The World Cup moved from Switzerland to Leogang, Austria this week but it was two French riders taking wins on Friday in the XCC.
Both Jordan Sarrou and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot earned wins in the 20-minute race. And, for both racers, it marks their first World Cup win of the year.
Pauline Frerand-Prévot finesses first win of 2023
Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) launched off the line and up the first hill in the lead to start elite women’s XCC with Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing) glued to her wheel. That climb, a steep, punishing pitch that lasted a full 90 seconds of every lap, made up the first half of a brutally physical World Cup short track course in Leogang. It wasn’t the only defining feature of the track, though. It immediately tipped over into a series of awkward, off-cambre grass corners. Those would prove to be the downfall of last week’s XCC World Cup winner, Jenny Rissveds (Team 31), who touched the ground on the second of five laps while riding in third position.
While Rissveds slide out slowed the chasers, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Ineos) would soon join Richards and Pieterse on the front. Rissveds attempted to chase, but would not make contact. The lead trio stayed clear of the pack until the final metres of Friday’s race.
Evie Richards lead the second lap, with Pieters and Rissveds joining her and a gap growing behind them. Rissveds crashes in the off-camber grass and drifts back into the main group.
Going out onto the final lap it was Pieterse pouring pressure, and power, onto the lead trio. Richards faded away but Ferrand Prévot, looking entirely unphased by the attack, matched the Dutch woman’s pace before countering with an attack of her own. The world champion’s move proved decisive and quickly earned her an advantage which she carried onto the short descent to the finish line.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot looked relaxed on the descent, cruising the start/finish straight with enough time to celebrate her first World Cup win of 2023.
Puck Pieterse takes second place while Evie Richards fends off a hard-charging Anne Terpstra (Ghost Factory Racing) on the line for third.
Sarrou scores Short Track victory in Leogang
In the men’s race, it was Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory Racing) leading off the line, if only momentarily. As the South African was swarmed by the…
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