Schladming, Austria is the final round of the UCI World Cup series. The following is a blow-by-blow account by Rob Jones of the cross-country battle that saw Julien Absalon and Elisabeth Osl dominate what may have been, the most powerful field the sport has ever seen on the world cup circuit. Scroll down for complete results.
WOMEN
After five long months, and eight races on three continents, the cross-country World Cup finally concluded in Schladming, Austria, where Elisabeth 'Lisi' Osl gave the Austrian crowd what they had hoped for: an Austrian win and the World Cup title. Osl took her third World Cup win of the season after an impressive start to finish ride at the front. Lene Byberg (Specialized) confirmed her second place overall by catching Canada's Catharine Pendrel (Luna) on the final climb to take second, while Pendrel hung on for third in both the race and the overall standings. Lea Davison (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) was the top U.S. finisher in12th, two spots ahead of Mary McConneloug (Kenda-Seven).
Lene Byberg was 2nd. Rob Jones photo
Osl came into the final round of the World Cup with a 65 point lead over Byberg. Pendrel was mathematically still in the running to win the title, but more concerned with holding onto third ahead of world champion Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon). The only other rider who could have been in the mix - Marga Fullana (Massi) - was out after fracturing a vertebra in a crash a week earlier prior to the Champery (Switzerland) round.
The steep climbs of Schladming certainly suited the diminutive Osl, who was out in front by the top of the first climb of the four lap race. Premont gamely hung on for most of the first lap, joined by Pendrel, but then slipped back to join a chase group with Byberg, Anna Szafraniec (JBG-2) and Kalentieva.& nbsp; Pendrel was gaining on Osl after the technical, muddy descents, but would lose time on each climb. The Austrian was steadily extending her lead, to eventually finish more than a minute ahead.
Lea Davison was top American in 12th. Rob Jones photo
"I have no words," said Osl, who was overcome with emotion on the podium during the Austrian national anthem. "It has been a fantastic season, and I have surprised myself this year. My tactic today was just to give it my best. My legs felt bad before the start in the warmup, so I just decided to go out hard and see what would happen. But the pressure, it was not easy. To come to Austria in the leaders jersey and hold onto it ... this was great pressure."
Elisabeth Osl greets her fans. Rob Jones photo
The effort the Canadian champion was expending would eventually catch up with her, as Byberg, Premont and Szafraniec slowly began reeling her in. Premont was at the front of the trio on the last lap when she slid out in a corner, giving Byberg to opportunity to attack and finally bridge up to Pendrel for the final climb of the race. The pair swapped attacks until Byberg was able to just get ahead and finish eight seconds in front of Pendrel. Szafraniec came in for fourth, less than 30 seconds later, closely followed by Premont. The four chasers were separated by less than 50 seconds.
Elisabeth Osl took the lead on lap 1. Rob Jones photo
"I'm pretty pleased," commented Pendrel, "I just wish that I could have held Lene [Byberg] off on the that last climb! For a while I was able to keep Lisi [Osl] in sight, but the steep climbs suited her a lot more than me, and I had to back off a bit and go my own pace. Then Lene caught me, and we attacked each other a couple of times until she managed to get in front. But, overall, this is my best season ever, with a World Cup victory, the national title, third in the series and sixth at the world championships, so, I'm satisfied."
Elisabeth Osl winning her 3rd World Cup. Rob Jones photo
Emily Batty (Team Canada) finished 25th, and took second overall in the U23 final World Cup standings behind world champion Aleksandra Dawidowicz (CCC Polkowice).
Men
Julien Absalon seemed on track for a podium finish until a flat on lap 5. Rob Jones photo
Since Julien Absalon (Orbea) having already locked up the World Cup title a week earlier in Champery, Switzerland, the men's World Cup final in Schladming, Austria did not have potential drama of the women's. However, second for fifth in the series was still in play among seven riders, and it was Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida) who took control, vaulting from fourth to second in the final World Cup standings with a strong win in the final round. Spanish compatriot Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Orbea) took second for his first World Cup podium, followed by Trek's Mathias Flückiger, the first U23 rider. Absalon, after racing in the front three for most of the six lap race retired after a flat just before the start of the final lap. Adam Craig (Giant) was the top North American in 21st, two spots ahead of Canada's Geoff Kabush (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain).
Adam Craig was top American. Rob Jones photo
The short men's race started very aggressively, with a group of eight=2 0forming at the front. World champion Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower) and Roel Paulissen (Cannondale) set the early pace, joined by Hermida, Absalon, Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida), Florian Vogel (Scott-Swisspower), Flückiger and Alexis Vuillermoz (Lapierre). Early in lap two, Absalon decide it was time to shake things up a bit, and attacked on one of the steep climbs.
21-year-old Mathias Flückiger - 2 podiums in 2 weeks. Rob Jones photo
The Olympic champion opened a small ten second gap on Hermida and Flückiger, the only two able to respond initially to his attack after Näf broken his chain. Hermida, the winner of the opening round of the World Cup, five long months ago in South Africa, slowly closed the gap, and joined Absalon early in lap four. After a brief time together, Hermida launched the attack which would put him into the lead for good.
José Hermida leading Julien Absalon and Moritz Milatz. Rob Jones photo
"Between Pietermaritzburg [South Africa] and here has been a long season," commented Hermida, "but my balance through the year has been very good, very stable. I came to this race feeling pretty good, and looking for a final strong result. When I caught Julien, I took a short rest of maybe 30 seconds, and then I attacked again, and he could not come with me. Today was the final exams for the season, and I wanted a strong result."
José Hermida took the lead on lap 4. Rob Jones photo
Behind, Absalon was in second at the start of lap five, but Flückiger and Ruzafa Cueto were gaining ground. While the French rider would not give in easily, he did not feel the pressure to come back from his flat. "I was without pressure," Absalon admitted. "For me, the plan was, if I felt good then fight for victory. So I went to the front and got a little gap, but Jose came up. So, I was thinking that second would be good at the end of the season, but I got my flat tire at the end of the fifth lap, and I knew it would not be possible to be back up there with one lap left in the race."
José Hermida winning the final race of the 2009 World Cup. Rob Jones photo
Ruzafa Cueto was suddenly into second, having passed Flückiger midway through the lap, and the front three were set, with Schurter just holding off Vuillermoz for fourth place.
Hermida's victory moved him up to second in the final standings, as he bumped the U23 champion Burry Stander down to third, with Näf fourth and Schurter fifth. Geoff Kabush remained in eighth overall for the series. "I didn't have the legs today," admitted Kabush. "I felt really bad last week [in Champery], so I rested all this week. But for this course you needed wings, and I didn't have them. The first lap I made a big effort, and milked out everything, but I just didn't have it. It's hard to have a mediocre end to the season. But my goal this year was to win a World Cup, and I achieved that, which was a pretty big dream, and then fifth at the Worlds was big, so I would definitely have to say that this has been my best year ever, and I'll just keep trying to improve for next year."
WOMEN Results
Catharine Pendrel top N. American in 3rd. Rob Jones photo
Marie-Helene Premont leading Elisabeth Osl early on lap 1. Rob Jones photo
World Cup overall: Irina Kalentieva, Lene Byberg, Elisabeth Osl, Catharine Pendrel. Marga Fullana missing. Rob Jones photo
WOMEN XC RESULTS- 4 LAPS - 22.4 KM - AVERAGE SPEED: 16.98 KM/H
1 Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Central Ghost Pro Team 1:19:10
2 Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Racing at 1:05
3 Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 1:13
4 Anna Szafraniec (Pol) JBG-2 Professional Mtb Team 1:41
5 Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 1:53
6 Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 3:10
7 Aleksandra Dawidowicz * (Pol) CCC Polkowice 3:21
8 Petra Henzi (Sui) Fischer-BMC 3:50
9 Cécile Rode Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International 3:59
10 Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Cap Arreghini 4:36
11 Anja Gradl (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team 4:48
12 Lea Davison (USA) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 4:50
13 Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team 5:08
14 Mary McConneloug (USA) Kenda Seven NoTubes 5:21
15 Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt International Mtb Team 5:39
16 Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini 5:45
17 Katrin Leumann (Sui) 5:53
18 Sabrina Enaux (Fra) BH-Suntour 6:03
19 Tanja Zakelj * (Slo) MBK Orbea 6:12
20 Sarah Koba (Sui) 6:43
21 Paula Gorycka * (Pol) 7:49
22 Vivienne Meyer * (Sui) Colnago Cap Arreghini 8:41
23 Janka Stevkova (Svk) 8:49
24 Rowena Fry (Aus) Discovertasmania.Com 8:57
25 Emily Batty * (Can) Team Canada 9:08
26 Hanna Klein * (Ger) 9:15
27 Anna Villar Argente (Esp) Massi 9:38
28 Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Team Bikepark.Ch 9:43
29 Amanda Sin (Can) Team Canada 10:00
30 Nataliya Krompets * (Ukr) 10:29
31 Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-Suntour 10:47
32 Kate Potter (Aus) 10:57
33 Adelheid Morath (Ger) 11:06
34 Maria Osl (Aut) Fischer-BMC 11:17
35 Annie Last * (GBr) 11:31
36 Barbara Benko * (Hun) 12:01
37 Sandra Walter (Can) Local Ride Racing 12:23
38 Githa Michiels (Bel) Team Saeco 12:32
39 Monique Zeldenrust (Ned) 12:47
40 Judith Pollinger * (Ita) Sunshine Racers Asv Nals 12:48
41 Suzanne Clarke (GBr) 13:37
42 Coralie Redelsperger (Fra) 13:43
43 Fabienne Niederberger (Sui) 14:12
44 Stephanie Wiedner * (Aut) DS-Rennsport 14:33
45 Silke Schmidt * (Ger) 15:16
46 Jennifer Sagesser * (Sui) 15:17
47 Katherine O'Shea (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition 15:37
48 Sandra Santanyes Murillo (Esp) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo
15:53
49 Alexandra Engen * (Swe) 16:47
50 Virginie Pointet * (Sui) Team Bikepark.Ch 16:54
51 Nadine Rieder * (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International 17:14
52 Karin Groen (Ned) 17:29
53 Corina Gantenbein (Sui) 17:58
54 Alexa Hüni (Ger) 18:10
55 Lucie Vesela (Cze) 18:20
56 Irina Slobodyan * (Ukr) 18:41
57 Maaike Polspoel * (Bel) 18:46
58 Martina Nemcova (Cze) 20:32
59 Gracie Elvin * (Aus) Discovertasmania.Com 20:38
60 Jean Ann McKirdy (Can) 21:53
61 Anna Oberparleiter * (Ita) -1LAP
62 Nicoletta De Jager (Ned) -1LAP
63 Catherine Lohri (Sui) -1LAP
64 Rebecca Beaumont * (Can) Team Canada -1LAP
65 Nina Homovec (Slo) MBK Orbea -1LAP
66 Christina Verhas (Aut) -1LAP
67 Kiona Harbers (Ned) -1LAP
68 Lenka Bulisova * (Cze) -1LAP
DNF Kathrin Stirnemann * (Sui)
DNF Inbar Ronen (Isr)
DNF Kristien Nelen (Bel)
DNF Tatjana Dold (Ger)
*= U23
MEN Results
World Cup overall winners: Ralph Naef, José Hermida, Julien Absalon, Burry Stander, Nino Schurter. Rob Jones photo
Burry Stander (U23 men) and Julien Absalon World Cup winners. Rob Jones photo
MEN'S XC RESULTS- 6 LAPS - 33.6 KM - AVERAGE SPEED: 20.02 KM/H
1 José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 1:40:42
2 Ruben Ruzafa Cueto (Esp) Orbea +00:30
3 Mathias Flückiger * (Sui) Trek World Racing +01:26
4 Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing +01:52
5 Alexis Vuillermoz * (Fra) Lapierre International +01:58
6 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Massi +02:25
7 Roel Paulissen (Bel) Cannondale Factory Racing +02:29
8 Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiemp +02:41
9 Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team +03:15
10 Wolfram Kurschat (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team +03:26
11 Cédric Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International +03:51
12 Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Factory Racing +04:04
13 Lukas Flückiger (Sui) Trek World Racing +04:05
14 Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Esp) Orbea +04:06
15 Burry Stander * (RSA) Specialized Factory Racing +04:23
16 Guillaume Vinit * (Fra) Team Scott Valloire Galibier +04:28
17 Carlos Coloma Nicolas (Esp) MSC Bikes +04:36
18 Fabian Giger * (Sui) SKS M.I.G. Team +05:10
19 Oliver Beckingsale (GBr) Giant Mountain Bike Team Gmt +05:16
20 Jochen Kass (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team +05:31
21 Adam Craig (USA) Giant Mountain Bike Team Gmt +05:39
22 Maxime Marotte (Fra) BH-Suntour +05:45
23 Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles +05:53
24 Christoph Soukup (Aut) Merida Biking Team +06:02
25 Marek Konwa * (Pol) +06:12
26 Nicola Rohrbach (Sui) Central Ghost Pro Team +06:38
27 Robert Mennen (Ger) +06:56
28 Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing +07:04
29 Martin Fanger * (Sui) Giant Mountain Bike Team Gmt +07:08
30 Liam Killeen (GBr) Trek World Racing +07:42
31 Patrik Gallati * (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing +07:49
32 Yader Zoli (Ita) Torpado-4us +08:12
33 Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) Giant Mountain Bike Team Gmt +08:27
34 Daniel Mcconnell (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition +08:44
35 Thomas Litscher * (Sui) SKS M.I.G. Team +08:44
36 Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita) +08:44
37 Fabien Canal * (Fra) Lapierre International +08:46
38 Bjorn Brems (Bel) Team Saeco +08:49
39 Jelmer Pietersma (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team +09:21
40 Samuel Schultz (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher +09:22
41 Lukas Kaufmann * (Sui) +09:39
42 Sebastien Carabin * (Bel) Lingier-Versluys Team +09:52
43 Filip Eberl (Cze) +09:58
44 Pascal Meyer * (Sui) SKS M.I.G. Team +10:16
45 Piotr Brzozka * (Pol) JBG-2 Professional Mtb Team +10:43
46 Rene Tann (Ger) +10:46
47 Emil Lindgren (Swe) De Brink-Ten Tusscher +10:52
48 Marti Gispert Labarta (Esp) MSC Bikes +10:53
49 François Bailly Maitre (Fra) Team Scott Valloire Galibier +10:56
50 Torsten Marx (Ger) DS-Rennsport +10:59
51 Stéphane Tempier (Fra) TX Active Bianchi +11:05
52 Karl Markt (Aut) Srm Stevens Team +11:13
53 Henk Jaap Moorlag * (Ned) De Brink-Ten Tusscher +11:19
54 Marek Galinski (Pol) JBG-2 Professional Mtb Team +11:28
55 Marc Colom (Fra) +11:57
56 Lachlan Norris * (Aus) Discovertasmania.Com +11:58
57 Matous Ulman (Cze) Scott & Hagget Mtb Team +12:05
58 Nicolas Vermeulen (Bel) Lingier-Versluys Team +12:17
59 Christof Bischof (Sui) ISD Cycling Team +12:41
60 Anders Hovdenes * (Nor) Team Etto Hoydahl +13:13
61 Simon Scheiber * (Aut) Sunshine Racers Asv Nals +13:21
62 Kristian Hynek (Cze) Scott & Hagget Mtb Team +13:33
63 Catriel Andres Soto * (Arg) Infotre - Leecougan +14:01
64 Uwe Hochenwarter (Aut) +14:37
65 Severin Disch * (Sui) Giant Mountain Bike Team Gmt +15:12
66 Tim Wynants * (Bel) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team +15:55
67 Andras Parti (Hun) Srm Stevens Team -1LAP
68 Derek Zandstra (Can) -1LAP
69 Irjan Luttenberg * (Ned) -1LAP
70 Adrian Brzozka * (Pol) JBG-2 Professional Mtb Team -1LAP
71 Zsolt Juhasz * (Hun) -1LAP
72 Periklis Ilias (Gre) ISD Cycling Team -1LAP
73 Ludovic Mottet (Bel) -1LAP
74 Marcel Fleschhut * (Ger) -1LAP
75 Fabian Strecker * (Ger) -1LAP
76 Michael Broderick (USA) -1LAP
77 Peter Glassford (Can) -1LAP
78 Niels Wubben * (Ned) -1LAP
79 Sergiy Rusenko (Ukr) ISD Cycling Team -1LAP
80 Oleksandr Gerashenko (Ukr) ISD Cycling Team -1LAP
81 Andrew Blair (Aus) -1LAP
82 Connor Mcconvey * (Irl) De Brink-Ten Tusscher -1LAP
83 Dario Alejandro Gasco * (Arg) Massi -1LAP
84 Cristobal Silva Ibaceta (Chi) -1LAP
85 Matej Nepustil * (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna Mtb -1LAP
86 Erik Groen * (Ned) De Brink-Ten Tusscher -1LAP
87 Matthys Beukes * (RSA) -1LAP
88 Matthias Hoi * (Aut) -1LAP
89 Sepp Freiburghaus * (Sui) -1LAP
90 Thibaut Bellanger * (Fra) -1LAP
91 Alexis Swetloff (Fra) Keops -1LAP
92 Rob Vangenechten * (Bel) Team Saeco -1LAP
93 Robert Kircher (Aut) -1LAP
94 Luka Mezgec * (Slo) MBK Orbea -1LAP
95 Jiri Hudecek (Cze) Scott & Hagget Mtb Team -1LAP
96 Marco Minnaard * (Ned) De Brink-Ten Tusscher -1LAP
97 Felix Euteneuer * (Ger) -2LAP
98 David Fletcher * (GBr) -2LAP
99 Silvio Bundi (Sui) Giant Mountain Bike Team Gmt -2LAP
100 Matej Lovse (Slo) -2LAP
101 Henrique Avancini * (Bra) ISD Cycling Team -2LAP
102 Kornel Osicki * (Pol) JBG-2 Professional Mtb Team -2LAP
103 Daniel Eymann * (Sui) -2LAP
104 Guido Thaler (Aut) -2LAP
105 Renay Groustra (RSA) -2LAP
106 Andrew Watson (Can) Team Canada -2LAP
107 Michael Wiessner (Ger) -2LAP
108 Jan Jobanek (Cze) Merida Biking Team -2LAP
109 Heiko Gutmann * (Ger) -2LAP
110 Matej Mugerli (Slo) -2LAP
111 Daniel Kaufmann * (Sui) -2LAP
112 Benjamin Buchi * (Sui) -2LAP
113 Amaury Gernez Aurenge * (Fra) Keops -2LAP
114 Roberto Crisi * (Ita) -2LAP
115 Mirco Widmer * (Sui) -2LAP
116 Tim Lemmers * (Ned) De Brink-Ten Tusscher -2LAP
117 Manfred Zöger * (Aut) -2LAP
118 Oleksandr Kachanov * (Ukr) -2LAP
119 Simon Stiebjahn * (Ger) -2LAP
120 Cameron Jette * (Can) Team Canada -2LAP
121 Patxi Cia Apezteguia (Esp) Conor - Camping La Siesta -2LAP
122 Hermann Pernsteiner * (Aut) -2LAP
123 Zsolt Szlobodnyik (Hun) -2LAP
124 Leni Trudel * (Can) Team Canada -2LAP
125 Valentin Fiderer * (Ger) -2LAP
126 Eric Batty (Can) Trek Store Toronto -2LAP
127 Markus Bauer * (Ger) -3LAP
128 Georgios Pattes-Toumanis (Gre) -3LAP
129 Dennis Ebert * (Ned) -3LAP
130 Jonas De Backer * (Bel) -3LAP
131 Matthias Grick * (Aut) -3LAP
132 Nejc Cernilogar * (Slo) -3LAP
133 David Puskas * (Hun) -3LAP
134 Lukas Sablik * (Cze) -3LAP
135 Alexios Kokovikas * (Gre) -3LAP
136 Frank Beemer * (Ned) Trek-Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team -4LAP
137 Roman Rametsteiner (Aut) -5LAP
DNF Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea
DNF Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team
DNF Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing
DNF Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing
DNF Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory Racing
DNF Rudi Van Houts (Ned) Multivan Merida Biking Team
DNF Jiri Friedl (Cze) Merida Biking Team
DNF Milan Spesny (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna Mtb
DNF Pierre Geoffroy Plantet (Fra) Lapierre International
DNF Tony Longo (Ita) DNF Josef Kamler * (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna Mtb
DNF Benjamin Sonntag (Ger)
DNF Balz Weber (Sui) DS-Rennsport
DNF Lee Williams (GBr)
DNF Manfred Reis * (Ger) Team Marin Bikes
DNF Alexander Gehbauer * (Aut)
DNF Calle Friberg (Swe)
DNF Balint Lukacs * (Hun)
DNF Ondrej Cink * (Cze) Merida Biking Team
DNS Robert Gehbauer * (Aut) Multivan Merida Biking Team