The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano concluded the spring campaign in Albstadt, Germany, with a record setting win by French legend Julien Absalon (BMC), who became the first rider – male or female – to win 29 cross-country World Cups in his career.

Julien Absalon had said earlier in the season that Albstadt was one of his favourite courses, and a priority for him this season, after dropping out last year due to a mechanical while holding a commanding lead.

He certainly delivered, with a dominating performance for his third win of the season. World Champion Nino Schurter (Scott-Odlo) attacked hard on the opening lap, opening a gap that only Absalon could close. The two were joined at the front by Fabian Giger (Giant Pro XC) and Maxime Marotte (BH-Suntour-KMC) on lap two, but Absalon continued to push the pace and Schurter and Marotte were dropped first, with Giger falling off a lap later.

The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano concluded the spring campaign in Albstadt.

Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Liv Pro XC) showed that her win last weekend in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, was no fluke, by recording her second victory in a row.

The women’s seven lap race saw Ferrand Prevot shoot into the lead on the first lap, never to relinquish it. By the end of lap one she was almost 30 seconds ahead, and continued to set the fastest lap times through the race, to win by nearly three minutes.

Behind, Gunn Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida) moved into second place on lap two, but her lead over a chase group containing World Cup leader Jolanda Neff (Liv Pro XC), Catharine Pendrel (Luna), Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools), Adelheid Morath (Sabine Spitz Haibike) and Maja Wloszczowska (Liv Pro XC) was never more than 30 seconds

Categories: Mountain Bike Racing

Tags: Cross Country, mountain bike, World Cup