May 18, 2018 (Albstadt, Germany) – Canada’s Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing XC) finished 12th and Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) was 15th as Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing won the inaugural women’s 9-lap World Cup Short Track race at the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Albstadt, Germany.

Jolanda Neff (Sui) was in the lead on the final lap as they came out of the forest onto the meadow, but Langvad, the World Cup leader, outmanoeuvred Neff and Linda Indergand who finished second and third respectively.

On the final stretch, the Stellenbosch round #1 winner was able to raise her hands and celebrate the first Short Track World Cup victory of all time without the need to sprint.

Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Corendon-Circus confidently won the men’s 11-lap race ahead of Samuel Gaze (Nzl) Specialized Racing in second followed by Mathias Flückiger in third.

The men’s race started with great misfortune as co-favourite and reigning world champion, Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-SRAM, had problems right from the start when his electronic gears had connection issues and he abandoned on the fifth lap.

Van der Poel set the pace for much of the race and was the main protagonist. He and Florian Vogel (Sui) managed to escape, but Manuel Fumic (Kirchheim / T.) closed the gap yet with three laps to go Van der Poel attacked again and took the win.

Results (brief)

Elite Women
1. Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing 0:23:56
2. Jolanda Neff (Sui) Kross Racing Team 0:02
3. Linda Indergand (Sui) Focus XC Team
4. Alessandra Keller (Sui) Thömus-RN Racing Team-U23 0:06
5. Barbara Benko (Hun) Ghost Factory Racing

12. Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing XC 0:16
15. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Clif Pro Team 0:21
32. Haley Smith (Can) Norco Factory Team XC 0:49

Full results here.

Elite Men
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Corendon-Circus 0:25:00
2. Samuel Gaze (Nzl) Specialized Racing 0:03
3. Mathias Flueckiger (Sui) Thömus – RN Racing Team
4. Maxime Marotte (Fra) Cannondale Factory Racing XC 0:04
5. Lars Forster (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team 0:05

Full results here.