After an unforgettable opening weekend in Mairiporã, the second round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series kicked off in Araxá in Western Minas Gerais region on Friday afternoon. The second of two Brazilian rounds of the Series got underway with the U23 UCI Mountain Bike Cross-country Short Track World Cup events.
Kira Böhm’s perfect Brazilian adventure continued with a win in the women’s race. The German rider for Cube Factory Racing secured her second win in consecutive short track races, and her third win of the Series so far after also taking victory in the Cross-country Olympic event in Mairiporã. Böhm launched an attack with two laps to go, and only Canada’s Emily Johnston (Trek Factory Racing) and her compatriot Carla Hahn (Lexware Mountainbike Team) were able to go with her. In the end she was able to strike out for the line four seconds clear of Johnston, with Hahn finishing third.
With her second victory, Böhm extends her lead in the overall standings, with Johnston moving into second after she improved in her fifth-place finish in Mairiporã. American Madigan Munro (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) rises into third.
Speaking after the race, Böhm said:
It was a tough today. We were all together until I did the attack on the uphill, because I know I’m good right now at the uphills. But Johnston and Carla could follow me with one lap to go. I was so empty up there. The last 30 seconds were so tough for me. I'm super happy that I could win again today. I was really looking forward to the race. It's so much fun to race with the girls. It's super tough, but also fun.
Böhm was not the only rider to continue their winning streak in Araxá. Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) took victory in the men's race ahead of his countryman and Trek teammate Bjorn Riley (Trek Future Racing). Amos took the race on from the start, attacking on the first lap to test his competitors, before settling into a steadier pace and biding his time. He was too strong for the rest in the final though, surging clear to seal his second win in two races, and improve his lead at the top of the overall standings. Switzerland’s Luke Wiedmann (Thömus maxon) took third spot. While Amos retains the lead, Riley moves into second on the overall standings, and Swiss Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team-XC) consolidates his third position.
Amos said:
I had a great start and then focused on controlling the pace. But all those guys were really fresh and kept the speed high. I knew if I was patient, they would hurt towards the end, and I just had to wait my turn. I have the confidence from last week and I know I have the fitness, so I’ll just keep trying to do every little thing right and go for it.
When you know you can win and you're really hurting it also makes you doubt like. It's a blessing and a curse for sure.
On whether he was capable of winning every race, Amos said:
I sure hope so. I’ll keep working for it and keep trying to do my system right. I love racing with these guys and love being in Brazil. Every one of them hopefully.
Tomorrow sees the U23 men take on the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup event, ahead of the women on Sunday. Following the total domination across both races for both Böhm and Amos in Mairiporã, expectation on the two current series leaders to continue their rich vein of form will be sky high.
