The Multivan Merida Biking Team strikes back
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå wins in Madrid, José Hermida finishes second

At Madrid’s mountain bike worldcup race the Multivan Merida Biking Team returned to its old strength. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå outsprinted Marie-Hélène Prémont to win the race, while José Hermida only let Julien Absalon finish ahead of him.

Relief was in all of Gunn Rita Dahle Flesjå’s looks. After a lengthy absence due to health issues and a strenuous way back to racing, she returnd to winning worldcup races for  the first time again. In a sprint decision, she managed to beat her long-time rival Marie-Hélène Prémont, after these two had controlled the entire race together with Marga Fullana.

«During the first few laps, I was riding at my very limit, but I managed to keep my position in the leading group. In the end, it came down to just Premont and me, so I told myself: Now I can win. This self-confidence combined with all of my experience and passion were the basis of my victory here in Madrid», the more-than-happy Norwegian said at the finish.

This was Dahle Flesjå’s first worldcup victory since May 2006. Until then Dahle Flesjå was seemingly invincible and dominated the sport of mountain biking at will. One year ago, however, she caught a viral infection that forced to call her season quits prematurely and also severely affected her physically. After a strenuous way back into this season, Dahle Flesjå has returned to where she wanted to get to with all might: On the podium’s top spot. Her win in Madrid brings her record to a total of 26 victories in Worldcup races.
 
The men’s race in Madrid turned into a duel between Julien Absalon and José Hermida. Nobody was fit to hold a candle to these two in Madrid, so they broke away from the pack. It was not before the final lap that the reigning World champion Julien Absalon managed to put in a small gap between himself and Hermida, distancing him by twelve seconds. «Absalon attacked just before the finish line, when my wheels slipped a little bit in a tight corner. As the way to the finish was too short I was not able to close this gap. I really would have liked to win in front of my home crowd, but I am very satisfied with this second place as well», Hermida commented at the finish. He pointed at the fact that he had been with the fastest riders in the last few Worldcup races and only bad luck had prevented him from getting better results.

Ralph Näf did not have a race according to his wishes: After a good start he got slowed down by other athletes repeatedly which forced him to close gap after gap, losing a lot of power while doing so. «In the end, I simply lacked the necessary power», a disappointed Näf commented after finishing. Things were pretty similar for Moritz Milatz, who had a bad day and lost a lot of power in attempts to pass other riders.

Due to health reasons, Robert Gehbauer and Nina Wrobel were not starting in Madrid.


Results Mountainbike Worldcup Madrid, Men:
1. Julien Absalon (FRA), 2:12:30
2. José Hermida (ESP), +12
3. Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA), +52
4. Ruben Ruzafa (ESP), +56
5. Aurelio Fontana (ITA), +1:02
6. Kashi Leuchs (NZL), +1:12
7. Christoph Soukoup (AUT), +1:17
8. Martin Gujan (SUI), +1:31
9. Lukas Flückiger (SUI), +1:38
10. Jürg Graf (SUI), +1:51
20. Ralph Näf (SUI), +3:15
57. Moritz Milatz (GER), +8:32

Results Mountainbike Worldcup Madrid, Women:
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå (NOR), 1:48:14
2. Marie-Helene Premont  (CAN), +0
3. Marga Fullana (ESP), +1:13
4. Sabine Spitz (GER), +1:37
5. Georgia Gould (USA), +2:37
6. Petra Henzi (SUI), +3:01
7. Ying Liu (CHI), +3:09
8. Lene Byberg (NOR), +3:17
9. Catherine Pendrel (CZE), +3:32
10. Katerina Nash (CZE), +3:43