UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

[Axel Hangleck]

That's a decent calendar; the more rounds the better. One has to ask, where is Lenzerheide? Maybe the TBC?
And as I said on the CX forum, I'd love to see a World Cup round in the UK? Must be about 10 years since Dalby.

 

[glassmoon]

Emily Batty Signs With Canyon - Pinkbike

The Canadian XCO racer hopes to find Olympic success with her new team.

www.pinkbike.com

Great Instagram boost for Canyon

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Results: Internazionali D'Italia Series 2021 - Capoliveri Legend Cup - Pinkbike

A stacked field of racers including Kate Courtney, Nino Schurter and Henrique Avancini take on the second round of the 2021 Internazionali D'Italia series.

www.pinkbike.com

From last Monday; however this weekend sees the next round and it looks a stacked entry list, worthy of a World Cup.

 

[jmdirt]

Results: Internazionali D'Italia Series 2021 - Capoliveri Legend Cup - Pinkbike

A stacked field of racers including Kate Courtney, Nino Schurter and Henrique Avancini take on the second round of the 2021 Internazionali D'Italia series.

www.pinkbike.com

From last Monday; however this weekend sees the next round and it looks a stacked entry list, worthy of a World Cup.

A lot of Italians!

TODAY:

Results: Internazionali D'Italia Series 2021 - Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race - Pinkbike

A stacked field of World Cup racers including Kate Courtney, Nino Schurter and Pauline Ferrand Prevot take on the third round of the 2021 Internazionali D'Italia series.

www.pinkbike.com

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I think there are highlights on YouTube of both races. Looking to be a good season - not many of the top names were missing.

 

[Ricco']

Mona Mitterwallner is seriously impressing on her first races as an U23.

 

[Ripper]

I think there are highlights on YouTube of both races. Looking to be a good season - not many of the top names were missing.

Yup, the vids are good enough

Folks are pretty close. It will be interesting to see who is still building versus who is actually "sharp" right now. Also will be interesting to see what happens when vdP joins the fray. Could be just another one in the mix, or he could detonate everyone.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOWMQt0FecY&ab_channel=RedBullBike


Red Bull preview of the XCO season.

 

[Ripper]

So far the early season races have been interesting to watch (and so nice to see)! Hopefully the World Cup races are reasonably tight affairs and not too lopsided.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

A few different winners, no domination - and nearly all of the top riders have taken part. Next weekend is the first Swiss Cup race, and then the week after the first World Cup in Albstadt.

Looking forward to it.

 

[senna6541]

Can't wait to see MVDP back in action. Love the fact that he is clearly putting MTB in front of road. If he can reach anywhere near the form he had at SB and T-A it's going to be an extremely ugly experience for everyone else - Pidcock and Nino included.

 

[Ricco']

Wow, Daan Soete really took the fight to Victor Koretzky today at the Copa Catalana, only losing in a sprint. Can we have another crosser doing great at a XCO World Cup next weekend?

 

[Ripper]

Blow out in the men's race today! TP cruising to a sizeable win. Of course, quite a number of top names not there, so who knows how things will look in the world cups. No offense to my countrymen who placed in the top five, but that's not normally where they've been placing at that level of race.

For me, I hope we see a variety of winners and lots of close races. If the races become blowouts or 1-2 man shows all the time, it will get boring. While it satisfies the fans of a particular rider if they were always win, it doesn't help the sport if it doesn't have enough depth for good competition.

 

[Ricco']

And Mona Mitterwallner crushed Pauline, Neff and Courtney.

1st year under 23 and a 4th as a worst result so far (and from what I've read, she had a lot of bad luck in that race).

I hope we see her racing with the elites next weekend.

 

[Ripper]

And Mona Mitterwallner crushed Pauline, Neff and Courtney.

1st year under 23 and a 4th as a worst result so far (and from what I've read, she had a lot of bad luck in that race).

I hope we see her racing with the elites next weekend.

Indeed she did! I'm equally hopeful for variety in women's racing as well, which I think will happen.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Wow, Daan Soete really took the fight to Victor Koretzky today at the Copa Catalana, only losing in a sprint. Can we have another crosser doing great at a XCO World Cup next weekend?

I must admit, I was quite surprised when I saw him stay with Koretzky....only beaten in the sprint. Pretty impressive.

I often wonder why we don't see more crossers trying MTB; surely it helps/improves their technical skills. Most do the same thing year after year. Training camps followed by road races......

 

[Ripper]

I must admit, I was quite surprised when I saw him stay with Koretzky....only beaten in the sprint. Pretty impressive.

I often wonder why we don't see more crossers trying MTB; surely it helps/improves their technical skills. Most do the same thing year after year. Training camps followed by road races......

Yup, I am generally perplexed by it as well. Definitely more benefits.

On a tangent, very confused by the strange CN 'racing news' update on the race today. The headlines were TP wins (makes sense, he won) and PFP comes in 3rd! No real mention of 1st or 2nd in the women's race. Odd ... is CN being sponsored by BMC or something?

 

[stonerider]

On a tangent, very confused by the strange CN 'racing news' update on the race today. The headlines were TP wins (makes sense, he won) and PFP comes in 3rd! No real mention of 1st or 2nd in the women's race. Odd ... is CN being sponsored by BMC or something?

I don't think Cycling News is known for their journalistic integrity. They just love to stir the pot to get more clicks. That's why I don't click on certain articles because it just encourages more of the same from them.

 

[jmdirt]

Yup, I am generally perplexed by it as well. Definitely more benefits.

On a tangent, very confused by the strange CN 'racing news' update on the race today. The headlines were TP wins (makes sense, he won) and PFP comes in 3rd! No real mention of 1st or 2nd in the women's race. Odd ... is CN being sponsored by BMC or something?

I agree that it was odd not to mention the ladies who were in front of her, but the focus of the story was multi-discipline racers, PFP.

 

[glassmoon]

And Mona Mitterwallner crushed Pauline, Neff and Courtney.

1st year under 23 and a 4th as a worst result so far (and from what I've read, she had a lot of bad luck in that race).

I hope we see her racing with the elites next weekend.

She has a great MTB future in front of her surely. Impressive rides so far for the 19yrs old.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I think she is staying in the U23 ranks for the World Cup races.
Both her, and Lecomte, are quite small, and excellent climbers.......

 

[senna6541]

Well, just read this weekend's race preview, and the geniuses at CN didn't include MVDP on their long list of favorites, saying The Dutchman has seen success on the mountain bike before, but as he has been focusing on the road the past few years, we'll have to see if he finds his way to the front of the MTB pack. Not sure why they even bother covering the discipline at all given how half-ass it is. Makes you wonder if they guy who wrote the article knows anything about it or has ever actually watched a UCI elite race.

 

[glassmoon]

Well, just read this weekend's race preview, and the geniuses at CN didn't include MVDP on their long list of favorites, saying The Dutchman has seen success on the mountain bike before, but as he has been focusing on the road the past few years, we'll have to see if he finds his way to the front of the MTB pack. Not sure why they even bother covering the discipline at all given how half-ass it is. Makes you wonder if they guy who wrote the article knows anything about it or has ever actually watched a UCI elite race.

No mystery in your last sentence. Both parts are most likely correct...

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Most cycling journalists are roadies, and wouldn't know a MTB if it ran over them. I often feel, they don't think it's a proper sport - and is just people messing about pulling whips, tricks & wheelies...
I hate to inform them, but MTB is far bigger, and has Olympic status - than CX, which doesn't.

Anyway - most riders who hadn't ridden a MTB race for over 18 months wouldn't be expected to challenge for a win; however, MvdP isn't most riders. However, I'm wondering how good his form is for XC.
If he's in form, he won't want a slow, tactical race - that could allow Pidcock to get to the front - he won't want that.

 

[jmdirt]

Well, just read this weekend's race preview, and the geniuses at CN didn't include MVDP on their long list of favorites, saying The Dutchman has seen success on the mountain bike before, but as he has been focusing on the road the past few years, we'll have to see if he finds his way to the front of the MTB pack. Not sure why they even bother covering the discipline at all given how half-ass it is. Makes you wonder if they guy who wrote the article knows anything about it or has ever actually watched a UCI elite race.

I don't even think CN wrote the story unless they own BIKEPerfet, they just linked to someone else's story. Pretty tough to think that Mathieu won't be in the mix.