Schurter wins last World Cup of the season

In the final round of the UCI cross country World Cup in Val d'Isere, France, Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower) earned his fourth win of the season, as many riders put the final touches on their form for the Olympic Games coming up in two weeks. Schurter took his second World Cup series title with his victory.

Schurter, who skipped the previous round in Windham, New York, for Olympic preparation, showed that his form is better than ever by leading the men's race from start to finish. The newly titled national Swiss champion rocketed off the front of the field on the first lap, opening up a gap on a chase group containing teammate Florian Vogel, Marco Fontana (Cannondale), Ralf Naef (Multivan-Merida), Sergio Gutierrez (Wildwolf-Trek), Windham winner Burry Stander (Specialized) and Julien Absalon (Orbea).

Vogel and Fontana steadily began to gain ground on Schurter, while the others fell back, with Absalon struggling in particular in the muddy conditions, eventually pulling into the pit to change tires and then abandoning.

Fontana and Vogel bridged up to Schurter by mid-race, but Vogel was gapped after crashing and never regained the leaders.   Lukas Flückiger (Trek World Racing) moved forward into third and Fontana's teammate Manuel Fumic into fourth as others faded from the intense pace. On the final lap, Schurter attacked again to solo in for victory, while Flückiger caught the fading Fontana for second.

"My tactic today was to start really fast," said Schurter, "Because Burry always has problems at the beginning of the race when it's really fast, as does Absalon. So I decided to start very fast and that strategy was quite good. Neither Burry nor Absalon were in the leading group after the first lap. It was a perfect race for me. With Marco (Fontana) and Flo (Florian Vogel) together, we were a strong group in the lead."

"It is awesome for me to win the World Cup in an Olympic year," said Schurter. " It gives me a good feeling now for the upcoming Olympic Games. It was not my biggest target to win the World Cup, but now I am super happy; it is a bit of a surprise for me."

Schurter finishes the season with 1200 points to Stander's 1058, with defending champion Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized) third at 865 points.

Looking ahead to the Olympic race in two weeks, for which Schurter is the obvious favorite by virtue of recent race performances, he said, "The Olympics will be different than here. It was a hard race here because of the altitude. The Olympics will be a much faster race, and I hope I can perform as well as here."

Full Results

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Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team1:34:03
2Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing0:00:13
3Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing0:00:33
4Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing0:01:17
5José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:01:22
6Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team0:01:49
7Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing0:02:16
8Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:02:28
9Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi0:02:54
10Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing0:03:08
11Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:03:37
12Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry0:04:05
13Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing0:05:11
14Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Racing0:05:12
15Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing0:05:20
16Marek Konwa* (Pol) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team0:05:21
17Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized0:05:23
18Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix0:05:43
19Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team0:05:52
20Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:06:02
21Martin Fanger (Swi) Giant Swiss SR - Suntour0:06:05
22Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:06:22
23Michal Lami (Svk)0:06:57
24Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing0:06:58
25Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa) Orbea Racing TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:07:08
27Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team0:07:15
28Martin Loo (Est) Hard Rock Canossa Merida0:07:29
29Periklis Ilias (Gre) Team Protek0:07:51
30Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Martino Fruet (Ita)0:07:52
32Jiri Novak (Cze)0:07:53
33Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team0:08:19
34Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team0:08:23
35Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru - Trek0:08:24
36Nicola Rohrbach (Swi)0:08:34
37Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop0:08:35
38Philip Buys (RSA)Row 37 - Cell 2
39Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:08:53
40Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)0:09:05
41Andy Eyring (Ger)0:09:08
42Fabien Canal (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix0:09:34
43Andras Parti (Hun) Euroone-Waberer's-Cube MTB Team0:09:51
44Paolo Cesar Montoya Cantillo (CRc)0:10:13
45Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team0:10:17
46Alexis Chenevier (Fra) Scott Les Saisies0:10:23
47Jürg Graf (Swi) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team0:10:32
48Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized0:10:43
49Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing0:11:19
50Lukas Sablik (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized0:11:26
51Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Versluys Team0:11:31
52Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing0:11:40
53Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team0:11:52
54Piotr Brzozka (Pol) JBG - 2 Professional MTB Team0:12:01
55Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.0:12:07
56Jérémy Huguenin (Swi) Giant Swiss SR - Suntour0:12:19
57David Fletcher (GBr) Orange Monkey-Cannondale0:12:34
58Jan Jobanek (Cze) Merida Biking Team0:13:14
59Giancarlo Sax (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team0:14:22
-1lapHans Becking (Ned) Milka-Superior MTB Racing TeamRow 59 - Cell 2
-1lapRamon Sagues Portabella (Spa)Row 60 - Cell 2
-1lapFilip Eberl (Cze)Row 61 - Cell 2
-1lapGareth Montgomerie (GBr)Row 62 - Cell 2
-1lapPascal Meyer (Swi) Jb Felt TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
-1lapGiuseppe Lamastra (Ita)Row 64 - Cell 2
-1lapPierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Lapierre InternationalRow 65 - Cell 2
-1lapWolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
-1lapPatrik Gallati (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing TeamRow 67 - Cell 2
-1lapFlorian Thie (Swi)Row 68 - Cell 2
-1lapRuben Almeida (Por)Row 69 - Cell 2
-1lapJonas Baumann (Swi) Wheeler - Ixs TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
-1lapDavid Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por)Row 71 - Cell 2
-2lapsDaniel Eymann (Swi) Thoemus Racing TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
-2lapsShlomi Haimy (Isr) Focus MIG TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
-2lapsPaul Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic TeamRow 74 - Cell 2
-2lapsRafal Hebisz (Pol)Row 75 - Cell 2
-2lapsMarios Athanasiadis (Cyp)Row 76 - Cell 2
-2lapsMichael Broderick (USA)Row 77 - Cell 2
-2lapsDave Henderson (GBr)Row 78 - Cell 2
-2lapsSepp Freiburghaus (Swi) Thoemus Racing TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
-2lapsSang Hoon Na (Kor)Row 80 - Cell 2
-3lapsSeiya Hirano (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor Cycling TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
-3lapsTiago Jorge Oliveira Ferreira (Por) Bi&Esse - Infotre ProtekRow 82 - Cell 2
-3lapsRobby De Bock (Bel)Row 83 - Cell 2
-4lapsJohn Whittington (GBr)Row 84 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Absalon (Fra) Orbea Racing TeamRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFMichele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta - CorratecRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFRuben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) Orbea Racing TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFIsmael Ventura Sanchez (Spa)Row 88 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Wardell (GBr)Row 89 - Cell 2
DNFMatous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB TeamRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFKornel Osicki (Pol) JBG - 2 Professional MTB TeamRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFMathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World RacingRow 92 - Cell 2
DNSLiam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
DNSIvan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Elettroveneta - CorratecRow 94 - Cell 2
DNSPeter Glassford (Can)Row 95 - Cell 2
DNSThomas Christian Bonne (Den)Row 96 - Cell 2
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Cannondale Factory Racing69pts
2Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team67Row 1 - Cell 3
3Multivan Merida Biking Team62Row 2 - Cell 3
4Specialized Racing59Row 3 - Cell 3
5Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing37Row 4 - Cell 3
6Trek World Racing35Row 5 - Cell 3
7Rabobank Giant Offroad Team34Row 6 - Cell 3
8TX Active Bianchi22Row 7 - Cell 3
9BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry19Row 8 - Cell 3
10Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team15Row 9 - Cell 3
11Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized14Row 10 - Cell 3
12GT Skoda Chamonix13Row 11 - Cell 3
13Versluys Team12Row 12 - Cell 3
14Giant Swiss SR - Suntour10Row 13 - Cell 3
15Orbea Racing Team6Row 14 - Cell 3
16Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team4Row 15 - Cell 3
17Hard Rock Canossa Merida3Row 16 - Cell 3
18Team Protek2Row 17 - Cell 3
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Elite men individual Final World Cup standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team1200pts
2Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing1058Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing865Row 2 - Cell 3
4Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing830Row 3 - Cell 3
5José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team797Row 4 - Cell 3
6Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team760Row 5 - Cell 3
7Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing715Row 6 - Cell 3
8Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing697Row 7 - Cell 3
9Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team660Row 8 - Cell 3
10Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing657Row 9 - Cell 3
11Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea Racing Team650Row 10 - Cell 3
12Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team595Row 11 - Cell 3
13Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry562Row 12 - Cell 3
14Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing543Row 13 - Cell 3
15Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi529Row 14 - Cell 3
16Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Racing506Row 15 - Cell 3
17Max Plaxton (Can)472Row 16 - Cell 3
18Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing456Row 17 - Cell 3
19Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing450Row 18 - Cell 3
20Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team430Row 19 - Cell 3
21Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Roxracing405Row 20 - Cell 3
22Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team394Row 21 - Cell 3
23Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team383Row 22 - Cell 3
24Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team380Row 23 - Cell 3
25Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru - Trek359Row 24 - Cell 3
26Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team336Row 25 - Cell 3
27Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra)331Row 26 - Cell 3
28Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Specialized Racing306Row 27 - Cell 3
29Martin Fanger (Swi) Giant Swiss SR - Suntour304Row 28 - Cell 3
30Liam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team304Row 29 - Cell 3
31Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing295Row 30 - Cell 3
32Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team258Row 31 - Cell 3
33Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)248Row 32 - Cell 3
34Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing247Row 33 - Cell 3
35Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team243Row 34 - Cell 3
36Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized230Row 35 - Cell 3
37Marek Konwa* (Pol) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team217Row 36 - Cell 3
38Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa) Orbea Racing Team216Row 37 - Cell 3
39Henk Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team199Row 38 - Cell 3
40Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix193Row 39 - Cell 3
41Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Elettroveneta - Corratec190Row 40 - Cell 3
42Fabien Canal (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix188Row 41 - Cell 3
43Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team173Row 42 - Cell 3
44Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team162Row 43 - Cell 3
45Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing158Row 44 - Cell 3
46Martin Loo (Est) Hard Rock Canossa Merida150Row 45 - Cell 3
47Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Roxracing144Row 46 - Cell 3
48Martino Fruet (Ita)142Row 47 - Cell 3
49Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team137Row 48 - Cell 3
50Philip Buys (RSA)136Row 49 - Cell 3
51Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta - Corratec135Row 50 - Cell 3
52Jiri Novak (Cze)133Row 51 - Cell 3
53Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team121Row 52 - Cell 3
54Jürg Graf (Swi) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team119Row 53 - Cell 3
55Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi111Row 54 - Cell 3
56Stephen Ettinger (USA) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team111Row 55 - Cell 3
57Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) Lapierre International105Row 56 - Cell 3
58Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team105Row 57 - Cell 3
59Raphael Gagne (Can)104Row 58 - Cell 3
60Jérémy Huguenin (Swi) Giant Swiss SR - Suntour102Row 59 - Cell 3
61Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop102Row 60 - Cell 3
62Sven Nys (Bel)100Row 61 - Cell 3
63Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru - Trek88Row 62 - Cell 3
64Andras Parti (Hun) Euroone-Waberer's-Cube MTB Team88Row 63 - Cell 3
65Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team86Row 64 - Cell 3
66Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team84Row 65 - Cell 3
67David Fletcher (GBr) Orange Monkey-Cannondale81Row 66 - Cell 3
68Periklis Ilias (Gre) Team Protek75Row 67 - Cell 3
69Michal Lami (Svk)70Row 68 - Cell 3
70Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team68Row 69 - Cell 3
71Nicola Rohrbach (Swi)68Row 70 - Cell 3
72Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) Orbea Racing Team67Row 71 - Cell 3
73Piotr Brzozka (Pol) JBG - 2 Professional MTB Team65Row 72 - Cell 3
74Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.61Row 73 - Cell 3
75Paolo Cesar Montoya Cantillo (CRc)60Row 74 - Cell 3
76Lukas Sablik (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized60Row 75 - Cell 3
77Severin Disch (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team56Row 76 - Cell 3
78Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team56Row 77 - Cell 3
79Andy Eyring (Ger)54Row 78 - Cell 3
80Adam Morka (Can)48Row 79 - Cell 3
81Andrew Watson (Can)46Row 80 - Cell 3
82Lachlan Norris (Aus) Giant Factory Off-Road Team41Row 81 - Cell 3
83Alexis Chenevier (Fra) Scott Les Saisies41Row 82 - Cell 3
84Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG - 2 Professional MTB Team37Row 83 - Cell 3
85Mitchell Hoke (USA)36Row 84 - Cell 3
86Michael Broderick (USA)32Row 85 - Cell 3
87Peter Glassford (Can)31Row 86 - Cell 3
88Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team30Row 87 - Cell 3
89Alex Grant (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing29Row 88 - Cell 3
90Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team29Row 89 - Cell 3
91Sebastien Carabin (Bel) Versluys Team27Row 90 - Cell 3
92Neal Kindree (Can)26Row 91 - Cell 3
93Spencer Paxson (USA) Kona24Row 92 - Cell 3
94Patrik Gallati (Swi) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team24Row 93 - Cell 3
95Hector Riveros (Col)23Row 94 - Cell 3
96Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3Roxracing23Row 95 - Cell 3
97Matthys Beukes (RSA)21Row 96 - Cell 3
98Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized20Row 97 - Cell 3
99Rotem Ishai (Isr)20Row 98 - Cell 3
100Kristian Hynek (Cze)20Row 99 - Cell 3
101Daniel Eymann (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team18Row 100 - Cell 3
102Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team16Row 101 - Cell 3
103Rubens Valeriano (Bra)15Row 102 - Cell 3
104Matthew Hadley (Can)15Row 103 - Cell 3
105Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) Isd MTB Team15Row 104 - Cell 3
106Ignacio Torres (Mex)14Row 105 - Cell 3
107Pete Ostroski (USA)13Row 106 - Cell 3
108Ruben Almeida (Por)13Row 107 - Cell 3
109Sid Taberlay (Aus)12Row 108 - Cell 3
110Hannes Metzler (Aut)12Row 109 - Cell 3
111Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona11Row 110 - Cell 3
112Kevin Pauwels (Bel)11Row 111 - Cell 3
113Jan Jobanek (Cze) Merida Biking Team10Row 112 - Cell 3
114Craig Richey (Can)10Row 113 - Cell 3
115David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por)10Row 114 - Cell 3
116Giancarlo Sax (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team9Row 115 - Cell 3
117Justin Lindine (USA)9Row 116 - Cell 3
118Marc Bassingthwaighte (Nam)9Row 117 - Cell 3
119Hans Becking (Ned) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team8Row 118 - Cell 3
120Luciano Caraccioli (Arg)8Row 119 - Cell 3
121Dave Henderson (GBr)8Row 120 - Cell 3
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Teams Final World Cup Standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Specialized Racing504pts
2Cannondale Factory Racing413Row 1 - Cell 3
3Multivan Merida Biking Team380Row 2 - Cell 3
4Scott - Swisspower MTB Racing Team352Row 3 - Cell 3
5Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing244Row 4 - Cell 3
6Trek World Racing214Row 5 - Cell 3
7Rabobank Giant Offroad Team201Row 6 - Cell 3
8Orbea Racing Team140Row 7 - Cell 3
9BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry114Row 8 - Cell 3
10TX Active Bianchi96Row 9 - Cell 3
11Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team81Row 10 - Cell 3
12Scott-3Roxracing73Row 11 - Cell 3
13Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team67Row 12 - Cell 3
14Subaru - Trek45Row 13 - Cell 3
15Giant Swiss SR - Suntour42Row 14 - Cell 3
16Giant Factory Off-Road Team31Row 15 - Cell 3
17Rubena Auto-Mencik Specialized27Row 16 - Cell 3
18GT Skoda Chamonix27Row 17 - Cell 3
19Elettroveneta - Corratec24Row 18 - Cell 3
20Topeak Ergon Racing Team23Row 19 - Cell 3
21Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team18Row 20 - Cell 3
22Versluys Team12Row 21 - Cell 3
23Thoemus Racing Team6Row 22 - Cell 3
24Lapierre International6Row 23 - Cell 3
25Hard Rock Canossa Merida6Row 24 - Cell 3
26S&H Superior MTB Team5Row 25 - Cell 3
27Team Protek2Row 26 - Cell 3
28Euroone-Waberer's-Cube MTB Team1Row 27 - Cell 3

 

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