MTB cycling: In front of a great crowd of spectators at the XCO Mountain Bike World Cup in Nove Mesto, Nino Schurter clinched his second victory of the season. The Swiss also takes the lead in the overall standings. Kirchheimer Manuel Fumic was able to improve again and finished fifth.
The 3,7-kilometre circuit in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, once again more than lived up to its reputation. The technically extremely demanding route took its toll again last weekend as part of the XCO Mountain Bike World Cup 2018. The race was characterized by a large number of defects. It was even harder for Mathias Flückiger, who was involved in a violent fall after only a few meters. With a defective shift lever, only the early exit remained. Stellenbosch winner Sam Gaze also had to give up after a fall. Mathieu van der Poel fared no better after a dismount over the handlebars. The race remained exciting up to the last meter. Just a few centimeters ahead of New Zealander Anton Cooper, Swiss Nino Schurter secured his second win of the season. The other places were followed by Frenchman Maxime Marotte, Lars Forster from Switzerland and Manuel Fumic, who was back on the podium for the first time since 2015.
The women's race was also extremely close. In the sprint, Denmark's Annika Langvad beat world champion Jolanda Neff from Switzerland. The five-person podium was completed by the French Pauline Ferrand Prevot, Emily Batty from Canada and the Polish Maja Wloszczowska. As the best German driver, Elisabeth Brandau from Schönaich took eleventh place with stomach problems. Already in the third lap, Sabine Spitz gave up the race far behind. The women's overall ranking is now led by Annika Langvad from Denmark, with the men's Nino Schurter taking the lead.
XCO Mountain Bike World Cup #3 – Nove Mesto: Top 10 Elite Men
- Nino Schurter, SUI, 1:21.31
- Anton Cooper, NZL, +0.00
- Maxime Marotte, FRA, + 0.08
- Lars Forster, SUI, +0.44
- Manuel Fumic, GER, +0.49
- Henrique Avancini, BRA, +0.56
- Florian Vogel, SUI, + 1.02
- Arnis Petersons, LET, + 1.04
- Jarslav Kulhavy, CZE, + 1.04
- Carlos Coloma, ESP, +1.27
XCO Mountain Bike World Cup #3 – Nove Mesto: Top 10 Elite Women
- Annika Langvad, DEN, 1:20.37
- Jolanda Neff, SUI, +0.01
- Pauline Ferrand Prevot, FRA, +0.47
- Emily Batty, CAN, + 1.04
- Maja Wloszczowska, POL, + 2.26
- Gunn Rita Dahle, NOR, +2.44
- Githa Michiels, BEL, + 2.59
- Alessandra Keller, SUI, + 3.08
- Kate Courtney, USA, + 3.12
- Anne Tauber, NED, +3.16