The second round of the XCO series for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano in Albstadt, Germany, saw both the men's and women's World Cup leaders extend their leads with victories.
Annika Langvad (Specialized) rode away from the rest of the field to win the women's race, while Nino Schurter (Scott-Odlo) fought a fierce battle with two-time defending Albstadt winner Julien Absalon (BMC). Schurter outsprinted Absalon in the final few metres to win on one of the few courses missing from his palmares. Langvad's 500 points put her 190 ahead of Catharine Pendrel (Luna), with Jenny Rissveds (Scott-Odlo) a further 10 points back. Schurter leads the men's standings, also with a perfect 500 points, while Absalon moves into second with 360, tied with Maxime Marotte (BH-SR Suntour-KMC).
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La Bresse, France XCO #3 > May 28-29
Where to watch?
The races will be broadcasted live on our website and on Red Bull TV :
XCO Women > 29.05.2016 / 09:00 – 11:00 GMT XCO Men > 29.05.2016 / 12:00 – 14:00 GMT
All live broadcasts can be watched worldwide and without geo-blocking.
La Bresse did not hold a UCI World Cup event in 2015
… La Bresse UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
La Bresse, nestled in the French Alsace region by the German and Swiss borders, has twice held a UCI World Cup round for downhill, and once, in 2012, for cross-country Olympic. While Albstadt was the last event in the Olympic Qualification Ranking period for Nation Quotas, some riders in La Bresse will still be looking for selection to occupy the Olympic slots allocated to their nation.
The organisers have made full use of the slopes surrounding the town in designing the course. After a short start loop, riders head up the valley to tackle the major climb of the 4.3 kilometre circuit. It is a steep climb that starts on asphalt and gravel, before turning to singletrack with roots and rocks that requires both strength and technical skill. From there, the riders traverse the slope and hit the highest point of the course. After this it is, literally, all downhill to the finish, on a twisting, technical run where skilled riders will open gaps. This is Julien Absalon's (FRA) home course, and he won the last UCI World Cup round held here in 2012.
Julien Absalon, born in Remiremont, France, in the Vosges region near the Swiss and German borders, is widely regarded as the greatest male cross-country rider in the history of the sport. He holds the record for UCI World Cup wins, with a total of 30. He is a two-time Olympic champion (2004 and 2008), a five-time elite UCI World Champion and six-time UCI World Cup overall champion. He is the current European Champion. .
Key Results
Olympic Champion mountain bike: 2004, 2008 1st UCI Mountain Bike World Championships (Elite XCO): 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 1st UCI Mountain Bike World Cup (overall Elite XCO): 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014 30 UCI World Cup victories (record) 1st European Mountain Bike Championships: 2006, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
On the 24th of May we are 74 days from the Olympic Games in Rio.
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