Description
June 16, 2023
MTB – XCC – World Cup 2023 – 3 – Leogang, Austria
As the name suggests, these races take place on shorter versions of the XCO tracks,
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June 16, 2023
MTB – XCC – World Cup 2023 – 3 – Leogang, Austria
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.
Martins Blums (KMC MTB Racing) surged to the front of the pack to take the lead on the opening climb. He held a three-second margin after the first lap, Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLLCTV), Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC) and Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) trailing just behind in a long line of riders.
Across the second ascent, Schwarzbauer set the pace on the climb, but Blums went back to the front on the twisting, slippery descent. A long line of riders continued for the third lap, Flickinger pushing the pace on the descent, but no major moves were allowed to go.
As the second half of the contest began, Sarrou, Schwarzbauer, Mathias Flückiger (Thömas Maxon), Joshua Dubau (Rockrider Ford Racing) and Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory Racing) lined out as the top five. The pace picked up with Hatherly dropping back and Jens Schuermans (Giant Factory Off-Road Team) moved back into the mix. Then on the penultimate climb Schuermans stole to the front and began to stretch out the field.
On the final lap, Sarrou attacked with a massive pass of Schuermans just before hitting the climb. The Frenchman opened a big gap on the twisting descent, having time to whip his back wheel on a closing jump to celebrate. Schwarzbauer rode in fourth across the descent and finished second, ahead of Martins Blum (KMC MTB Racing) in third and Schuermans in fourth. 1st WC win of season
“I wanted it [the win] so much. I managed the race really well. I waited ‘til the last lap. And I enjoyed the last downhill because I had a gap. It’s really cool,” Sarrou said. “Here it is so physical. During the race I managed my skills and I tried to save energy as much as possible for Sunday.”
Results :
 surged to the front of the pack to take the lead on the opening climb. He held a three-second margin after the first lap, Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLLCTV), Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC) and Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) trailing just behind in a long line of riders.
Across the second ascent, Schwarzbauer set the pace on the climb, but Blums went back to the front on the twisting, slippery descent. A long line of riders continued for the third lap, Flickinger pushing the pace on the descent, but no major moves were allowed to go.
As the second half of the contest began, Sarrou, Schwarzbauer, Mathias Flückiger (Thömas Maxon), Joshua Dubau (Rockrider Ford Racing) and Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory Racing) lined out as the top five. The pace picked up with Hatherly dropping back and Jens Schuermans (Giant Factory Off-Road Team) moved back into the mix. Then on the penultimate climb Schuermans stole to the front and began to stretch out the field.
On the final lap, Sarrou attacked with a massive pass of Schuermans just before hitting the climb. The Frenchman opened a big gap on the twisting descent, having time to whip his back wheel on a closing jump to celebrate. Schwarzbauer rode in fourth across the descent and finished second, ahead of Martins Blum (KMC MTB Racing) in third and Schuermans in fourth. 1st WC win of season
“I wanted it [the win] so much. I managed the race really well. I waited ‘til the last lap. And I enjoyed the last downhill because I had a gap. It’s really cool,” Sarrou said. “Here it is so physical. During the race I managed my skills and I tried to save energy as much as possible for Sunday.”
<strong>Results : </strong>
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