Source: press release
Australian Daniel McConnell took the win in the elite’s race at UCI Mountainbike World Cup presented by Shimano in Albstadt. In front of more than 10000 spectators, McConnell surprised everybody and also himself. Bad luck for Julien Absalon retired when he was in 1st place.
Julien Absalon already looked like the sure winner, after he had built up a big lead on the slippery track in Albstadt. But then a mechanical problem took him out of the race. Finally, the Australian Daniel McConnell was the surprise winner of a topsy-turvy race.
The first cross-country World Cup in Albstadt has made history. More precisely, it was the Australian Daniel McConnell who made history. In front of a very enthusiastic audience of more than 10,000, he won a thrilling race which presented mountain biking at its best.
Due to a short rain shower at the end of the women's race, the course was still very slippery in the first lap of the men's competition. When it began to dry up, this started to cause problems regarding chains and derailleurs of the bikes.
The main victims of these circumstances were two heroes of mountain biking. Being in the lead, World Champion Nino Schurter (Sui) crashed on the first lap, only to hit the ground a second time shortly after. Very likely he had chosen an inappropriate type of tire. He finished in 18th position.
Double Olympic champion Julien Absalon (Fra) took the lead and increased the gap in enthralling manner. In lap five he was 1:30 minutes ahead. But then the tide was turning: The rear derailleur of his bike was torn off. Enervated, 25-time World Cup winner Absalon quit the race. The next technical area was just too far away.
At this point in the race Fabian Giger (Sui) took the lead, but he was soon replaced by Spaniard Sergio Mantecon. On the last lap Olympic champion Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) came back into the game. And, quite unexpectedly, also Australian Daniel McConnell appeared at the front of the race – a biker whose best World Cup result so far had been 19th in 2012.
This trio came into existence about two kilometers from the finish. And together they mastered the final climb. Since Kulhavy did not want to risk it all, he lost contact in the last downhill.
Finally, about 300 meters from the finish, Daniel McConnell passed Mantecon and won in 1:42:36 hours – the first Australian World Cup winner since Cadel Evans' last victory in 2000. Mantecon came second for the second time in his World Cup career, Kulhavy finished third.
Daniel McConnell (1rst): I don't know what happened today. So far I have only finished once in the World Cup top twenty. This probably will take a few days to sink in. It's a very big surprise. First I was happy to stay amongst the best fifteen. I felt good in the last two laps, then I started to catch a few groups, I caught them on the descents. Normally I'm not so good in the mud, being an Australian I haven't got much experience with it.
Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (2nd): "Did I hope to win? Well, I did my job, I gave everything in the last lap, but still the winner was faster. In sunny Spain it is very difficult to train in muddy conditions. But it's amazing that I have got my best results in mud races.
Jaroslav Kulhavy (3rd): For me it was a hard race, because I have had a lot of problems during the last four weeks due to two infections. Therefore I'm really satisfied today. I didn't risk anything in the downhills and I saved energy for the last lap. Now I'm in a good position for my home race in Nove Mesto, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Result:
1. Mcconnell Daniel - Australia - Trek Factory Racing 1h42'36"
2. Mantecon Gutierrez Sergio - Spain - Wild Wolf Trek Pro Racing +2"
3. Kulhavy Jaroslav - Czech Republic - Specialized Racing Xc +13"
4. Marotte Maxime - France - Bh - Sr Suntour - Kmc +17"
5. Flückiger Lukas - Switzerland - Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team +31"
6. Fanger Martin - Switzerland - Bmc Mountainbike Racing Team +45"
7. Plaxton Max - Canada +1'06"
8. Giger Fabian - Switzerland - Giant Pro Xc Team +1'09"
9. Litscher Thomas - Switzerland - Multivan Merida Biking Team +1'11"
10. Tempier Stéphane - France - Bh - Sr Suntour - Kmc +1'24"
