Julien Absalon won the second round of the Proffix Swiss Bike Cup over the weekend and took the lead of the series.

The HC race in Haiming, Austria which was included for the first time in the Proffix Swiss Bike Cup, wasn’t originally on Absalon’s race calendar. But the start of the season hasn’t gone as planned for the Frenchman, who quickly realized he was missing some race rhythm - so he decided to add the race to his schedule. And it paid off! 

“I’m really glad I decided to come and race here in Haiming. The course was technical and very rooty, actually perfect to train for the purpose of the first World Cup in Nove Mesto in a month time.” But there are still things to improve before the 21st of May. “I can’t afford to start like I did today. It was sh**!” But once he picked up speed, no one could follow. Absalon confidently took the lead on lap three of a total of seven and was never again seen by his competitors. He crossed the line 40’’ ahead of the Swiss athlete Florian Vogel and 53’’ ahead of Russian Anton Sintsov. 

“I’m definitely happy with today and the way the weekend went. I had fun on my training sessions, the Fourstroke did a great job rolling over all these roots and I rode very clean. Of course a win is always good for the mind and this one gives me confidence for the upcoming month.”

The Frenchman and the entire BMC MTB Racing Team will take part to the “Bike the Rock” MTB Festival in Heubach, Germany next weekend before heading to Solothurn, a few steps away from the BMC Switzerland headquarters for the third round of the Proffix Swiss Bike Cup. Absalon will do his best to defend his leader jersey there.

Results: 

1. Julien Absalon (FRA) 1:33'50''
2. Florian Vogel (SUI) +40''
3. Anton Sintsov (RUS) +53''

(...)

10. Lukas Flückiger (SUI) +2'13''

15. Reto Indergand (SUI) +2'53''

21. Lars Forster (SUI) +3'57''

Full results here.