Kulhavy solos to victory

The men's six-lap World Cup race in Dalby Forest was a one man show, with Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized) getting into the lead after the start loop. Kulhavy would race solo for the duration of the race, taking the victory on Sunday afternoon.  Julien Absalon (Orbea) also spent much of the race on his own and finished second.   Marco Fontana (Cannondale) won the sprint for third ahead of Maxime Marotte (BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry) and Manuel Fumic (Cannondale).

A chase group formed behind Kulhavy, with Fontana and his Cannondale teammate Fumic doing much of the work. Round one winner Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower), who won at Dalby last year, was having an uncharacteristically off day and struggled even to stay with the group.

Absalon, after a poor start that put him well back on the start loop, chased back to the group and immediately went to the front, but Kulhavy was gone. Absalon dropped the rest of the chase group on the second lap, and chased hard for the next two laps, but could only close to within 20 seconds of Kulhavy and, by lap four, was losing ground to the big Czech rider.

Kulhavy and Absalon continued to pull away from the rest of the field, and the chase group disintegrated in the final lap. Fontana out-kicked Marotte for third, and Fumic took the final podium spot ahead of Moritz Milatz (BMC).

"This is a course that suits me," said Kulhavy, who took the World Cup lead from Schurter, only 10 points in front of Absalon. "I knew before the start that this would be a good course for me, and it was my plan to attack right from the start of the race."

Absalon was not too upset after getting second for the second consecutive year.

"Second is okay, I am happy with second. I had a bad start, so by the time I got to the front [of the chasers] Kulhavy was gone. It was a good race for me, and I am only 10 points behind, and next week is Offenburg," a race where Absalon has had a perfect winning record for the last four years.

Race notes

- Kulhavy won the race on a full suspension 29er.  It was the first cross country UCI World Cup win on a 29er.

- World Champion Jose Antonio Hermida (Multivan Merida) had a tough day.  On the third lap, a stick got stuck in his derailleur.  Hermida estimated that he lost 30-40 seconds when he stopped to clear the stick and straighten out his derailleur. "I lost some time on the leaders, but I believed that I could get back to them. But I was not feeling my best and didn't have the strength to connect with the riders (in the main chase group) fighting for the third place."

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing1:40:53
2Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea0:00:50
3Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing0:01:39
4Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH - Suntour - Peisey VallandryRow 3 - Cell 2
5Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing0:01:40
6Moritz Milatz (Ger) BMC Mountainbike Racing TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing0:01:51
8Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Racing0:01:52
9Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing0:01:58
10Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team0:02:00
11Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi0:02:24
12Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Racing0:02:29
13Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:02:41
14Rudi Van Houts (Ned)0:02:56
15Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing0:03:06
16Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing0:03:07
17José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:03:38
18Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing0:04:02
19Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World RacingRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Giant Italia Team0:04:54
23Oliver Beckingsale (GBr)0:05:03
24Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) Orbea0:05:12
25Martin Fanger (Swi) Giant Swiss Sr - Suntour0:05:19
26Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:05:50
27Derek Zandstra (Can)0:06:00
28Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team0:06:08
29Nicola Rohrbach (Swi) Elettroveneta - Corratec0:06:11
30Liam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team0:06:12
31Henk Jaap Moorlag (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:06:19
32Christoph Soukup (Aut)0:06:21
33Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team0:06:22
34Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru - Trek0:06:25
35Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team0:06:28
36Chris Jongewaard (Aus)0:06:32
37Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra)0:06:38
38Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Jeremiah Bishop (USA)0:06:42
40Marc Colom (Fra) Team Newcycling0:06:45
41Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Team Newcycling0:06:51
42Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys - Evenza Team0:06:59
43Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:07:07
44Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)0:07:10
45Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain0:07:11
46Jiri Novak (Cze) S&H Superior MTB TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Martino Fruet (Ita)0:07:18
48Max Plaxton (Can)0:07:26
49Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta - Corratec0:07:31
50Irjan Luttenberg (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team0:07:33
51Andras Parti (Hun) Euro One - Cube MTB Team0:07:45
52Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:07:51
53Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru - Trek0:07:55
54Marek Galinski (Pol) Jbg - 2 Professional MTB Team0:07:59
55Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:08:17
56Lukas Kaufmann (Swi)0:08:42
57Severin Disch (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team0:08:48
58Michal Lami (Svk)0:08:53
59Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:08:55
60Cédric Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix0:08:56
61Hannes Metzler (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team0:09:36
62Rene Tann (Ger)0:09:47
63Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team0:09:57
64Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team0:10:03
65Bart Aernouts (Bel)0:10:04
66Jelmer Pietersma (Ned) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team0:10:10
67Robby De Bock (Bel)0:10:19
68Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi0:10:20
69Cristian Cominelli (Ita) TX Active Bianchi0:10:25
70Simon Scheiber (Aut) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team0:10:28
71David Joao Serralheiro Rosa (Por)0:10:29
72Frank Schotman (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team0:10:39
73Tiago Jorge Oliveira Ferreira (Por)0:11:04
74Marc Bassingthwaighte (Nam)0:11:06
75Torsten Marx (Ger)0:11:12
76Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team0:11:29
77Pascal Meyer (Swi) Thoemus Racing TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Gerben De Knegt (Ned)0:11:39
79Mattias Wengelin (Swe)0:11:41
80Christopher Maletz (Ger)0:11:42
81Nicholas Craig (GBr)0:11:48
82Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team0:11:50
83Fredrik Edin (Swe)0:11:51
84Jorgen Flion (Bel)0:12:12
85Philip Buys (RSA)0:12:14
86Bjorn Brems (Bel) Versluys - Evenza Team0:12:16
87Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita) Elettroveneta - Corratec0:12:21
88Matthias Leisling (Ger) Muskelkater Genesis Team0:12:35
89Spencer Paxson (USA) Kona0:12:42
90Giancarlo Sax (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team0:12:55
91Andrew Watson (Can)0:13:00
92Ole Christian Fagerli (Nor)0:13:02
93Simon Gegenheimer (Ger)Row 92 - Cell 2
94Lee Williams (GBr)0:13:05
95Magnus Darvell (Swe)0:13:39
96David Collins (GBr)0:14:05
97Steffen Thum (Ger)0:14:26
98Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Team Bridgestone Anchor0:15:28
-1lapPascal Hossay (Bel) G - Skin - Deforche MTB Racing TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
-1lapDave Henderson (GBr)Row 99 - Cell 2
-1lapMartin Loo (Est) Infotre - Bi & Esse - LeecouganRow 100 - Cell 2
-1lapKazuhiro Yamamoto (Jpn)Row 101 - Cell 2
-1lapLudovic Dubau (Fra) Team NewcyclingRow 102 - Cell 2
-1lapPierre Lebreton (Fra) BH - Suntour - Peisey VallandryRow 103 - Cell 2
-1lapMichael Broderick (USA)Row 104 - Cell 2
-1lapSeiya Hirano (Jpn) Team Bridgestone AnchorRow 105 - Cell 2
-1lapRoss Adams (GBr)Row 106 - Cell 2
-1lapRaphael Gagne (Can)Row 107 - Cell 2
-1lapMarco Schätzing (Ger) Team Firebike - DroessigerRow 108 - Cell 2
-2lapsAndrew Cockburn (GBr)Row 109 - Cell 2
-2lapsBrian Lopes (USA)Row 110 - Cell 2
-2lapsDaniel Federspiel (Aut)Row 111 - Cell 2
-2lapsMatthias Waldhart (Aut)Row 112 - Cell 2
-2lapsGareth Montgomerie (GBr)Row 113 - Cell 2
-2lapsJohn Whittington (GBr)Row 114 - Cell 2
-2lapsSang Hoon Na (Kor)Row 115 - Cell 2
-2lapsBrice Scholtes (Bel) G - Skin - Deforche MTB Racing TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
-2lapsPaul Robertson (GBr)Row 117 - Cell 2
-3lapsJody Crawforth (GBr)Row 118 - Cell 2
DNFSven Nys (Bel)Row 119 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Tiberi (Ita) Torpado Surfing ShopRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFInaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa) OrbeaRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFBas Peters (Ned) Team Merida CombeeRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFPatrik Gallati (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing TeamRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFSergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek RacingRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFRuben Almeida (Por)Row 125 - Cell 2
DNFBen Thomas (GBr)Row 126 - Cell 2
DNFMathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World RacingRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFRalph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking TeamRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFTom Meeusen (Bel)Row 129 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Specialized Racing87pts
2Cannondale Factory Racing76Row 1 - Cell 3
3Orbea42Row 2 - Cell 3
4Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing35Row 3 - Cell 3
5Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team31Row 4 - Cell 3
6BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry30Row 5 - Cell 3
7BMC Mountainbike Racing Team26Row 6 - Cell 3
8TX Active Bianchi20Row 7 - Cell 3
9Wildwolf - Trek Racing19Row 8 - Cell 3
10Multivan Merida Biking Team19Row 9 - Cell 3
11Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team18Row 10 - Cell 3
12Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team14Row 11 - Cell 3
13Trek World Racing12Row 12 - Cell 3
14Giant Italia Team9Row 13 - Cell 3
15Giant Swiss SR - Suntour6Row 14 - Cell 3
16Elettroveneta - Corratec2Row 15 - Cell 3
17Giant Factory Off-Road Team1Row 16 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Elite men World Cup standings after two rounds
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing410pts
2Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea400Row 1 - Cell 3
3Nino Schurter (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing350Row 2 - Cell 3
4Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing300Row 3 - Cell 3
5Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing270Row 4 - Cell 3
6Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry235Row 5 - Cell 3
7José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan Merida Biking Team222Row 6 - Cell 3
8Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized Racing210Row 7 - Cell 3
9Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi200Row 8 - Cell 3
10Moritz Milatz (Ger) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team190Row 9 - Cell 3
11Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Racing190Row 10 - Cell 3
12Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Racing185Row 11 - Cell 3
13Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing169Row 12 - Cell 3
14Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team159Row 13 - Cell 3
15Martin Gujan (Swi) Cannondale Factory Racing154Row 14 - Cell 3
16Rudi Van Houts (Ned)136Row 15 - Cell 3
17Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (Spa) Giant Italia Team136Row 16 - Cell 3
18Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team130Row 17 - Cell 3
19Lukas Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing130Row 18 - Cell 3
20Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa) Orbea120Row 19 - Cell 3
21Florian Vogel (Swi) Scott - Swisspower MTB - Racing116Row 20 - Cell 3
22Martin Fanger (Swi) Giant Swiss Sr - Suntour110Row 21 - Cell 3
23Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spa) Orbea102Row 22 - Cell 3
24Karl Markt (Aut) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team98Row 23 - Cell 3
25Liam Killeen (GBr) Giant Factory Off-Road Team98Row 24 - Cell 3
26Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team96Row 25 - Cell 3
27Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain91Row 26 - Cell 3
28Derek Zandstra (Can)90Row 27 - Cell 3
29Oliver Beckingsale (GBr)88Row 28 - Cell 3
30Mathias Flückiger (Swi) Trek World Racing76Row 29 - Cell 3
31Pierre-Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Team Newcycling75Row 30 - Cell 3
32Jiri Friedl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team73Row 31 - Cell 3
33Nicola Rohrbach (Swi) Elettroveneta - Corratec73Row 32 - Cell 3
34Patrik Gallati (Swi) Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team72Row 33 - Cell 3
35Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa) Wildwolf - Trek Racing70Row 34 - Cell 3
36Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru - Trek70Row 35 - Cell 3
37Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Rubena - Birell - Specialized Cycling Team66Row 36 - Cell 3
38Ralph Naef (Swi) Multivan Merida Biking Team66Row 37 - Cell 3
39Matous Ulman (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team61Row 38 - Cell 3
40Jelmer Pietersma (Ned) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team56Row 39 - Cell 3
41Lukas Kaufmann (Swi)52Row 40 - Cell 3
42Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team51Row 41 - Cell 3
43Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys - Evenza Team50Row 42 - Cell 3
44Chris Jongewaard (Aus)47Row 43 - Cell 3
45Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team45Row 44 - Cell 3
46Henk Jaap Moorlag (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team44Row 45 - Cell 3
47Daniel Mcconnell (Aus)44Row 46 - Cell 3
48Andras Parti (Hun) Euro One - Cube MTB Team43Row 47 - Cell 3
49Christoph Soukup (Aut)42Row 48 - Cell 3
50Marek Galinski (Pol) Jbg - 2 Professional MTB Team41Row 49 - Cell 3
51Marc Colom (Fra) Team Newcycling39Row 50 - Cell 3
52Jiri Novak (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team39Row 51 - Cell 3
53Martino Fruet (Ita)37Row 52 - Cell 3
54Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team35Row 53 - Cell 3
55Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra)32Row 54 - Cell 3
56Robert Mennen (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team30Row 55 - Cell 3
57Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team30Row 56 - Cell 3
58Jeremiah Bishop (USA)29Row 57 - Cell 3
59Tony Longo (Ita) TX Active Bianchi29Row 58 - Cell 3
60Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru - Trek29Row 59 - Cell 3
61Niels Wubben (Ned) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team24Row 60 - Cell 3
62Milan Spesny (Cze) S&H Superior MTB Team22Row 61 - Cell 3
63Max Plaxton (Can)20Row 62 - Cell 3
64Michele Casagrande (Ita) Elettroveneta - Corratec19Row 63 - Cell 3
65Pascal Meyer (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team19Row 64 - Cell 3
66Irjan Luttenberg (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team18Row 65 - Cell 3
67Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank - Giant Off-Road Team18Row 66 - Cell 3
68Alban Lakata (Aut) Topeak Ergon Racing Team13Row 67 - Cell 3
69Hannes Metzler (Aut) Muskelkater Genesis Team12Row 68 - Cell 3
70Severin Disch (Swi) Thoemus Racing Team11Row 69 - Cell 3
71Michal Lami (Svk)10Row 70 - Cell 3
72Umberto Corti (Ita) Team Cbe Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.9Row 71 - Cell 3
73Cédric Ravanel (Fra) Gt Skoda Chamonix8Row 72 - Cell 3

 

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