The UCI World Cup cross-country series continued with round #3 in Offenburg, Germany, and Julien Absalon (Orbea) rode Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels to continue his perfect record here, winning the cross country in dominant fashion. After finishing second in rounds 1 and 2, Absalon’s victory here moves him to the top of the World Cup series overall. Offenburg has hosted a World Cup cross country race every year since 2007, and Absalon has won here every single time.

 

“To win a World Cup you need to do a perfect race because the gaps are small,” said Absalon. “I planned the beginning of my season to peak for this race because I like it so much and it is only two hours from my home.”

On the race’s first lap out of seven total, 12 riders including Absalon and last week’s winner Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized) went clear from the main field. On lap three, Absalon attacked the group, drawing out Kulhavy and shattering the lead pack. Kulhavy’s chase was in vain as Absalon quickly secured a gap and rode away to his fifth win on this course.

 

“I tried first to attack on the first lap,” said Absalon, “but I saw six guys on my wheel, so I said, ‘ok, I need to wait a little.’ I knew I needed to attack in the beginning of a long climb, like I have done each year, so I did the same.” 

Last week in round #2 of the World Cup in the Dalby Forest of England, Absalon (Orbea) finished second, leaving himself in good position to take the overall World Cup series lead. Absalon was just in front of another Mavic athlete, Marco Fontana of the Cannondale team. Fontana’s teammate Manuel Fumic was fifth, completing a total of three Mavic riders in the top five for the day.

 

Both Absalon and the riders from Team Cannondale are instrumental to Mavic in validating world class MTB wheels. The demands of World Cup racing are extreme and Mavic relies on these riders for input on product development and feedback. For more detail on ride testing sessions between Absalon and Mavic engineers, watch the video here: