MTB World Cup 2022 – 10 – Mont-Sainte-Anne [FULL RACE – XCC] (ladies)

August 5, 2022

MTB World Cup 2022 WE – 10 – Mont-Sainte-Anne – XCC

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.

Unlike the muddy and slippery mess riders faced last weekend at Snowshoe, USA, the Mont-Sainte-Anne course was dry and mostly on grass. After a short flat start section, riders faced a long climb, followed by an equally long twisty descent. After another short up and down, the riders had a final steep legbreaker climb to the finish line.

Olympic cross country champion Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory) took her second women’s XCC win of the season in a three way sprint against Round 7 winner Gwendalyn Gibson (Norco Factory) and World Cup leader Alessandra Keller (Thomus Maxon).

The eight lap race started fast and never slowed down. Keller and XCO World Cup leader Anne Terpstra (Ghost Factory) lead at the start of the first climb, with Lena Gerault (KTM Vittoria) then attacking and getting a small gap. She was brought back by the start of Lap 3 and the lead group was gradually whittled down to eight final riders, including Neff, Keller, Gibson, Terpstra, Gerault, Kate Courtney (Scott-SRAM), Rebecca McConnell (Primaflora Mondraker Genuins) and Caroline Bohe (Ghost Factory).

Various riders attempted to get away in the following laps without success, until Keller attacked on the opening climb of the final lap. Only Neff and Gibson were able to stay with her over the top of the climb. Neff then jumped by Keller and was able to hold the lead up the final climb to the finish line.

“It was incredibly hard, especially the last climb,” Neff said.

“Ever since the beginning the speed was incredibly high; I thought it was going to be much slower because everything was on grass. But everyone just went for it. It was a really hard race.

“I knew exactly what I wanted to do before the race, and I had my plan. But it was still very hard and I’m happy that I had the right plan and that I could execute it.

“I love this place, it’s my favourite course in the world. It’s so natural and so technical – the last three times I’ve started here [XCC and XCO] I’ve won, so I just love being here. I’m so happy that we are back here after three years.”

Keller continues to lead the overall XCC standings with one round to go, at 1300 points. However, Terpstra is closing and moves four points ahead of McConnell into second, 116 points back of Keller.

Terpstra continues to lead the XCO standings after the race, but is only 12 points ahead of former leader McConnell.

Results :