Schurter outsprints Hermida for Mont-Sainte-Anne victory

Nino Schurter (Scott Swisspower) outsprinted Jose Antonio Hermida (Multivan Merida) for the win in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada on Saturday afternoon. No one was expecting the World Cup race to end in a sprint after Schurter went to the front from the start and stayed there solo for most of the race. But a flat tire on the second last lap let a surging Hermida catch Schurter.

"No, I didn't expect to have to sprint for it on a course like Mont-Sainte-Anne," said Schurter. "It was a special finish and when it started to rain - the course was really tricky."

Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized) raced to third place. Carlos Coloma (Wildwolf Trek) and Max Plaxton (Specialized) rode career best World Cup performances to fourth and fifth respectively.

Schurter blew apart the field of favorites at the start and jumped into the lead on the first lap. Behind him, Kulhavy, Marco Fontana (Cannondale), Florian Vogel (Scott Swisspower) and Hermida chased together. Coloma was just behind them.

By the second lap, Hermida emerged as lead chaser, 20 seconds off Schurter.

"It's always difficult if you're on the front if you have just 15 seconds, but it's just the same when you are trying to catch a leader who's 15 seconds in front," said Schurter. "Today, I was thinking I have to race my race. It's such a technical track if you go too hard, you make mistakes and you might have to run a section or two. I decided to do my race and not focus too much on Hermida."

Fontana chased after the two leaders at just over 30 seconds while Vogel and Kulhavy worked together at 45 seconds.

Hermida continued his pursuit, keeping Schurter in sight on some sections of the course. His riding was reminiscent of the race he did at Mont-Sainte-Anne in 2010, when he won the world championships. After a tough spring, Hermida was also sending the message that he was back competing amongst the fastest.

Rain started on the second to last lap and the course was suddenly much slicker. When Schurter flatted and Hermida passed him, it was just like the 2010 Worlds all over again.

"With two laps to go, he had the flat tire. I thought maybe I could make my pace alone in front for the last lap, but it was impossible," said Hermida.

"I thought I could manage those two laps alone, but I was missing some speed," said Hermida. "It was like the train was running all season and I just jumped on it this season. When it started raining on the last lap, I thought it was my chance to use more technique and not so much power. Everyone was struggling on the last lap."

Schurter caught back up but today, he didn't flat a second time and the two stayed together until the finish, with Schurter leading Hermida into the final straight and holding him off.

"I like the course here - it's a technical one. I felt comfortable on the course. A flat tire can happen anywhere," said Schurter. "I'm happy I could win even with a flat. I hope it was the only one for this season."

Hermida gave it a good effort, but wasn't fast to come around Schurter in the final dash to the line.

"I'm happy. After a hard season and struggling the first part with physical problems, it's a good feeling to be back, especially in a race like this fighting with Nino," said Hermida. "Right now, he's the best guy in mountain biking so sprinting with him is not so easy. I tried my best in the end with him."

Behind the leaders, Fontana dropped back and Kulhavy stepped up into third, where he would stay alone the rest of the race.

"It was a nice race, but I was a bit like a diesel engine," said Kulhavy. "I did not have the dynamic speed - that was my biggest problem for today. I'm glad for the podium, but I would like to win the next race. I had an amazing season last year and this one is not so good, but I think it will get better and better leading up to the Olympic Games.

"I need more speed. I'm in training for the Olympics, but I need more time."

Coloma moved up steadily into fourth place. "For me, Mont-Sainte-Anne is the best race in the World Cup for the past two years. I was sixth at Worlds. I'm happy to be sitting here with three world champions - Nino, Hermida and Kulhavy."

Freshly crowned Canadian National Champion Plaxton made a huge final lap surge to jump from seventh to fifth. It was Plaxton's first World Cup podium.

"I felt great after winning nationals last weekend and building on my ninth in La Bresse. It was my first World Cup podium and it's in Canada. Maybe I'll get some attention now. It's hard being a Canadian - we don't get as much exposure as some of the other guys."

"It is special to make my first World Cup podium in Canada. There aren't that many guys missing. Maybe Absalon and one other so it's a pretty legit podium. It's a huge confidence builder. Not that there was ever a lack of confidence, but the extra can't hurt."

Plaxton's ride showed a maturity in his approach to racing. "Back in my earlier days, I'd blow up a lot. That's something I try to avoid now. I didn't have the best start - losing 45 seconds on the first lap. I think if I could not lose so much on the first lap, I could finish even higher."

Schurter retained his lead in the World Cup standings, now with 950 points. Kulhavy moved up one spot to second place (785 points) as did Burry Stander into third (688 points). The absent Absalon dropped from second to fourth with 650 points while Hermida advanced from eighth to fifth with 605 points.

Race note

Luk Flueckiger crashed heavily in one of the technical woods sections and suffered a neck injury, which turned out to be a form of whiplash. He retired from the event bitterly disappointed after bring in touch with the podium group. He didn't need hospital care but does need an icepack on his neck for awhile.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team1:41:24
2José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing0:01:49
4Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing0:02:28
5Max Plaxton (Can)0:02:39
6Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing0:02:45
7Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing0:02:58
8Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team0:03:07
9Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing0:03:09
10Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing0:03:10
11Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:03:45
12Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing0:03:57
13Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing0:04:09
14Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry0:04:44
15Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team0:05:35
16Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:06:44
17Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:06:54
18Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:06:55
19Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)0:07:01
20Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru - Trek0:07:11
21Raphael Gagne (Can)0:07:28
22Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing0:07:47
23Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:07:55
24Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:08:04
25Severin Disch (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team0:08:10
26Martin Fanger (Swi) Giant Swiss SR - Suntour0:08:29
27Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing0:08:43
28Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing0:08:45
29Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team0:09:44
30Fabien Canal (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix0:09:51
31Henk Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:09:56
32Martin Loo (Est) Hard Rock Canossa Merida0:09:57
33Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi0:10:34
34Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing0:11:08
35Andrew Watson (Can)0:11:21
36Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:11:39
37Liam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road TeamRow 36 - Cell 2
38Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team0:12:04
39Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) Orbea Racing Team0:12:05
40Jérémy Huguenin (Swi) Giant Swiss SR - Suntour0:12:27
41Andy Eyring (Ger)0:13:07
42Neal Kindree (Can)0:13:24
43Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team0:13:33
44Spencer Paxson (USA) Kona0:13:34
45Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:14:52
46Adam Morka (Can)0:15:35
47Stephen Ettinger (USA) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team0:15:37
-1lapMichael Broderick (USA)Row 47 - Cell 2
-1lapRudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
-1lapDaniel Eymann (Swi) Thoemus Racing TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
-1lapMitchell Hoke (USA)Row 50 - Cell 2
-1lapDavid Fletcher (GBr) Orange Monkey-CannondaleRow 51 - Cell 2
-1lapMatthew Hadley (Can)Row 52 - Cell 2
-1lapPeter Glassford (Can)Row 53 - Cell 2
-1lapPete Ostroski (USA)Row 54 - Cell 2
-1lapSid Taberlay (Aus)Row 55 - Cell 2
-1lapAlex Grant (USA) Cannondale Factory RacingRow 56 - Cell 2
-1lapCraig Richey (Can)Row 57 - Cell 2
-2lapsJulien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
-2lapsDave Henderson (GBr)Row 59 - Cell 2
-2lapsKris Sneddon (Can) KonaRow 60 - Cell 2
-2lapsLee Williams (GBr)Row 61 - Cell 2
-2lapsJeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru - TrekRow 62 - Cell 2
-3lapsLuciano Caraccioli (Arg)Row 63 - Cell 2
-3lapsMarc-Andre Daigle (Can)Row 64 - Cell 2
-3lapsNathan Guerra (USA)Row 65 - Cell 2
-4lapsFilippo Barbieri (Bra)Row 66 - Cell 2
DNFChristoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized RacingRow 67 - Cell 2
DNFAndras Parti (Hun)Row 68 - Cell 2
DNFLukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World RacingRow 69 - Cell 2
DNFMoritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Multivan Merida Biking Team68pts
2Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team65Row 1 - Cell 3
3Specialized Racing65Row 2 - Cell 3
4Cannondale Factory Racing62Row 3 - Cell 3
5Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing60Row 4 - Cell 3
6Rabobank Giant Offroad Team29Row 5 - Cell 3
7Trek World Racing18Row 6 - Cell 3
8BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry17Row 7 - Cell 3
9Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team16Row 8 - Cell 3
10Scott-3Roxracing15Row 9 - Cell 3
11Subaru - Trek11Row 10 - Cell 3
12Thoemus Racing Team6Row 11 - Cell 3
13Giant Swiss SR - Suntour5Row 12 - Cell 3
14GT Skoda Chamonix1Row 13 - Cell 3
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Elite men individual World Cup standings after round 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Nino Schurter (Swi)950pts
2Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze)785Row 1 - Cell 3
3Burry Stander (RSA)688Row 2 - Cell 3
4Julien Absalon (Fra)650Row 3 - Cell 3
5José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa)605Row 4 - Cell 3
6Manuel Fumic (Ger)565Row 5 - Cell 3
7Fabian Giger (Swi)512Row 6 - Cell 3
8Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita)510Row 7 - Cell 3
9Florian Vogel (Swi)500Row 8 - Cell 3
10Ralph Naef (Swi)485Row 9 - Cell 3
11Stéphane Tempier (Fra)404Row 10 - Cell 3
12Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa)402Row 11 - Cell 3
13Maxime Marotte (Fra)392Row 12 - Cell 3
14Lukas Flückiger (Swi)385Row 13 - Cell 3
15Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa)377Row 14 - Cell 3
16Martin Gujan (Swi)365Row 15 - Cell 3
17Christoph Sauser (Swi)364Row 16 - Cell 3
18Max Plaxton (Can)352Row 17 - Cell 3
19Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra)331Row 18 - Cell 3
20Mathias Flückiger (Swi)316Row 19 - Cell 3
21Rudi Van Houts (Ned)303Row 20 - Cell 3
22Emil Lindgren (Swe)302Row 21 - Cell 3
23Moritz Milatz (Ger)290Row 22 - Cell 3
24Jochen Kass (Ger)282Row 23 - Cell 3
25Geoff Kabush (Can)266Row 24 - Cell 3
26Liam Killeen (GBr)238Row 25 - Cell 3
27Samuel Schultz (USA)228Row 26 - Cell 3
28Thomas Litscher (Swi)224Row 27 - Cell 3
29Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)220Row 28 - Cell 3
30Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn)216Row 29 - Cell 3
31Karl Markt (Aut)214Row 30 - Cell 3
32Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa)190Row 31 - Cell 3
33Wolfram Kurschat (Ger)187Row 32 - Cell 3
34Henk Jaap Moorlag* (Ned)171Row 33 - Cell 3
35Catriel Andres Soto (Arg)166Row 34 - Cell 3
36Martin Fanger (Swi)162Row 35 - Cell 3
37Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa)160Row 36 - Cell 3
38Fabien Canal (Fra)149Row 37 - Cell 3
39Todd Wells (USA)145Row 38 - Cell 3
40Marek* Konwa (Pol)143Row 39 - Cell 3
41Michele Casagrande (Ita)135Row 40 - Cell 3
42Milan Spesny (Cze)124Row 41 - Cell 3
43Tony Longo (Ita)111Row 42 - Cell 3
44Stephen Ettinger (USA)111Row 43 - Cell 3
45Derek Zandstra (Can)110Row 44 - Cell 3
46Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra)105Row 45 - Cell 3
47Jan Skarnitzl (Cze)104Row 46 - Cell 3
48Sven Nys (Bel)100Row 47 - Cell 3
49Martino Fruet (Ita)98Row 48 - Cell 3
50Jürg Graf (Swi)98Row 49 - Cell 3
51Jiri Novak (Cze)91Row 50 - Cell 3
52Jeremiah Bishop (USA)90Row 51 - Cell 3
53Adam Craig (USA)87Row 52 - Cell 3
54Chris Jongewaard (Aus)82Row 53 - Cell 3
55Andrea Tiberi (Ita)70Row 54 - Cell 3
56Matous Ulman (Cze)68Row 55 - Cell 3
57Raphael Gagne (Can)64Row 56 - Cell 3
58Andras Parti (Hun)63Row 57 - Cell 3
59Marcel Wildhaber (Swi)62Row 58 - Cell 3
60Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi)60Row 59 - Cell 3
61Severin Disch (Swi)56Row 60 - Cell 3
62Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut)56Row 61 - Cell 3
63Cédric Ravanel (Fra)53Row 62 - Cell 3
64Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel)53Row 63 - Cell 3
65Piotr Brzozka (Pol)51Row 64 - Cell 3
66Martin Loo (Est)50Row 65 - Cell 3
67Julien Taramarcaz (Swi)49Row 66 - Cell 3
68Jérémy Huguenin (Swi)48Row 67 - Cell 3
69Umberto Corti (Ita)48Row 68 - Cell 3
70Lukas Sablik (Cze)42Row 69 - Cell 3
71Lachlan Norris (Aus)41Row 70 - Cell 3
72David Fletcher (GBr)40Row 71 - Cell 3
73Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA)40Row 72 - Cell 3
74Marek Galinski (Pol)37Row 73 - Cell 3
75Andrew Watson (Can)36Row 74 - Cell 3
76Nicola Rohrbach (Swi)34Row 75 - Cell 3
77Robert Mennen (Ger)30Row 76 - Cell 3
78Philip Buys (RSA)30Row 77 - Cell 3
79Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa)29Row 78 - Cell 3
80Alban Lakata (Aut)29Row 79 - Cell 3
81Andy Eyring (Ger)27Row 80 - Cell 3
82Periklis Ilias (Gre)27Row 81 - Cell 3
83Neal Kindree (Can)26Row 82 - Cell 3
84Spencer Paxson (USA)24Row 83 - Cell 3
85Patrik Gallati (Swi)24Row 84 - Cell 3
86Cameron Jette (Can)23Row 85 - Cell 3
87Adam Morka (Can)22Row 86 - Cell 3
88Michael Broderick (USA)20Row 87 - Cell 3
89Kristian Hynek (Cze)20Row 88 - Cell 3
90Alexis Chenevier (Fra)19Row 89 - Cell 3
91Daniel Eymann (Swi)18Row 90 - Cell 3
92Mitchell Hoke (USA)17Row 91 - Cell 3
93Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus)16Row 92 - Cell 3
94Matthew Hadley (Can)15Row 93 - Cell 3
95Sergji Rysenko (Ukr)15Row 94 - Cell 3
96Peter Glassford (Can)14Row 95 - Cell 3
97Pete Ostroski (USA)13Row 96 - Cell 3
98Ruben Almeida (Por)13Row 97 - Cell 3
99Sid Taberlay (Aus)12Row 98 - Cell 3
100Hannes Metzler (Aut)12Row 99 - Cell 3
101Alex Grant (USA)11Row 100 - Cell 3
102Kevin Pauwels (Bel)11Row 101 - Cell 3
103Craig Richey (Can)10Row 102 - Cell 3
104Michal Lami (Svk)10Row 103 - Cell 3
105David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por)10Row 104 - Cell 3
106Sebastien Carabin (Bel)10Row 105 - Cell 3
107Marc Bassingthwaighte (Nam)9Row 106 - Cell 3
108Dave Henderson (GBr)8Row 107 - Cell 3
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World Cup team standings after round 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Specialized Racing360pts
2Cannondale Factory Racing300Row 1 - Cell 3
3Multivan Merida Biking Team295Row 2 - Cell 3
4Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team259Row 3 - Cell 3
5Rabobank Giant Offroad Team160Row 4 - Cell 3
6Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing143Row 5 - Cell 3
7Trek World Racing137Row 6 - Cell 3
8Orbea Racing Team134Row 7 - Cell 3
9BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry76Row 8 - Cell 3
10TX Active Bianchi74Row 9 - Cell 3
11Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team59Row 10 - Cell 3
12Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team55Row 11 - Cell 3
13Scott-3Roxracing50Row 12 - Cell 3
14Elettroveneta - Corratec24Row 13 - Cell 3
15Subaru - Trek22Row 14 - Cell 3
16Giant Factory Off-Road Team20Row 15 - Cell 3
17Topeak Ergon Racing Team17Row 16 - Cell 3
18Giant Swiss SR - Suntour15Row 17 - Cell 3
19Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized8Row 18 - Cell 3
20Thoemus Racing Team6Row 19 - Cell 3
21Lapierre International6Row 20 - Cell 3
22S&H Superior MTB Team5Row 21 - Cell 3
23Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team3Row 22 - Cell 3
24GT Skoda Chamonix1Row 23 - Cell 3
25Euroone-Waberer's-Cube MTB Team1Row 24 - Cell 3

 

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Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews.  She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.

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