1. Six weeks after the opening in Curacao, World Cup 2 was held. There is also a gap of 4 weeks between round 4 at Fort William, and round 5 Mont-Saint-Anne. It will be 10 weeks until round 6, the Schladming World Cup XC final. It seems strange.
2. The men’s event attracted 228 participants.
3. For the women, there were 108 riders who left the line.
4. Over the weekend, temperatures in Madrid soared to the 203cms
5. Memorial Day is the official start of summer. It falls in two weeks.
6. Officially, summer begins on June 21.
7. Madrids Casa de Campo is a rolling, dusty circuit with a blue groove.
8. The lap distance was 4.66 miles. The lap distance was 4.66 miles for the men and 5.33 miles for the women.
9. After racing for 32.6 miles, World Champ Julian Absalons made a decisive move and passed World Cup XC Champ Christoph Sauser just one mile from the finish.
10. Marie-Helene Premont was the only woman to beat World Champion Gunn Rita Dahle in recent history. She came within a whisker of catching Dahle this weekend. Premont lost her way on the final lap, despite riding up to Dahle’s pace of just one minute. Premont was able to recover in time to make it to the top 10.
MADRID, SPAIN XC WORLD CUP II RESULTS
1. Julien Absalon (Fra)Bianchi Agos 2. Christoph Sauser (Swi)Specialized 3. Ralph Naf (Swi)Multivan Merida 4. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida 5. Roel Paulissen, (Bel)Giant 6. Liam Killeen, (GBr), Specialialized 7. Michael Weiss (Aut) 8. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Cannondale-Vredestein 9. Lado Fumic Lado (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International 10. Bart Brentjens (Ned.Giant 22. Jeremy Horgan-KobelskiSubaru-Gary Fisher 41. Adam CraigGiant 42. Seamus McGrath (Can)Felt 48. Todd WellsGT 55. Jeremiah BishopTrek-VW 72. Michael BroderickKenda-Seven 142. Carl DeckerGiant-1 lap
154. Cody Peterson-2 laps
156. Nicholas Ranno-2 laps
WOMEN
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor)Multivan Merida 2. Margarita Fullana Riera (Spn) Spiuk Illes Balears 3. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) 4. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol)Lotto 5. Sabine Spitz (Ger)Specialized 6. Lene Byberg (Nor)BikinCyprus Int 7. Petra Henzi (Swi)Fischer-BMC 8. Maroussia Rusca (Swi)Team Bikepark.CH Tui 9. Rosara Joseph (NZl) 10. Marie-Helene Premont (Can)Rky Mtn-Biz Obj 14. Shonny VanlandinghamLuna Chix 16. Mary McConnelougKenda-Seven 23. Willow KoerberSubaru–Gary Fisher 32. Kelli EmmettFord Cycling 34. Heather IrmigerSubaru–Gary Fisher 38. Susan HaywoodTrek – VW 42. Kiara Bisaro (Can)GearsRacing14/42104
58. Sara BresnickFord Cycling 68. Jimena Florit (Arg)Luna Chix16/6874
81. Kristine Danielson 101. Sarah Tescher-2Laps
WORLD CUP XC SERIES LEADER BOARD
Here are the riders who topped the World Cup round. There are also a few more names to be familiar with and all U.S. riders. The top UCI trade teams will also be there. There are four races remaining: May 21 at Spa-Francorchamp, Belgium; May 27th at Fort William, Great Britain; June 25th at Mont-Saint-Anne, Canada; September 10 at Schladming, Austria.
Finishtotal points for Rider1st Race/2nd Race
NA: They did not race in that round.
1. Julien Absalon (Fra)2/1450
2. Bart Brentjens (Ned)1/10345
3. Christophe Sauser (Swi),5/2340
4. Ralph Naf (Swi)6/3290
5. Roel Paulissen (Bel)
6. Liam Killeen (GBr), 3/6290
19. Thomas Frischknecht (Swi) Swisspower30/16120
20. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel)Groep Versluys-Sportstech-Landbouwkredie31/18114
23. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski36/2296
25. Adam CraigGiant21/4191
32. Michael Broderick18/7270
66. Nick Waite Kelly Benefit Strategies47/NA21
67. Todd WellsDNF/4820
76. Jeremiah BishopTrek-VW
83. Carl Decker60/1428
WOMEN
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor) Gunn-Rita1/1500
2. Margarita Fullana Riera (Spn)3/2360
3. Sabine Spitz (Ger)
4. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol)7/4270
5. Petra Henzi (Swi)6/7250
6. Marie-Helene Premont, (Can)4/10245
9.
Mary McConneloug5/16214 17. Shonny Vanlandingham28/14128
18. Susan Haywood10/38125
19. Willow Koerber23/23120
21. Kiara Bisaro (Can)14/42104
23. Heather Irmiger21/34102
33. Kelli Emmett37/3274
32 Jimena Florit (Arg)16/6874
47. Lea DavisonTrek-VW32/NA42
61. Kristina Andrus46/NA22
63. Kristi Lewis47/NA21
72. Sara BresnickNA/5810
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Giant-Racing Team159 points
2. Specialized Factory Racing136
3. Multivan Merida Biking Team122
4. Cannondale-Vredestein107
5. Swisspower MTB Team78
6. Bianchi Agos75
16. Maxxis-MSC5
WOMEN TEAM STANDINGS
1. Multivan Merida Biking Team107
2. Lotto78
3. Spiuk Illes Balears67
4. Specialized Factory Racing63
5. Fischer-BMC50
9. Rocky Mountain Business Objects 25
11. Trek Volkswagen Pro Factory Team21
