Absalon wins his fifth Offenburg World Cup

Julien Absalon (Orbea) came into Offenburg undefeated during the past four years, and he left in the same fashion, after a dominating performance that also put him into the World Cup leader's jersey. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized), the World Cup leader coming into the race finished second, while Maxime Marotte (BH Suntour Peisey Vallandry) took third.

Absalon came into Offenburg with two second places for the season in the World Cup, but he had stated earlier that he was building for this race, which he calls "the best World Cup course in the world".

A group of 12 riders formed at the front of the race on the first lap of seven, and rode away from the rest of the field along with Absalon, Kulhavy and Marotte, Burry Stander (Specialized), Christoph Sauser (Specialized), world champion Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida), Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower), Marco Fontana (Cannondale), Thomas Litscher (Felt Oetztal X-Bionic), Nicolas Coloma (Wildwolf-Trek), Rudi van Houts and Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Giant Italia).

By lap three, Coloma, Alvarez Gutierrez and van Houts were gone, and then Hermida flatted. Sauser crashed while chasing Absalon and Kulhavy and later suffered a broken wheel afte getting a flat and riding his rim. Both had to run to the next tech zone on lap four.

Absalon launched his attack on the same lap, exploding the group. Kulhavy took off in solo pursuit, but couldn't close the gap, followed by Marotte just in front of Stander. They would finish in that order, with Coloma jumping back into the final podium spot after posting the fastest split for the sixth lap.

"I tried first to attack on the first lap," said Absalon, "but I saw six guys on my wheel, so I said, 'ok, I need to wait a little'. I sat in for two laps on wheels and I saw Kulhavy was very strong. I knew I needed to attack in the beginning of a long climb, like I have done each year, and so I did the same."

"In the third and fourth lap, I was waiting on the downhill and I attacked just at the first feed zone and I did the long climb at the front. After I took 15 sec on Kulhavy, I felt good. I made no mistakes. To win a World Cup you need to do a perfect race because the gaps are small. I planned the beginning of my season to peak for this race because I like it so much and it is only two hours from my home." He was greeted with hugs and kisses from his wife and baby.

Kulhavy was not surprised at Absalon's strong showing, saying, "Julien was way strong today and I did what I could to race for the finish. I knew Julien would be strong here and in fact, he was."

Absalon's win moved him 40 points ahead of Kulhavy for the lead in the World Cup, but he has stated that he will not attend the two North American race (Mont Ste. Anne), so he will lose the lead in the next round.

Additional reporting by Sue George

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea1:46:21
2Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing0:00:29
3Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry0:00:41
4Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing0:01:05
5Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Racing0:02:30
6Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:02:33
7Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing0:02:35
8Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing0:02:36
9Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team0:02:45
10Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Giant Italia Team0:02:53
11Rudi Van Houts (Ned)0:02:57
12Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa) Orbea0:03:06
13Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Racing0:03:20
14Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team0:03:29
15José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:03:31
16Liam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing0:03:40
18Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team0:03:44
19Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi0:04:02
20Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Racing0:04:21
21Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing0:04:43
22Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing0:04:45
23Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing0:04:47
24Martin Fanger (Swi) Giant Swiss SR - SuntourRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team0:04:53
26Derek Zandstra (Can)0:04:56
27Henk Jaap Moorlag (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:05:09
28Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing0:05:30
29Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:05:31
30Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Team Protek0:05:38
31Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:05:39
32Martino Fruet (Ita)0:05:48
33Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing0:05:50
34Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team0:05:51
35Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys - Evenza Team0:05:54
36Andras Parti (Hun) Euro One - Cube MTB Team0:06:05
37Balz Weber (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team0:06:17
38Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team0:06:21
39Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)0:06:23
40Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team0:06:28
41Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Team Bridgestone Anchor0:06:33
42Nicola Rohrbach (Swi) Elettroveneta - Corratec0:06:50
43Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix0:06:56
44Marek Galinski (Pol) JGB - 2 Professional MTB Team0:07:17
45Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru - Trek0:07:29
46Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:07:38
47Periklis Ilias (Gre) Team Protek0:07:45
48Oliver Beckingsale (GBr)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Irjan Luttenberg (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team0:07:48
50Hannes Metzler (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team0:07:49
51Martin Loo (Est) Infotre - Bi & Esse - Leecougan0:07:53
52Filip Eberl (Cze)0:08:29
53Patrik Gallati (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team0:08:35
54Michal Lami (Svk)0:08:40
55Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:08:47
56Lukas Kaufmann (Swi)0:08:53
57Jiri Novak (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team0:09:07
58Rene Tann (Ger)0:09:12
59Marc Colom (Fra) Team Newcycling0:09:27
60Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:09:44
61Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) Isd Cycling Team0:09:55
62Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:10:11
63Ole Christian Fagerli (Nor)0:10:24
64Bjorn Brems (Bel) Versluys - Evenza Team0:10:32
65Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team0:10:36
66Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita) Elettroveneta - Corratec0:10:40
67Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru - Trek0:10:54
68Andrew Watson (Can)0:11:10
69Jonathan Galante (Fra)0:11:28
70Philip Buys (RSA)0:11:33
71Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team0:11:35
72Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team0:11:39
73Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain0:11:54
74Mattias Wengelin (Swe)0:12:02
75Torsten Marx (Ger)0:12:13
76Cristian Cominelli (Ita) TX Active BianchiRow 75 - Cell 2
77Tim Wynants (Bel) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team0:12:17
78Yader Zoli (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop0:12:32
79Matthias Leisling (Ger) Muskelkater Genesis Team0:12:58
80Pascal Hossay (Bel) G - Skin - Deforche MTB Racing Team0:13:09
81Pascal Schmutz (Swi)0:13:14
82Karl Platt (Ger) Team Bulls0:13:23
83Ludovic Dubau (Fra) Team Newcycling0:13:43
84Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team0:14:31
85Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta - Corratec0:14:40
-1lapBenjamin Wittrup Justesen (Den)Row 85 - Cell 2
-1lapUmberto Corti (Ita) Team Cbe Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.Row 86 - Cell 2
-1lapJelmer Pietersma (Ned) Milka Trek MTB Racing TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
-1lapJonas Baumann (Swi)Row 88 - Cell 2
-1lapSimon Scheiber (Aut) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
-1lapSimon Gegenheimer (Ger)Row 90 - Cell 2
-1lapAlexis Chenevier (Fra) Scott Les SaisiesRow 91 - Cell 2
-1lapJeroen Boelen (Ned) Milka Trek MTB Racing TeamRow 92 - Cell 2
-1lapCristobal Silva Ibaceta (Chi)Row 93 - Cell 2
-1lapMarc Bassingthwaighte (Nam)Row 94 - Cell 2
-1lapKazuhiro Yamamoto (Jpn)Row 95 - Cell 2
-1lapSeverin Disch (Swi) Thoemus Racing TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
-2lapsJorgen Flion (Bel)Row 97 - Cell 2
-2lapsMarco Schätzing (Ger) Team Firebike - DroessigerRow 98 - Cell 2
-2lapsBas Peters (Ned) Team Merida CombeeRow 99 - Cell 2
-2lapsMichael Broderick (USA)Row 100 - Cell 2
-2lapsPaul Remy (Fra)Row 101 - Cell 2
-2lapsSeiya Hirano (Jpn) Team Bridgestone AnchorRow 102 - Cell 2
-2lapsChristopher Maletz (Ger)Row 103 - Cell 2
-2lapsSamuele Porro (Ita)Row 104 - Cell 2
-2lapsGiancarlo Sax (Swi) Thoemus Racing TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
-2lapsLukas Sablik (Cze)Row 106 - Cell 2
-2lapsSteffen Thum (Ger)Row 107 - Cell 2
-2lapsKlaus Nielsen (Den)Row 108 - Cell 2
-2lapsHeiko Gutmann (Ger)Row 109 - Cell 2
-2lapsArtyom Golovaschenko (Kaz)Row 110 - Cell 2
-2lapsRaphael Gagne (Can)Row 111 - Cell 2
-2lapsMarco Arnold (Swi) Giant Swiss SR - SuntourRow 112 - Cell 2
-2lapsSang Hoon Na (Kor)Row 113 - Cell 2
-2lapsMarios Athanasiadis (Cyp)Row 114 - Cell 2
-2lapsRobby De Bock (Bel)Row 115 - Cell 2
-3lapsEmil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
-3lapsSpencer Paxson (USA) KonaRow 117 - Cell 2
-3lapsGeorgios Pattes-Toumanis (Gre) Team ProtekRow 118 - Cell 2
-3lapsGabor Bogar (Hun) Euro One - Cube MTB TeamRow 119 - Cell 2
-3lapsBrian Lopes (USA)Row 120 - Cell 2
-3lapsRafal Hebisz (Pol)Row 121 - Cell 2
-3lapsKirill Kazantsev (Kaz)Row 122 - Cell 2
-3lapsBrice Scholtes (Bel) G - Skin - Deforche MTB Racing TeamRow 123 - Cell 2
-3lapsLucien Besancon (Swi)Row 124 - Cell 2
-4lapsChris Jongewaard (Aus)Row 125 - Cell 2
-4lapsMatthias Waldhart (Aut)Row 126 - Cell 2
-5lapsFrank Schotman (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
-5lapsBesik Gavasheli (Geo)Row 128 - Cell 2
DNFJean-Christophe Peraud (Fra)Row 129 - Cell 2
DNFChristoph Soukup (Aut)Row 130 - Cell 2
DNFPascal Meyer (Swi) Thoemus Racing TeamRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFEvgeny Nikolaev (Rus)Row 132 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing ShopRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFOleksandr Gerashchenko (Ukr) Isd Cycling TeamRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFRuben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) OrbeaRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFMagnus Darvell (Swe)Row 136 - Cell 2
DNFMatthias Lauk (Swi)Row 137 - Cell 2
DNFTony Longo (Ita) TX Active BianchiRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFPierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Team NewcyclingRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Federspiel (Aut)Row 140 - Cell 2
DNFFabio Ursi (Ita) Team Cbe Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.Row 141 - Cell 2
DNFAlban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing TeamRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFMax Plaxton (Can)Row 143 - Cell 2
DNSPierre Lebreton (Fra) BH - Suntour - Peisey VallandryRow 144 - Cell 2

Teams

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Specialized Racing83pts
2Orbea59Row 1 - Cell 3
3Wildwolf - Trek Racing39Row 2 - Cell 3
4Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing38Row 3 - Cell 3
5Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team35Row 4 - Cell 3
6Cannondale Factory Racing34Row 5 - Cell 3
7BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry32Row 6 - Cell 3
8Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team30Row 7 - Cell 3
9Giant Italia Team21Row 8 - Cell 3
10Trek World Racing19Row 9 - Cell 3
11Multivan Merida Biking Team18Row 10 - Cell 3
12BMC Mountainbike Racing Team17Row 11 - Cell 3
13Giant Factory Off-Road Team15Row 12 - Cell 3
14TX Active Bianchi12Row 13 - Cell 3
15Giant Swiss SR - Suntour7Row 14 - Cell 3
16Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team6Row 15 - Cell 3
17Team Protek1Row 16 - Cell 3

Elite men individual World Cup standings after three rounds

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea650pts
2Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing610Row 1 - Cell 3
3Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing470Row 2 - Cell 3
4Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing410Row 3 - Cell 3
5Maxime Marotte (Fra) Bh - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry395Row 4 - Cell 3
6Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing360Row 5 - Cell 3
7Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Racing325Row 6 - Cell 3
8Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing320Row 7 - Cell 3
9José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team298Row 8 - Cell 3
10Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Racing270Row 9 - Cell 3
11Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team268Row 10 - Cell 3
12Stéphane Tempier (Fra) Tx Active Bianchi268Row 11 - Cell 3
13Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team260Row 12 - Cell 3
14Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team259Row 13 - Cell 3
15Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Giant Italia Team231Row 14 - Cell 3
16Rudi Van Houts (Ned)226Row 15 - Cell 3
17Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing214Row 16 - Cell 3
18Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing209Row 17 - Cell 3
19Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa) Orbea205Row 18 - Cell 3
20Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing194Row 19 - Cell 3
21Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing188Row 20 - Cell 3
22Liam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team172Row 21 - Cell 3
23Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team168Row 22 - Cell 3
24Martin Fanger (Swi) Giant Swiss Sr - Suntour168Row 23 - Cell 3
25Derek Zandstra (Can)144Row 24 - Cell 3
26Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing138Row 25 - Cell 3
27Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Racing136Row 26 - Cell 3
28Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team122Row 27 - Cell 3
29Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team118Row 28 - Cell 3
30Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team114Row 29 - Cell 3
31Oliver Beckingsale (GBr)108Row 30 - Cell 3
32Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) Orbea102Row 31 - Cell 3
33Nicola Rohrbach (Swi) Elettroveneta - Corratec99Row 32 - Cell 3
34Henk Jaap Moorlag (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team96Row 33 - Cell 3
35Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain91Row 34 - Cell 3
36Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team91Row 35 - Cell 3
37Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team89Row 36 - Cell 3
38Patrik Gallati (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team87Row 37 - Cell 3
39Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys - Evenza Team86Row 38 - Cell 3
40Martino Fruet (Ita)79Row 39 - Cell 3
41Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team79Row 40 - Cell 3
42Andras Parti (Hun) Euro One - Cube MTB Team77Row 41 - Cell 3
43Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Team Newcycling75Row 42 - Cell 3
44Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team73Row 43 - Cell 3
45Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)73Row 44 - Cell 3
46Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru - Trek70Row 45 - Cell 3
47Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG - 2 Professional MTB Team65Row 46 - Cell 3
48Lukas Kaufmann (Swi)64Row 47 - Cell 3
49Jelmer Pietersma (Ned) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team56Row 48 - Cell 3
50Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru - Trek52Row 49 - Cell 3
51Jiri Novak (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team50Row 50 - Cell 3
52Marc Colom (Fra) Team Newcycling48Row 51 - Cell 3
53Chris Jongewaard (Aus)47Row 52 - Cell 3
54Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Team Protek46Row 53 - Cell 3
55Christoph Soukup (Aut)42Row 54 - Cell 3
56Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team38Row 55 - Cell 3
57Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team38Row 56 - Cell 3
58Irjan Luttenberg (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team37Row 57 - Cell 3
59Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team37Row 58 - Cell 3
60Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team35Row 59 - Cell 3
61Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix33Row 60 - Cell 3
62Balz Weber (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team32Row 61 - Cell 3
63Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra)32Row 62 - Cell 3
64Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team30Row 63 - Cell 3
65Hannes Metzler (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team30Row 64 - Cell 3
66Jeremiah Bishop (USA)29Row 65 - Cell 3
67Tony Longo (Ita) Tx Active Bianchi29Row 66 - Cell 3
68Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Team Bridgestone Anchor27Row 67 - Cell 3
69Michal Lami (Svk)24Row 68 - Cell 3
70Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team22Row 69 - Cell 3
71Periklis Ilias (Gre) Team Protek21Row 70 - Cell 3
72Max Plaxton (Can)20Row 71 - Cell 3
73Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta - Corratec19Row 72 - Cell 3
74Pascal Meyer (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team19Row 73 - Cell 3
75Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team18Row 74 - Cell 3
76Martin Loo (Est) Infotre - Bi & Esse - Leecougan17Row 75 - Cell 3
77Filip Eberl (Cze)16Row 76 - Cell 3
78Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team13Row 77 - Cell 3
79Severin Disch (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team11Row 78 - Cell 3
80Rene Tann (Ger)10Row 79 - Cell 3
81Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.9Row 80 - Cell 3

 

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