litscher (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:02:16
8Ondrej Cink (Cze) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:02:43
9Stéphane Tempier (Fra) Bh-Suntour-Kmc0:02:56
10Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing Xc0:03:20
11Fabian Giger (Swi) Giant Pro Xc Team0:03:23
12Stephen Ettinger (USA) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team0:03:26
13Moritz Milatz (Ger) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team0:03:45
14Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Ita) I.Idro Drain Bianchi0:04:09
15Alexander Gehbauer (Aut) I.Idro Drain Bianchi0:04:10
16Emil Lindgren (Swe) Giant Pro Xc Team0:04:11
17Luca Braidot (Ita)0:04:15
18Martin Fanger (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Tropix-Frm0:04:48
20Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing0:05:11
21Daniele Braidot (Ita)0:05:52
22Reto Indergand (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team0:06:19
23Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Mmr Bikes Pro Team0:06:37
24Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team0:06:54
25Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing0:07:18
26Nicola Rohrbach (Swi)0:07:26
27Russell Finsterwald (USA) Sram/Tld Racing0:08:06
28Andrew Blair (Aus)0:08:07
29Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing Xc0:08:47
30Anton Sintsov (Rus) Titici Lgl International Team0:09:21
31Carl Jones (NZl)0:09:44
32Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Team Merida Wallonie Mtb0:10:13
33Shlomi Haimy (Isr) Focus Xc Team0:11:06
34Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) Cycling Club Roma Mtb Team0:11:38
35Kerry Werner (USA)0:12:04
36Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Focus Xc Team0:12:26
37Miguel Martinez (Fra) Tropix-Frm0:12:42
38Mark Tupalski (Aus)0:13:21
39Dirk Peters (NZl)0:13:22
40Shaun Lewis (Aus)0:13:52
41Brendan Johnston (Aus)0:15:57
42Steffen Thum (Ger)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Cory Wallace (Can) Kona Factory TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Ryo Saito (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor Cycling TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Daniel Federspiel (Aut) Ötztal Scott Racing TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Simon Gegenheimer (Ger)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Markus Schulte-Luenzum (Ger) Focus Xc TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Travis Frisby (Aus)Row 48 - Cell 2
DNSRudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
DNSMatthias Stirnemann (Swi) Stöckli Pro TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team77pts
2Multivan Merida Biking Team75Row 1 - Cell 3
3Trek Factory Racing56Row 2 - Cell 3
4Bh-Suntour-Kmc54Row 3 - Cell 3
5Stöckli Pro Team35Row 4 - Cell 3
6Giant Pro Xc Team35Row 5 - Cell 3
7I.Idro Drain Bianchi33Row 6 - Cell 3
8Specialized Racing Xc23Row 7 - Cell 3
9Cannondale Factory Racing17Row 8 - Cell 3
10Tropix-Frm12Row 9 - Cell 3
11Mmr Bikes Pro Team8Row 10 - Cell 3
12Versluys Team7Row 11 - Cell 3
13Sram/Tld Racing4Row 12 - Cell 3
14Titici Lgl International Team1Row 13 - Cell 3
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Elite men cross country World Cup standings after two rounds
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Julien Absalon (Fra) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team500pts
2Maxime Marotte (Fra) Bh-Suntour-Kmc320Row 1 - Cell 3
3Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Stöckli Pro Team310Row 2 - Cell 3
4José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team280Row 3 - Cell 3
5Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing266Row 4 - Cell 3
6Ondrej Cink (Cze) Multivan Merida Biking Team260Row 5 - Cell 3
7Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) Trek Factory Racing250Row 6 - Cell 3
8Thomas Litscher (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team240Row 7 - Cell 3
9Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Trek Factory Racing225Row 8 - Cell 3
10Stéphane Tempier (Fra) Bh-Suntour-Kmc166Row 9 - Cell 3
11Fabian Giger (Swi) Giant Pro Xc Team152Row 10 - Cell 3
12Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Ita) I.Idro Drain Bianchi152Row 11 - Cell 3
13Emil Lindgren (Swe) Giant Pro Xc Team146Row 12 - Cell 3
14Alexander Gehbauer (Aut) I.Idro Drain Bianchi140Row 13 - Cell 3
15Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott-Odlo Mtb Racing Team130Row 14 - Cell 3
16Nicola Rohrbach (Swi)130Row 15 - Cell 3
17Martin Fanger (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team128Row 16 - Cell 3
18Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing Xc116Row 17 - Cell 3
19Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing110Row 18 - Cell 3
20Anton Sintsov (Rus) Titici Lgl International Team102Row 19 - Cell 3
21Daniele Braidot (Ita)100Row 20 - Cell 3
22Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing Xc95Row 21 - Cell 3
23Luca Braidot (Ita)92Row 22 - Cell 3
24Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Mmr Bikes Pro Team92Row 23 - Cell 3
25Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott-Odlo Mtb Racing Team90Row 24 - Cell 3
26Stephen Ettinger (USA) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team85Row 25 - Cell 3
27Ralph Naef (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team85Row 26 - Cell 3
28Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team81Row 27 - Cell 3
29Moritz Milatz (Ger) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team80Row 28 - Cell 3
30Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team80Row 29 - Cell 3
31Raphael Gagne (Can)78Row 30 - Cell 3
32Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team70Row 31 - Cell 3
33Shlomi Haimy (Isr) Focus Xc Team69Row 32 - Cell 3
34Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Tropix-Frm68Row 33 - Cell 3
35Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Team Merida Wallonie Mtb66Row 34 - Cell 3
36Andrew Blair (Aus)64Row 35 - Cell 3
37Reto Indergand (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team62Row 36 - Cell 3
38Martin Gujan (Swi) Orange Monkey Pro Team60Row 37 - Cell 3
39Markus Schulte-Luenzum (Ger) Focus Xc Team60Row 38 - Cell 3
40Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) Cycling Club Roma Mtb Team57Row 39 - Cell 3
41Russell Finsterwald (USA) Sram/Tld Racing52Row 40 - Cell 3
42Michal Lami (Svk)52Row 41 - Cell 3
43Matiss Preimanis (Lat) Dpa50Row 42 - Cell 3
44Karl Markt (Aut) Ötztal Scott Racing Team48Row 43 - Cell 3
45Mark Tupalski (Aus)47Row 44 - Cell 3
46Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Odlo Mtb Racing Team46Row 45 - Cell 3
47Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Focus Xc Team46Row 46 - Cell 3
48Carl Jones (NZl)44Row 47 - Cell 3
49Marc Stutzmann (Swi) Giant-Swiss-Team44Row 48 - Cell 3
50Paolo Cesar Montoya Cantillo (CRc)42Row 49 - Cell 3
51Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team38Row 50 - Cell 3
52Kerry Werner (USA)36Row 51 - Cell 3
53Brendan Johnston (Aus)35Row 52 - Cell 3
54Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi)34Row 53 - Cell 3
55Miguel Martinez (Fra) Tropix-Frm32Row 54 - Cell 3
56Matthias Stirnemann (Swi) Stöckli Pro Team30Row 55 - Cell 3
57Dirk Peters (NZl)29Row 56 - Cell 3
58Shaun Lewis (Aus)28Row 57 - Cell 3
59Matthias Wengelin (Swe)28Row 58 - Cell 3
60Paul Oldham (GBr)27Row 59 - Cell 3
61Steffen Thum (Ger)26Row 60 - Cell 3
62Ruben Scheire (Bel) Feenstra Felt Pb Kenda Bike Team26Row 61 - Cell 3
63Cory Wallace (Can) Kona Factory Team25Row 62 - Cell 3
64Simon Stiebjahn (Ger) Team Bulls25Row 63 - Cell 3
65Ryo Saito (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor Cycling Team24Row 64 - Cell 3
66Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus)23Row 65 - Cell 3
67Daniel Federspiel (Aut) Ötztal Scott Racing Team22Row 66 - Cell 3
68Martin Gluth (Ger)22Row 67 - Cell 3
69Simon Gegenheimer (Ger)21Row 68 - Cell 3
70Markus Bauer (Ger)21Row 69 - Cell 3
71Travis Frisby (Aus)19Row 70 - Cell 3
72Matthys Beukes (RSA)18Row 71 - Cell 3
73Ola Kjören (Nor)16Row 72 - Cell 3
74David Fletcher (GBr) Orange Monkey Pro Team15Row 73 - Cell 3
75Hugo Drechou (Fra) Calvisson Vtt13Row 74 - Cell 3
76Daniel Eymann (Swi) Giant-Swiss-Team11Row 75 - Cell 3
77Renay Groustra (RSA)10Row 76 - Cell 3
78Hamish Batchelor (GBr) Fluid Fin Race Team9Row 77 - Cell 3
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Team World Cup standings after two rounds
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Multivan Merida Biking Team157pts
2Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team154Row 1 - Cell 3
3Trek Factory Racing99Row 2 - Cell 3
4Bh-Suntour-Kmc97Row 3 - Cell 3
5Stöckli Pro Team58Row 4 - Cell 3
6Giant Pro Xc Team58Row 5 - Cell 3
7I.Idro Drain Bianchi58Row 6 - Cell 3
8Cannondale Factory Racing57Row 7 - Cell 3
9Scott-Odlo Mtb Racing Team47Row 8 - Cell 3
10Specialized Racing Xc35Row 9 - Cell 3
11Tropix-Frm12Row 10 - Cell 3
12Mmr Bikes Pro Team8Row 11 - Cell 3
13Orange Monkey Pro Team8Row 12 - Cell 3
14Titici Lgl International Team7Row 13 - Cell 3
15Versluys Team7Row 14 - Cell 3
16Sram/Tld Racing4Row 15 - Cell 3
17Dpa3Row 16 - Cell 3
18Ötztal Scott Racing Team2Row 17 - Cell 3

 

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