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After dominating Houffalize and Offenburg, four-time World Champion Julien Absalon faced tougher opposition in Madrid, Spain. It came in the form of Spanish National Champion Jose Hermida and a very partisan hometown crowd. But in the end neither was able to affect Julien's drive. It took a few laps the race settled down before Absalon and Hermida rose to the front and battled it out over the lead. After 7 laps and 33.9 miles, Julien outsprinted Jose to snatch victory by 12 seconds.
Overall, Absalon has a perfect score of 750 points. Although 2007 World Cup number three Christoph Sauser had a disastrous day with a 12th place showing in Madrid, he still holds second overall with 445 points. Jean-Christophe Peraud's strong ride in Madrid has moved him up to in to third overall with 430 points. Despite abandoning the race, Switzerland’s Nino Schurter is still the boss of the Under-23 category with a fifth place overall standing.
DAHLE IS BACK!
A week after abandoning in Offenburg, Gunn-Rita Dahle made a splendid comeback and won Madrid for the fourth time (after 2004, 2005 and 2006). With Irina Kalentieva a no-show due to illness (leader before the start), the run for victory was played between Dahle, Marie-Helene Premont and Margarita Fullana. Unlike her first two World Cup performances this year, Ren Chengyuan was not comfortable on the fast Casa de Campo circuit and never rode to the forefront in Spain. Fullana was the first to detach from the top three. In the last lap, Dahle and Premont came back together. Like in the men's race, it was only the final sprint that decided the winner. Dahle and Premont crossed the line together, with the judge's nod going to Gunn-Rita. It was Dahle’s first World Cup win since Spa (Belgium) on May 21, 2006. Since then the virtually unbeatable Norwegian has battled with a stomach virus that forced her to pull out of competition last year.
Marie-Helene Premont can afford to smile after Madrid. The Canadian takes the overall lead, just three years after wearing the leader's jersey for the first time. And for the record, it was at Madrid where she lost that 2005 World Cup Leader's Jersey.
While cross-country riders take a break, the Nissan World Cup presented by Shimano continues next week in Maribor, Slovenia with the first Downhill and 4X round.
WORLD CUP XC #3 RESULTS
1. Julien Absalon (Fra)...Orbea...2:12:30 (15.4 mph av)
2. Jose Hermida (Spn)...Multivan Merida...+0:12
3. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra)...Orbea...0:52
4. Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Spn)...Orbea...0:56
5. Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita)...1:02
6. Kashi Leuchs (NZl)...Cannondale-Vredestein...1:12
7. Christoph Soukup (Aut)...1:17
8. Martin Gujan (Sui)...Athleticum-Mtb...1:31
9. Lukas Fluckiger (Swi)...Athleticum-Mtb...1:38
10. Jurg Graf (Swi)...Swisspower...1:40
13. Burry Stander (RSA), GT Mongoose, at 2:26 (top U23)
15. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-GF...2:32
18. Todd Wells (USA)...GT Mongoose...2:49
21. Geoff Kabush (Can)...Maxxis...3:22
31. Adam Craig (USA)...Giant...4:56
80. Jeremiah Bishop (USA)...Trek-VW
90. Michael Broderick (USA)...Kenda Seven
114. Samuel Schultz (USA)...Subaru-Gary Fisher...-1Lap
DNF. Barry Wicks (USA)...Kona
DNF. Mitchell Peterson...(USA)
WOMEN
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor)...Multivan Merida...1:48:14 (13.4 mph av)
2. Marie-Helene Premont (Can)...Rocky Mountain...same time
3. Margarita Fullana (Spn)...Massi...+1:13
4. Sabine Spitz (Ger)...Central Ghost...1:37
5. Georgia Gould (USA)...Luna Chix...2:37
6. Petra Henzi (Swi)...Fischer-BMC...3:01
7. Ying Liu (Chn)...Chinese National...3:09
8. Lene Byberg (Nor)...Specialized...3:17
9. Catherine Pendrel (Can)...Luna Chix...3:32
10. Katerina Nash (Cze)...Luna Chix...3:43
13. Nathalie Schneitter (Swi)...Colnago Cap Arreghini...4:15 (top U23)
15. Mary McConneloug (USA)...Kenda Seven...4:22
26. Heather Irmiger (USA)...Subaru-Gary Fisher...7:08
41. Susan Haywood (USA)...Trek-VW...9:52
68. Susan Butler (USA)...18:22
DNF. Willow Koerber (USA)...Subaru-Gary Fisher