Madrid World Cup

As good as the Swisspower Team was last weekend, is how bad we were at the Madrid world cup this past weekend. We started out fully motivated. The fast, rolling track near downtown suited us well and we started with high hopes.

As in past years the start was like war. On the tight course in the park known as "Casa del Campo" riders tried to pass in impossible places. Only 2km into the race on one of the first descents, riding blind in the dust of the pack, I must have hit something that caused me a flat rear tire. I made it to the pit zone on the rim quite fast and changed the wheel. But having a mechanical so early in the race cost me a lot of places. Just like in Houffalize I jumped back into the race in 90th or so and started chasing down the field. The legs felt awesome and the rest of the race went perfectly. 25th place at the end did not represent my performance, but at least I'm happy with what I made out of the situation.

Unlike Florian and Nino. They both tried hard to stay on Julien Absalon's wheel when he attacked. They tried so hard until they blew completely. Florian went all they way from the lead, back to 40th place; while Nino did not even make it to the finish. At least they were not the only top riders that fell apart completely trying to keep up with Absalon and Hemida, who were riding in their own class. I was really counting on Jose to help me save my 17 world cup victory record until I retire at the end of the season. Now with Julien already having 15 world cups under his belt, he is very close to taking it over.

This time Swiss champion Jürg Graf set the Swisspower team high point. He finished great with a 10th place, which is his best world cup result so far. He rides very consistently and is getting faster from week to week…

Next stop will be the European championship in St. Wendel, Germany, on May
17th/18th.

Keep trying

Frischi

Pictures by Gary Pelkin

Flo and Jürg before the heat was on

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