Julien Absalon continued his remarkable run of form in Offenburg to romp to victory and move into the World Cup leader’s jersey.

The Frenchman started this year’s World Cup campaign with two second-place finishes but arrived in Germany as the hot favourite courtesy of four consecutive victories in Offenburg.

And Absalon duly delivered, leaving Jaroslav Kulhavy 29 seconds adrift in second. Maxime Marotte, a further 12 seconds back, completed the podium.

Orbea rider Absalon said: “I tried first to attack on the first lap but I saw six guys on my wheel, so I said, ‘ok, I need to wait a little’.

I sat in for two laps on wheels and I saw Kulhavy was very strong. I knew I needed to attack in the beginning of a long climb, like I have done each year, and so I did the same.”

The Frenchman’s decisive move came on lap four, with Kulhavy responding but unable to bridge the gap, and Marotte and Barry Stander following.

Liam Killeen was the first British finisher in 16th, three minutes, 31 seconds behind Absalon, while Oli Beckingsale was seven minutes, 45 seconds down in 48th.

Full results are available on the UCI website.

Elite men’s results

World Cup standings

Meanwhile, in the women’s race, Julie Bresset recorded her second successive World Cup victory, extending her lead at the top of the overall standings.

The BH Suntour Peisey Vallandry, who also won the previous round in Dalby Forest, withstood multiple attacks from defending champion Catharine Pendrel before making her own move.

Pendrel finished second, crossing the line 41 seconds behind Bresset, while Eva Lechner was a further 53 seconds adrift. Great Britain’s Annie Last, 14th in Dalby, finished just over nine minutes behind the winner in 39th.

Elite women’s results

World Cup standings