XCO AIN’T DEAD
Avisit to Europe is a clear way to see that cross-country mountain biking is far from dead – in a racing sense anyway. While most riders on the trails are on trail or enduro bikes, or eMTBs, or loaded up for a bikepacking trip, all those riders will fill an event arena to watch cross-country racers go bar to bar to see who is the fastest. World level cross-country racing on a modern XCO course has got to be one of the most entertaining disciplines to watch for fans of mountain biking. And Lenzerheide did not disappoint.
The action started on Wednesday evening with the Team Relay, where each nation can pit 5 riders against the course. The team needs to have an elite man, an elite woman, an U23 man and Junior man, and either an U23 or Junior woman.
Australia played their cards to start with their strongest riders and this meant that by the end of the 3rd lap – we were in the lead. Australia was on the big screen, confounding the commentators and fans, but giving our riders a clear run at race pace on the track. We finished 12th, and the Swiss won.
The big races began on Thursday, with Austrian Laura Stigger taking the U19 women’s crown again, before Cam Wright was up to see if he could win his U19 title again. It was Matt Dinham who rode away from the whole field, only to fall victim to the root-strewn lead in to the chute. The race was super hot out front but it was Swiss Alexandre Balmer who won the stripes, with Cam Wright placed 6th.
Friday was dry for the U23 racing, and Alessandra Keller was keen to make amends for her bad luck in Cairns. With defending champ and compatriat Sina Frei, they rode a pace that would cut the race in half thanks to the 80% rule. Keller won in commanding fashion, setting the stage for the U23 men. While Filippo Colombo would lead, it was soon South African Alan Hatherly with USA’s Blevins in tow. Hatherly took a big win and the rainbow stripes will mean a lot to South Africa.
Come Saturday, and the crowds were at their peak, with over 25 000 fans packed into Lenzerheide Bike Park. What does that sound like? It’s chainsaws, cheering, vuvuzelas, screaming, rims being hit with handlebars, and air raid sirens. All with music, commentary and beer orders mixed in.
With the Elite women underway, a cheer went through the forest wherever a Swiss rider was. Jolanda Neff was a favourite but could never get to the front of the race. Instead it was Denmark’s Annika Langvad and USA’s Kate Courtney who were the protagonists. And it looked like it would go the way of the Dane until a slip up on roots saw Courtney climb away to the elite World Title.
The venue throbbed as the Elite men warmed up, and you could barely move around the course. Nino is almost a home town hero in Lenzerheide and he was almost carried around the course by the cheers. But with Gerhard Kerschbaumer taking race to Schurter nothing was certain. Until Nino dropped the Italian. It was still a close race, but as the anthem played for Nino’s World Title there were tears of national pride in the audience. Who can stop Nino’s dominance as we move into 2019?
The four days of XCO racing were a huge success with record crowds. Catch our galleries on AMBmag.com.au for more insights and images.