• The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

Page 79 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Rissveds won the swedish NC by 11 minutes…

Sure she is a world class athlete and seems to be in great shape towards the Olympics but the margin is just too big. Especially since in Sweden almost all cycling is routed towards MTB as the roads are deemed too dangerous and we just have one velodrome.
 
Four hours to go,mountain bikes window to the world. Course might make for close racing, we can hope.
PFP is the obvious favourite but might be close. To me Lecomte, Piererse, Keller and Batten look the closest rivals. Keller might surprise. From previously questioning her selection I'm now looking forward to see where Bella Holmgren will finish.
Personally I would like Richards or Pieterse to win.
 
Four hours to go,mountain bikes window to the world. Course might make for close racing, we can hope.
PFP is the obvious favourite but might be close. To me Lecomte, Piererse, Keller and Batten look the closest rivals. Keller might surprise. From previously questioning her selection I'm now looking forward to see where Bella Holmgren will finish.
Personally I would like Richards or Pieterse to win.
Will PFP race hardtail or full suspension today in Paris?
 
The favourites are the obvious picks - but it's not that simple. It's a course that seems to favour close racing, with no massive technical features to separate the super skilled from not as skilled (as they're all good). It might be a course for powerful riders......

PFP has only lost one XCO race this year - the Europeans, is rightly the favourite, and may just ride away on the first lap - but 6-7+ others can win on their day......
I think the 6 weeks out with concussion may well cost Evie a medal chance, but she'll be not far away from a medal, and Puck is consistent and will probably challenge PFP early on.
Holmgren is a dark horse, as is Blanka Vas who can peak for one off races; 2021: 4th in both Olympic MTB, and Elite World Road race.....
 
The favourites are the obvious picks - but it's not that simple. It's a course that seems to favour close racing, with no massive technical features to separate the super skilled from not as skilled (as they're all good). It might be a course for powerful riders......

PFP has only lost one XCO race this year - the Europeans, is rightly the favourite, and may just ride away on the first lap - but 6-7+ others can win on their day......
I think the 6 weeks out with concussion may well cost Evie a medal chance, but she'll be not far away from a medal, and Puck is consistent and will probably challenge PFP early on.
Holmgren is a dark horse, as is Blanka Vas who can peak for one off races; 2021: 4th in both Olympic MTB, and Elite World Road race.....
Thanks for the write up!

I re-watched Pieterse's course preview from 10mo ago and it seemed to me too that this is not overly technical and thought a powerful rider could have the advantage. But of course I don't have Axel's eye for the sport, and the last I properly followed (and rode, lol) MTB was in the 1990s.

.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jmdirt
The favourites are the obvious picks - but it's not that simple. It's a course that seems to favour close racing, with no massive technical features to separate the super skilled from not as skilled (as they're all good). It might be a course for powerful riders......

PFP has only lost one XCO race this year - the Europeans, is rightly the favourite, and may just ride away on the first lap - but 6-7+ others can win on their day......
I think the 6 weeks out with concussion may well cost Evie a medal chance, but she'll be not far away from a medal, and Puck is consistent and will probably challenge PFP early on.
Holmgren is a dark horse, as is Blanka Vas who can peak for one off races; 2021: 4th in both Olympic MTB, and Elite World Road race.....

It was more a case of Vas reaching a career high that particular season rather than her being able to peak for specific races in general. I doubt she'll be anywhere near a medal this time around, but we'll see.