22.04.2007
Media release from Multivan Merida Biking Team - for immediate release

José Hermida wins sensationally at world cup opener

Spain’s José Hermida wins the World cup opener in Houffalize ahead of Julien Absalon and Switzerland’s Christop Sauser. Hermida controlled the entire race, leading by more than a minute after half of the race – when the lead-out motorbike tumbled on top of him. Due to this incident, Absalon could catch up, but Hermida answered with another attack to win his third World cup race. The women’s competition saw an embittered battle between Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå, Marga Fullana and Ren Chengyan – a battle the Chinese narrowly won aganinst Dahle.

Ralph Näf, whom many expected to finish on the podium, suffered from respiratory problems and decided to quit the race after he flatted a tire. On the other hand, Moritz Milatz seemed to excel by keeping himself within the top-fifteen for most of the race. A tire puncture and cramps in his calfs threw him back to a fourtieth position at the finish. Young Robert Gehbauer drove to a(n) 76th place finish in only his second World cup race.

The women showed a thrilling race in Houffalize. While Marga Fullana was at her own in the lead for much of the race, both Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå and China’s Ren Chengyan caught up with her in the final lap. The two managed to drop the Spaniard, racing head to head to the finish line. In the end, Chengyan performed the feat of putting a winning margin on Dahle, if only by a few meters. «that was an incredible race. It was mostly about survival for me, though. I have not reached my best form yet, and I am going to turn the tables soon», a well-motivated Dahle explained after finishing.

Nina Göhl did not have a race as planned: Due to a pinch flat, one of her tires was losing air in the first lap already, forcing her to change a wheel. «Probably this was the best that could happen to me, because I might have cooked myself completely trying to keep up with the race leaders», Göhl analyzed after finishing. But now that all the exams in her studies of medecine are done, she could focus fully on practicing, giving her optimism for races to come.

Results Mountainbike Worldcup 2007, Houffalize, Men:
1. José Hermida (ESP), 2:04:22
2. Julien Absalon (FRA), + 48
3. Christoph Sauser (SUI) +1:48
4. Roel Paulissen (BEL), +2:15
5. Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE), +2:51
6. Nino Schurter (SUI), +3:35
7. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN), +3:42
8. Kashi Leuchs (NZL), +4:16
9. Zoli Jader (ITA), +4:51
10. Inaki Lejarreta (ESP), +4:59
40. Moritz Milatz (GER), +9:59
76. Robert Gehbauer (AUT), +17:10
DNF: Ralph Näf (SUI)

Results Mountainbike Worldcup 2007, Houffalize, Women:
1. Ren Chenguyan (CHI), +2:00:23
2. Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR), +1
3. Marga Fullana (ESP), +15
4. Sabine Spitz (GER), +2:35
5. Jingjing Wang (CHI), +3:07
6. Marie-Hélène Premont (CAN), +3:28
7. Ying Liu (CHI), +4:22
8. Gerogia Gould (USA), +4:49
9. Katerina Nash (USA), +6:11
10. Ivonne Kraft (GER), +6:25
39. Nina Göhl (GER), +14:44