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Photo Gallery: Images from the Offenburg World Cup

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Elite racers face a rooty but fast and dry course

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Gravity World Cup winner Brian Lopes is mixing it up in the eliminators and short tracks this season

Gravity World Cup winner Brian Lopes is mixing it up in the eliminators and short tracks this season
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The junior men raced on Saturday.

The junior men raced on Saturday.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Juniors race one of the few fireroad sections of course, a climb.

Juniors race one of the few fireroad sections of course, a climb.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The Snake Pit would have been really tricky in wet conditions.

The Snake Pit would have been really tricky in wet conditions.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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This Snake Pit rooty section is more level than the drops though it is stills lightly downhill.

This Snake Pit rooty section is more level than the drops though it is stills lightly downhill.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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A man flies a video camera via remote control.

A man flies a video camera via remote control.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Vineyards and cherry trees surround Offenburg.

Vineyards and cherry trees surround Offenburg.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The mountains and vineyards provide a beautiful backdrop. This is a typical view along the course.

The mountains and vineyards provide a beautiful backdrop. This is a typical view along the course.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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A rider speeds down the Wolfs Drop

A rider speeds down the Wolfs Drop
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The Wolfs Drop featured some roots which will be much easier to ride in these dry conditions.

The Wolfs Drop featured some roots which will be much easier to ride in these dry conditions.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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A view of some tricky roots on one of the Offenburg course's drops, the Wolf Drop

A view of some tricky roots on one of the Offenburg course's drops, the Wolf Drop
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Riders rolled down the drops like they were nothing during practice.

Riders rolled down the drops like they were nothing during practice.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The North Shore drop is steep. Photos don't do it justice. We could barely walk down it.

The North Shore drop is steep. Photos don't do it justice. We could barely walk down it.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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A rider approaches the North Shore drop

A rider approaches the North Shore drop
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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A rider descends some twisty singletrack toward the North Shore drop

A rider descends some twisty singletrack toward the North Shore drop
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Racers come out of the sunlight and into the dark woods as they launch off this rock and drop in to some singletrack

Racers come out of the sunlight and into the dark woods as they launch off this rock and drop in to some singletrack
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Racers can choose from two different lines on the first big drop on the cross country course.

Racers can choose from two different lines on the first big drop on the cross country course.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The cross country course passes lots of vineyards.

The cross country course passes lots of vineyards.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Thomas Litscher (Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team) races to a win in the eliminator.

Thomas Litscher (Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team) races to a win in the eliminator.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The men lined up for one of the final heats of the eliminator. They have to start with one foot down.

The men lined up for one of the final heats of the eliminator. They have to start with one foot down.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The women in heat 1 of the eliminator finals sprint to the finish.

The women in heat 1 of the eliminator finals sprint to the finish.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Lea Davison (Specialized) sprints to the line in the eliminator

Lea Davison (Specialized) sprints to the line in the eliminator
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The women, lined up and ready for a heat of the eliminator

The women, lined up and ready for a heat of the eliminator
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Lea Davison (Specialized) rolls to the line on her brand new Fate bicycle, launched this weekend.

Lea Davison (Specialized) rolls to the line on her brand new Fate bicycle, launched this weekend.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Anneke Beerten (Trek Milka) is racing cross country this year, too.

Anneke Beerten (Trek Milka) is racing cross country this year, too.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The Offenburg eliminator featured six men per heat.

The Offenburg eliminator featured six men per heat.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The men start a heat of the eliminator.

The men start a heat of the eliminator.
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The women race for the first turn in the eliminator

The women race for the first turn in the eliminator
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Lea Davison (Specialized) follows Katherine O'Shea (Torq)

Lea Davison (Specialized) follows Katherine O'Shea (Torq)
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Katerina Nash (Luna) in second

Katerina Nash (Luna) in second
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Annie Last (Great Britain)

Annie Last (Great Britain)
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain Maxxis) in the eliminator

Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain Maxxis) in the eliminator
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Todd Wells (Specialized) in the eliminator

Todd Wells (Specialized) in the eliminator
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Burry Stander (Specialized) on the eliminator course

Burry Stander (Specialized) on the eliminator course
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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World Champion Jose Antonio Hermida races the eliminator

World Champion Jose Antonio Hermida races the eliminator
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Manuel Fumic (Cannondale) qualifies in the eliminator

Manuel Fumic (Cannondale) qualifies in the eliminator
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Marco Fontana (Cannondale) in the eliminator

Marco Fontana (Cannondale) in the eliminator
(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)

Elite racers awoke to bright sunshine and comfortable temperatures on Sunday morning in Offenburg, Germany, where round three of the UCI cross country mountain bike World Cup will be run today.  The elite women and under 23 women race first, followed by the elite men.

Cyclingnews walked the approximately 5km course.  It's very shady, but the sun does come through the mostly forested course in places.  The course is well packed and riding fast.  Recent rains mean it's not too dusty.  The elite men will race seven laps while the elite women do five, and the under 23 women do four.

On Friday night, the action got underway with the eliminator.  Riders qualified with an individual time trial on a short course that was a bit like a short track.  Following qualification, heats of six led to the finals.

Stay tuned to Cyclingnews for full coverage after today's races..