An 80-minute game ended effectively in five when Koretzky and Blevins broke away Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) in the Red Bull Energy Zone on the first lap.
After their domination in the XCC starter, the Specialized Factory Racing pair were once again left to battle each other for the win in an outstanding display of teamwork that worked to perfection for eight laps.
While Kortezky and Blevins rode in the lead for over an hour, Maximilian Brandl (Lapierre Racing Unity), Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Racing Team) and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) made great efforts to lead a fragmented chase group, but all in vain with Specialized Factory Racing's Martin Vidaurre playing a valiant blocking role.
“Chris [Blevins] was super strong in the beginning of the race, he had a super fast pace and it was hard to follow him. Then I had a second life in the middle of the race,” Koretzky said.
“We only did one lap each the whole time, I had a flat tire in the last two laps, so it was difficult for me on the downhill, tough stuff until the end, but I managed to finish like that.
“I think we’ve always been teammates; the goal was to be together until the last moment. It was like a hard day of training. It’s so nice to share this with the team.”
The Specialized trio weren’t the only ones celebrating at the finish line, as three home heroes sent the Araxá crowd into raptures. Gustavo Xavier, Alex Malacarne and Ulan Galinski crossed the line together in 10th, 11th and 12th place, marking the first time three Brazilians had finished in the top 12 at a UCI World Cup round, overtaking a field of more established riders on the final lap to complete the feat.
MEN'S ELITE RANKING
| 1. |  | KORETZKY Victor (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:19:32 |
| 2. |  | BLEVINS Christopher (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:19:42 + 10 |
| 3. |  | VIDAURRE KOSSMANN Martin (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:20:01 + 29 |
| 4. |  | FORSTER Lars (THOMUS MAXON) | 1:20:02 + 30 |
| 5. | | SCHURTER Nino (SCOTT-SRAM MTB RACING TEAM) | 1:20:02 + 30 |
| 6. | | COLUMBUS Philip (SCOTT-SRAM MTB RACING TEAM) | 1:20:03 + 31 |
| 7. | | * BOICHIS Adrien (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:20:05 + 33 |
| 8. | | SARROU Jordan (BMC FACTORY RACING) | 1:20:05 + 33 |
| 9. |  | SCHWARZBAUER Luke (CANYON CLLCTV XCO) | 1:20:19 + 47 |
| 10. |  | XAVIER DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA Gustavo (SPECIALIZED RACING BR) | 1:20:19 + 47 |
