2015 UCI World Cup XC Action - Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic

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<b>Good Morning Czech Republic. The view from the hotel and the sound of rain dripping against the window was not promising upon our arrival.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>But the weather cooperated. Jose Hermida secretly bringing his prototype to the venue. More about the bike next week in Albstadt.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Last-minute details mean everything as the first World Cup of the 2015 XCO calendar takes off.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>BMC introduces micro travel; a mist between the featherweight of the hardtail and a little bit of comfort.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>The mechanics did their best to prevent the bikes from getting heavy through the mud. Any hole that might collect any dirt was filled.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Saturday training was on. The race course was nicely dried and the riders tested the corners. Manuel Fumic, not Ron.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Rainbow through the trees. Absalon.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Some final touches to the Mathias Fluckiger's bike and then back to practice.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Marco Aurelio and Anton Cooper talking lines after practice.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Jaroslav Kulhavy showed up fashionably in is new Maserati.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Pre-race pound.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>The food here in Czech Republic is definitely not made for vegetarians.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Ghost Factory Racing enciuragement.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>With the new schedule, the U23's raced on Saturday. Jenny Rissveds, really happy with her 1st place season opener. She won by 42-seconds after an hour and 17-minutes on course.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>U23 Men's start. An hour and 22-minutes later, Lars Forster would take the victory by just 17-seconds.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Call up for the Elite Women.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Jolanda Neff leading from the start like last season. It's as if she's smiling while everyone else is grunting for their lives.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Fighting for every centimeter off the start.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>People pumped for the proficiently powerful pushers of the pedal.</b> - Dobslaff
<b>Coming out of the start lap with a little lead, the race course was all Jolanda's.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>While the mid-pack women...</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Feed zone pan.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Jolanda and Gunn-Rita had a battle of the generations. Gunn Rita won her first World Cup in 1996 when Jolanda was not even in school yet.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Jolanda celebrates her hard-earned victory with the crowd. She edged out Gunn-Rita by just 1 second after an hour and 34-minutes of punishment.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Well-deserved champage chug.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>On to Elite Men's racing. The start is always crucial. During warm up, Julien Absalon double checked is line for the start sprint.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>The World Champion treatment between warm up and the start. While the riders changes clothes, the Team Manager makes sure the bike blings for the broadcast.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Elite Men, ready to pounce.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>6 + 1 laps and an hour and 33-minutes to go.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Aurelio blurring the lines.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Kulhavy carrying momentum.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>The Men's race was the battle between the Czech and the Swiss. After the last not-so-strong XC season for Jaroslav, he showed up to the race in top form and with a strong mind. Nino hot on his heels...</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>...and making moves.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Kulhavy not wanting to give it away...</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>...and Nino tried his best.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Kovarik's calves transplanted?</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Kulhavy had the focus, the power and the lines...</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Blockbuster crowds for the World Cup as Kulhavy takes it home at home. World Champs land here in 2016, too.</b> - Dobslaff
<b>...and earned a hometown victory. 24-seconds up after an hour and 37-minutes of non-stop action.</b> - Marius Maasewerd
<b>Thank you Czech Republic for a fantastic weekend. We'll see you in Albstadt. </b> - Dobslaff
Intro Graphic
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Description
The 2015 UCI World Cup XCO series launched like a rocket with the opening round in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic. Huge crowds and a hometown victory by Jaroslov Kulhavy made the weekend that much sweeter. Marius Maasewerd takes you there with a chronological pictorial of the action.
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