Carter Woods battled to his first World Cup win of 2022 in Vallnord, Andorra on Sunday. To take victory at the high-elevation venue, the Canadian had to end Chilean Martin Vidaurre’s perfect season.
Under-23 men: Woods stands tall
Going into Vallnord, Martin Vidaurre (Lexware) had not lost a World Cup race yet this year. From Brazil to Lenzerheide, he’d won five straight races and was looking set for a perfect season.
In Andorra on Sunday, the Chilean led for thee of five laps while riding in a group with Woods and the U.S.A.’s Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing). The Canadian took over the race lead on the final two laps to ride home alone, taking the win in Vallnord. Luca Martin (KMC-Orbea) of France moved through the field to take second, 19 seconds behind. Amos held on for third, but 1:01 back. Vidaurre slid to eighth, 1:45 behind Woods.
It’s Woods’ first international win of 2022 and comes just one week after his first podium of the season – a silver medal in Lenzerheide Switzerland. Sunday adds to the Vancouver Island racer’s two World Cup wins in 2021, one in Albstadt, Germany and another in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.
Woods’ win vaults him into second overall in the World Cup standings as the series is set to return to North America. Vidaurre still has a solid advantage, though, with 680 points to Woods’ 435.
Owen Clark was the next Canadian across the line in 38th. Logan Sadesky rolled in 61st, Cole Punchard 72nd and Xavier Roy 75th.
Under-23 women
Line Burquier (Canyon Cllctv) is back on top of the under-23 women’s podium. After two-second place finishes, one to Puck Pieterse (Alpecin Fenix) and one to Denmark’s Sofie Pedersen, the French rider stormed to her fourth World Cup win of the year in Andorra.
Burquier had a solid 36-second advantage at the finish line. Ronja Blöchlinger of Switzerland followed in second. Pieterse finished third, 52 seconds behind.
Emilly Johnston (Norco Factory Team) led the Canadian u23 women, in 20th. Roxane Vermette was 16 seconds behind in 22nd. Marianne Théberge finished another 11 seconds back, in 24th. Jocelyn Stel placed 28th, Juliette Larose Gingras 31st and Nicole Bradbury 34th.
The World Cup series now heads to North America for two rounds. Snowshoe, W.Va hosts a combined XC/DH weekend on July 29-31. The iconic Mont-Sainte-Anne venue returns on August 5-7.
Results: 2022 World Cup XCO #6 – Vallnord, Andorra
Under-23 men
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WOODS Carter (NORCO FACTORY TEAM) Lap 5 n°3 Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine… |