For Olympic cross-country mountain bike champion Julien Absalon (Bianchi-Agos), his second consecutive world championship victory in Livigno on Sunday was no walkover. "At first, I tried to keep the strongest opponents under control," Absalon said, recounting his race in a team statement. "In the second lap, I did my best to stay in the front."
But then the Olympic champion hit difficulties. "I noticed my wheel looked a bit flat at the first filling-up point, but I didn't realise I had had a puncture. When I got to the big climb, the wheel was almost completely flat. I lost time: on that occasion I was 'helped' by [Christoph] Sauser's puncture. For a while, I was afraid I might lose, especially when I fell in the stream."
