High altitude races often hold some surprises. Today, at 1,981.2m, the women were the first to arrive on the scene on a wet circuit. The first surprise came when Gunn-Rita Dahle, Irina Kalentieva (Rus. Topeak Ergon), and Sabine Spitz were not able to make it to Andorra. To make final preparations for the World Champs, and Olympics, all three have pulled out from the World Cup.
World Cup #4 was a different experience from the beginning. The absence of the three big players was made up by Margarita Fullana, a Spaniard. In top form, the former World Champion (1999-2000), who has won 13 World Cup events during her career, was also present. The Canadian Marie-Helene Premont of Rocky Mountain was behind her and tried to close the gap. Eva Lechner was the surprise. Eva Lechner, the European Champion in the Under-23 category last year, was second to Margarita Fullana, an Italian Colnago Team rider. Margarita Fullana, an Iberian rider who was European Champion in the Under-23 category last year, won her 14th World Cup victory. Eva Lechner, her young rival, took less than two hours to reach the podium. Premont was third in the World Cup XC Series after a strong comeback.
After Julien Absalons’ three consecutive victories this season, the riders placed a premium on Julien Absalons. The Olympic Champion was defeated at the start. Christoph Sauser, more lucid, took the lead. Seven men followed him, but soon it was Burry Stander, the incredible Under-23 winner in Madrid who chased after the Swiss Specialized rider. The South African rider made an amazing comeback to pass Sauser, who was injured in a puncture, two laps before the race ended. Sauser, the current Marathon World Champion was still able to make it back. Stander fell, and was overcome with cramps. Sauser took over, claiming his 12th World Cup win. Stander was second, and Geoff Kabush (Canadian and Norba Champion) third.
CROSS-COUNTRY RESULT
1. Christoph Sauser (Swi)Specialized2.02.16
2. Burry Stander (RSA),GT+0.09
3. Geoff Kabush (Can.Maxxis0.18)
4. Lukas Flckiger (Swi)Athleticum1.09
5. Cedric Ravanel (Fra)Lapierre1.42
6. Todd Wells (USA).GT2.17
7. Tony Longo (Ita)Full-Dynamix-It2.28
8. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Spa)Cemelorca-Seguros102.52
9. Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa)Orbea3.02
10. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe)Full-Dynamix-It3.13
11. Julien Absalon (Fra)Orbea3.48
16. Adam Craig (USA).Giant4.37
31. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA)Subaru-GF7.53
40. Samuel Schultz (USA).Subaru-Gary Fisher10.10
41. Jeremiah Bishop (USA)Trek-VW10.31
58. Michael Broderick (USA)Kenda-Seven14.11
WOMEN
1. Margarita Fullana (Spa)Massi1.44.34
2. Eva Lechner (Ita),Colnago Cap Areghini+1.43
3. Marie-Helene Premont, (Can)Rky Mtn1.55
4. Catherine Pendrel (Can)Luna Chix2.19
5. Nathalie Schneitter (Swi)Colnago Cap Arreghini3.16
6. Katerina Nash (Cze)Luna Chix3.41
7. Tereza Hurikova (Cze)Ceska Sporitelna4.14
8. Petra Henzi (Swi)Fischer-BMC4.25
9. Laurence Leboucher (Fra).4.40
10. Nina Homovec (Slo)5.38
14. Mary McConneloug (USA),Kenda Seven7.17
17. Georgia Gould (USA),Luna Chix8.30
20. Willow Koerber (USA), Subaru-Gary Fisher10.01
24. Lea Davison (USA)Trek-VW11.32
27. Heather Irmiger (USA).Subaru-Gary Fisher12.03
40. Susan Haywood (USA).Trek-VW17.34
