XCO Highlights - Men Pietermaritzburg 2012 UCI MTB World Cup скачать в хорошем качестве

XCO Highlights - Men Pietermaritzburg 2012 UCI MTB World Cup

Schurter out shoots Stander in PMB World Cup Pietermaritzburg - The widely anticipated Elite Men's cross country race of the 2012 RockyRoads UCI MTB World Cup Pietermaritzburg delivered all the action, drama and excitement as expected with world number two Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team) of Switzerland edging out local hero Burry Stander (Specialized Racing) to claim the spoils in the season opener at Cascades MTB park. Just as he did in 2011 Schurter showed his superior technical abilities through the notorious rock garden to break the shackles which had seen he and Stander circulate wheel to wheel around the course for the first four and a half laps of the six lap encounter. A last minute drop of rain couldn't even put a dampener on the electric on-course proceedings as Schurter put in a surge of speed through the top section of the second last lap which gave him a clear run into the technical section and that slight advantage was all it took for the 2011 victor. Stander, having finished third in 2009 and eleventh in 2011, was focused solely on claiming this year's title and the South Coast rider gave it his all as he looked to achieve his remarkably high goals. A strong start after the chaos of the firswt corner saw him into third place and he, Schurter and Manuel Fumic of Germany then worked together to haul in the reigning world champion, Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Racing), who had flown out the blocks. It wasn't long though before the trio caught the Czech rider and settled into a rhythm few were able to challenge. Stander and Schurter then found an extra gear shortly after the halfway mark and it soon it became a two horse race. After a disappointing performance in Pietermaritzburg in 2011 Stander was hungry to up his game in front of his home crowd however an improvement in the overall standard of racing at the top end of the field saw the margin for error reduced dramatically and competition for the overall spoils became even more intense than before. I think everyone is on top of their game and trying to improve where they can and I realised last year that I would have to do the same and pick up my level if I was going to carry on competing. That's what I've done. It seems to be working and I hope to build and get stronger going forward," he added. Having started the race ranked ninth in the world Fumic (Cannondale Factory Racing) put in a solid performance and deservedly claimed the final step on the podium after holding off the challenges of last year's runner-up Julien Absalon and world champ Kulhavy. Earlier in the race world number six Florian Vogel (Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing) had his race cut short when mechanical issues meant he was forced to limp back to the pits and withdraw from the competition, a factor team mate Schurter hadn't anticipated and had to adapt to during the race. Saturday's action is rounded out with the Under 23 and Junior Women's race before all the action of the Men's and Women's Downhill finals takes place on Sunday where local heroes Greg Minnaar and Andrew Neethling will be eager to impress on home turf. More info can be found at www.mtbworldcupsa.co.za SUMMARY OF RESULTS 2012 ROCKYROADS UCI MTB WORLD CUP PIETERMARITZBURG ELITE MEN 1.Nino Schurter (SUI) 1:30.38 2.Burry Stander (RSA) +11 3.Manuel Fumic (GER) +59 4.Julien Absalon (FRA) +1:41 5.Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE) +2:21 6.Lukas Fluckiger (SUI) +2:28 7.Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP) +2:51 8.Stephane Tempier (FRA) +3:01 9.Marco Fontana (ITA) +3:22 10.Ralph Naef (SUI) +3:44