MTB News: In a nerve-wracking race, the Swiss Nino Schurter successfully defended his World Championship title in front of his home crowd. In the women's category, the American Kate Courtney secured victory after a strong final round ahead of the favored Annika Langvad.
The old XCO World Champion is also the new one! Nino Schurter was able to win his seventh title in front of his home crowd in Lenzerheide. Only the Italian Gerhard Kerschbaum was dangerous for the Swiss. Spurred on by fan chants and cowbells, Schurter and Kerschbaumer put up a nerve-wracking race. Only in the penultimate lap was the reigning world champion able to open up a gap to the Italian and save him to the finish. Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel finished third.
The American Kate Courtney caused a big surprise for the women. For a long time it looked like a superior victory for the Danish Annika Langvad. The 2016 UCI World Champion pushed hard on the pace and drove her own race with a lead of over 30 seconds, but she made a crucial mistake in the Motorex Climb. The rear wheel lost traction on the climb and forced the Dane to make a short descent. Kate Courtney took her chance and then went XNUMX seconds ahead. Canada's Emily Batty secured bronze behind Annika Langvad.
The hosts were also able to win gold in the U23 cross-country category. True to the motto "The Swiss Festival is going into the next round", Alessandra Keller rode to the top of the podium in the U23 women, to the further delight of the Swiss, Sina Frei won the silver medal. Marika Tovo from Italy was third. In the U23 men, Alan Hatherly ensured South Africa's first XCO gold medal since 2009. The U23 men's podium was completed by the American Christopher Blevins and the Dutchman David Nordemann.