[Mister T.]

Today, at Italy, Villa Bassa, the belgian Cannondale-Vredestein rider Roel Paulissen won the Worldchampionship MTB Marathon 2008, before Christophe Sauser. :thumbsup: :yesnod:

Being a Belgian C'dale fan, this is truly great news. Last years at the WC MTC Marathon at Verviers, Roel ended 2nd after Sauser. This year, Roel proves again that he is one of top professional MTB'ers of the world.

Let's pray that he can maintain his shape, and even better it, for the Olympic games end of August!

 

[Kayba]

That is great news! I read it was quite a thriller end when both Roel and Christoph sprinted for victory and crashed before the finish line. Christoph was the first one to get on his bike again and crossed the finish line before Roel who was in anger because Christoph would have hindered him in the sprint. Eventually UCI decided that Roel got the gold and Christoph the silver medal.
Kayba

 

[Kayba]

Footage on youtube.
Kayba

 

[Dan Gerous]

Sauser wasn't on the podium when they uncorked the champagne...

So that's two World Championships on the latest Scalpel, in less than a year.

 

[eliflap]

poor scalpel ..... a shot to heart

 

[Baker921]

Bike looked a bit fragile. Could anyone see what broke?

 

[kopaczus]

You can't quite tell, it kinda looks like the stem/steerer snapped, doesn't it? And well, when you hit asphalt at speed anything can happen, so that's not a question of bike being fragile or not. Luckily none of the two got injured!

But it did look like Sauser was pushing Roel out before that finish line, no wonder they took away that win from him.

 

[OMEGANOX]

Good call, a desparate and cowardly attempt to prevent the inevitable.

 

[Flying Wombat]

Bike looked a bit fragile. Could anyone see what broke?

I dont think Paulissen runs a Si stem/steerer as he runs more of a negative rise than stock. I think its a FRM stem on lightened steerer.

Kevin

 

[almontebarnes]

You can't quite tell, it kinda looks like the stem/steerer snapped, doesn't it? And well, when you hit asphalt at speed anything can happen, so that's not a question of bike being fragile or not. Luckily none of the two got injured!

Wow. Having just gotten into XC myself and following threads like Andrea's (Eliflap) ultra-light Scalpel, it sure turns me off weight weenie parts. (Assuming he was using non-stock tuned or 3rd party parts.) yes, this was ashpalt, but so what? A rock is no softer.

But it did look like Sauser was pushing Roel out before that finish line, no wonder they took away that win from him.

I'm no expert here. (I am completely new to the sport - and incidentally I am a Cannondale fan.) But this looked like a racing incident. Sauser was sprinting to the finish, getting up out the seat and swaying violently. Just like any sprint to the finish. No chance to look behind. He took a tight line, but Roel had his nose there. Roel took his chance, not to mention put himself in a position to be squeezed by being just behind enough. Pure racing incident.

Don't know why it was taken from Sauser.

 

[Dan Gerous]

I dont think Paulissen runs a Si stem/steerer as he runs more of a negative rise than stock. I think its a FRM stem on lightened steerer.

Kevin

Yes, he runs a FRM carbon stem as seen here at the XCO World's...

 

[Dan Gerous]

I'm guessing the UCI saw it as Sauser intentionally blocking/boxing Roel against the barriers which is not very sportsman-like. The best place to sprint is just behind the other and Sauser knew very well where Roel was but he made sure Roel had nowhere to go... In road racing, some racers have been, not placed 2nd but completely disqualified for such things but it can be hard to judge, the race officials have the last word though. It must not be as gratifying to get the rainbow jersey under these circumstances... I thought Roel was looking for Sauser to start a fight!

 

[almontebarnes]

Yeah, I hear you. My background is in motorsport, where there is simply a lack of real estate when you get two vehicles near the apex of a turn. So getting your nose clipped when it is at someone's tail on the inside is normal. Make the pass or back off.

But there is no lack of real estate here; I do see the squeeze.

I'm guessing the UCI saw it as Sauser intentionally blocking/boxing Roel against the barriers which is not very sportsman-like. The best place to sprint is just behind the other and Sauser knew very well where Roel was but he made sure Roel had nowhere to go... In road racing, some racers have been, not placed 2nd but completely disqualified for such things but it can be hard to judge, the race officials have the last word though. It must not be as gratifying to get the rainbow jersey under these circumstances... I thought Roel was looking for Sauser to start a fight!

 

[EGF168]

I'm guessing the UCI saw it as Sauser intentionally blocking/boxing Roel against the barriers which is not very sportsman-like. The best place to sprint is just behind the other and Sauser knew very well where Roel was but he made sure Roel had nowhere to go... In road racing, some racers have been, not placed 2nd but completely disqualified for such things but it can be hard to judge, the race officials have the last word though. It must not be as gratifying to get the rainbow jersey under these circumstances... I thought Roel was looking for Sauser to start a fight!

What's this? Specialized trying to take over the adjustable seat post market and its team members being unsporting all in a week, unbelievable! What am I saying, they do this rubbish all the time.

 

[ChrisJ]

[QUOTEI thought Roel was looking for Sauser to start a fight!][/QUOTE]

That would of looked real good. But under those circumstances I probally would of done the same thing.

 

[dsh21]

wow, that's a harsh call by the UCI official. Sauser didn't make any sudden direction change and Paulissen positioned himself really poorly for the sprint.

A shame it had to be decided like that though.

 

[DAVID J]

Its a shame that dirt road are considered a mtb race course.Had Paulissen ran with his bike he probably would've won fair-n-square.

 

[eliflap]

looking for the champagne bottle not opened from Sauser

where is it ? i need to drink

 

[Dan Gerous]

Looks like the FRM stem broke, the clamp is still on the steerer but the whole bar is hanging by the cables...

They still look friendly although that's before the jury told their verdict.

 

[cdalemaniac]

Did the rubber boot came off of the lefty too?
Looks weird..or is this some sort of prototype??