MTB World Cup 2021 – 8 – Snowshoe [FULL RACE – XCC]

September 17, 2021

MTB World Cup 2021 – 8 – ME XCC – Snowshoe

The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is a multi-round mountain bike racing series that is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale. The first World Cup series – which was composed of cross-country events – was held in 1989. The Downhill World Cup was inaugurated two years later, and the Dual Slalom World Cup was launched in 1998. The dual-slalom format – which involved knock-out heats with two riders on the parallel courses in each heat – evolved into four-cross (with four riders on a single course per heat) in 2002 before being dropped after the 2011 season. Riders win points according to their placing in each event. The reigning series leaders in each class are identified by a special jersey.

Victor Koretzky (KMC-Orbea) won the men’s Short Track at the final round of the Mountain Bike World Cup in Snowshoe, West Virginia, while Mathias Flueckiger (Thomus RN Swiss Bike) sealed overall victory in the 2021 World Cup.

Koretzky was one of the most aggressive riders for the entire men’s race, leading out on the first of eight laps. While the pace was fierce, by the halfway point there were still 17 riders in contention, including Henrique Avancini (Cannondale Factory), Short Track world champion Christopher Blevins (Trinity Racing), Ondrej Cink (Kross Orlen), Filippo Colombo (Absolute-Absalon-BMC) and overall World Cup leader Mathias Flueckiger (Thomus RN Swiss Bike).

Flueckiger had not yet locked up the men’s World Cup title coming into this weekend, and needed a 12th place or better in the Short Track to take the overall title before Sunday’s final cross-country.

Avancini and Cink took over from Koretzky in the pacesetting, with Flueckiger always lurking in the top five. However, Koretzky was just biding his time, and attacked on the same last climb of the last lap as Richards in the women’s race. Only Avancini could go with him initially, but the Brazilian could not hold the Frenchman’s pace on the final straight, as Koretzky took the first Short Track win of his career.

Colombo out sprinted Blevins for third, while Flueckiger finished fifth to win his first World Cup title. Koretzky’s win moved him into second in the overall standings, bumping Cink down to third.

“I just tried to stay on a good wheel,” explained Koretzky, “and not attack too early in the race. I just tried to wait for a good moment and attacked on the last lap, and then go full gas to the end. It was just amazing in the last few metres, to have the win. I’m super happy to win my first XCC race.”

Flueckiger was extremely pleased to have the pressure off for the World Cup title, “It’s crazy; I couldn’t have imagined it one year ago. I’ve had a really great season … I’m so tired now! What we have done with the team is really great, and this has been growing all year. Now I’ve won the World Cup overall, and that’s really crazy.”

Results :
1 Victor Koretzky (Fra) KMC-Orbea 00:22:05
2 Henrique Avancini (Bra) Cannondale Factory Racing 0:00:03
3 Filippo Colombo (Swi) Absolute-Absalon-BMC
4 Christopher Blevins (USA) Trinity Racing MTB
5 Mathais Flueckiger (Swi) Thömus RN Swiss Bike Team 0:00:08
6 Jordan Sarrou (Fra) Specialized Racing 0:00:09
7 Ondrej Cink (Cze) Kross Orlen Cycling Team
8 Luca Braidot (Ita) Santa Cruz FSA MTB Pro Team
9 Milan Vader (Fra) KMC-Orbea 0:00:11
10 Nadir Colledani (Ita) MMR Factory Racing Team 0:00:12