28.05.2007
Media release from Multivan Merida Biking Team - for immediate release

«Multivan Merida Biking Team» with strong showing in Offenburg

At the UCI worldcup race in Offenburg, Germany, the «Multivan Merida Biking Team» was one of very few teams to see all of its riders finish. Racing was characterized by intense rain that poured down during the women’s race, soaking up the course for the ensuing men’s race. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå sprinted to a third-place finish, while Nina Göhl made her return within the world’s elite finishing in fourteenth position. In the men’s race José Hermida seemed to be set for a podium finish for a long time, but the Spaniard had to settle for an eighth-place finish as his drivetrain got completely clogged due to all the mud. As a consequence of not finishing at the first worldcup race, Ralph Näf had to start way back in the field. The ensuing chase brought him to a respectable eightteenth-place finish.

Thanks to the strong performances of both Dahle and Göhl, the «Multivan Merida Biking Team» has taken over the lead in the women’s worldcup team ranking. Thus, both riders were confident and happy. «After last weekend’s stomach upset I am more than satisfied to finish on the podium», Dahle Flesjå commented after finishing. «Besides, I did no know so far about my sprinting abilities», she added. Nina Göhl was showing her joy as well, riding stronger and stronger constantly and thus showing that she will be battling it out with the leaders in races to come.

In the men’s competition, Hermida was starting at Offenburg’s race in the UCI worldcup leader’s blue jersey. Although the Spaniard could not match the horrendous speed of the latter winner Julien Absalon, Hermida seemed to be on a solid course for the podium riding in second position for a long time. But the sticky mud clogged up his drivetrain and slowed him down, forcing an annoyed Hermida back to an eighth-place finish. Ralph Näf was not entirely satisfied either. Going into his race way back with number 81 after not having finished the race in Houffalize, he was forced to give chase and work his way through the men’s field on Offenburg’s narrow course from start to finish. The selective course and the muddy conditions were very much to the Swiss rider’s likes, and without his bad starting position, he might have well finished on the podium.

With a fourteenth-place finish, Moritz Milatz scored his best worldcup result to date, chasing hard after having been dropped back to about seventieth position due to a bad start. «I simply like these muddy conditions, as I can really put on the pressure then», Milatz commented on the course that is situated just a few miles away from the place where he lives. Besides, Milatz was the rider who got welcomed by the largest group of female fans at the finish line.

Robert Gehbauer was struggling with the tough course, as such conditions are not exactly to his likes. He finished in 121st position.

Results Mountainbike Worldcup, Offenburg, Men:
1. Julien Absalon (FRA), 2:18:54
2. Cedric Ravanel (FRA), +2:42
3. Lukas Flückiger (SUI), 3:12
4. Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA), +3:37
5. Kashi Leuchs (NZL), +3:45
6. Christoph Sauser (SUIi), +4:15
7. Thomas Frischknecht (SUI), +4:18
8. José Hermida (ESP), 4:45
9. Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL), +5:15
10. Yuri Trofimov (RUS), +7:02
14. Moritz Milatz (GER), +8:22
18. Ralph Näf (GER), +9:20
121. Robert Gehbauer (AUT), -3 Laps

Results Mountainbike Worldcup, Offenburg, Women:
1. Irina Kalentieva (RUS), 2:02:38
2. Marie-Helene Premont (CAN), +1:28
3. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (NOR), +2:20
4. Margarita Fullana (ESP), +2:20
5. Sabine Spitz (GER), +4:57
6. Tereza Hurikova (CZE), +5:11
7. Chengyuan Ren (CHI), +5:30
8. Maja Wloszczowska (POL), +5:54
9. Willow Koerber (USA), +6:30
10. Kiara Bisaro (CAN), +6:50
14. Nina Göhl (GER), +8:15