Absalon wins in Heubach on third attempt

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Julien Absalon and Annika Langvad won the elite men's and women's races at the second round of the International MTB-Bundesliga in Heubach, Germany. The Frenchman Absalon won the HC-category race ahead of Belgian Roel Paulissen and Spaniard José Hermida while Danish champion Langvad surprised runner-up Anja Gradl of Germany. Canadian Emily Batty jumped on the podium in third.

Everybody was excited about the expected duel between Absalon and German Wolfram Kurschat, who won the "Bike the Rock" in Heubach in 2009. Kurschat, aiming to repeat his victory, set a high pace and was in the lead by 30 seconds after less than two of seven 4.3-km laps.

But then, Kurschat had a problem with his derailleur and subsequently, his chain. He fell back, all chances of Heubach victory number three lost.

Absalon took over the lead, extending his gap up to 1:25 and securing his first win after being third in 2008 and second in 2009.

"The two years before, I was not in my best shape when I was at Heubach," said Absalon. "Today, I felt good on the uphill and also on the downhill. Heubach is maybe the hardest race of the whole year, but this long downhill makes a lot of fun. I like it."

Four chasers fought for second place. While German Moritz Milatz made a mistake just before the last lap and crashed, Paulissen was getting stronger and stronger, lap by lap. At the end, he sprinted out World Cup overall leader Hermida for the second spot on the podium.

"I had good tires for the mud, and the longer race the race went, the faster I got," said Paulissen.

Hermida was "satisfied" with his race. "One week before the Offenburg World Cup, everybody wants to come into form. I'm looking forward to defend my leader jersey."

Fourth position went to Fabian Giger of Switzerland afte ra sprint. One centimeter decided the outcome against Milatz.

Langvad happy with "perfect race"

Surprisingly in women's competition, Irina Kalentieva did not take a fourth victory in Heubach. The World Champion, who lives just 15km away, complained that she still had not recovered from the recent World Cup races.

"My legs aren't fresh," she said.

So the way to victory was free and clear for Annika Langvad. The 26-year-old went into race very fast followed by Anja Gradl and Emily Batty.

Her gap was about 45 seconds after the first of four laps and again after two laps. But then Langvad crashed and saw her lead endangered as she lost her entire advantage against Gradl.

However, at about the same time, the German lost air in her back tyre and Langvad's fate was sealed.

"I had some reserves left," Langvad said. "Now I'm really happy because I was pretty nervous before the race. Last year, I had a bad race in Heubach but today it was perfect."

Gradl was not quite sure whether she should be happy about a great result or sad about a lost chance to get her first win in an international race. "Maybe I would have had my chance in the last downhill, but anyway my race was not too bad today," she said.

Emily Batty secured third place ahead of Elisabeth Brandau and Kalentieva. "The climb was not too bad, I could go my rhythm and the downhill was really fun," Batty said after the race.

Photos coming!

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