Watch the MTB World Cup replay: https://www.redbull.com/int-en/events/uci-mountain-bike-world-cup-czech-republic
Loana Lecomte and Tom Pidcock have two obvious characteristics in common: age (21) and an impressive talent. The French and English born in 1999 are among the youngest winners of a MTB World Cup event and today they have written another piece of off-road history by inflicting the greatest gap ever to rivals on the technical and spectacular route of Nové Město .
The second stage of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2021 recorded the affirmation of a new generation that is ahead of its time and in the Olympic year begins, rightly, to frighten the most experienced riders. In the Czech Republic, young people have been the protagonists since the races on Friday. The American Haley Batten, who with her 22 years could very well run among the Under 23s, won the short track, giving herself the first World Cup success among the Elite. The teammate of “our” Chiara Teocchi at Trinity Racing got the better of Loana Lecomte and the gold of Rio 2016 Jenny Rissveds. 13th place for the blue Martina Berta, 23 years old and best blue. Among the bis men of the 26-year-old Dutchman Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin Fenix), who after winning the XCC in Albstadt repeated himself in Nové Město, beating Thomas Pidcock in the sprint, who after the incredible comeback a week ago in Germany he earned UCI points to compete with the top 40 in the world. Third place for the world champion Jordan Sarrou, 9th for the tricolor Luca Braidot.
On Sunday, on a track made even harder by the mud, the forces on the field emerged and we saw two clear victories. Loana Lecomte, exactly as happened in Albstadt, took the lead during the launch lap and back after lap created an insurmountable gap between herself and the opponents. Shy in the interviews as she is bold on her Massi, with the leader's jersey she trimmed 1'39 "to Haley Batten, 1'51" to Australian champion Rebecca McConnell and 2'10 "to world champion Pauline Ferrand Prevot, who after the bad fall in which she was the protagonist on Friday, she once again showed a great character. To complete the podium the other baby phenomenon Evie Richards, 13th the Italian champion Eva Lechner who holds out despite her going towards the age of 36.
The men's race was more fought, but in the middle Tom Pidcock opened the gas and made everyone understand that no one could take away his first success "among the greats". The cyclocross champion, winner of the Giro d'Italia Under 23 and emtb champion, in the Ineos Grenadiers jersey trimmed 1 'to MVDP, 1'15 "to Mathias Flückiger, 2' to local idol Ondrej Cink and 2'21" to Jordan Sarrou. In the top 20 two Azzurri: Luca Braidot 13th and Nadir Colledani 18th. Victor Koretzky broke the chain and lost the lead in the standings in favor of Van der Poel, who now leads with 80 points over Pidcock, who only two weeks ago was at the start with the number 100 backbone. "I was born to race in mtb" declared crossing the finish line. We can't blame him.
If you missed the show, you can watch the replay of all the races on www.redbull.com with commentary by Marco Aurelio Fontana. After these two back-to-back races, the MTB World Cup will continue in Leogang, Austria, next month with a double stage dedicated to Downhill (the first of 2021) and at the XCO. Appointment on Red Bull TV from 11 to 13 June.
