Though slightly outside the remit of our regular marathon and stage race coverage, these images from the Houffalize round of the UCI Cross-country World Cup last weekend are just begging for eyeballs. Taken by Sportograf photographers they capture the grit and energy of Team Bulls participation in the Belgian round of the international series. Bearing in mind this is an Olympic year, these World Cup rounds will take on added significance.
Scroll down for images, but first a quick look at results from the weekend:
Cross-country eliminator:
1. Brain Lopes – IBIS
2. Daniel Federspiel – notebooksbilliger.de-Team
3. Simon Gegenheimer – Ultra Sports Rose Racing Team
11. Simon Stiebjahn – Team Bulls
Women’s junior cross-country:
1. Margot Moschetti – France
2. Lena Putz – Germany
3. Sofia Wiedenroth – Germany
Men’s junior cross-country:
1. Romain Seigle – Definitive Spectra. TEC ASPTT
2. Andri Frischknecht – Scott – Swisspower MTB Racing Team
3. Keegan Swenson – USA National Team
14. Martin Frey – Team Bulls
Women’s U23 cross-country:
1. Yana Belomoyna – Biesse-Infotre Protek
2. Ekaterina Anoshina – Team Protek
3. Rebecca Henderson – Australia
Men’s U23 cross-country:
1. Ondrej Cink – Merida Biking Team
2. Robert Gehbauer – KTM
3. Julian Schelb – Lexware Racing Team
28. Simon Stiebjahn – Team Bulls
Women’s elite cross-country:
1. Catherine Pendrel – Luna Pro Team
2. Julie Bresset – BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry
3. Maja Wloszczowska – CCC Polkowice
Men’s elite cross-country:
1. Julien Absalon – Orbea Racing Team
2. Nino Schurter – Scott – Swisspower MTB Racing Team
3. Marco Aurelio Fontana – Cannondale Factory Racing
89. Karl Platt – Team Bulls
The XC World Cup takes on extra significance in an Olympic year. Photo: Sportograf
Up, up, up past Belgian fans. Photo: Sportograf
Happy in Houffalize. Photo: Sportograf
The hitters were out in Houffalize. Photo: Sportograf
Railing it on a descent in Belgium. Photo: Sportograf
A picture, a thousand words... Photo: Sportograf