Description
May 12, 2023
MTB – XCC – World Cup 2023 WE – 1 – Nové Mesto, Czech Republic
As the name suggests, these races take place on shorter versions of the XCO tracks,
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May 12, 2023
MTB – XCC – World Cup 2023 WE – 1 – Nové Mesto, Czech Republic
As the name suggests, these races take place on shorter versions of the XCO tracks, and are usually around 20 minutes in length. It’ll have fewer big features than the main XCO course, and is an all-out race from start to finish. The XCC kicks off the weekend of racing, taking place on the Friday evening. Short track was initially introduced to the World Cup series in 2018, when it was used to determine the start grid for the XCO race, and fed into the overall points. From 2022, the short track still determines Sunday’s start and there are points available for the XCO overall, but it also has its own overall competition.
On the start line for the women as the rain came down were year’s UCI Short Track World Cup winner Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing XC), the defending overall series champion Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) and reigning World Champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Ineos Grenadiers).
It would be Stigger who would shine under the dark skies and she worked her magic on the final lap to separate herself from four other riders at the front. She had moved in front of Keller on the same final climb as Pidcock, but Keller then passed her as they entered the arena. Stigger was able to make the final pass for the win at the line in a time of 19:02, with Keller just off her wheel one second back.
Keller secured second place by edging a trio of riders at the line, Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) in third, Ferrand-Prevot in fourth, and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing XC) in fifth. Neff finished ninth.
Stigger, the Austrian short track champion, maintained her position near the front for the nine laps of the contest and saved something for the final kick.
“It’s so hard to stay on the wheels of the fast ladies,” said Stigger at the end, with mud still covering her face and jersey. “I had to really fight for my position, and during the race, I was thinking, ‘ah, I really have to close the gap, always’. That it’s turned out like this, it’s incredible. What a great kickoff for the weekend.”
Results :
, the defending overall series champion Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) and reigning World Champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Ineos Grenadiers).
It would be Stigger who would shine under the dark skies and she worked her magic on the final lap to separate herself from four other riders at the front. She had moved in front of Keller on the same final climb as Pidcock, but Keller then passed her as they entered the arena. Stigger was able to make the final pass for the win at the line in a time of 19:02, with Keller just off her wheel one second back.
Keller secured second place by edging a trio of riders at the line, Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) in third, Ferrand-Prevot in fourth, and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing XC) in fifth. Neff finished ninth.
Stigger, the Austrian short track champion, maintained her position near the front for the nine laps of the contest and saved something for the final kick.
“It’s so hard to stay on the wheels of the fast ladies,” said Stigger at the end, with mud still covering her face and jersey. “I had to really fight for my position, and during the race, I was thinking, ‘ah, I really have to close the gap, always’. That it’s turned out like this, it’s incredible. What a great kickoff for the weekend.”
<strong>Results : </strong>
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