The first UCI MTB World Cup is history. Yesterday, Sunday, the elite women as well as the U23 riders and elite men went to the 5,8-kilometer route in Pietermaritzburg to choose the best among themselves. Under the setting sun of South Africa, the expected picture emerged: Nino Schurter is in impressive form again this year. The fast Swiss rider led the elite men's field from the start. His main rival, Julien Absalon, got off to a lesser start, but managed to catch up with Schurter within the first two laps. Together with Manuel Fumic, who was in great form, and Mathias Flückiger, they formed the leading group in the second of six laps, followed by Maxime Marotte.
As the race progressed, Schurter, Absalon and Fumic were able to assert themselves as the leading trio and build up a small lead. In comparison to its competitors, Schurter is on slightly smaller 27.5 inch wheels and is therefore at a disadvantage on the descents, one would think. However, he rode the technical stone fields much faster and was able to use the agility of his bike perfectly to occasionally open a small gap, which Fumic and Absalon had to close in the uphills. At the beginning of the fourth lap, however, Fumic had to lose contact. Schurter and Absalon increased the pace and opened up a lead of almost ten seconds. Schurter managed to create another gap on a descent, but suffered a flat tire and had to let Absalon go. “Sometimes luck is on your side, sometimes on someone else's. That's Racing", said Schurter at the finish. Absalon rode the final lap solo to claim his first World Cup win of the season, unchallenged. Manuel Fumic also benefited from Schurter's defect and took a very good second place, which he was visibly happy about at the finish. Maxime Marotte follows in third place. Schurter had a long way to go to the tech zone but managed to get a good sixth place. Ondrej Cink and Jose Hermida completed the podium with fourth and fifth place.
Watch the Elite Men's race replay here.[Link]
Jolanda Neff seems to be in the form of her life this year. She led the race in Pietermaritzburg from the start and did not give up the lead, even if she had to get out of the saddle briefly to set it up. In the end they had a solid 25 second lead over second placed Guun-Rita Dahle Flesjaa. Maja Wloszczowska also had a good start to the World Cup season. In the meantime running in second place, she gave up her position to Dahle-Flesjaa and finished in third place. Sabine Spitz returned with an impressive sixth place.
"For me, this is a great comeback and almost a dream result. After the first days of training here, I wouldn't have thought it possible. The memories of 2013 were suddenly very present. That was mentally difficult for me, also because it was the first World Cup. Almost a double trauma, since the start of 2013 hadn't been forgotten either." said the German champion at the finish.
Watch the Elite Men's race replay here.[Link]
The U23 women's race was won by the Swede and Schurter's teammate Jenny Rissveds. With a lot of pressure on the pedals and a good line in the stone fields, she drove a safe start-finish victory. Jordan Sarrou triumphed in the U23 men.
result men
1. Julien Absalon (BMC Racing Team) 1:38:05
2. Manuel Fumic (Cannondale Factory Racing) +0:34
3. Maxime Marotte (BH SR Suntour KMC) +0:54
4. Ondrej Cink (Multivan Merida) +1:32
5. José Hermida (Multivan-Merida) +1:39
result women
1. Jolanda Neff (Liv XC Team) 1:38:00
2. Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa (Multivan-Merida) +0:25
3. Maja Wloszczowska (Lic XC Team) +1:00
4. Annika Langvad (Specialized Racing Team) +1:37
5 Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory Racing) +1:55