CYCLING-MOUNTAIN BIKE: Australia's London 2012 Mountain Bike Olympians have both stood on top of the podium at the opening Mountain Bike World Cup event of the season in Albstadt, Germany.

Dual Olympian Daniel McConnell from Victoria became the first Australian man to win a cross-country World Cup since Cadel Evans in 2000 while compatriot Rebecca Henderson took out the Under-23 title.

The men's seven lap race began just after the rain had stopped, but the damage had been done, leaving the course so slick and treacherous in the downhills that one major jump was closed after a lap for safety reasons.

Julien Absalon (BMC), the two time Olympic champion, jumped immediately into the lead, setting the fastest laps times for laps two through four.

The French rider, who holds the record for men's World Cup wins at 25, looked to be well on his way to his 26th win, when he suffered a mechanical problem and was forced to drop out. 

Sergio Mantecon (Wild Wolf Trek) moved into the lead when Absalon retired, and looked to have the win, until McConnell began an incredible surge.

The 2012 Australian champion, who had only one top-20 World Cup result previously, started the last lap in sixth place, 29 seconds behind Mantecon. 

He steadily picked up places on the first long climb of the lap to move into second before the second climb, and then took the lead after the final descent to the finish.

"I did not expect this," McConnell admitted. 

"I came into this looking for a solid top-15, so it's unbelievable. 

"On the climb I made contact with the group of second through fifth, and then moved into second through the feedzone. I could see Sergio in front of me, and at that stage just gave it everything, and caught him through the grass section at the bottom of the descent.  I got into the last corner with a little bit of a gap and nothing was going to get past me at that point, I was running on adrenalin."

Earlier young Henderson raced away to the women's U23 title, putting her first on the World Cup standings after a strong Australian race season.

"The race was perfect, it couldn't have gone any smoother," Henderson said.

Unlike earlier in the week, when rain kept the course wet and slippery, Saturday brought blue skies and sun, quickly drying out much of the course. 
Henderson decided to start the four lap Under-23 women's race a little cautiously, holding back in fourth place until late in the first lap, when she began to move up, taking the lead on the second lap and never relinquishing it.

"I had a healthy lead but I still felt pressure and rode as smart as I could."

Jenny Rissveds (Sweden), after an early crash, moved up through the field into third by the start of the last lap, and then passed Yana Belomoyna (Superior Brentjens MTB) in the final lap to take second, with Belomoyna holding on to third.

olympics.com.au with UCI and Mountain Bike Australia