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Hermida wins men’s world XC title, Kabush eighth

Schurter and Absalon shut out of World Championship medals at Mont-Sainte Anne

September 4, 2010
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Jose Hermida races along the course in the elite men's world championship - Photo by Eric Batty

It was supposed to be a battle between reigning world champion Nino Schurter and silver medalist Julian Absalon, but in the end it was Spaniard Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos winning the 2010 UCI World Mountain Bike Championship Saturday afternoon.

An emotional Hermida said it was a long time coming, but knew he could be strong on a Mont-Sainte Anne venue he has raced at plenty of times. “This year I was completely focused on these World Championships. Today the course was perfect for me. It was like being in Disneyland. When it’s fun, it’s easy to win,” he said.

SEE HERMIDA’S PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS BELOW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zX4qAJHUCQ
An easy win it wasn’t as he found himself being chased down by second-place finisher Jaroslav Kulhavy and third-place finisher Burry Stander, the 2009 under-23 World Champion. But the eventual winner pulled away from Kulhavy up one of the climbs on the final lap and ended the race with a 29-second advantage. Stander was 1:10 back of the winner. Schurter and Absalon both had difficulties – with both flatting and Absalon crashing and possibly breaking one of his fingers during the race.

Derek Zanstra rides in the Elite Men's cross country event - Photo by Eric Batty
Derek Zanstra rides in the Elite Men’s cross country event – Photo by Eric Batty

Canadian favourite Geoff Kabush got caught up in an early-race crash and was okay, but had to fight his way back up from 15th. The seven-time national champion worked his way back up to eighth place. “I’m pretty happy with the effort I put out. It’s my best finish of the year so I have to be happy about that. I was shooter higher and was optimistic that something special would happen, but I’m pretty happy with how the race went,” he said.

The weather forecast had been calling for 100 per cent chance of showers all day, but other than a few stretches of rain early in the men’s race, it was mostly sunny for the field of 88 riders. “It was drier than forecast for sure, but it was still wet enough that everyone was afraid of the rocks and I was able to be relaxed and make up time on those sections,” said Kabush.

Behind Kabush, Derek Zanstra was 37th and Max Plaxton was 39th. Both said racing in a World Championship on home soil was something special.

“It was definitely the best crowd race I’ve ever been in. It was awesome,” said Plaxton. “I think the crowd definitely kept us going. That was a tough course. It was one of the most fun races I’ve ever done, despite it not being the result I wanted.”

SEE VIDEO OF CANADIAN MATT HADLEY CLIMBING THE ZIGZAGS BELOW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFoQchYGCKk

Zanstra said the course was deceptively difficult. “It snuck on you fitness wise. I started cramping with about three laps to go and though ‘I better ease up a bit or else I’m done.’ But the crowd definitely helped push you up the hills.”

Other Canadians in the race included Raphael Gagne (43rd), Matthew Hadley (45th), Kris Sneddon (56th) and Andrew Watson (58th).