May 21, 2018 (Albstadt, Germany) – The Swiss ruled at Round #2 of the UCI MTB World Cup XCO in Albstadt, Germany as Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing XC) led the Canadian charge in 13th while Sandra Walter (Team Canada) took home her best-ever Euro World Cup result placing 15th, and Peter Disera (Norco Factory) earned a top-30 result in the Elite men’s race finishing 28th.

Reigning world champs Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM) and Jolanda Neff (Kross Racing) won the Elite races on Sunday while Sina Frei (Ghost Factory) was the winner of the U23 women’s race. France was the spoiler in the U23 Men’s race as Joshua Dubau landed on the top step of the podium on Saturday as Canada’s Sean Fincham claimed his best World Cup result finishing 21st.

Elite Women

Neff took charge early in the 26km Elite Women’s race (start loop + 5 laps) on a course that was still damp and slippery from earlier rain. It seemed every rider crashed at some point during the race – mud was also a major issue adding weight to all bikes.

Italy’s Eva Lechner (Ita) Clif Pro Team got the hole-shot but soon Kate Courtney (USA) Specialized Racing took over. Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) had a great start as well moving up to 7th but a crash later on put her in the teens and she finished 19th.

Neff was unstoppable establishing a 1:20 lead thru the first lap as Alessandra Keller (Sui) Thomus-RN Racing chased but Yana Belomoina (Ukr) CST Sandd American Eagle MTB Racing Team and Anne Tauber (Ned) CST Sandd American Eagle MTB Racing Team challenged taking 2nd and 3rd respectively. Neff won by over 2 minutes.

Batty rode consistently just outside of the top 10 also crashing but the real story for Canada was Walter’s stunning performance as she moved up steadily from 46th to join Batty and Pendrel at one point.

“It was pretty cool riding with Catharine and Emily. It’s definitely motivating and there’s a sense of solidarity out there even though it’s an individual sport,” said Walter. “I knew it was going to be crazy out there and focused on riding smoothly and taking time to set up my lines. I feel I rode well but definitely made mistakes even crashing again on the final descent – still I managed to hold onto 15th spot.”

Her best World Cup result was 13th in 2012 at Mont-Sainte-Anne and best previous Euro World Cup was 24th at Albstadt last year. “I have an awesome coach and with all of the support I get from my family, friends, sponsors and Cycling Canada it’s helped me improve continually from year to year, which is really exciting and motivating,” added Walter (see our full interview with Walter here).

Other Canadian results included Cindy Montambault who finished 42nd, Haley Smith (Norco Factory) in 50th following a hard crash, and Catherine Fleury (Team Canada) who placed 64th.

“I love these conditions,” said Neff post-race. “I was so happy when I heard it was muddy and rainy – it makes it a real mountain bike race. I loved every second and my goal was a 2-minute gap. I couldn’t be happier.”

Elite Men

In the 27.6 km Elite Men’s race that included a start loop and six laps, Schurter showed his cards early gapping the field on the start loop following his third row start after a mechanical sidelined him in Friday’s Short Track race. In contrast to the women’s race the course was not as slippery as it began to dry out.

Schurter was soon joined by Mathieu Van Der Poel (Ned) Corendon-Circus, Sam Gaze (Nzl) Specialized, Maxime Marotte (Fra) Cannondale Factory Racing XC, Mathias Flueckiger (Sui) Thömus – RN Racing Team and others. An early mechanical took out Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized.

Gaze, who won the first round over Schurter, was suffering and then fell victim to a flat as did Flueckiger. Van Der Poel looked like he might fade as Schurter bided his time and Stephane Tempier (Fra) Bianchi Countervail and Jordan Sarrou (Fra) KMC Ekoi SRSuntour joined the leaders.

On the 4th lap Van Der Poel found a second wind but it was short-lived and on a big climb Schurter played his trump card. Only Tempier could stay with him, but the Frenchman was dropped on the next lap settling for second with Van Der Poel third.

“I did not want to put all the cards on the table too early, but then I realized that Mathieu could not follow anymore and that Maxime (Marotte) was having a hard time. That’s why I attacked. However, I was surprised when Tempier came back,” explained Schurter. “It’s nice to win here for the third time and the World Championships are here in 2020 which also makes me feel good.”

Canada’s Disera put in a solid effort and moved up steadily from 46th and was sitting 30th on the penultimate lap. Then on the final lap he punched thru into 28th for a good day at the office.

“Albstadt was a good one and I’m stoked for that. The race was muddy but we had it much easier than the women in the morning. The grip on the course was mixed between relatively tacky mud and slippery rocks,” said Disera.

“I was pleased with that result. It was a good race and I was moving up well. I just tried not to settle and kept moving through the field. I got really excited when I started catching riders that I look up to, and then passing them. Good result and good legs! Looking forward to Nove Mesto,” he added.

Leandre Bouchard (KMC-Ekoi-SR Suntour) also moved up from 48th to finish 34th as did Raphael Gagne (Silverback OMX) from the mid-60s to 57th, followed by Andrew L’Esperance (Canadian National) in 66th.

U23 Races

Laurie Arseneault (Ind) led the Canadians in the 19km U23 Women’s race (start loop +4 laps) finishing 27th with Juliette Tetreault (Ind) in 32nd followed by Team Canada’s Mackenzie Myatt in 40th and Anne Julie Tremblay in 48th. Frei led from the start winning over Evie Richards (Trek Factory) in second with Malene Degn (Ghost Factory) in third.

In the U23 Men’s 26 km race (start loop + 5 laps) Canada’s Fincham powered his way to his best World Cup result. The reigning U23 national champ was as high as 16th at one point ending up 21st in a strong field of 150 riders.

Also strong for Canada was Marc Andre Fortier (Pivot-OTE) just behind Fincham in 24th with teammate Raphael Auclair in 30th and Quinton Disera (Norco Factory) in 31st. Gunnar Holmgren (Team Canada) moved up over 60 spots to 63rd while Felix Belhumeur (Pivot-OTE) was 76th and Brody Sanderson finished 114th.

Elite Women’s results here.
Elite Men’s results here.
U23 Women’s results here.
U23 Men’s results here.