Jenny Rissveds seems to be able to find speed in Brazil. After winning the Olympics in Rio in 2016, the Swedish mountain bike star outdueled a pair of U.S. racers to win Sunday’s XCO World Cup 2024 season opener in Mairiporã.
Richards sets the tone
After a thrilling win in Saturday’s XCC World Cup, Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing) flies off the start line Sunday in Mairiporã at approximately the same pace. The Brit leads the somewhat lengthy start loop with Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis), Kate Courtney (Scott SRAM) the closest to her wheel.
Jenn Jackson (Liv Factory Racing) takes advantage of moving up the start grid, via her top 10 in the XCC Saturday, and is, fantastically, riding in the top 10 again.
On the first steep, loose hill, Courtney is the first to dismount. This causes a chain reaction, and a separation, within the top 10 already on the start loop. Richards is keeping the pace high on the front, forcing gaps throughout the field behind her.
Going out onto the first full lap, there’s a group of six. but the first 11 are within 14 seconds. That includes, still in 10th, Jenn Jackson. There’s also a trio of U.S. racers in there, as Savilia Blunk (Decathalon Ford) is now up there with Courtney and Batten.
U.S. Olympic selection takes over Mairiporã
Going out onto the first of five full laps, Haley Batten takes over the lead. Richards follows, at first, while Rissveds bobbles and a gap to the front two is quickly opened. That gap is closed, making it a lead group of 10. Jackson’s still in there, with Kesey Urban (Team 31 Ibis) making it four U.S. racers in the front 10.
The U.S women have, very likely at this point, qualified for two spots in the Olympic mountain bike race this summer. That means there’s a race within the race here as the U.S. women now try to claim one of those two spots for themselves.
In fact, by the end of Lap 1, it’s Haley Batten and Savilia Blunk leading the field. Courtney and Urban are still in the front group of 10, though. As is Jackson, looking to claim Canada’s one Olympic berth. Chiara Teocchi (Orbea Factory Team) is trying to get involved, but Batten quickly moves back to the front with Blunk glued to her wheel.
Batten is insistent on blowing this race apart. Other than a brief pause to avoid crashing into Blunk, who took a shorter, steeper A-Line on course, Batten has blown everyone but her fellow American and Rissveds off her wheel.
Urban is in…
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