News: Offenburg World Cup XC Results

The men's start Photo courtesy of Union Cycliste Internationale

The third World Cup of the 2008 season concluded last weekend in Offenburg, Germany. This was the second cross-country-only World Cup event, after last week's Houffalize competition. The first World Cup this year was a marathon race. These races are raising many questions as the riders prepare for an Olympic performance later this summer: Will a strong rider now be able to maintain their performance through till the Olympics? Are other racers holding back and waiting to peak their performance for the games and who are they? Which U.S. riders will garner enough points to make the Olympic team?

Although it's impossible to answer these questions without speculation one thing is certain: Julien Absalon (Orbea) is off to a blazing fast start in the 2008 World Cup season. The Frenchman won the Houffalize cross country event last week and reasserted his dominance on the field again this weekend. This was the fourteenth World Cup victory of Absalon's career, confirming his world lead on the cross-country scene. Christoph Sauser (Specialized), from Switzerland finished in second while Florian Vogel (Swisspower), also Swiss, finished in third.

The top three riders were also accompanied by Jose Antonio Hermida (Merida Multivan), Nino Schurter (Swisspower), Julien Absalon and Jean Christophe Peraud (Orbea), Cedric Ravanel (Lapierre) and the top American Adam Craig (Giant).

"Jose decided that the lead group was too large and accelerated," Julien Absalon explained after the finish. But after an hour of racing, the Olympic Champion (Absalon) took the lead and that was it. Racing for second place, the chase group blew up in the final laps.

Julien Absalon Photo courtesy of Union Cycliste Internationale