Lars Forster (Thömus Maxon) was peerless on an incredibly-tough Leogang course where he powered away from the field in a final-lap attack to win the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-country Olympic World Cup in Austria.
Forster’s Thömus Maxon team mate Mathias Flückiger looked impressive earlier in the third-round race after working his way to the front of a leading group including Luca Schwazbauer (Canyon CLLCTV) and Ondrej Cink (Primaflor Mondraker Genuins Race Team).
But as Flückiger’s bid for glory was ended by a rear puncture, Forster moved up to Schwarzbauer and Cink before timing a devastating attack to perfection. Schwarzbauer of Germany crossed the line some 14s back in second place and Czech rider Cink was third.
In the women’s race, series leader Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) proved she was in a league of her own when she took command of the race straight from the start line. She made an early break and maintained it from start to finish - crossing the line in stifling heat with an unassailable lead of 38 seconds.
After yesterday’s double win in the UCI Downhill World Cup, Austria continued to display its mountain biking pedigree when Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing) took second place and Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) third.
Earlier in the day Sofie Heby Pederson (Wilier-Pirelli Factory Team XCO) destroyed the rest of the U23 Women’s field when she won by 1:08 minute. It was a closer affair in the U23 Men’s race, when Adrien Boichis (Trinity Racing MTB) won his race by a still impressive 12 seconds.
Missed any of the action? Full replays from today’s race are available on GCN+.
Full results are posted here.
The UCI Downhill World Cup returns in two weeks time when it will be back in action in Val di Sole, Italy on June 29 - July 2.
