Highlights XC Eliminator - RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano

The Rockyroads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano saw new faces on the top step of the podium of the Eliminator at Nove Mesto na Morave in the Czech Republic. Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory) dominated the women’s competition, while a brillant mid-race attack by Sepp Freiburghaus (Thoemus Racing) caught all of his rivals off guard, allowing the Swiss rider to take the win. Engen qualified first for the women and won both of her preliminary heats to move into the final. She was joined there by 2011 cross-country World Cup champion Julie Bresset (BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry), Eva Lechner (Colnago Sudtirol), Australia’s Rowena Fry, Laura Turpijn (MPL Specialized) and Cecile Ravanel (GT Skoda Chamonix). Missing from the final were former world champions Tracy Moseley and Anneke Beerten (Milka-Superior). Australian Paul van der Ploeg (Felt Oetztal X-Bionic) was considered the favourite for the men, after qualifying first and finishing second here last year. His powerful sp