The UCI World Cups Cross-country Short Track (XCC) racing is known for tight, technical racing that tends to end in a sprint finish, but the adrenaline-pumping nature of the Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburg (Austria) course proved that there is more than one way to win a race, as Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) proved.
Pieterse proved to be the most in-form rider of the series, launching a move that took her rivals by surprise at the halfway point. Despite the efforts of Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing), it was the decisive attack, with Pieterse increasing her lead with each lap, crossing the line with a 16-second advantage.
For the Olympic world champion of cross-country (XCO) UCI reigning, it was the second victory in the shorter format of this World Cup and the fifth of his career.
In the Elite Men’s category, Blevins timed his attack to perfection, landing the decisive blow on the final climb to position himself in the best possible way on the track as he led the descent. Teammate Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) was unable to match the American for a sprint finish, while the earlier performances of third-placed Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) saw the British rider settle for the last spot on the podium.
Blevins' victory makes him the first rider ever to win the first four UCI XCC World Cups of the season and allows him to complete the XCO-XCC double for the third consecutive time on Sunday, which would be another first.
Before the Elites, it was the turn of the U23s on the up-and-down course Saalfelden-Leogang – Salzburg, where the Swiss pair Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) and Elina Benoit (Lexware Mountainbike Team) took their first UCI XCC World Cup victory.
FEMALE ELITE RANKING
| 1. |  | PIETERSE Puck (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) | 21:13 |
| 2. |  | MAXWELL Samara (DECATHLON FORD RACING TEAM) | 21:29 +16 |
| 3. |  | KOLLER Nicole (GHOST FACTORY RACING) | 21:34 +21 |
| 4. |  | MITTERWALLNER Mona (MONDRAKER FACTORY RACING XC) | 21:39 +26 |
| 5. |  | LILL Candice | 21:43 +30 |
| 6. |  | RICHARDS Evie (TREK FACTORY RACING – PIRELLI) | 21:51 +38 |
| 7. | | KELLER Alexandra (THOMUS MAXON) | 22:04 +51 |
| 8. |  | BLUNK Savilia (DECATHLON FORD RACING TEAM) | 22:05 +52 |
| 9. |  | JACKSONJennifer (ORBEA FOX FACTORY TEAM) | 22:12 +59 |
| 10. | | FORKS Ramona (BIXS PERFORMANCE RACE TEAM) | 22:13 + 1: 00 |
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
MEN'S ELITE RANKING
| 1. | | BLEVINS Christopher (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 23:00 |
| 2. |  | VIDAURRE KOSSMANN Martin (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 23:00 |
| 3. | | ALDRIDGE Charlie (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) | 23:01 +1 |
| 4. | | FORSTER Lars (THOMUS MAXON) | 23:11 +11 |
| 5. | | PUNTENER Fabio | 23:12 +12 |
| 6. |  | AZZARO Mathis (ORIGINE RACING DIVISION) | 23:17 +17 |
| 7. |  | AVONDETTO Simone (WILIER-VITTORIA FACTORY TEAM) Lap 10n ° 132:18, 2:23, 2:23, 2:23, 2:20, 2:19, 2:28, 2:14, 2:16, 2:12 | 23:19 +19 |
| 8. | | * BOICHIS Adrien (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 23:24 +24 |
| 9. | | FLÜCKIGER Mathias (THOMUS MAXON) | 23:26 +26 |
| 10. |  | BRANDL Maximilian (LAPIERRE RACING UNITY) | 23:27 +27 |
GENERAL WORLD CUP
