It's amazing how the 36-year-old Brentjens can still win World Cup races. Immediately after Näf's obligatory start phase, the Dutchman took the lead and rode a lonely race. Only Julien Absalon was able to catch up with him, but then lost touch again on the last lap.

One of the secret favorites was Christoph Sauser. Due to the muscle strain he suffered in a snowshoe race, he was unable to push himself to the limit at the Swisspower Cup last week. In Curaçao, he also crashed heavily in training, but only suffered minor injuries. Nevertheless, this mishap the day before the race was probably not the best preparation for the World Cup opener. With these signs, Sauser was quite satisfied with the result.

Ralph Näf can also look to the future with confidence. The Thurgau rider's suspension fork failed in the last two laps and a podium place would have been possible. After an initial disappointment, Näf was nevertheless satisfied, as this was one of his best World Cup results.

The two Swisspower riders Florian Vogel and Nino Schurter rode to the best World Cup result of their careers. With tenth place, Vogel finished in the top ten for the first time and Schurter secured the red jersey of the leader of the U23 classification with fourteenth place.

Results World Cup 2006, Curaçao:
1st Bart Brentjens (Ned) Giant-Racing-Team
2. Julien Absalon (Fra) Bianchi Agos
3rd Liam Killeen (GBr) Specialized Factory Racing
4th Roel Paulissen (Bel) Giant-Racing-Team
5th Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized Factory Racing
6th Ralph Naf (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team
7th Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Cannondale-Vredestein
8. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Esp) Multivan Merida Biking Team
9th Seamus McGrath (Can) Felt
10. Florian Vogel (Sui) Swisspower Mtb Team
11. Lado Fumic (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International
12. Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Cannondale-Vredestein
13. Peter Riis Andersen (Den) Cannondale-Vredestein
14th Nino Schurter (Sui) Swisspower Mtb Team
15. Marti Gispert Labarta (Esp) Club Freebike
16. Alban Lakata (Aut) Specialized Factory Racing
17th Oliver Beckingsale (GBr) Giant-Racing-Team
18th Michael Broderick (USA)
19th Hector Paez Leon (Col)
20th Moritz Milatz (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team
21st Adam Craig (USA) Giant USA