Nino Schurter struck. This Sunday he already got his eleventh World Cup victory. However, the expected big fight between Absalon, Schurter and Kulhavy did not materialize. Schurter rushed to the front right at the start of the race and gained a small lead on lap one. Kulhavy and Absalon were within striking distance at the time. Both rode in the top 10 and led two chasing squads. Kulhavy suffered a severe setback in front of his home crowd with a broken rear wheel. Julien Absalon crashed on lap one but was able to keep up his pace and give chase.
But nobody was a match for Schurter in Nove Mesto. Martin Fanger, who formed the leading duo together with Schurter, crashed after a broken front wheel and ended the day in 14th place. Meanwhile, Schurter drove unchallenged towards the finish line and his third win in a row in Nove Mesto. Stephane Tempier benefited from Fanger's defect and finished second. Moritz Milatz managed a big surprise. After a rather modest start, the 32-year-old drove a strong race to catch up and fought his way through the entire field from 27th place. The deserved reward: an excellent third place for Milatz and his best World Cup result.
Pauline Ferrand Prevot, former junior world champion, drove an incredible race in Nove Mesto. The 22-year-old got off to a perfect start and drove such a high pace that after lap one she was almost a minute ahead of the rest of the field. In a one-woman show, she drove the entire race at the front and constantly increased her lead.
With 2:50 minutes behind second-placed Cathrine Pendrel, she was able to give the first interviews while the race was in full swing. Unlike her favorite competitors, Gunn Rita Dahle-Flesjaa was spared bad luck and secured third place. Sabine Spitz drove a strong race, but fell while she was fifth on the penultimate lap and ended up eighth.
As usual, the replay of the race is available at www.redbull.tv