The fourth stage of Cross Country stops in Leogang, which last year saw the victory of Mathias Fluckiger in the men's field e Loana Lecomte among women. The dynamics, however, change in one season, and now the favorites are others.
Follow the race live on Red Bull TV. Do you want to be ready for the 2023 season of FANTAmtb? Download the app and train.
ELITE MEN
The absence of tom pidcock, currently second in the World Cup and ruler in Nove Mesto, which is busy in the road season and therefore forfeit for Leogang. This absence changes the dynamics at stake a lot since there is no real dominator this year: Nino Schurter is the most constant and will surely be ahead to battle with Vlad dascalu ready to give the paw.
The Romanian talent has made the definitive leap in quality and, with Nino Schurter, is the most active athlete of the moment. Expected at the gate Mathias Fluckiger: in these first tests he was lucky but the leg is certainly not that year of last year, at least in the first 3 tests.
Ondrey Cink, Czech fury, still not received: after the Olympic year he seems to be a bit seated: positive news is that last week he won an international HC (Maja Wloszczowska MTB Race) so he could be an outsider to add.
Italians not in great shape: Luca Braidot seems to be struggling as well as Nadir Colledani. Kerschbaumer always in the supporting positions (we hope that last week's victory we brought good feelings). Hope for a good placement in Joel Bertolini, 22nd in Nove Mesto and always in the top 30 for now.
If you want to read a further analysis, here is the article by Marco Tagliaferri after the Nove Mesto test.
ELITE WOMEN
After Loana lecomte in 2021, now it's up to Rebecca McConnell take the role of dominatrix: she won all 3 World Cup races, demonstrating clear superiority. In Lecomte we saw signs of growth in the last test in Nove Mesto while in the other contenders very similar levels.
2 great contenders for victory, namely Evie Richards and Ferrand Prevot, jump Leogang for physical problems.
Anne Terpstra, after the superb performance of Petropolis (2nd place in the 1st stage) has stabilized in the top 10. Ditto for Laura Stigger, who, however, in Leogang will have the field factor of her in favor of her: in fact, together with the young Mona Mitterwallner, they will try to bring Austria to the top of Leogang.
Better than ours yet Eve Lechner but the Italian champion, despite her great talent, is 37 years old and it is difficult to find the flicker of a podium, even if she has accustomed us to very interesting exploits. Perhaps the fitter athlete is Greta Seiwald, 19th in Nove Mesto.
If you want to read a further analysis, here is the article by Marco Tagliaferri after the Nove Mesto test.
GENERAL WORLD CUP
Elite Men
Nino Schurter | SWI | 732 points
Thomas Pidcock | GBR | 600 points
Vlad Dascalu | ROM | 560 points
Alan Hatherly | RSA | 506 points
Titouan Carod | FRA | 447 points
Elite Women
Rebecca McConnell | AUS | 935 points
Loana Lecomte | FRA | 586 points
Anne Terpstra | NED | 508 points
Mona Mitterwallner | AUT | 508 points
Laura Stigger | AUT | 504 points
OPENING HOURS
Friday 10 June
17:30 - Short Track Women (live,)
18:15 - Short Track Men (live,)
Sunday 5 June
8:30 - XCO U23 Women
10:15 - XCO U23 Men
12:00 - XCO Women (live,)
14:30 - XCO Men (live,)
LINK
