August 27, 2017 (Val di Sole, Italy) – The 2017 UCI MTB World Cup XCO season wrapped up in Val di Sole, Italy as Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team claimed a historic sixth consecutive victory for a first-ever perfect season.
Jolanda Neff (Sui) Kross Racing Team signaled she’s back following her injury winning the Elite Women’s race as Canada’s Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) was 12th and Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) finished 17th. Yana Belomoina (Ukr) CST Sandd American Eagle MTB Racing Team in second had already clinched the overall series title as Batty led the Canucks in 9th.
Pendrel had a strong start in the 26.30km, 6-lap, Elite Women’s race but could not sustain her effort and fell back as Neff and Belomoina took charge, but Neff was unstoppable gapping her rival on the final lap for the win.
Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Kross Racing Team claimed 3rd despite a brace on her right arm for her broken wrist on the mend. Batty was near the front in 7th at one point but also fell back.
Schurter was a marked man but took on all challengers in the men’s 30.3 km race as Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing XC showed his teeth early. A dropped chain took him out of contention as Stephane Tempier (Fra) Bianchi Countervail was suddenly a serious threat but Schurter was never in trouble.
A sudden crash on the 4th lap was almost his undoing but he recovered and attacked Tempier on the final lap to solo in for the historic win as long-time rival Julien Absalon (Fra) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team took third. Canada’s Raphael Gagne (Cannondale-3rox Racing) was 54th and Alexandre Vialle (Can) finished 75th. Leandre Bouchard (BKH) was the top Canadian overall in 37th.
“It’s incredible,” said Schurter. “Tempier was tough and I’m not as fresh as I was earlier but it still worked out. My team has been great all season and I can’t thank them enough. Now it’s on to Cairns to see if I can make it a perfect-perfect season.”
Nadir Colledani (Ita) Torpado Gabogas took the U23 Men’s 26.30km race to finish second overall behind Martins Blums (Lat) ZZK who was second on the final stage. Petter Fagerhaug (Nor) was 3rd on the final stage and third overall. Peter Disera (Norco Factory Team XC) led the Canadians in 7th overall.
In the 22.30km U23 Women’s race Kate Courtney (USA) Specialized Racing soloed in for the win with Sina Frei (Sui) JB Brunex Felt Team second and Evie Richards (Gbr) Team GB third. Courtney took the overall over Frei by 80 points with Richards third overall. The top Canuck was Anne Julie Tremblay in 30th.
Results (brief)
U23 Women
1. Kate Courtney (USA) Specialized Racing 1:14:30
2. Sina Frei (Sui) JB Brunex Felt Team 0:32
3. Evie Richards (Gbr) Team GB 1:02
4. Isla Short (Gbr) OMX Pro Team 4:18
5. Martina Berta (Ita) BH-SRSuntour-KMC 5:00
Full results here
Final Standings here.
U23 Men
1. Nadir Colledani (Ita) Torpado Gabogas 1:14:34
2. Martins Blums (Lat) ZZK 1:04
3. Petter Fagerhaug (Nor) 1:50
4. Georg Egger (Ger) 1:53
5. Vlad Dascalu (Rou) 2:04
Full results here
Final Standings here.
Elite Women
1. Jolanda Neff (Sui) Kross Racing Team 1:26:58
2. Yana Belomoina (Ukr) CST Sandd American Eagle MTB Racing Team 0:21
3. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Kross Racing Team 1:09
4. Irina Kalentyeva (Rus) Moebel Maerki MTB Pro Team 1:20
5. Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing 1:43
12. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Clif Pro Team 3:54
17. Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing Xc 4:57
Full results here.
Final Standings here.
Elite Men
1. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team 1:24:30
2. Stephane Tempier (Fra) Bianchi Countervail 0:04
3. Julien Absalon (Fra) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 0:47
4. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) Specialized Racing 0:53
5. Lars Forster (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 0:54
54. Raphael Gagne (Can) Cannondale-3rox Racing 7:25
75. Alexandre Vialle (Can) -2 Laps
Full results here
Final Standings here.
