Cairns World Cup Cross Country Action - XC Battle Royale

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<b>MTB Legend, Bart Brentjens, shows his memories of Cairns. 1994 World Cup Podium.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>XC racing is nothing like it was a few years ago. Courses have evolved and progressed with the times. Sometimes with technical challenges, other times with smile inducing sections, often both. Emil Lindgren as Brentjens concludes in audio.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Jose Hermida Ramos has no problems gettin close with the local wildlife. In the audio he talks about his memories?</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Hermida is always a fan and fellow racer favourite. Another podium for this veteran. </b> -Sven Martin
<b>Being a course marshal is tough with how fast the termites work in Cairns.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Rob Eva is Mr. SRAM in Australia (actually he may just be Mr. Australia himself). Shredder on all things with two wheels, he's a big cog in the Aussie MTB scene and lead moto for the XC. Nothing like having a few hundred pounds flying towards you when you are laid inches from the track.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>The battle between Mathias and Absalon began early. Because of a puncture Julien took it safe and rode the B line.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Many wanted to congratulate Julien to his 28th World Cup win. He's predicting he'll get number 30 this season.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Mathias Fluckiger felt really bad all week long, having problems with the jet lag. He overcame today and suprised himself with a solid 2nd place finish.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>The week started started with a press conference in a zoo on the top of the casino in the city centre of Cairns.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Marco, the mechanic of the Multivan Merida Biking Team, getting used to local wildlife. Keep your enemies close.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Paul Van Der Ploeg on the alternate line, bypassing Jacob's Ladder. </b> -Sven Martin
<b>Sunday XC racing saw much drier conditions than the DH the day before. This didn't mean steep rock chutes were less intimidating. Jaroslav Kuhlhavy dropping in.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Dark, gritty, gloomy wet racing for Friday's XCE. Top qualifier, Daniel Federspiel, leads an early heat. 1/15th sec pan for the photo geeks.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Jenny Rissveds from Sweden provides a dashing contrast of color in Friday's XCE. 1/13th sec. </b> -Sven Martin
<b>It's not just the DH course that fans and spectators are drawn too. Local fans cheer on Rebecca Henderson into a Top 10 finish.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Maja Wloszczowska is a hard name to spell correctly when typing late night captions. </b> -Sven Martin
<b>Jolanda Neff showing you just how far XCO courses have progressed. Legitimately steep and technical with no room for hesitation or error. Expect to see lightweight small drop seat posts to hit the market as a response to this sort of track evolution.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Alexandra Engen warming up for the Eliminator qualification, floating above the muck.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>After Pietermaritzburg cancelled the Eliminator because of the sun setting to early, Cairns became the season opener. Alexander Engen took the win in front Jenny Rissveds.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Not only fast, but stylish, even in these wet conditions. Sam Gaze earning the XCE victory.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>The Elite Women stomp on the gas in XCO as they head for 5 laps of jungle-filled racing.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Eva Lechner put all distractions aside and was the first women across the line after 5 laps and an hour and 38-minutes of racing.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>The sun is out and it's 6 laps to go for the Elite Men.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Inside and outside lines with blue skies above.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Miguel Martinez, 38-years young and from the Shaun Palmer school of braking. Barends. #NFG.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Jolanda Neff pushed as hard as she could, but stomach cramps held her back and she settled for 9th on the day.</b> -Marius Maaseward
<b>Markus Schulte Luenzum went down hard at the end of the start straight but continued to the techzone to get a new saddle and wheels. Koalas love the smell of blood, so he had incentive to stay moving.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>After his knee injury early this year and a cold before PMB, Jaroslav Kulhavy's form is still coming to life. There's not doubt it will bloom soon enough.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>XCE World Champion, Paul Van Der Ploeg, had his friend giving him the best race support.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Georgia Gould all focus and determination in the oppressive humidity-choked air. </b> -Sven Martin
<b>The women heading into the technical drop section.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>After 3 laps leading the race, Thomas Litscher punctured and he had to settle for 7th place.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Julien charges the A line after getting a new rear wheel.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>The trails and wildlife resemble each other and they're both snakey.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>It was a little quieter than the usual European finish line red bib gun fight, but these guys are the lifers. #160 Hoshi Yoshida, #141 Marius Maasewerd, #159 Damian "photo challenge" Breach, Armin Kustenbruk, Matt DeLorme, #146 Tim "Beardly" Smith.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>"I'm getting too old for this."</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>A solid 2nd place ride for Canadian Emily Batty, barely smudging the makeup despite a hard-fought battle with the scratches and scars to prove it.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Sam Gaze surprised quiet a few out there. XCE podium.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>Elite Women's podium celebration.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>David Chaussot, Team Manager of BMC MTB, not worthy of Absalon's 28th victory.</b> -Marius Maasewerd
<b>The Elite Men's XC Podium putting the wrap on a successful World Cup mission in Cairns, Australia. Stay tuned as the XC crew heads to the Czech Republic in a few weeks!</b> -Marius Maasewerd
Intro Graphic
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Description
Sweltering heat, high humidity and a jungle full of critters made the UCI World Cup XCE and XCO racing in Cairns exciting, but exhausting. Marius Maaseward and Sven Martin forage through the rainforest to bring you the action.

View full Cairns UCI World Cup XCO results



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