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UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

Page 96 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
My gut is telling more that Cannondale has gone for a U23 Women, close to home. Now let's see if the indirect signs I saw are right this time.
would make Jolanda fit as the day to day mentor and tech skills lecturer/adviser for the youngsters... while still able to race and hopefully snatch a good result here and there when healthy....
 
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I'm afraid we've all heard similar things before; the proof will be what these figures mean. Sponsorship & improved/ better media coverage.
Outside of the usual MTB media, has the coverage from the non MTB media improved, as that is what they need. At the moment, nothing has changed - I'm not sure what they were expecting.

Just look at this site; MTB news is sparse, and tends to be linked to well known road racers in MTB racing.
 


I did wonder whether the Road would be better for her; XCO is too explosive, and she loses far too many positions. XC Marathon is a road to nowhere for someone as young & talented as her.

But, it's yet another top talent leaving for the Road.........
 
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does she even know how to ride in the pro road peloton? i haven't been checking thoroughly but i can't say i ever saw her racing any pro road race ever... i might be completely wrong though.

ps: she looks rather chunky on those photos :)
 
Worryingly, from a XC MTB point of view, 3/4 of World champions will start 2025 on WT/WWT Road teams.

Junior XCO - Philipsen (Lidl-Trek), Chaldanova (Visma)
U23 XCC - N/A, Holmgren (Lidl-Trek)
U23 XCO - N/A, Holmgren (Lidl-Trek)
Elite XCC - N/A, N/A
Elite XCO - Hatherly (JaycoAluLa), Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)
XCMarathon - N/A, Mitterwallner (Human Powered Health)
 
Looking at First Cycling Mona was 11th in the 2021 European u23 champs, also rode the 2020 Watersley challenge. Also 11th overall. That appears to be it other than perhaps at a lower level.

She also rode a selection race ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, after she had lost the MTB spot to Stigger, but she also missed out there, which obviously turned out pretty well for the Austrians.
 
she has puffy cheeks, always. in winter they are a bit puffier
She has looked puffy for the last year or so, starting at Cape Epic 2024. She was so thin when she came into XCO elites. I really don't see her performing well on the road. She talks about recovering well for stage races in the article but she is a vegan, so if she doesn't have her supplement routine correct that's out the window as well.
 
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