Race Highlights: 2025 World Cup XCO, Nové Město, Rd 3
Round three of the UCI World Cup XCO took place this weekend on the iconic and notoriously unforgiving track, in the Czech Republic. Here’s your recap of the action.
Elite Women
The always fast and technical Nové Město track kept everyone on their game. From the start the reigning World Champion Puck Pieterse was forcing the pace at the front, putting the field into discomfort with apparent ease. By the second lap a group of three riders, Pieterse, Keller and Lill had moved clear. On lap three, Pieterse punctured and lost 90-seconds and many positions as she nursed the bike through to the tech zone for a new wheel. Meanwhile, after steady starts, Samara Maxwell and Mona Mitterwallner had been moving forward and with two laps to go were at the front, with Candice Lill maintaining third place.
On the final lap Maxwell stalled on a climb and tangled her bike in the track marking which necessitated a quick dismount to free it. By the time she got going, Mitterwallner had kicked and opened a gap. Not long later the sprint to the line was on and whilst Maxwell did incredibly well to reel her in, Mitterwallner held the advantage to take the win. Candice Lill crossed the line in third, just a couple seconds back. In the U23 race, SA’s Tyler Jacobs did not start the race.
Results – Elite Women
1st. Mona Mitterwallner: 1:29:32
2nd. Samara Maxwell: 1:29:32 (+0)
3rd. Candice Lill: 1:29:57 (+25)
4th. Alessandra Keller: 1:30:13 (+41)
5th. Rebecca Henderson: 1:30:20 (+48)
Elite Men
Luca Schwarzbauer led from the gun, setting an electric pace with the best in the world bunched up in his slip. As the pack fought for track positioning, Mathieu van der Poel had two crashes including a massive over-the-bars, all on the start loop, before withdrawing from the race on lap three. By the middle of the race, the pace from the opening laps calmed, and the lead group swelled to eight and then again to 18 riders. Alan Hatherly and all the big names, barring Schurter were present. Luke Moir was sitting inside the top 30 and continuing to move forward.
With three laps to go Alan Hatherly, perhaps sensing the danger of a big lead group making it to the final lap, pushed the tempo up. Under the impetus of Alan’s efforts, the lead group quickly splintered. Making it to the front now, Vital Albin put in a huge effort and rolled clear with only Chris Blevins able to chase. Onto the final lap and Blevins was out front with a small lead and the rest of the top 10 were strung out, also with small gaps. Blevins held on to the line, taking his second win in two days with Mathis Azzaro taking second and Lars Forster third. Alan Hatherly, faded in the last minute of the race to cross the line 9th and Luke Moir ended the race, in 19th.
Results – Elite Men
1st. Christopher Blevins: 1:26:00
2nd. Mathis Azzaro: 1:26:07 (+7)
3rd. Lars Forster: 1:26:07 (+7)
4th. Victor Koretzky: 1:26:07 (+7)
5th. Fabio Püntener: 1:26:23 (+23)
Full results here. //