Schurter takes off with a bang in opening World Cup

The first round of the cross country UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, held in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, served notice that riders are entering the season in top form, with the elite men averaging over 20 kilometre per hour for their 31.8-kilometre race.

In the elite men's cross country race, the top three finishers in the 2010 World Cup standings finished in exactly that order, with Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower) beating rival Julien Absalon (Orbea) of France by a meager 16 seconds, with Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized) of the Czech Republic in third at 1:07. World Champion Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida Mountain Bike Team) and Marco Aurelio Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing) claimed the final two podium spots.

Constant rivals Schurter and Absalon rode away from the rest of the field, with Kulhavy only able to hold on for the first half of the race before the duo dropped him. Absalon had the power on the climbs, but it was in the all important technical sections where Schurter held the advantage.

In the Treehouse rock garden section, Schurter was noticeably smoother, and it was here on lap five of the six-lap race that the Swiss rider made his move.

"Again, it was a great fight between Julien and me," said Schurter. "We are so close, but I was a little faster in the technical section and was able to get a gap, which I could hold to the finish line. I could see that he was coming back a bit on the climbs on the last lap, but it was just enough to hold on. It is always special to win against Julien."

Schurter entered the last lap 20 seconds ahead of Absalon, a gap which shrunk to only a handful of seconds by the top of the climb before he was able to open it again to finish 16 seconds ahead.

"I expected Nino would do well," said Absalon. "This track suited him very well, and I was having trouble with the rocky section each time. On lap five, I didn't crash, but I hit a tree and lost some time. And after that, we were both going full gas, so there was no chance to catch him."

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing1:34:50
2Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea0:00:16
3Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing0:01:07
4José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:01:15
5Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing0:01:46
6Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing0:01:48
7Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa) Orbea0:01:51
8Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi0:01:54
9Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Wildwolf-Trek Racing0:02:33
10Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing0:02:36
11Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing0:02:45
12Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-Suntour-Peisey Vallandry0:02:57
13Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Racing0:03:08
14Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing0:03:11
15Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing0:03:30
16Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Giant Italia Team0:03:45
17Patrik Gallati (Swi) BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team0:03:53
18Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Wildwolf-Trek Racing0:04:08
19Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain0:04:22
20Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:04:47
21Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team0:05:11
22Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing0:05:32
23Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team0:05:36
24Rudi Van Houts (Ned)0:05:44
25Jelmer Pietersma (Ned) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team0:05:56
26Martin Fanger (Swi) Giant Swiss SR-Suntour0:05:59
27Liam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team0:06:06
29Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Team Newcycling0:06:14
30Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing0:06:34
31Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) Orbea0:06:53
32Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:07:06
33Lukas Kaufmann (Swi)0:07:18
34Derek Zandstra (Can)0:07:28
35Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:07:37
36Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team0:07:51
37Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Trek0:07:52
38Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team0:08:08
39Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi0:08:20
40Oliver Beckingsale (GBr)0:08:23
41Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Andras Parti (Hun) Euro One-Cube MTB Team0:08:27
43Nicola Rohrbach (Swi) Elettroveneta-Corratec0:08:29
44Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys-Evenza TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team0:08:30
46Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team0:08:34
47Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)0:09:02
49Pascal Meyer (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team0:09:03
50Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team0:09:26
51Jiri Novak (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team0:09:41
52Martino Fruet (Ita)0:09:58
53Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team0:10:07
54Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek0:10:13
55Chris Jongewaard (Aus)Row 54 - Cell 2
56Hannes Metzler (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team0:10:22
57Marc Colom (Fra) Team Newcycling0:10:24
58Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team0:10:45
59Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.0:11:02
60Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team0:11:13
61Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:11:18
62Rene Tann (Ger)0:11:48
63Simon Scheiber (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team0:12:03
64Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:12:20
65Sergji Rysenko (Ukr) ISD Cycling Team0:12:22
66Matthias Leisling (Ger) Muskelkater Genesis Team0:12:23
67Ben Henderson (Aus)0:12:29
68Andrew Watson (Can)0:12:33
69Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec0:12:42
70Adam Morka (Can)0:13:10
71Matthys Beukes (RSA)0:13:41
72Martin Loo (Est) Infotre - Bi&Esse- Leecougan0:14:02
73Torsten Marx (Ger)0:14:14
74Evgeniy Pechenin (Rus) Forward-Udmurtia0:14:25
75Ludovic Dubau (Fra) Team Newcycling0:14:42
76Steffen Thum (Ger)0:14:59
77Magnus Darvell (Swe)0:15:21
78Andrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop0:15:56
79Simon Gegenheimer (Ger)-1 lap
80Frank Schotman (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
81Christopher Maletz (Ger)Row 80 - Cell 2
82Irjan Luttenberg (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
83Michael Broderick (USA) Kenda/Seven/No TubesRow 82 - Cell 2
84Severin Disch (Swi) Thoemus Racing TeamRow 83 - Cell 2
85Troy Wells (USA)Row 84 - Cell 2
86Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Team Bridgestone AnchorRow 85 - Cell 2
87Mattias Wengelin (Swe)Row 86 - Cell 2
88Lee Williams (GBr)Row 87 - Cell 2
89Bjorn Brems (Bel) Versluys-Evenza TeamRow 88 - Cell 2
90Renay Groustra (RSA)Row 89 - Cell 2
91Oliver Munnik (RSA)Row 90 - Cell 2
92Pierre Lebreton (Fra) BH-Suntour-Peisey VallandryRow 91 - Cell 2
93Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta-Corratec-2 laps
94Ben Melt Swanepoel (RSA)Row 93 - Cell 2
95Alexey Medvedev (Rus) Elettroveneta-CorratecRow 94 - Cell 2
96Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) MTN QhubekaRow 95 - Cell 2
97Matthias Waldhart (Aut)Row 96 - Cell 2
98Lachlan Norris (Aus) Giant Factory Off-Road Team-3 laps
99Jelmer Jubbega (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
100Christoph Soukup (Aut)Row 99 - Cell 2
101Lee John (Zim)Row 100 - Cell 2
102Martinus Esmeyer (RSA)Row 101 - Cell 2
103Christopher Wolhuter (RSA)-4 laps
104Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi) Thoemus Racing TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFAlexis Vuillermoz (Fra) Lapierre InternationalRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFHenk Jaap Moorlag (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFPhilip Buys (RSA)Row 106 - Cell 2
DNFJan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFCédric Ravanel (Fra) Gt Skoda ChamonixRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFAdrian Brzozka (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFBrandon Stewart (RSA)Row 110 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Bassingthwaighte (Nam)Row 111 - Cell 2
DNFFrancois Theron (RSA)Row 112 - Cell 2
DNSMax Knox (RSA)Row 113 - Cell 2
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Elite men cross country World Cup standings after one round
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing250pts
2Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea200Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing160Row 2 - Cell 3
4José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team150Row 3 - Cell 3
5Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing140Row 4 - Cell 3
6Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing130Row 5 - Cell 3
7Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa) Orbea120Row 6 - Cell 3
8Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi110Row 7 - Cell 3
9Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Wildwolf-Trek Racing100Row 8 - Cell 3
10Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing95Row 9 - Cell 3
11Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing90Row 10 - Cell 3
12Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-Suntour-Peisey Vallandry85Row 11 - Cell 3
13Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Racing80Row 12 - Cell 3
14Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing78Row 13 - Cell 3
15Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing76Row 14 - Cell 3
16Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Giant Italia Team74Row 15 - Cell 3
17Patrik Gallati (Swi) BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team72Row 16 - Cell 3
18Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Wildwolf-Trek Racing70Row 17 - Cell 3
19Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain68Row 18 - Cell 3
20Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team66Row 19 - Cell 3
21Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team64Row 20 - Cell 3
22Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing62Row 21 - Cell 3
23Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team60Row 22 - Cell 3
24Rudi Van Houts (Ned)58Row 23 - Cell 3
25Jelmer Pietersma (Ned) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team56Row 24 - Cell 3
26Martin Fanger (Swi) Giant Swiss SR-Suntour54Row 25 - Cell 3
27Liam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team52Row 26 - Cell 3
28Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team50Row 27 - Cell 3
29Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Team Newcycling48Row 28 - Cell 3
30Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing46Row 29 - Cell 3
31Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) Orbea44Row 30 - Cell 3
32Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team42Row 31 - Cell 3
33Lukas Kaufmann (Swi)40Row 32 - Cell 3
34Derek Zandstra (Can)38Row 33 - Cell 3
35Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team36Row 34 - Cell 3
36Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team34Row 35 - Cell 3
37Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Trek32Row 36 - Cell 3
38Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team30Row 37 - Cell 3
39Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi29Row 38 - Cell 3
40Oliver Beckingsale (GBr)28Row 39 - Cell 3
41Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team27Row 40 - Cell 3
42Andras Parti (Hun) Euro One-Cube MTB Team26Row 41 - Cell 3
43Nicola Rohrbach (Swi) Elettroveneta-Corratec25Row 42 - Cell 3
44Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys-Evenza Team24Row 43 - Cell 3
45Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team23Row 44 - Cell 3
46Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team22Row 45 - Cell 3
47Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team21Row 46 - Cell 3
48Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)20Row 47 - Cell 3
49Pascal Meyer (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team19Row 48 - Cell 3
50Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team18Row 49 - Cell 3
51Jiri Novak (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team17Row 50 - Cell 3
52Martino Fruet (Ita)16Row 51 - Cell 3
53Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team15Row 52 - Cell 3
54Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek14Row 53 - Cell 3
55Chris Jongewaard (Aus)13Row 54 - Cell 3
56Hannes Metzler (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team12Row 55 - Cell 3
57Marc Colom (Fra) Team Newcycling11Row 56 - Cell 3
58Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team10Row 57 - Cell 3
59Umberto Corti (Ita) Team CBE Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.9Row 58 - Cell 3
60Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team8Row 59 - Cell 3
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Elite men cross country teams World Cup standings after one round
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Specialized Racing73pts
2Cannondale Factory Racing71Row 1 - Cell 3
3Orbea59Row 2 - Cell 3
4Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing41Row 3 - Cell 3
5Multivan Merida Biking Team41Row 4 - Cell 3
6Wildwolf-Trek Racing35Row 5 - Cell 3
7Trek World Racing25Row 6 - Cell 3
8TX Active Bianchi23Row 7 - Cell 3
9BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team22Row 8 - Cell 3
10BH-Suntour-Peisey Vallandry19Row 9 - Cell 3
11Giant Italia Team15Row 10 - Cell 3
12Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain12Row 11 - Cell 3
13Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team10Row 12 - Cell 3
14Milka Trek MTB Racing Team6Row 13 - Cell 3
15Giant Swiss SR-Suntour5Row 14 - Cell 3
16Giant Factory Off-Road Team4Row 15 - Cell 3
17Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team3Row 16 - Cell 3
18Team Newcycling2Row 17 - Cell 3

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