This week was filled with all kinds of questions. Questions about weather and what role it would play. Questions about how the outcome would change with all the players on the board this round. Questions of who would have the endurance for this climbers course, and the skill to handle the slick descents. The answers came today and they were definitive. The sun came out here in Albstadt and the temps soared to near eighty degrees. The track dried out for the most part. There was blood spilt on the rocks, and in the end four stood out above all the rest.
Jolanda Neff was missing from the women's field due to a viral infection. But it may not have mattered as Annika Langvad utterly smashed the field. Jenny Rissveds also had an incredible ride, fighting back to take a second place finish after a crash on her second lap. Catharine Pendrel rode to third, followed by Sabine Spitz. Gunn-Rita rode to fifth proving she is ready for the season despite her absence in Austrailia.
Nino Schurter and Julien Absalon battled back and fourth all seven laps. It was a game of attack and defend. A fight to the last inch. In the end Nino Schurter would have the extra bit of snap to propel him across the line in first. Maxime Marotte would follow up his preformace in Cairns with a solid ride to third. Jaroslav Kulhavy would ride to fourth and Lars Forster would take the fifth. Albstadt 2016 was certainly a race to remember.
MENTIONS:
@mdelorme /
@ikeizer
uk.oakley.com/en/mens/sunglasses/sport-sunglasses/jawbreaker/category/m0203013
what we learn from Absalon: get a young chick!
And get yourself a dropper post
It will make you fast for the most!
Guess Chyu tried irony,
I don't get the neg props system sometimes ???
There is some work in progress for the moment, but quiet a few exceptions like the one of Julien.
Ok, DH it ain't.... but my admiration for the lycra clad has gone up 200%
Nino is on a bike with 27.5 inch wheels, Absalon is on a 29'er. They were super close to each other the entire race!
Really impresse with Absalon's drastic improvement in descending ability. Should make for a great season and olympics.
Also Nino's sprint timing is just perfect sprint timing and very smart riding behind Absalon until the time to attack.
This year Julien was right with Nino on every downhill. I'm sure the dropper helped him stay in touch. Despite the second place finish I thought this was a really strong result for Absalon - if he can hang with Nino on the downhills now we're in for a hell of a season. Can't wait to see if Nino feels the pressure and starts running one himself.
Side note, were any of you guys watching Marotte on the downhills??? That dude is beyond flowy, I think I remember seeing on one downhill he took 6-7 seconds out of Nino/Julien's lead, and was basically closing on those two for the whole second half of the race. He's a fun rider to watch, and I wouldn't be surprised if he became a real threat soon. I rewatched the Cairns coverage to spot him and he's got some real techy chops.
Just noticed I've still got your number. We'll hook up sometime .
Is lycra cool again??
Hi
you forgot the D+ : +/- 1500 M+ for 33 Km, it's worth a try
This average is now even more insane....
I did a 38K ride yesterday w/ 1'010M elevation and I'm bl**dy destroyed (well I was riding my full-metal-E29-Spesh LOL). Oh... and it took me 2:42
:-D
Just want to curl up and cry (after I've watched the race hehe)
Seriously now, and i'm not bashing anyone here, but for anyone who hasn't raced an xc event, you should try it! It's fun as hell, and makes you realize how out of shape most of us are