MTB cycling: The 2018 UCI XCO Mountain Bike World Cup season got underway in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on Saturday. For the men, there was one question in particular before the race: who – if anyone – can beat world champion Nino Schurter? In fact, a rider was able to relegate the Swiss, who was used to success, to second place right at the first run. With his first World Cup victory in the elite class, the New Zealander Samuel Gaze set a first exclamation mark!
The 2017 season was without a doubt all about the Swiss Nino Schurter. The Swiss was not only able to win all World Cup races, but also the World Championship. Before the start of the new season, the question naturally arose as to whether the Swiss could be expected to perform flawlessly again this year. Apparently it won't be quite as smooth as last year: At least in the first race last Saturday, Nino Schurter "only" had to settle for second place. In front of more than 10.000 spectators, the New Zealander Samuel Gaze prevailed in the sprint and was able to win his first World Cup. Frenchman Maxime Marotte crossed the finish line just behind the Swiss. Dutch CX specialist Mathieu von der Poel finished fourth, 1.10m 16s behind. Manuel Fumic was the best German in 38th place, Markus Schulte-Lünzum was the second best German in XNUMXth place.
Helen Grobert made a first-class start to the new 2018 season. The German Vice Champion concentrated her power on the last two laps of the race and sprinted to an excellent fourth place shortly before the finish. For the native of Filderstadt, fourth place in Stellenbosch means the best career result! Only Annika Langvad from Denmark, Pauline Ferrand Prevot from France and Anne Tauber from the Netherlands were faster on Saturday. Things didn't go badly for the other German ladies either. Sabine Spitz was eighth, Elisabeth Brandau was 13th. On April 22nd, the UCI XCO MTB World Cup 2018 will enter the second round in Losinj / Croatia. It remains exciting! This race will also be broadcast live on Red Bull TV.
Results TOP5 Elite Men
- Samuel Gaze, NZL, 1:30.14
- Nino Schurter, SUI, +0.01
- Maxime Marotte, FRA, + 0.02
- Mathieu von der Poel, NED, + 1.10
- Titouan Carod, FRA, +1.27
Results TOP5 Elite Ladies
- Annika Langvad, DEN, 1:33.14
- Pauline Ferrand Prevot, FRA, +0.13
- Anne Tauber, NED, +0.34
- Helen Grobert, GER, + 1.15
- Maja Wloszczowska, POL, + 1.16
The dates and transmission times of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2018 at a glance
- 22 April: Losinj, Croatia (DHI #1), Live on Red Bull TV 12:30pm CET
- May 20: Albstadt, Germany (XCO #2), Live on Red Bull TV 11:00am CET
- 27 May: Nové Mesto, Czech Republic (XCO #3), Live on Red Bull TV 11:00am CET
- 3 June: Fort William, Scotland (DHI #2), Live on Red Bull 13:30 TV GMT
- 10 June: Leogang, Austria (DHI #3), Live on Red Bull TV 12:30pm CET
- 7th/8th July: Val di Sole, Italy (XCO #4 /DHI #4), Live on Red Bull TV 12:30pm / 12:00pm CET
- 14th/15th July: Vallnord, Andorra (XCO #5/DHI #5), Live on Red Bull TV 12:30pm / 12:00pm CET
- 11./12. August: Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada (XCO #6/DHI #6), Live on Red Bull TV 18:30 p.m. / 18:00 p.m
- 26./26. August: La Bresse, France (XCO #7/DHI #7), Live on Red Bull TV 12:30pm / 12:00pm CET