XCC: Short Track Ladies
The women's short track race marked the start of the World Cup weekend in Albstadt. Seven laps were on the programme for the women. Despite the dry weather, some sections of the course in the Bullentäle were still a little slippery from the rain of the previous days. By the end of the fourth lap, the leading group had thinned out to eleven riders, including favourites such as Jolanda Neff, 19-year-old Hungarian Blanka Vas, Rebecca McConnell and Alessandra Keller. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, last year's XCC winner in Albstadt, was also there, after the Frenchwoman had only worked her way up from the third row of the grid over the course of the first two laps. However, when the race got down to business, Ferrand-Prévot, who had also won the short track race in Brazil, was on the spot. After a fizzled-out attack on the fifth lap, McConnell stepped up the pace again at the front in the middle of the final lap. In the end, only Ferrand-Prévot was able to keep the Australian's rear wheel. In the final sprint, however, McConnell had a tyre width advantage and, after the cross-country competition in Petrópolis, also won the short track race in Albstadt. Jenny Rissveds finished third behind Ferrand-Prévot. Alessandra Keller, Jolanda Neff, Blanka Vas, Anne Terpstra and Eva Lechner complete the front row on Sunday.
Good news from a German perspective: Ronja Eibl finished a strong ninth, ahead of XCC World Champion Sina Frei (11th) and Kate Courtney (15th). Nadine Rieder finished 26th, directly ahead of Nina Benz. The young Austrians Laura Stigger (34th) and Mona Mitterwallner (23rd and one of the few on a hardtail) were unable to build on their good placings in Brazil and will start from the third and fourth rows on Sunday.
XCC: Short Track Men
With a spirited performance in the short track race, Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon) set an exclamation mark at the home World Cup in Albstadt. The 25-year-old was the only German starter. He led the leading group for several laps and set the pace at the front. In the end, Schwarzbauer finished in an excellent fourth place after nine laps. Only winner Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Fenix), Nino Schurter (Scott Sram) and Jordan Sarrou (Specialised) were faster. After more than two tough years in which he struggled with various injuries, Gaze is back at the top of the world. The New Zealander celebrated his third short track victory in the World Cup in Albstadt, having already won the other two in 2018. Nino Schurter was sprinted off by Jordan Sarrou in the final centimetres before the finish line and finished third. These top riders will join Schwarzbauer on the front row on Sunday: Henrique Avancini, Titouan Carod, Filippo Colombo and Olympic champion Tom Pidcock.
