Cannondale Factory Racing’s Marco Aurelio Fontana, Manuel Fumic and Martin Gujan had a great showing of form at today’s Worldcup Race in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The team finished second in the Team ranking and took the first podium spot of the season for Marco Aurelio Fontana with a 5th place. Meanuel Fumic finished 6th and Martin Gujan took 14th.

In a fast race, it was Manuel Fumic who made the pace for the first lap, while Marco  Aurelio Fontana and Martin Gujan had some starting problems and had to catch up.

While the leading group around Schurter, Absalon and Kulhavy created a gap to the chasing group, Fontana put in two really fast laps bringing him back into 5th place coming from 24th position in the starting lap. Fontana fought his way into 4th and was about to close the gap to the leaders together with Hermida, when he had to go off the bike in one of the two rock gardens. “I had a really bad start, but knew that I was strong and could make up positions and was focused on the podium all race long. I’m happy with how the race went, even though I had some mistakes in there. But, mistakes are what you learn from, right?” a completely exhausted Fontana said at the finish line.

While Fontana had his ups and downs in the race, Fumic suffered a little after his strong start, but found his pace in lap 3 putting in some of the fastest lap times.” I still can’t handle the speed changes during the races too well, but ride on a really high base speed. The Flash 29er helped me a lot today, as it rolls so fast, so I could recover a little in the descents, while still carrying speed on the super fun course here in Pietermaritzburg. It also rode amazing through the technical rock gardens, where I could also make some ground. It was not a typical Fumic race today, but honestly I like the way it went. I learned a lot about myself and my racing and CFR did a great job helping me on this. I look forward to start from the first row in Dalby in three week’s time again, and the number 6 I will carry there is a good omen for me,” Fumic said with a smile on his face, referring to his 2010 Houffalize numberplate.

Swiss teammate Martin Gujan rode strong and got faster and faster throughout the race finishing in 14th. “I am not sure if I should be happy or not, but overall it was good. I lost the sprint against Sauser, and with that we eventually lost the win in the Team ranking, but it was a great start in the season for the team and myself,” Gujan said.

Now CFR is sitting comfortably in second position in the World Cup Team ranking, with 2 riders in the first starting row for World Cup 2 in Dalby Forest, UK in 4 weeks time.