News report from Multivan Merida Biking Team:

Mont Sainte Anne Worldcup: Dahle second, Hermida fourth

At the mountainbike worldcup race in Mount Sainte Anne, Canada, Marie Helene Premont managed to beat Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesja in front of her home crowd. The frenetic mass of spectators gave Premont wings, allowing her to pass race leader Dahle Flesja in the ultimate lap. This way, things developed exactly the same as the year before, when the early race leader Dahle got passed by Premont in the finishing lap.

«I simply could not follow when Premont passed me. She was too fast and I was already exceeding my limits. I did not want to risk too much in the downhills either, since hectic situations like this one can lead to severe crashes in a hurry», the Norwegian analyzed her race at the finish.

Dahle Flesja now has a lead of 245 points on Premont in the worldcup overall standing. If Premont wants to win the overall title, she needs to win the season’s final race in Schladming and still has to rely on Dahle Flesja making no points at all – a rather unlikely scenario.

Nina Göhl drove to a 12th place finish in Mont Sainte Anne. Just three weeks after her first worldcup victory, she could not grow up to her potential in Canada. «I was simply not getting into racing pace and surprisingly had a lot of problems on the downhills. This was simply not my day, so I guess I have to be satisfied to finish twelfth.»

In the men’s competition, Christoph Sauser and his team mate Liam Killeen dominated the race. José Hermida spent the entire race in fourth position, following worldcup leader Julien Absalon closely. «This is a good result for me, since I have been busy with the birth of my son mostly in the last few days. Julien was in sight for all of the race, but on this level it’s almost impossible to close a gap», the Spaniard commented at the finish.

Moritz Milatz, who has won the German national championships recently, did not have a race according to his wishes. Finishing in 24th, he could not match his potential in the last race before a mid-season break. «After all these races and hard workouts, I’m simply tired. I desperately need some rest in order to prepare for the marathon and cross country world championships respectively.»


Results Men
1. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Factory Racing 2:00:29
2. Liam Killeen (GBr) Specialized Factory Racing, +0:10
3. Julien Absalon (Fra) Bianchi Agos, +2:55
4. Jose Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team, +3:30
5. Seamus McGrath (Can) Felt, +6:08
6. Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower Mtb Team, +6:29
7. Ludovic Dubau (Fra) Pro Race Team, +6:57
8. Marti Gispert Labarta (Esp) Freebike Team, +7:04
9. Adam Craig (USA) Giant USA, +7:23
10. Balz Weber (Sui) Team Bikepark.ch Tui, +7:43
24. Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team, +12:07

Worldcup Standings Men
1. Julien Absalon (Fra) Bianchi Agos 1110 pts
2. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Factory Racing 830
3. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team 810
4. Bart Brentjens (Ned) Giant-Racing-Team 715
5. Liam Killeen (GBr) Specialized Factory Racin 552
6. Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower Mtb Team 513
7. Roel Paulissen (Bel) Giant-Racing-Team 508
8. Ralph Naf (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team 450
9. Nino Schurter (Sui) Swisspower Mtb Team 421
10. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Cannondale-Vredestein 382
16. Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 314

Results Women
1. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Rocky Mountain Business Objects 1:41:17
2. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team+0:57
3. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Specialized Factory Racing +1:34
4. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak-Ergon +3:57
5. Mary McConneloug (USA) Kenda Seven +5:37
6. Ren Chengyuan (Chn) +7:00
7. Ivonne Kraft (Ger) +7:42
8. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) Luna +8:06
9. Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher +8:11
10. Kiara Bisaro (Can) Team R.A.C.E. +8.30
12. Nina Göhl (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking +9:56

Worldcup Standings Women
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team 1100 pts
2. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Rocky Mountain Business Objects 855
3. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Specialized Factory Racing 780
4. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) 736
5. Nina Göhl (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team 607
6. Margarita Fullana Riera (Esp) Spiuk Illes Balears 600
7. Lene Byberg (Nor) Bikin'cyprus Int. 596
8. Mary McConneloug (USA) 482
9. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Lotto 435
10. Chengyuan Ren (Chn) 410

Team ranking podium positions, UCI Worldcup 2006
Multivan Merida 9
Specialized     7
Bianchi Agos    5
Rocky Mountain  3
Ergon Topeak    3
Giant           1
Swisspower      1
Spiuk Baleares  1