News report from Multivan Merida

News report from Multivan Merida Biking Team:

Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa wins worldcup overall, Ralph Näf third in the final race

At the final race of 2006’s mountain bike worldcup in Schladming, Austria, a total of six riders of the Multivan Merida Biking Team made it to the respective podiums. Finishing second, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa defended her lead in the worldcup overall, José Hermida secured his third overall place by finishing fourth and Ralph Näf rode to a third place at the season’s final. In the season’s team classification, the Multivan Merida Biking Team dominated the women’s competition, while the men finished second to Team Giant.

After a thrilling women’s race, Canada’s Marie-Hélène Premont won in Schladming, beating Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa and Russia’s Irina Kalentieva by a few meters. By finishing second, Dahle has won the worldcup overall classification for the fourth consecutive time. «Of course you’re a bit disappointed at first to finish second. But since I have won the worldcup overall for the fourth consecutive time, this is another great day for me», Dahle commented at the finish line. After having paused with racing due to her studies, Nina Göhl rode to a fourteenth place and was the best placed German rider by far. In the season’s overall, she finished in sixth position.

In the men’s race, Swiss riders Christoph Sauser, Florian Vogel and Ralph Näf celebrated a triple victory at the worldcup finals. Marathon world champion Ralph Näf closed the gap to the leaders after having chased for a long time. «I gave everything to catch up with Christoph Sauser, but today I had no chance. When I slipped on a downhill, I had to let Vogel go as well», Näf commented at the finish. In the worldcup overall, he finished in 8th position.

After all the turbulences surrounding his personality, José Hermida rode to an outstanding fourth place, thus ending up third in the worldcup overall. «In the final lap, I suffered from cramps. I guess all the stress of the recent two weeks has left its marks on my muscles», Hermida commented at the finish, being visibly enjoyed by his fourth-place finish. Moritz Milatz drove to an eightteenth place at the world cup finals, finishing in fourteenth in the worldcup overall as the best-placed German by far.

Results Mountainbike Worldcup Men, Schladming
1. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Factory Racing, 2:00:36
2. Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower Mtb Team, 0:33
3. Ralph Näf (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 0:57
4. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 2:18
5. Roel Paulissen (Bel) Giant-Racing-Team, 2:29
6. Jader Zoli (Ita) Ktm International Team, 2:45
7. Christoph Soukup (Aut), 3:01
8. Adam Craig (USA) Giant, 3:10
9. Liam Killeen (GBr) Specialized Factory Racing, 3:10
10. Julien Absalon (Fra) Bianchi Agos, 3:27
18. Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 4:13

Worldcup Overall Standings 2006, Men
1. Julien Absalon (Fra) Bianchi Agos, 1205
2. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Factory Racing, 1080
3. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 960
4. Bart Brentjens (Ned) Giant-Racing-Team, 800
5. Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower Mtb Team, 713
6. Liam Killeen (GBr) Specialized Factory Racing, 652
7. Roel Paulissen (Bel) Giant-Racing-Team, 648
8. Ralph Näf (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 610
9. Nino Schurter (Sui) Swisspower Mtb Team, 481
10. Michael Weiss (Aut), 410
14. Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team

Results Mountainbike Worldcup Men, Schladming
1. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Rocky Mountain Business Objects, 1:46:50
2. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 0:10
3. Irina Kalentieva (Rus), 3:09
4. Ren Chengyuan (Chn), 4:25
5. Ying Liu (Chn), 4:52
6. Jingjing Wang (Chn), 5:04
7. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Specialized Factory Racing, 5:21
8. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Lotto, 6:29
9. Margarita Fullana Riera (Esp) Spiuk Illes Balears, 6:37
10. Mary McConneloug (USA) Seven, 6:40
14. Nina Göhl (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 8:54

Worldcup Overall Standings 2006, Women
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 1300
2. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Rocky Mountain Business Objects, 1105
3. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Specialized Factory Racin, 900
4. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak, 896
5. Margarita Fullana Riera (Esp) Spiuk Illes Balears, 700
6. Nina Göhl (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 685
7. Lene Byberg (Nor) Bikin'cyprus Int., 596
8. Mary McConneloug (USA) Seven, 577
9. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Lotto, 545
10. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Women's Mtb, 417

Worldcup Overall Standings 2006, Team Men
1. Giant-Racing, 421
2. Multivan Merida Biking Team, 362
3. Specialized Factory Racing, 357
4. Swisspower, 267
5. Bianchi Agos, 215

Worldcup Overall Standings 2006, Team Women
1. Multivan Merida Biking Team, 349
2. Rocky Mountain Business Objects, 229
3. Lotto, 184
4. Specialized Factory Racing, 175
5. Spiuk Illes Balears, 137

Worldcup Podium Positions 2006
Multivan Merida: 11 Medals
Specialized: 8 Medals
Bianchi Agos: 5 Medals
Rocky Mountain: 4 Medals
Ergon Topeak: 4 Medals
Swisspower: 2 Medals
Giant: 1 Medals
Spiuk Baleares: 1 Medals