Schurter looks to seal dominance in elite at worlds

Cairns : Switzerland's defending world champion Nino Schurter will be bidding to extend his record-breaking winning run in the men's elite event at the world mountain bike championships in Australia on Saturday.

Schurter, the reigning Olympic champion, has won all six events in the World Cup this season and is after the world title to complete his domination.

The Swiss will be challenged in Cairns in northern Australia by two former world and Olympic champions Julien Absalon of France and the Czech Republic's Jaroslav Kulhavy.

Schurter's winning streak at the World Cup began in May at Nove Mesto and continued in Albstadt and Vallnord.

The closest match to Schurter this season was at the fourth round in Lenzerheide, when Kulhavy chased back from a bad start to come within three seconds of the Swiss at the finish line.

"I'm stoked I've achieved this 6/6 strike but it takes a good portion of luck and a reliable team and equipment to conquer," Schurter said.

Schurter has already had success at the world championships, helping Switzerland end France's dominance in the cross country team relay.

Schurter anchored the Swiss team to victory 24 seconds ahead of Denmark and France.

France had won the past three relays before the format changed to five riders for 2017.

There are plenty of contenders for the elite women's category, led by the newly crowned world cup champion Yana Belomoina of the Ukraine.

Other strong contenders include defending champion Annika Langvad (Denmark), Jolanda Neff (Switzerland) and Maja Wloszczowska (Poland).

Belomoina beat Wloszczowska to win her first World Cup title.