Intro:

Jaroslav Kulhavy and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa won Sunday's (5th July) Elite XCO (cross-country) races at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup event at Lenzerheide in Switzerland.

Script:

A day for taking cover - but there was no hiding from the sun once round six of the XCO World Cup competition started.

Plenty to cheer about early on for the Swiss fans - as home riders took to the fore in the men's race.

However, most fell away as Jaroslav Kulhavy muscled his way to the front of the field.

Nino Schurter did manage to hold on for Switzerland - he and Kulhavy leaving Julian Absalon in their wake.

The race's defining moment came on lap six when both Schurter and Absalon suffered punctures - allowing Kulhavy to cruise to victory in a time of one hour and 29 minutes exactly.

Schurter finished 33 seconds off the pace with Kulhavy's fellow-Czech Ondrej Cink snatching third spot.

This result allows Kulhavy to extend his lead over Schurter at the top of the table.

The former now has 660 points - the latter 600, with Absalon a distant third on 510.

Meanwhile in the women's race Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa dominated from start to finish.

The Norwegian powered away early on her way to a 29th World Cup triumph.

There were, though, interesting developments behind her.

Under the blazing sun, Jolanda Neff and then Catherine Pendrel were both picked off as Lea Davison showed great stamina.

Dahle Flesjaa crossed the line in one hour, 32 minutes and 15 seconds, with the American exactly a minute in arrears.

Pendrel of Canada was third, with Neff fourth.

And Neff now finds herself joined by Dahle Flesjaa at the top of the World Cup table with 650 points.

Third-placed Pendrel is way back with 470.