Keller and Valero triumph in treacherous Snowshoe XCO

Mud and returned to West Virginia, after a brief reprieve for Saturday’s downhill finals, making for treacherous course conditions in Sunday’s XCO racing in Snowshoe.

After matching wins in Friday’s Short Track World Cup, the U.S. riders were denied any elite medals on Sunday. Instead, Alessandra Keller and David Valero Serrano persevered in trying conditions to earn their first World Cup XCO wins.

Alessandra Keller leads before the really bad weather rolled in. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Keller finessing some very slippery rocks. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Keller goes long

Alessandra Keller (Thomus Maxon) isn’t exactly a stranger to the World Cup podium. The powerful Swiss rider has numerous XCC medals to her name. After showing she could go toe-to-toe with the best over the long-format XCO event at home in Lenzerheide two races ago, Keller delivered her first win on Sunday.

Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis) and Anne Terpstra (Ghost Factory Racing) finish second and third. In the absence of Loana Lecomte (Canyon) Tersptra’s podium propels her into the World Cup series lead, just eight points ahead of Rebecca McConnell. Keller moves into third, 110 points back but with momentum on her side. Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale) and Jolanda Neff (Trek) round out the podium.

Savilia Blunk (Orange Seal), newly-minted U.S. national champion led the home country’s women’s results in sixth. Haley Batten (Specialized) followed in seventh and Gwen Gibson (Norco Factory Team), winner in Friday’s XCC World Cup, eighth.

Canadians in West Virginia

Laurie Arseneault (Canyon MTB Racing) put in the top Canadian result in the elite races, finishing 12th, just ahead of early World Cup overall leader Rebecca McConnell (Primaflor Mondraker). Jenn Jackson (Canyon MTB Racing) was close behind in 14th. Sandra Walter finished 24th, Cindy Montambault 27th and Haley Smith 28th with Dana Gilligan rounding out the Canadian results in 28th.

Sean Fincham (Norco Factory Team) led the Canadian effort on the men’s side in 20th. Gunnar Holmgren (Pivot Cycles-OTE) was the next rider across the line in 21st. Léandre Bouchard (Foresco Holdings ProCo RL) squeezed into the top 30, one spot behind Brazilian rider Henrique Avancini (Cannondale)

Valero…