The race weekend started on Friday with the Short Track World Cup (XCC), which the Swiss Matthias Flückiger (Thömus) and the Frenchwoman Loana Lecomte (Canyon) each decided in their favour. The XCC overall leader, Luca Schwarzbauer, finished in 30th place. On Sunday, the riders took on the course with the biggest climb in the entire World Cup in perfect weather and with numerous spectators lining the route.
Swiss duel between Flückiger and Schurter
After a good start without any particular incidents, a larger group from Nino Schurter (SUI), Henrique Avancini (BRA), Vlad Dascalu (ROM), Alan Hatherly (RSA), Anton Cooper (NZL) and Jordan Sarrou (FRA) to establish themselves at the top. Last year's winner Matthias Flückiger (SUI) closed the gap to the front after a weak start. Only Nino Schurter was able to follow an attack by Flückiger on the third lap. The battle for first place began. After several lead changes, Flückiger was finally able to increase the gap to Schurter with an attack on the climb. He crossed the finish line six seconds ahead of the World Cup leader and his compatriot Nino Schurter. The South African Alan Hatherly (Cannondale) finished in third place and the Romanian Vlad Dascalu (Trek) in fourth place. Fifth place went to the Frenchman Maxime Marotte (Santa Cruz).
The top 5 of the men's XCO race in Leogang:
- 1. Mathias Flückiger (SUI) 1:15.31
- 2nd Nino Schurter (SUI) 1:15:37
- 3rd Alan Hatherly (RSA) 1:16.10
- 4th Vlad Dascalu (ROU) 1:16:16
- 5th Maxime Marotte (FRA) 1:16:40
Lecomte takes the double victory
After the short track victory on Friday Loana Lecomte (Canyon) didn't have a problem on Sunday either. Only the Swede Jenny Rissveds (Team31) was able to keep up with Lecomte's fast pace. On the last lap, Lecomte increased the gap to her rival and won by over a minute. Between the Austrian Laura Stigger (Specialised) and her team colleague Sina Frei from Switzerland, the battle for third place flared up. After several lead changes, it was Laura Stigger who managed to break away from Frei and crossed the finish line in third place. Overall World Cup leader Rebecca McConnell (Mondraker) finished the race in seventh place. As the best German rider Leonie Daubermann (13th) only just missed out on the top ten.
The top 5 of the women's XCO race:
- 1. Loana Lecomte (FRA) 1:15:42
- 2nd Jenny Rissveds (SWE) 1:16:55
- 3rd Laura Stigger (AUT) 1:17:10
- 4th Sina Frei (SUI) 1:17:23
- 5th Anne Terpstra (NED) 1:17:52
