Five-time UCI Downhill (DHI) World Cup overall winner will also be part of the commentary line-up for the first four DHI rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Today, Aaron Gwin, the five-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner and most successful American downhill mountain biker of all time, is announced as a downhill (DHI) Ambassador for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike Series. The 36-year-old Californian is one of the most decorated mountain bike downhill athletes of all times, securing wins at 20 UCI World Cup rounds for a total of 50 podiums in UCI World Cups and UCI World Championships since his elite debut in 2008. The first of his five overall titles came in 2011, when he won five of the season’s seven races and finished on the podium in the other two. The following season saw him continue his dominance to take back-to-back overall titles, while he remained the most consistent rider between 2015 and 2017. His most famous victory though came at the Leogang UCI Downhill World Cup in 2015, when he charged to the finish relying on gravity alone when his chain snapped moments after leaving the start hut. As well as being an official Ambassador, Aaron Gwin will also be joining the commentary line-up for the first four DHI rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, starting this weekend at Fort William in Scotland, Great Britain. He will bring his decades of experience to the commentary booth and provide unrivalled insight into the racing – from the lines the riders are choosing to the specific bike set-up required for each course. After the round in Val di Sole (Italy), he plans on returning to racing with his new team, Gwin Racing. Aaron Gwin said: “I’m really excited to come on board as a DHI Ambassador for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and join Ric McLaughlin in the commentary box for the first four UCI World Cup rounds of the downhill season. I hope to give the fans additional insight into what is going through a rider’s mind as they navigate each race and what it’s like to be on the other side of the tape”. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe, added: “Our mission is to better connect fans all around the world with mountain biking’s riders and stories, opening up even more engagement opportunities to support the continued growth of the sport. “We’re delighted to bring on Aaron Gwin as our DHI Ambassador and commentator for the first four downhill mountain bike races of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series which epitomises our strategy of harnessing the best experts to constantly improve our coverage offer to truly unlock the power of our sport.”
The phrase Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) gets thrown around a lot, but in Greg Minnaar’s case, there’s no better description. The 42-year-old South African is the most successful elite men’s UCI Downhill World Cup rider in history and has chalked up 23 UCI World Cup wins from his 60 podium appearances during a career that started in 1997. The Pietermaritzburg-born pinner has picked up three UCI World Cup overall titles (2001, 2005 and 2008) in that time, as well as four UCI Downhill World Championships (2003, 2012, 2013 and 2021). Despite his living legend status, the GOAT still isn’t ready to hang up his full-face helmet, as the documentary ‘Not Done Yet’ proves. Premiering globally at an event he attended in person at Highland Cinema, Fort William yesterday evening (Tuesday, April 30), the 45-minute film will also be broadcast at 9pm BST today (Wednesday, May 1) on Eurosport UK. The film covers the highlights of Minnaar’s 20-plus-year career at the top of downhill mountain biking and follows his preparation for the 2023 UCI Downhill World Championships, where he was hoping to conclude his career on an all-time high. Hosted on the iconic Fort William course where Minnaar has a record seven wins, he was one of the favorites to take the rainbow jersey for a fifth time until a mechanical in his final’s run meant he couldn’t finish the race. Speaking after the global premiere, Greg Minnaar said: It was an amazing documentary capturing the events as they unfolded. I enjoyed seeing the historical footage as it brought back such good memories. I've been racing over two decades and the film showed that very well. I'm excited for what this season will bring and the film showed my new, exciting role with Norco Race Division. The documentary’s global premiere kick started a big week for downhill mountain biking in Scotland’s Fort William, with the first UCI Downhill World Cup of the 2024 season coming to town this weekend. All eyes will be on Minnaar for more reasons than usual too with it his first race since ending a 16-year relationship with Santa Cruz and switching teams from Santa Cruz Syndicate to Norco Factory Racing.
After an epic start to the Endurance action in Brazil, where we saw more than 65,000 spectators bring a carnival of colour and noise to the courses of Mairiporã and Araxá, the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series crosses the Atlantic, kicking off the European action with the first of its Gravity races at Scotland’s legendary Fort William course. Set in the Nevis Range in the western Scottish Highlands, the opening UCI Downhill (DHI) World Cup of the season will be the polar opposite in terms of climate and conditions from the series’ first two action-packed weekends, but its location is sure to attract a hardcore partisan crowd who are guaranteed to bring the noise all weekend. ICONIC COURSE Fort William has been hosting UCI Mountain Bike World Cups since 2002 and has been the setting of some of the most iconic moments in downhill mountain biking history. One of the longest courses (2.8km) on the UCI DHI World Cup circuit, it pits competitors against a brutal, energy-sapping race run, while unpredictable and changeable conditions can often lead to some surprising results. Last year, it hosted the 2023 UCI Downhill World Championships, where Britain’s Charlie Hatton (Continental Atherton) and Austria’s Valentina Höll (YT Mob) came away with the rainbow stripes for the first and second time respectively. Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events and EventScotland is proud to be continuing its support of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William. Following the success of the Mountain Bike Downhill at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, this year’s World Cup will provide the ideal opportunity once again come together and share a memorable experience as the world’s best riders battle it out for victory on the iconic Nevis Range course.” EARLY SEASON MOMENTUM There hasn’t been a UCI DHI World Cup since the season finale in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, last October, so Fort William will be the first indicator of who has had a good off-season. In the women’s field, Valentina Höll remains the rider to beat, having won four out of eight UCI DHI World Cups last season in addition to the UCI Downhill World Championships. Her winter break hasn’t been seamless – seeing Höll move to the YT Mob for 2024 – although having ridden a YT during her junior career with SRAM TLD Racing, it won’t be a completely new experience for the 22-year-old. Snapping at Höll’s heels are Nina Hoffman (Santa Cruz Syndicate), Marine Cabirou (Scott Downhill Factory) and Monika Hrastnik (Dorval AM Commencal), while Camille Balanche (Dorval AM Commencal) and Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) will be looking to make up for lost time after missing the bulk of 2023 through injuries. For the home crowd, hopes will be pinned on Tahnée Seagrave (Canyon CLLCTV FMD) returning to winning ways on Scotland’s storied course, while Louisa-Anna Ferguson (Intense Factory Racing) and Phoebe Gale (Canyon CLLCTV FMD) both finished on the podium at last year’s UCI Downhill World Championships. For the men, Charlie Hatton will be hoping to repeat his feat in front of a home crowd, but there will be plenty in the field looking to pip him to the hot seat. Last season's UCI Downhill World Cup Champion Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) has already shown some early season momentum with a podium spot in March’s Portugal Cup, and the flying Frenchman will be looking to break his duck at the Scottish course. The biggest cheer of the day is sure to go to Reece Wilson (Trek Factory Racing), as the Scotsman is back and looking ready for racing after two years plagued by injury. Others to watch out for include Laurie Greenland (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) – who is returning to racing after sustaining an injury at the UCI Downhill World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland last June. And we can’t rule out Greg Minnaar (Norco Factory Racing), the 42-year-old veteran and seven-time winner in Fort William. An ever-present of the UCI World Cup circuit since making his debut in 1997, the G.O.A.T is also the focus of a new documentary ‘Not Done Yet’, which follows Minnaar’s quest to end his career on an all-time high. The 45-minute film is premiering globally at an event that Minnaar is attending in person in Fort William tonight (Tuesday, April 30), while it will be broadcast on the Pan European channels of Eurosport today at 5:30pm CET and on Eurosport UK at 9pm BST tomorrow (Wednesday, May 1). One rider who won’t be making the trip to Scotland is last year’s second-place finisher in the Downhill overall Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) – the 20-year-old Canadian out for an undetermined amount of time after injuring his knee in February. Racing gets underway in Fort William on Saturday with qualifiers – full schedule and events details are available here.
It’s never been easier to get yourself trackside for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William. If you’re planning on joining us for the ultimate weekend of mountain bike racing, make sure to read the travel information carefully before you set off on your journey. We’re anticipating the roads around Fort William will be buzzing during the UCI Downhill World Cup, so plan your journey ahead of time… PARK & RIDE There are two dedicated park & ride spots at Blar Mhor and Glen Spean Brewery . You can check them out on the travel map 📍 If you’re coming from the south, use the park & ride at Blar Mhor. If you’re heading from the North or East, Glen Spean Brewery park & ride is your best option. Services from Blar Mhor will operate Friday 3 – Sunday 5 May. Glen Spean Brewery operates Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May only. If you can, why not car share with your friends and family to ease traffic, plus it's better for the planet! 🌍 SHUTTLE BUS A shuttle bus service wil be in full operation from Middle Street Car Park in Fort William town centre, from Friday 3 – Sunday 5 May. Please note – this is not a park & ride service. There is no shuttle service operating from An Aird or West End car park. West End car park will be closed from 2-13 May, and illegally parked vehicles will be removed from West End car park. COMING BY BIKE? There's also a dedicated bike park on site at the event and a great cycle path from Fort William. The cycle route is approximately 6km and uses a path alongside the A82 that is fully signposted. Free cycle parking is available in the bike park to the west of the venue, with space for around 800 bikes. This will be controlled by event staff and will operate a rider identification system but please bring a suitable bike lock. If you’re not signed up yet, it’s not too late to join us in Fort William, 03-05 May. Tickets are on sale now.
It won’t be long now before the world-famous Fort William finish bowl reignites in a barrage of noise as the world’s fastest athletes begin to hit the finish line of one of the most feared tracks in downhill racing. Fort William is a special track, the second oldest on the calendar, it has more than played host to its fair share of history over the years. Join our roving reporter Josh Carlson and lead commentator Ric McLaughlin as they look at what promises to be an amazing season ahead. Last season was one of the most open in a generation and so there’s plenty to chat about as some exciting new tracks mix with established classics on the calendar. The pair caught up to record this season preview a few weeks ago at the UCI headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland. Don’t forget that you can be there amidst the noise and chaos of race day in Fort William, Scotland 03-05 May. Tickets are on sale now.
When you think of cross-country mountain biking masters, your mind is likely drawn to Switzerland and France. Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) and Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon) have ensured that there hasn’t been a non-Swiss overall series winner in UCI Cross-country World Cup (XCO) since 2016, while although less clear cut-in the women’s field, France’s Loana Lecomte (Canyon CLLCTV XCO), Switzerland’s Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) share five wins between them over the last decade. If results in the first two rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Brazil are anything to go by though, that European hegemony might just about to be broken. And it’s the USA who are getting in on the action. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION At the opening UCI World Cup of the 2024 series in Mairiporã, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) concluded a captivating weekend of racing by edging a nail-biting thriller in the men’s cross-country Olympic race. His success followed four top-ten places for American riders in the women’s XCO race – including second and third for Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) respectively – and a dominant double from Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) in the men’s under 23 XCO and UCI Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) World Cups. The American revolution continued the following weekend at the second round in Araxá, Haley Batten doing the XCO and XCC double in the women’s field and Riley Amos repeating his feat from Mairiporã and proving why he’s one of the most exciting cross-country talents around. While Blevins couldn’t make it a whitewash for US riders in Araxá, the 26-year-old made an impressive recovery in the XCO – crashing on the opening lap to find himself dead last before passing 80 riders to finish a respectable 22nd. While there has been some US success in recent times – most notably Kate Courtney’s 2018 UCI World Championships gold medal and UCI World Cup overall series win in 2019 – the two UCI Cross-country World Cup events in Brazil are the best showing from the country’s athletes since their dominance in the early 1990s, when Ned Overend, John Tomac and Juli Furtado were the trailblazers in the burgeoning off-road discipline. After two rounds, Haley Batten and Riley Amos find themselves at the top of both the Elite women’s and men’s U23 XCO and XCC tables respectively, while Christopher Blevins sits in third place in the men’s XCO table. OLYMPIC IMPACT The impact of these impressive performances from the American riders is more far-reaching than this year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series though, as they will also determine how many spots the US has in the Paris 2024 mountain bike event. At the Olympics, there are a maximum of two spots per country. Countries ranked one to eight get the maximum two, while those ranked nine to 19 just get one. The qualification period cut-off is after the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic, at the end of May, so every UCI point counts between now and then. WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic Before the start of this year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, USA sat in 10th and 4th spot in the men’s and women’s nation rankings respectively. But following the UCI points windfall in Brazil, they have shot up to 5th and 3rd, practically securing Olympic places for the maximum four athletes in Paris. While there is a month’s break between the next UCI World Cup in Nové Město na Moravě, you can expect the US riders to continue to lead the charge and challenge the establishment at the top of the rankings next time out in the Czech Republic.
If you haven’t yet secured your tickets to get trackside for the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup, then why not join us in Fort William with a single day travel package on either Saturday 4th or Sunday 5th May? New for this year at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William, you can choose fuss-free return travel from either Glasgow or Edinburgh with Citylink buses, taking you in and out in one day with a Ride & Entry ticket package. Departing from either Edinburgh bus station, or Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station, the service will run directly to the Nevis Range venue (so no need to join the park & ride shuttle service), with event entry included as part of the ticket package for just £45. We’re committed to offering as many fans as possible the chance to experience the thrill and excitement of the 2024 downhill season opener. Don’t miss out on this discounted Citylink travel package, providing direct return travel to the Nevis Range event venue from either Glasgow or Edinburgh. Details: Departure points: Choose from either Edinburgh bus station or Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station Direct service: skip the park & ride shuttle service! Citylink buses will take you directly to the event All inclusive: Your ticket includes event entry (no gondola), and discounted return travel, all for just £45. Timings: see ticket details for bus departure and return travel times Tickets are now available for convenient single day return travel and entry to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William, so don’t miss out!
Two adrenaline-pumping elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup (XCO) events rounded out the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series double header in Brazil in style this Sunday, as the USA’s Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) and Simon Andreassen (Cannondale Factory Racing) recorded wins in Araxá, in Western Minas Geras State. Following tight battles in the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup (XCC) events on Saturday, the sun shone on the final day of racing action as the XCO races took place in front of a jubilant crowd of local fans, on a dynamic cross-country course that encouraged fast-paced, attacking racing throughout. The women’s race concluded with a battle royale between XCC winner Batten and last week’s XCO winner, Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental), with a huge final lap from Batten being the difference between the two in the end. A dramatic and breathless men’s race saw five men battling all the way to the finish line. An assured performance from Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) fell apart as he suffered a mechanical on the final lap. BOLD BATTEN DOUBLES UP IN ARAXÁ A chaotic opening to the women’s elite XCO saw the lead change hands several times as numerous riders struggled with issues on the climbs and over the roots section, with the resulting traffic impacted the rest of the field. The race kicked off at a frantic tempo and once the dust settled a trio of riders were able to detach themselves from the rest – the Swiss Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) who was also active during the early stages of Saturday’s XCC, Germany’s Linda Indergand (Liv Factory Racing) and winner of the XCC, Batten. Heading into lap two, the three had been caught by a group of chasers and eight moved clear with a group of six giving chase a short way back. Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental), victor in last week’s XCO in Mairiporã, instigated an attack, and the second group were almost able to claw back the deficit, but a lively Keller attacked again, taking Batten and Rissveds with her. The USA’s Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), the second-place finisher in Mairiporã, closed in on them, and following her, Liv Factory Racing teammates Indergand and Canadian Jennifer Jackson joined them to swell the lead group to six. French champion Loana Lecomte (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) was forced to abandon the race after an incident left her in some distress. Meanwhile, the quartet of Keller, Batten, Rissveds and Blunk were able to find space once again and Keller continued to push the pace at the front, riding an aggressive race, but it was Rissveds who was able to briefly find a gap, attacking up the climb at the end of lap 4 to move into the solo lead. An error on the first climb on lap 5 for Rissveds saw her lead evaporate though and the quartet came together once again. It was a yo-yo effect after that, with Rissveds and Batten opening a gap, and Blunk and Keller clawing their way back. It became a race of strategy, as the riders sized one another up on the penultimate lap, and heading into the final lap it was game on, with any one of the four still in with a chance. It was Batten who hit out first, and once again she and Rissveds pulled clear, a gap that increased when Blunk was forced to dismount on the climb. It came down to a head-to-head between the two, but Batten attacked once again and this time her gap proved unassailable, Rissveds finally realising the American had the measure of her, as Batten carved out enough of a cushion to be able to enjoy her first elite level XCO win as she rolled across the line. Rissveds came in second, with Blunk third, and Keller and Anne Terpstra (Ghost Factory Racing) of the Netherlands rounding out the podium in fourth and fifth respectively. Speaking after the race, Batten said: “It’s crazy. I have no words. You train so hard all winter but to put it all together on race day when it’s so tactical like that, I just had no idea what was happening, so to pull it off feels insane, and for both Savilia and me this is a huge year, for the Olympic Games, so yeah, a pretty good day. “That second last lap was weird, it was hard to read, I know Jenny pulled a good attack on me with one lap to go last weekend, so when I was leading that second last lap, I was like, ‘oh no, she’s going to do it to me again,’ so I tried to settle in and just wait until it’s time; and I tried to read it right, I kind of went a little bit early, but luckily I was able to hold out on Jenny’s attack, because that was a big one, I was barely able to hang onto that. “Honestly thank you so much to my team, the people that make this possible because this really is a team sport and I’m so grateful for that and everybody that puts in the work so that we succeed, so thank you so much.” ANDREASSEN TRIUMPHS AFTER FINAL LAP DRAMA It was total carnage on the first lap of the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup (XCO) Elite men’s race, and last week’s winner, the USA’s Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) came off worst in the chaos, dropping into dead last position in the race. Further up the field, the rest grappled with the climbs and the roots section, with some riders choosing to run or being forced to dismount, and it was the XCC specialists who used their power to take advantage of the frenetic early pace, with UCI World Champion, New Zealand’s Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and German rider Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) and Switzerland’s Mathias Flückiger (Thömus maxon), among those to lead the charge heading into the second lap. There was a shuffling of positions on lap 2, with France’s Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC) taking control of the pace and Switzerland’s Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) right on his wheel, exactly 14 years since his first XCO win. There was nothing to separate a sizeable group of riders heading into lap 3 though, with the top 20 separated by only just over 20 seconds. With his teammate Blevins trying to work his way back through the pack, Chilean champion Martin Vidaurre was next to push on at the front of the race, and he was the first to open up a time gap, flying through lap 3 to lead by over ten seconds going into lap 4 with a chase group of six riders. Led by Gaze, they tried to reel him back in, though he made it tough for them, surging clear again with one last burst of energy before he was finally closed down in lap 5. Gaze and yesterday’s XCC winner, France’s Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) took the race on from the front after that, and the lead changed hands on more than one occasion as the leading group grew to ten riders on lap 6, but Dane Simon Andreassen (Cannondale Factory Racing) set a brisk pace at the front which began to stretch out the group. Cannondale took control, exchanging Andreassen for South African Alan Hatherly in the lead, but it didn’t last long, as Koretzky struck out with two attacks on lap 7 to move into the solo lead of the race, and by the time he began the penultimate lap he had a 14 second cushion over a chasing group of four riders: Sarrou, Hatherly, Andreassen and Switzerland’s Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). A small error at the peak of the final climb could have knocked Koretzky, but though he regained his composure and pushed on into the final lap, a dramatic incident saw him suffer a mechanical, forcing him to dismount and fix his chain as the chasers flew past him, spearheaded by Colombo, but despite the setback, Koretzky put in a big effort and was able to rejoin the group heading for the final. Andreassen launched a decisive attack late on in the lap, but he wasn’t able to distance Colombo or a resurgent Koretzky, and it came down to a hectic sprint for the line, with Andreassen too strong for Koretzky and the rest, recording his debut UCI World Cup victory at elite level XCO. Koretzky finished second, Hatherly third, Colombo fourth and Sarrou in fifth. Koretzky leads the overall standings after two races. Blevins recorded an incredible comeback, returning from last position in the race on lap 1 to finish in 23rd. After the race, a somewhat shellshocked Andreassen said: “That was nice to win a World Cup again, to be honest I haven’t thought too much about it yet. It been a few years since I won a World Cup and I will take a moment to soak it in.” Koretzky said: “I had really good legs today, I tried to go with a few laps to go, and I was good on the last lap but unfortunately I had a mechanical, I dropped my chain almost at the top before the roots section. “I made a huge effort to close the gap and I was completely empty. I am sad but at the same time I’m happy with my shape, so congrats to Simon, he was strong, he did a huge sprint, it was amazing to be on his wheel in the last straight. I’m very happy and looking forward to the next part of the season. Even if I had a mechanical, I am still here.” BÖHM UNDEFEATED IN BRAZIL It was a race of three riders in the women’s U23 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, but in the end, Germany’s Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) remained undefeated, winning four races out of four across the first two rounds of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Brazil. The USA’s Madigan Munro (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) was first to strike, her confidence on the course allowing her to open up a gap on lap one, though Böhm was immediately on her case, with Canadian Emily Johnston (Trek Factory Racing) and Italy’s Valentina Corvi (Santa Cruz Rockshox Pro Team) following her to form a chasing group. They bridged to Munro then all four come together heading into the third lap. But though Munro impressed in the early stages with her command of the parcours, she faded fast under the increased pace from Böhm, dropping quickly back to fourth position as the German piled on the pressure from the front, and on lap 4 she pushed on leaving Johnston and Corvi behind. They dug in on the fifth lap, but on the final lap, the undefeated Böhm proved her quality and consistency, leaving her rivals behind, to seal the deal on a perfect Brazilian trip. Böhm: ‘Emily and Valentina made it really tough for me today, I just tried to be the first one to go into the downhills so that I can ride my own pace and to recover a little bit because the climbs are so tough I needed the time in the downhills to recover. “It’s so crazy, I never thought that I’d start a season like that and I really can’t wait to race in Europe.” Like Böhm, the trip to Brazil resulted in a perfect record for the USA’s Riley Amos, as he scored victory in the men’s U23 XCO event a day earlier, to add to his wins in the XCC in both Araxá and Mairiporã, and his XCO win in Mairiporã. Amos won despite an aggressive race from Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing), who finished in second place. Brazilian rider Alex Malacarne (Trinity Racing MTB) secured a stunning third place to send the home crowd wild and ensure the second day of the weekend would end in a huge party. SERIES HEADS BACK TO EUROPE After a truly memorable opening two rounds, the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads back to Europe, and next the destination is Fort William in Scotland, UK, where the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup kicks off, revisiting the venue where the UCI World Championships were decided in 2023. Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic plays host to the next UCI Cross-country World Cup, on the weekend of 24-26 May. With over a month of training and a selection of other riders returning to competition in Europe, the UCI World Cup races could have a very different complexion, heading ever closer to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) wrapped up yet another perfect weekend in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, sealing victory in the U23 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup (XCO) in Araxá on Saturday, following his win in the U23 UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup on Friday. It marked the second double victory for the American following his 100% record in Mairiporã on round one last weekend. Amos took the race on from the front, but just like last week, found resistance from Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) and Luca Martin (Orbea Factory Team), and the three were joined by Bjorn Riley (Trek Future Racing) to form a quartet of leaders who opened a significant gap to the rest of the field. Treudler was not content to race as part of a group though and he attacked from the front and rode as solo leader for much of the first lap. But the American duo of Amos and Riley dropped Martin and closed in on Treudler on lap two to form a trio, with a chasing group of four riders around 12 seconds distant heading onto the third circuit. Amos and Treudler traded blows on lap four, and dropped Riley, who linked up with Brazilian rider Alex Junior Malacarne (Trinity Racing MTB) to form a chasing pair, though the home rider proved stronger as Riley faded towards the end of the race. At the front it was a straight head-to-head duel between Treudler and Amos. Amos launched into the lead heading onto the penultimate lap and had a nine second cushion going into the final lap. He rode with confidence to take the win, with Treudler securing second and Malacarne delighting the home crowd to finish in third. Bjorn Riley and the Swiss rider Luke Wiedmann (Thömus Maxon) rounded out the podium in fourth and fifth respectively. After the race Amos said: It was so hard. It never gets any easier, Finn was riding so strong today. He was climbing so much better than all of us, so it was everything I could do to just dangle on his wheel, and then I honestly felt a little bit better with two laps to go. I saw my opportunity and went for it and I was lucky enough that it worked out. But Finn is amazing, Alex rode an amazing race, so I just got lucky, they were all on it today. I was struggling to hold the wheel for the first half of the race, and then Finn finally eased up a little bit and I got a little recovery. But I saw where maybe I was a little bit stronger and knew where to be into the downhill to create a little time. I was trying to push into the downhills, blowing out my pedals just barely hanging onto the bike, clipping my derailleur on some rocks, I was on the limit the whole race. I’m just happy it worked out and I made it to the finish line. Thanks for bringing us to Brazil, I loved it out there!
Day two of the second round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series featured the men’s and women’s elite UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup and with wins for Haley Batten and Victor Koretzky, and a second place for Christopher Blevins, it was another day of celebration for team Specialized in Brazil. Hot on the heels of a hugely entertaining weekend in Mairiporã, the second round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series also took place in Brazil, in the town of Araxá in Western Minas Geras region, and marked the 40th UCI Mountain Bike Short Track World Cup race. On an exciting and varied course, the riders put on a show, with plenty of tail whips on display on the jump series and some explosive, attacking racing. BATTEN THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET The women’s short track (XCC) saw Italy’s Chiara Teocchi (Orbea Factory Team) and Switzerland’s Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) quick off the mark to battle it out for the early lead on the short opening lap, before the US native Batten showed her intention with an early move to the front, following her strong showing in last week’s UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup in Mairiporã. On lap one, Swiss Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), Brit Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) and Swede Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental) gathered at the front of the race, but the bunch came back together heading into lap two. Keller was determined to take the race on and hit the front once again, but a well-timed attack from American Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) on the steep section of the course saw the lead change hands once again. The importance of positioning heading into the climb could not be underestimated, and it was never more evident than on lap 4, as Batten, Richards and Keller rode shoulder-to-shoulder on the lead-up to the ascent. Batten and Richards came out on top, with Keller falling on her way up and holding up Rissveds and more. The mishap worked in favour of Linda Indergand and Kate Courtney (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team); the Swiss and the American took advantage of the chaos to close in on Batten and Richards, the latter of which took the lead for the first time in the race. The quartet had a small gap as they moved into the final lap, but a huge attack from Batten took the others by surprise, and with Batten flying out into the lead, Indergand passed Richards on the climb to move into second. Batten crossed the line to take her first victory on the season, four seconds ahead of Indergand. Blunk out-sprinted Keller to take third place, with Richards crashing just shy of the finish line, only able to come in ninth. Following the race, Batten moves into the lead in the overall standings, with Richards in second, and Keller third. Speaking after the race, Batten said: That course was really tricky, positioning was so key, but it was really hard to execute because the swarm was just constant throughout the race, so sometimes I took the front maybe a bit more than I should have. But I felt really strong and I just tried to be smart about my effort and the key lap. That last lap I knew was crucial and that’s what I train for. I train to win, and I think it’s just about executing when it gets to the races. I was just trying to read Evie’s body language and the riders around me and figure out when was the moment, and sometimes you just have to go as hard as you can. It worked out really well. I knew that final grass section would be hard to pass so as long as I could just keep it together to the end, I knew I had a good chance of taking it away. KORETZKY SCORES WITH SPEED AND STYLE It was another fast and furious battle among a huge group of contenders in the men’s elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup. Chilean Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing), who played a major role in last week’s race, led the bunch off at the head of the group, but it was Britain’s Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) who put in an explosion of power on the start loop to take the lead, his ferocious pace meaning he was in the perfect position to hit the steep climbing section first. No sooner had Aldridge opened a small gap though, he crashed, wiping out on the dirt track to lose his lead, and around 16 riders pushed on in his stead in a bunch led by Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC). Just behind the race leaders, last week’s winner, UCI XCC World Champion Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck), lurked menacingly, along with nine-time overall champion Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). Schurter had a troubled start to the Series, crashing in the Cross-country Olympic (XCO) race last Sunday in Mairiporã, as he seeks his tenth overall victory. It was the Dane Simon Andreassen (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Frenchman Victor Koretzky who looked liveliest on lap two though, both moving up on the climb to take the front of the race. Going into lap two however, a big bunch grouped together again, and it was last week’s second place rider Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) who took control, leading for a sustained period. Heading into the penultimate lap, Koretzky and Sarrou both looked poised to make a move, but it was XCO winner in Mairiporã Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) who struck, surprising his teammate Koretzky and the rest as he maximised his output on the climb. While Sarrou moved briefly into the lead with an injection of pace, it was the Specialized duo who finally put paid to Schwarzbauer, as they struck almost simultaneously to take control of the race. The final time up the climb, Blevins hit out for home, with his teammate Koretzky chasing him down and a sizeable gap opening up to the rest of the field. The two teammates duked it out for victory head-to-head, and coming onto the final straight Koretzky put in a burst of speed as Blevins looked the other way, and the Frenchman rode to his first victory of the 2024 season. Blevins cruised in in second place, with South African Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory Racing) coming through in third. With that victory, Koretzky moves into the lead in the overall standings, with Gaze in second and Schwarzbauer third after two races. Koretzky said: It was full gas till the finish line. Chris was super strong, and he did an amazing job for the final, but because it was super-fast at the end, for me it was easy on the wheel compared to him. We are happy to both be on the podium, it’s amazing for Specialized team again. Haley won for the girls, I won for the men, Chris finished second, so it’s super nice, and the atmosphere here in Brazil is amazing. We enjoyed it a lot, I can’t wait for tomorrow. Christopher Blevins said: Victor was smart, he set me up perfectly for that climb. I went by him on there, looked back… and he’s like a cockroach, he doesn’t die. There are so many moments where he's like, ten metres back, and then he'll close the gap. So, I knew he was going to come back to me. BÖHM AND AMOS UNBEATEN IN U23 Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) and Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) both continued to dominate the U23 ranks in the U23 UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup on Friday. The German launched an early attack and took Canadian Emily Johnston (Trek Factory Racing) and another German, Carla Hahn (Lexware Mountainbike Team) clear with her, but she once again showed her strength to take the win, with Johnston second and Hahn third. In the men’s race the American Amos beat his compatriot Bjorn Riley (Trek Future Racing), making it a one-two for Trek teams on the podium. Like Böhm, Amos put on yet another superior display after victory in both UCI XCC and XCO World Cups in Mairiporã last weekend. Switzerland’s Luke Wiedmann (Thömus maxon) finished third.
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.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns this weekend with Araxá, Brazil hosting the second round of the UCI Cross-country (XCO) and Short Track (XCC) World Cup seasons and concluding the back-to-back Brazilian doubleheader. WHEN? The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Araxá, Brazil starts with the U23 Women’s UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup round at 14:00 (UTC-3) Friday, April 19 and concludes with the Men’s Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup at 15:30 (UTC-3) on Sunday, April 21. Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-3 (EST+1/BST-4/CET-5): Friday, April 19 14:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U23 14:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U23 Saturday, April 20 12:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite 12:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite 15:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U23 Sunday, April 21 10:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U23 13:15 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite 15:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? You can watch all the action from round two of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá, Brazil wherever you are in the world. Both the men’s and women's UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup U23 races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, but for all other races, tune in to one of the below channels or streaming services: North America Canada – Flosports USA – Max South America* Argentina – Claro Brazil – TNT Sports YouTube Channel Chile – Claro Colombia – Claro Peru – Claro Oceania/Asia Australia – Stan China – Zhibo.tv New Zealand – Staylive Africa* South Africa – Staylive Europe* Austria – Eurosport, discovery+ Belgium – Eurosport Czech Republic – Eurosport, Czech TV Denmark – Eurosport France – Eurosport, L'Équipe Germany – Eurosport, discovery+ Hungary – Eurosport Ireland – discovery+ Italy – Eurosport, discovery+ Netherlands – discovery+ Norway – Eurosport Poland – Eurosport Portugal – Eurosport Romania – Eurosport Spain – Eurosport Sweden – Eurosport Switzerland – Eurosport, SRF United Kingdom – Eurosport, discovery+ Rest of world – Staylive RIDERS TO WATCH Although a handful of last year’s top contenders didn’t make the trip to South America, it didn’t dampen the Mairiporã season opener’s explosion of colour, noise and unpredictable bar-to-bar racing. This weekend is set to be no different, and while Mairiporã was a great indicator of who has had a good off-season, there will be several riders looking to make amends in Araxá. Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental) will be aiming to do the Brazilian double in the women’s UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, while Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) will be doing their utmost to stop the Swede taking the win for a second weekend in a row. In the men’s, only five seconds separated the top five in Mairiporã, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) pipping Victor Koretzsky (Specialized Factory Racing) and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) to the line. But you should never rule out Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) – the 10-time UCI World Champion keen to put last week’s crash on the second lap behind him. In the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup, Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing Pirelli) is the rider to beat in the women’s field after a dominant performance in Mairiporã. For the men, Koretzky will be looking to get back to the top of the podium after Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck) broke his three-strong winning streak. Full schedule and events details are available HERE. You can find where to watch all of the racing action live in Araxá HERE.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2024 will return to Saalfelden Leogang in 2024. From 7 to 9 June, the UCI Enduro (EDR & E-EDR) and Downhill (DHI) World Cup will stop by the Epic Bikepark Leogang and Austria's largest bike-region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Of course, last year's champions – local heroes Vali Höll (YT MOB) and Andreas Kolb (Continental Atherton) will be there, determined to defend their respective wins. The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series got the 2024 season off to a successful start last weekend in Mairiporã, Brazil, with the UCI Cross-country World Cups. The first UCI Downhill World Cup event in Fort William is also a mere 16 days away. Time to already take a first look at the Epic Bikepark Leogang, too, where the best of the best downhill and enduro riders will compete for valuable World Cup points about one month later. As usual, all eyes will be on the "Speedster" downhill course, whose finish area at the Asitzbahn cable car station will be the center of the action – just like last year: Vali Höll and Andi Kolb made history here in June 2023 with the first joint Austrian victory in the elite women's and men's races - on home soil to boot. At the same time, the organizers are also looking forward to welcoming the enduro athletes back to Saalfelden Leogang for their second UCI World Cup season. After what happened last year, my anticipation is of course huge. The home UCI World Cup event in Leogang is a highlight for me every year anyway. The best thing is racing in front of a home crowd and feeling that extra kick that you only get at home. Overall, I'm really looking forward to the season. I want to be more consistent than last season and also fight for the Overall UCI World Cup title. Andreas Kolb (Continental Atherton) The home UCI World Cup in Leogang has always been something special for me. My family and friends are there and the home crowd always has my back. That means great anticipation, but also a lot of pressure at times. The first two times in particular, it was like being under a spell. Fortunately, last year it finally all just clicked. The fact that Andi also won the men's race made the whole thing even better. As far as I'm concerned, I wouldn’t mind to just have it like that again this year. I am really looking forward to it. Vali Höll (YT MOB) Schedule: Friday, 7 June: UCI Enduro World Cup Finals Saturday, 8 June: UCI E-Enduro World Cup Finals UCI Downhill World Cup Qualifications (Juniors & Elite) UCI Downhill World Cup Semi Finals (Elite) Sunday, 9 June: UCI Downhill World Cup Finals Tickets for this top-class bike weekend are available online and as we know from experience, are highly sought-after. It is worth being quick! Of course, the event weekend will not only feature thrilling racing action, but will also once again score with exciting side events, concerts, parties, a large expo, signing sessions and much more. For more information on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang, visit www.mtb-weltcup.at. If you want to help making the event as sustainable as possible, here’s what you can do. All those who cannot attend the thrilling action from Saalfelden Leogang onsite, can follow the final race live on different channels. More information on where to watch which race is available here.
The second round of this year’s UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cups rolls into Araxá in Western Minas Gerais state (Brazil), and if the opening round in Mairiporã is anything to go by, fans are in for another festival atmosphere. Six hours north of the season opener in Mairiporã, Araxá is famous for its mountains, waterfalls and a world-renowned spa. While nothing will be relaxing about the racing this weekend, its technical course should mean more bar-to-bar action like we were treated to last time out. Its slightly far-flung location will also attract the hardest of hardcore mountain bike fans, so expect another carnival of colour and noise on every inch of the course. HOME ADVANTAGE Although Araxá is making its UCI World Cup debut, it celebrated two decades of UCI-level international racing in April 2023. Both the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) course are cut directly through a forest, combining flat, high-speed sections with fast, gravity-fuelled descents. Conditions have their part to play too – the fast-rolling red clay transforming into a slippery mud bath when wet. It’s a completely new venue for most of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series riders though, meaning home advantage could come to the fore for the championship's Brazilian contingent. Local hopes will be pinned on Brazilian national champion Karen Fernandes Olimpio and Ulan Bastos Galinski (Caloi Henrique Avancini Racing) in the women’s and men’s cross-country. Although the pair finished 29th and 20th respectively in Mairiporã, prior experience in Araxá could come to the fore on Sunday. CLOSE CONTESTS The opening weekend in Mairiporã produced some of the closest contests in memory, so picking favourites for Araxá is a fool’s errand. In the elite women’s UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, 2016 Olympic champion Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental) used her experience to bide her time until the final lap, putting down the hammer and pulling away from Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) to open an unassailable lead. We’d be surprised if her competitors allowed her to repeat the counterattack in Araxá, but never rule out the 29-year-old Swede doing a Brazilian double. In the elite men’s UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, the top five in Mairiporã were separated by just five seconds, while the lead changed constantly throughout the race. Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) ultimately took the win, but his teammate Victor Koretzky and the Swiss rider Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) could have easily taken the top spot. All three are ones to watch in Araxá, while you can’t rule out Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) who will be looking to make amends after a fall on the second lap ended his chances in Mairiporã. In the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup, Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing Pirelli) will be the woman to beat after a dominant display in round one, while in the men’s, reigning UCI World Champion Samuel Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck) will be looking to make it two from two in South America. Racing gets underway in Araxa on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track U23 racing – full schedule and events details are available here.
Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental) and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) put in assured performances in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Mairiporã, Brazil on Sunday, taking wins in the elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup events. Rissveds played the long game, allowing the American duo of Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) to battle for supremacy while she saved her watts for the final lap. In the men’s race, fans were treated to one of the closest and most unpredictable battles in recent memory, as thirteen riders headed into the final lap with nothing to separate them. Specialized delivered a supreme team performance with three on the podium, as Blevins rode his way through the field to claim just the second UCI World Cup victory of his career. RISSVEDS EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF IN THREE-UP BATTLE After a win in the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup on Saturday, it was Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) who was able to use her front row gridding to full effect at the beginning of the women’s elite cross-country Olympic World Cup. The Brit applied pressure from the start, and her brisk early pacesetting had an impact on the start loop, with just a small selection of riders able to stay with her, including Batten, Rissveds, and Kate Courtney (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team), as many more were caught up on the early climb and forced to dismount. Moving into the first full lap though, a selection of riders closed the gap to the leaders and a sizeable bunch led the race until Chiara Teocchi, riding her first season for the Orbea Factory Team, took matters into her own hands. The multiple former Italian national champion moved through decisively and under her sustained pressure, Richards, Courtney and more were distanced, as Teocchi drew out a lead group of five. It didn’t last long though, as the American duo of Batten and Blunk attacked Teocchi on lap two, and moved clear of the rest to form a leading duo. It was the Swedish rider Rissveds – gold medallist at the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro – who was eventually able to bridge the gap to the leading pair on lap three, with Teocchi and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), chasing in fourth and fifth place respectively. The front trio remained locked together into the fourth lap, as further back, reigning Olympic champion Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) picked riders off one by one as she worked her way through the pack towards the front of the race. Batten attacked on the climb towards the end of the fourth lap, and though Rissveds was able to make her way back to the American, her compatriot Blunk dropped back. She finally clawed her way back on the final lap only to see her countrywoman Batten accelerate again as she tried to drop Rissveds. But Rissveds counter-attacked and surged clear of the chasers. Behind her, Batten suffered a late crash on a berm, allowing Blunk to move back into second. Rissveds raised her arms over the line 27 seconds ahead of Blunk who sealed second place. Batten rolled over the line in third. Teocchi was overjoyed as she finished fourth and Neff capped a fantastic comeback to finish in fifth and round out the podium. After the race, Rissveds said: It felt really good, I raced last weekend on the exact same course, and I was a little bit too excited. My goal was to feel the flow on the trails and to stay patient, so I had that in mind the whole race. Then Haley tried to attack me a few times on the last lap, but I still felt really strong and knew I still had some power left in my legs. What I’m most happy about is that Kelsey [Urban], my teammate and best friend, did really well. She’s been struggling a lot with her health, she skipped half a season last year, and she’s been working so hard to come back. She’s killing it and I’m so happy for her. Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) It was an incredible race, super hard, but I couldn’t be happier. It’s been a busy spring, I’ve been trying to race with high competition to get ready for these early UCI World Cups and qualify myself for the Olympics, so it’s been a huge amount of work over the last three months. I feel like I’ve never been so committed to the process, and to have it pay off today, I can’t really explain it. Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing): Honestly, I think I was one of the strongest today, and I didn’t race like I should have. I think I got a little too eager and excited. You can’t just ride away from the best riders in the world. I learned a lot today, it’s good to know I’m strong and it’s just making sure I actually execute the way I need to. SPECIALIZED DELIVER MASTERCLASS IN THRILLING ENCOUNTER Dry, dusty conditions and moody skies did not diminish the heat and humidity for the men’s elite race, which nonetheless began at a frenetic pace. Heavy traffic and a few errors on the early climbs caused major issues on the start loop, with knock-on effects reverberating throughout the pack as many riders were forced to dismount. The impact was a huge spread of riders across the course. Teammates Martín Vidaurre and Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) took advantage of the chaos to forge clear, and heading into the first full lap, seven riders had a small gap on the rest of the field. More riders tried to close in on the leaders but the Frenchman Koretzky, winner of both the UCI Cross-country Olympic and Short Track World Cups in Les Gets in 2023, maintained a strong pace and, as the second lap began, the lead group had been whittled down to six. Swiss Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) took control with Koretzky and Vidaurre close behind, and France’s Joshua Dubau (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) worked his way steadily up to join them. The quartet had almost 20 seconds on the rest of the field moving into lap three, and they worked together well into lap four, with a chasing group of three striving to make contact, including New Zealand’s Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck), winner of yesterday’s UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup event; Frenchman Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC) and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing). Blevins stormed past Gaze and Sarrou to close the gap to the leaders, to make three Specialized riders at the front, and Gaze and Sarrou were able to make the bridge to swell the leading group to seven heading into lap five. The group only grew as the race reached the business end though, with seven more chasers briefly making contact, but the original four still maintained their presence at the front of the race with a narrow gap over Gaze, Blevins and Sarrou heading into lap six. After a long period of relative stalemate, Colombo put in an acceleration but it was not enough to move clear of the chasers who closed the gap once more and with even more riders joining the pursuit, the leading group numbered thirteen riders heading into the final lap. The decisive attacks had to come, and it was a two-pronged drive from teammates Vidaurre and Koretzky that kicked off the action, but it wasn’t enough to drop the challengers. Specialized had a third option though, and as soon as he had the space, Blevins sprung away and quickly opened a gap, with Colombo in pursuit. The chase was not enough however, and in exactly one hour and thirty minutes, Blevins wrapped up an incredible victory, his second in the UCI World Cup circuit, with Koretzky sprinting to second ahead of Colombo in third. The Specialized riders celebrated as Vidaurre made it three on the podium for them, coming in fifth, with Jordan Sarrou pipping him into fourth position. It was a bad day for Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team), however. The Swiss rider, who won last year’s overall title and leads the all-time standings for most UCI Cross-country World Cup victories, crashed early in the race and was only able to finish in 35th position, 2:47 off the pace of Blevins. Blevins said: It’s so surreal, I’m just kind of in a daze right now. This sport’s just so beautiful and when you’re on days like this, there’s no place I’d rather be in the world. I had a really bad day yesterday, and I think it’s a lesson. In this sport you’ve just got to listen to your body, you can always get more out of it than you think. We’ve dreamt about a day like this as we are all on the same team. I don’t know if this has happened in mountain bike history, three in the same team on the podium? I love these boys; I love this team around me. I didn’t think today could be my day but you’ve just got to always believe in yourself and anything is possible. Brazil, you’re awesome, hope we come back every year. Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing): It was super tactical race today, we managed it really well. We won the team overall, it’s amazing, and we can wait now for the next weekend. I’m so proud of Chris as he’s had two super tough years and now he’s back on the front and on the podium. Third-placed Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) said: I really worked super hard this winter throughout my injury, and I’m super stoked to be back on the podium fighting for the victory until the last lap. It’s a shame, but Blevins was super strong. I tried everything that I could. AMOS AND BÖHM DOUBLE DELIGHT IN U23 UCI CROSS-COUNTRY OLYMPIC WORLD CUP Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) and Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) both scored a double victory in the U23 UCI Cross-country World Cup events. After Amos’ commanding victory in the men’s event on Saturday, the women’s event began with a strong start for the Swiss Ginia Caluori (Wilier-Victoria Factory Team XCO), pursued by Böhm and the Emily Johnston (Trek Future Racing). They formed a leading group of three, on the start lap, with the field already scattered along the track in small groups. The trio stayed together for the first two laps, taking turns on the front and adding distance between themselves and the chasers, Valentina Corvi (Santa Cruz Rockshox Pro Team) and Madigan Munro (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli), the latter recovering from an early crash. On the third lap, Johnston lost touch with the other two leaders and shortly after, Böhm used the short climb to her advantage to open a gap to Caluori in second. From there she continued to inject pace and put the hurt on her pursuer, but Caluori was unfazed and came back for a final lap head-to-head. In the end though it was Böhm who proved her strength, moving clear of Caluori and taking victory by 11 seconds, with Johnston finishing in third. Böhm said: Thank you so much. I'm so, so happy. I never thought I would be so strong today. I know that I have a good shape right now. In the short track race it wasn’t a surprise to me but today I’ve surprised myself a little bit. OPENING WEEKEND IN MAIRIPORÃ DEEMED A ROARING SUCCESS Global promoter of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, WBD Sports, would like to thank the race organisation at Mairiporã for a hugely successful event, and for kicking off the series in style. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: The event was extremely well attended, with an incredible 25,000 spectators throughout the weekend. The locals proudly represented the passion that the Brazilian fans have for the sport of mountain biking. The course was challenging and varied and produced some spectacular, unpredictable, and thrilling racing throughout the weekend, showcasing the beauty of the Brazilian racing scene Fabio Caldeo, CEO of the Arena iMTB & iMTB Festival, said: We’re proud of the outcome. We’re happy to be opening our home to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. This is the result of months of hard work and commitment from a dedicated team and I just want to thank them all. The second round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series takes place next weekend, 19-21 April, in Araxá, in Western Minas Gerais state, Brazil.
