This weekend will return to the World Cup XCO. Headquarters races Albstadt, a city in southern Germany. In elite man the favorite is Schurter Nino (Scott Swisspower), which has already proved its worth with victories in the BMC Racing Cup is precisely in these races his first opponent was Absalon Julien (BMC Racing Team), two sometimes beaten in the final sprint but just showing that he has found new "power" with the new BMC team. Other favorite is Kulhavy Jaroslav (Specialized Factory Racing), although he had to slow down for dental problems.
Other names is: Fumic Manuel (Cannondale Factory Racing), the great protagonist in start season, Fabian Giger (Giant Off Road Team), always placed last year, Marco Fontana, Sergio Mantecon, Florian Vogel, Jose Hermida and Lukas Fluckiger. It seems that Ralph Naef will start, even if it is not in top form as it comes from an injury (broken collarbone).
The only one who will take part in the Under 23 World Cup with the Elite (UCI permits) will be the former junior world champion in 2010 Kerschbaumer Gerhard (born 1991, Team TX Active Bianchi), winner of the World Cup U23 in 2011. The phenomenon Anton Cooper has decided, along with the Team, to take part in the U23 World Cup, since there will still be plenty of time to make his debut in the Elite (remember that Anton was born in 1994, in the 1st year in the category).
In the women's category, challenge is very open, also because of the injury to Bresset Julie (BH Suntour) which is entered but his participation is still in doubt due to injury. Surely all eyes will be on Vos Marianne (Rabobank), the true ruler of this season. Will begin in mid-pack but for sure the class to reach the top positions does not lack. The two expert Spitz Sabine (Haibike Pro Team) and Dahle Flesja Gunn-Rita (Multivan Merida) sell life dearly though Wloszczowska Maja (Giant Offroad Team) seems to be in better shape at this time. Then a group of outsiders as Elisabeth Osl, Alexandra Engen, Esther Suss and Catharine Pendrel.
There will be two who will take part in the Under23: former Junior world champion Neff Jolanda (Giant Offroad Team) and the winner of the U23 World Cup 2011 Prevot-Ferrand Pauline (Giant Offroad Team, which since last year has made its debut early in the Elite).
This article is very useful to form their own team in the Fantasy Game organized by WorldXCmtb. Recall that Saturday, May 18 (at 23.30) will close the registrations to FantasyMTB, game in which the winner will win Sram XX1. All about www.worldxcmtb.com/fantasymtb. PS: as written in the FantasyMTB's rule, the game is refers to the categories Elite so be careful not to manually add the riders who will race the World Cup U23.
FRIDAY 17 MAY:
16.45 - XCE Qualify
18.00 - XCE Finals
SATURDAY 18 MAY:
13.00 - Women U23
13.02 - Women Junior
15.30 - Men U23
SUNDAY 19 MAY:
09.30 - Men Junior
11.30 - Women Elite
14.00 - Men Elite
