The start of the Eliminator World Cup in Cairns, Australia, almost turns into a swim due to the pouring rain. As expected, the favorites Daniel Federspiel (AUT) and van der Ploeg (AUS) made it through the heats to the grand final without any problems. There, however, it is the young New Zealander Samuel Gaze who keeps the world's best at bay from the start. Gaze holds the lead until the end and takes his first World Cup victory in the Australian mud. European champion Federspiel was behind at the start but was able to sprint past sprint world champion van der Ploeg from fourth to second place at the end.

For the Swiss Matthias Stirnemann Fabian Giger, it was already over in the quarter-finals, albeit in a close decision. "I made some stupid mistakes with my line choice," said Giger after his elimination. Thomas Litscher, who was due to compete in the same heat as Giger, was already feeling unwell during the qualification. Due to emerging stomach problems, he did not even compete in the finals.

In the women's event, the Swedish dominance remains the same as last year. Sprint world champion Alexandra Engen leaves nothing to be desired in the grand final and immediately takes the lead after the start. She did not relinquish her lead until the finish line. Her compatriot Jenny Rissveds finishes second. Jolanda Neff is still at the front at the start. Then the Swiss sprint champion gets her handlebars caught on a tree and loses the opportunity to snatch victory. "It was actually going perfectly until then, but then I got stuck there," said an annoyed Neff.

Kathrin Stirnemann puts in a strong race. But things don't go according to plan in the grand finale. Stirnemann struggles right from the start and is quickly a few meters behind. In the wave section, she loses her grip and falls headfirst. "After that, the race was over for me," says Stirnemann disappointedly, especially as she also suffers a rear wheel defect.The World Cup program continues with the downhill competitions. The women start at 13:15, which is 05:15 Swiss time. The first men will start 45 minutes later.

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Rankings World Cup 2014, #1 Cairns AUS, Eliminator
Men
Grand final
1.	Samuel Gaze (NZL)
2.	Daniel Federspiel (AUT)	Ötztal Scott Racing Team
3.	Paul van der Ploeg (AUS)
4.	Emil Lindgren (SWE)	Giant Pro XC Team
Little finale
5th	Julian Schelb (GER)	Multivan Merida Biking Team
6.	Simon Gegenheimer (GER)
7.	Gregor Raggl (AUT)	Ötztal Scott Racing Team
8.	Markus Schulte-Lünzum (GER)	Focus XC Team
Quarter-finals
9th	Fabrice Mels (BEL)	Salcano Alanya
10.	Shaun Lewis (AUS)
11.	Matthias Stirnemann (SUI)	Stöckli Pro Team
12.	Fabian Giger (SUI)	Giant Pro XC Team
13.	Tristan Ward (AUS)
14.	Kevin van Hoovels (BEL)	Versluys Team
15.	Steffen Thum (GER)
DNS	Thomas Litscher (SUI)	Multivan Merida Biking Team
Women
Grand final
1.	Alexandra Engen (SWE)	Ghost Factory Racing
2.	Jenny Rissveds (SWE)	Scott-Odlo-MTB-Racing-Team
3.	Jolanda Neff (SUI)	Giant Pro XC Team
4.	Kathrin Stirnemann (SUI)	Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team
Little finale
5th	Eva Lechner (ITA)	Team Colnago Südtirol
6.	Kate Courtney (USA)	Specialized Racing XC
7.	Sabine Spitz (GER)	Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team
8.	Jovana Crnogorac (SRB)	Salcano Alanya
Quarter-finals
9th	Helen Grobert (GER)	Focus XC Team
10.	Barbara Benko (HUN)	Focus XC Team
11.	Emily Parkes (AUS)
12.	Paul Gorycka (POL)	4F Racing Team
13.	Amber Johnston (NZL)