The world’s elite cross country had their first swing at the Snowshoe course on Friday, sprinting through the XCC World Cup. The course was long, for an XCC, and very technical making for interesting racing in the short-format discipline.
Elite women: Richards’ redemption
In the elite woman’s race, Loana Lecomte (Canyon Cllctv) led through the first corners and opening lap. Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) took over going out onto the second of four laps.
While much of the course was drier than the last few days, one technical descent on the XCC course was still treacherously wet. That proved to be key for Evie Richards, who used the gnar to make her mark on Friday’s short track World Cup.
At the halfway point of the four-lap women’s race, Richards moved to the front and created space for herself on the descents. The Trek racer had clear space, but was still just off the front. Pieterse, Martina Berta, Lecomte, Rebecca Henderson, Alessandra Keller and Haley Batten all chased, just a handful of bike lengths behind the Malvern, U.K. racer.
Richards was able to hold off, or even extend her lead over the chasers as she climbed up toward the finish line on the final lap. Pieterse escape the chase group on the final climb, but was not closing in on Richards at all.
Evie Richards wins again in West Virginia, her first of the 2023 World Cup season.
“I Can’t believe it, I’m well happy. To finally get a win with my new coach, and with Riley getting a win yesterday its sick. I love coming here, the crowds love me, I don’t know why,” Richards said after the finish. “I feel like I’m a bit jet lagged still, like I’m in a bit of a daydream. I felt comfortable on the descent, and figured I needed two laps to get a good gap. There wasn’t much of a plan more than that.”
Pieterse finishes second with Rebecca Henderson (Mondraker Primaflor) holding off Alessandra Keller for third.
Haley Batten (Specialized) is the top North American in 7th. Jennifer Jackson (Liv Factory) finished 24th on Friday.
Elite men: Koretzky keeps winning streak alive
In the men’s race, it was, as usual, German Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon Cllctv) getting of the line fastest…
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