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Mountain Bike World Cup: Absalon, Kalentieva victorious in Offenburg
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It was standing room only in Germany’s Black Forest, as a crowd of some 17,000 crowded the 5.1km Offenburg mountain-bike course to catch a glimpse of the second World Cup of 2008. Reigning world and World Cup champs Julien Absaslon (Orbea) and Irina Kalentieva (Ergon-Topeak) did not disappoint the fans, as each rode consistent efforts to repeat their respective victories from 2007.
Absalon charged to victory after spending the opening half of the men’s race covering moves by Swisspower riders Florian Vogel and Nino Schurter, as well as Spaniard Jose Hermida (Multivan-Merida). The four were the primary aggressors in a front group that contained 11 riders.
“It was very difficult to ride at the beginning of the race. There were so many people at the front,” Absalon said. “I looked at my Garmin and saw I had one hour remaining. I decided that was the time.”
Kalentieva opened her winning gap on the penultimate lap of the six-lap race, grabbing an advantage on the course’s second lengthy technical descent. Canadian Marie-Héléne Prémont (Rocky Mountain) crossed the line in second place, with Chinese rider Chengyuan Ren, Spaniard Marga Fullana (Masi) and Ying Liu rounding out the top five.
“I gave it everything I had today,” Kalentieva said. “I was feeling very tired.”
Sun, Fun and Fans
Offenburg debuted as a World Cup venue in 2007, and many remember the course for its slippery, chunky mud, which came after a drenching rain fell on race day. Despite the rain, a brave crowd of nearly 10,000 spectators still turned out to watch.
With sunshine on the menu for 2008, organizers predicted even bigger crowds. The fans did come, and in great numbers — huge lines queued up to pay the 5 Euro entry fee. The herd filled the course’s large tent beer garden, many hot dog stands scattered in the woods and the grandstand overlooking the start/finish.
“There’s a bunch of people here. This place is badass,” said American Adam Craig. “It really makes you feel like you’re doing something legitimate.”
The women took to the course at 10:30 sharp, pedaling two fast, furious start laps followed by six full circuits. American Georgia Gould (Luna) grabbed the hole-shot early, then gauged her speed back and let the Spaniard Fullana (Masi) take the reigns.
Fullana was the early aggressor at last week’s World Cup opener in Houffalize, Belgium, opening up a huge gap on the women’s field before fading on the penultimate lap to fourth place. At Offenburg the Spaniard was joined by reigning U23 world champ Ying Liu at the front of the women’s race. Liu and the Spaniard took turns pushing the pace early, with only Kalentieva able to follow. Canadian Prémont dangled 10 seconds in arrears, with 2006 world champ Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå riding in fifth.
Liu then grabbed the lead, pedaling a massive gear as Kalentieva and Fullana struggled to hold her wheel. Kalentieva appeared to be suffering badly as the trio passed through the start/finish and headed out onto the third lap.
But that’s when the pace let up, and Prémont clawed her way onto the back of the trio. The two aggressors began to show the effects of their early surges. Fullana began to crash, and Liu had to dismount her bike after losing her chain.
“They slowed for me. I do not know why,” said Prémont. “Then I preferred to ride with some space in front of me because Fullana was crashing.”
Kalentieva seized the moment and opened up a small gap on the course’s descent, then gunned the pace on lap five. Prémont was slow to respond, and Fullana and Liu lost pace. A resurgent Chengyuan Ren rode her way up into third place, but Kalentieva was home free.
“I was not able to go fast on the technical parts of the course in the early part of the race,” Kalentieva said. “I was feeling very bad early. I didn’t have the punch.”
As he did in Houffalize, Absalon simply waited for the right moment to unleash his winning punch. But early in the race it appeared that the Frenchman was in danger of simply being out numbered. After he 230-strong men’s field rumbled through the opening circuits, and an initial front group formed containing all three Cannondale-Vredestein riders and two riders from the Swisspower team. Also present were Americans Adam Craig (Giant) and Todd Wells (GT) and Canadian Seamus McGrath (Fuji). Schurter, who finished second at Houffalize, went on the warpath early, as did Vogel, Hermida and Kiwi Kashi Leuchs.
Absalon bid his time, and as the lead group was whittled down to four. At the race’s midway point, the Frenchman lit the afterburners and escaped for the win.
Craig and Sauser rode their way back into the chase group, and the American took up the chase, spending nearly a lap riding in second place. But the efforts sapped Craig of his energy, and he eventually faded to 8th. The result stands as the top finish by an American at a European World Cup since Craig’s 8th place finish at the 2006 World Cup finals in Schladming, Austria.
“I figured shoot, I’m pretty comfortable and a top-three would sort me out [for the Olympics],” Craig said. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. But I figured I’d have to take a try.”
Race Notes
● Prémont scored her second-place finish after flying back to Quebéc after the Houffalize World Cup, then back to Europe for the round in Offenburg. The Quebecer is finishing up her degree in Pharmacology, and had an exam on Tuesday that she could not postpone.
“I think I did well. I have not seen results yet,” Prémont said about the test. “I have another test this Tuesday but I was able to push it back.”
● Dahle Flesjå dropped out of the race after just two laps. The early exit, however, was planned by her husband/trainer Kenneth Flesjå, who is helping the Norwegian find her fitness after losing the 2007 season to fitness.
“We had her do just a short, hard effort today. She has been on the verge of being sick and we did not want to overdo it,” Flesjå said.
● For the second-consecutive race the Luna women’s team grabbed the team competition in the women’s race. Catherine Pendrel finished 8th place, with Gould finishing 13th and Katerina Nash in 26th.
● Chinese rider Chengyuan Ren, winner of the Houffalize World Cup, crossed the line with a bloody face after crashing hard inside the final kilometers. The 2006 U23 world champion split her lip badly and was taken to a nearby hospital after the race.
UCI World Cup No. 2
Offenburg, Germany
April 27, 2008
Men
1. Julien Absalon (F), Orbea, 1:58:42
2. Christoph Sauser (Swi), Specialized, at 0:50
3. Florian Vogel (Swi), Swisspower, at 0:54
4. Nino Schurter (Swi), Swisspower, at 1:05
5. Jean-Christophe Peraud (F), Orbea, at 1:52
6. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe), Full-Dynamix, at 2:00
7. Burry Stander (RSA), GT, at 2:10
8. Adam Craig, Giant, at 2:21
9. Seamus McGrath (Can), Fuji, at 2:31
10. Marco Fontana (I), Italian National, at 2:39
Other North Americans
19. Geoff Kabush (Can), Maxxis, at 3:35
23. Todd Wells, GT, at 4:41
48. Derek Zandstra (Can), at 8:05
53. Ricky Federau (Can), at 8:37
61. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Subaru-Gary Fisher, at 9:58
83. Barry Wicks, Kona, at 13:43
Women
1. Irina Kalentieva (Rus), Ergon-Topeak, 2:00:19
2. Marie-Héléne Prémont (Can), Rocky Mountain, at 0:33
3. Chengyuan Ren (Chn), Chinese National, at 1:20
4. Margarita Fullana (Sp), Massi, at 1:38
5. Ying Liu (Chn), Chinese National, at 1:58
6. Sabine Spitz (G), Ghost International, at 2:27
7. Lene Byberg (Nor), Specialized, at 2:32
8. Catherine Pendrel (Can), Luna, at 3:49
9. Elisabeth Osl (Aut), Ghost International, at 4:16
10. Nathalie Schneitter (Swi), Colnago, at 4:37
Other North Americans
13. Geogia Gould, Luna, at 5:24
16. Mary McConneloug, Kenda-Seven, at 6:26
18. Kiara Bisaro (Can), Opus, at 6:58
22. Wendy Simms (Can), Kona, at 8:23
28. Sandra Walter (Can), Felt, at 10:10
29. Mical Dyck (Can), Trek, at 11:00
31. Susan Haywood, Trek-Volkswagen, at 11:37
37. Emily Batty (Can), Trek Bicycle Store, at 12:33
41. Alison Sydor (Can), Rocky Mountain, at 12:56
46. Willow Koerber, Subaru-Gary Fisher, at 14:37
50. Amanda Sin (Can), at 15:37
