XC Racer Blog Post

World Cup XCE Round 1 2013 Eliminator Albstadt, Germany Report

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BY: Anna Buick

Published: 24th May, 2013


Words and Photographs by Anna Buick

The small German town of Albstadt is no stranger to mountain bike racing, having held UCI -sanctioned XC and marathon races in the past, but last week it saw its first World Cup. And there is nothing like a World Cup: the carnival of colour that is a tyraid of teams comprising 676 athletes from 40 different countries descended on the town with pre-season excitement and nervous energy resonationg through the drums of turbo trainers and the faces of riders. The 2013 World Cup season was upon us. 



Friday night is Eliminator night, and as with all the best Friday nights, it comprised enthusiastic crowds of people, a few steins of finest German ale and a whole lot of cheering. For the first time ever there was a world ranking for the Eliminator discipline, and with the women set to qualify first there was no better character to get the racing underway. The huge smile of World Champion Alexandra Engen gave way to a stare that reached far further than the end of the start straight. Four jumps, a wall ride and several 180 degree turns later and Engen set a qualification time that wouldn't be bettered. 


The U23 duo of Jolanda Neff and Jenny Rissveds came close, as expected, but the rainbow bands were only once beaten - in semi-final 1 by Kathrin Stirnemann, who went on to take second place. Neff and Rissveds both exited the competition in semi-final 2 after coming to together in the opening corner. Neff, in retrospect, said that it was silly and had they both backed off and braked they could have progressed to the major final. It was a lesson learnt.  As it was, Nadine Rieder and Cecile Ravanel made it through. Engen's focus and determination reverted back to a big smile as she took victory ahead of Stirnemann and Rieder. Maxine Filby made a disappointing and frustring early exit after being boxed in and cut up in her 1/8 final heat. 

In the men's race Kenta Gallagher also left the race in the 1/8 finals. Having qualified 9th he sufferred the misfortune of a puncture. Without such an obvious excuse, World Champion Ralf Naef was less than impressive in his two showings. He scraped throught the qualifiers in 31st position and was subsequently 4th in his 1/8 heat, thus making it no further. Miha Halzer was fastest around the circuit in the qualifier and progressed with second places in the 1/4 and semi-finals to the major final where he was joined by Raphael Gagne, Thomas Litscher and Daniel Federspiel, the latter two having already battled it out twice in the heats. Federspiel made it up the dragging finish straight first to take the win with Litscher second and Halzer third. 


With the discipline still in its infancy there are argualbly still some issues that could do with being ironed out. If the Eliminator discipline is to retain its USP - as an exciting and specator-friendly race - the timings may need to be revised. Watching four riders launching over jumps and down flights of stairs, and sprinting elbow-to-elbow through the streets is undeniably thrilling, but waiting several minutes before you see anyone flash by again is less so. The right ingredients are there, the cake just hasn't quite risen properly yet. Maybe that is just a long drive and a cold evening speaking...


With the party over, the riders, the specators and the buzz dissipated. It would not be gone for long though, come morning the atmosphere in Albstadt was mounting once more. 







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Anna Buick

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