Albstadt, Germany. 23 year old American, Kate Courtney has won both the XCC short track race and the XCO Women’s Elite competition at the UCI MTB World Cup opener in Albstadt, Germany. Courtney, who just joined SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing in January 2019, is the first American MTB athlete since Alison Dunlap 20 years ago who managed to step to the very top of an XC World Cup podium.
Kate Courtney
2018 UCI Elite XC World Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing
Kate Courtney pretty much rode on her own from the first loop at the World Cup opener in Albstadt.
Photography: Etienne van Rensburg / raineduponmedia / ego-promotion
Sunday’s main races first saw dry conditions in the early women’s competition. Kate Courtney managed to gain a lead position from the start lap. Different to the XCC race, in which Courtney only attacked in the last lap, the current World and US National Champion constantly worked on gaining a solid gap on her rivals. Even a dramatic crash in the middle of the race couldn’t stop the young Californian: With a solid lead of 49sec, Courtney crossed the finish line ahead of Jolanda Neff and Yana Belomoina. Courtney now also leads the UCI World Cup ranking (375pts) over Neff (300pts) and Anne Tauber (200pts)
The mud fighters were giving it all- Once the rain hit the venue, all race strategies and plans were gone.
The elite men’s race started like XC WC races start since so many years- 7x World Champion Nino Schurter, a 3x time Albstadt winner, put down the hammer from the first climb and managed to get away. Teammate Lars Forster was the only one who could catch up. The two Cape Epic Champions dominated the first two laps. Then a storm arrived. Pouring rain destroyed all their plans. Forster first went down in a simple turn in the tech zone and damaged his handle bar. Nino could keep the pace, however without Lars it seemed to get tougher to further distance the pack.
“As the heavy rain hit us, I lost my rhythm. I didn’t have the best legs and had to pay for going All-In in the first two laps. That’s how it goes.“
Forster went down a second time, obviously fighting both technical and mental issues. His third crash finally was a rather dramatic one- the European Champ hurt his knee and couldn’t continue to race and had to be sent to the hospital. Nino Schurter in the meanwhile was caught by Matthias Flückiger (CH) and Jordan Sarrou (FRA). The Swiss was the strongest today and couldn’t even be stopped by Matthieu van der Poel (NED), who got 2nd. Nino finished in 6th, while Andri Frischknecht celebrated his best-ever World Cup result with a 9th place.
Nino Schurter: “I started according to plan and tried to distance my rivals. However as the heavy rain hit us, I lost my rhythm. I didn’t have the best legs today and had to pay for going All-In in the first two laps. That’s how it goes- well deserved win by Matthias Flückiger! With the upcoming World Cup round in Nove Mesto, I am looking forward to a technical course that suits me very well. I managed to win several time in the Czech Republic, so I’ll give it all the coming week to recover and prepare the best possible way for Nove Mesto.“
“I like severe conditions like the ones today. Made it through the race with no drama to secure my best World Cup position ever. Pretty stoked about it and optimistic for my favourite course to come in Nove Mesto.“
Team Manager, Thomas Frischknecht: “What an amazing start into the World Cup season. Too bad the injury of Lars Forster puts a shadow over his great weekend performance until his crash. With an outstanding Kate and Andri, we had half the team riding at their best ever. I’m sure Nino will show who’s the boss next weekend and hey, as the icing on the cake, we got the yellow number plate for the best team.”
Lars Forster was released at Albstadt hospital last night. Looks like nothing broken on his injured right knee and ankle. However, further checks at the Swiss Olympic medical center will tell more about what the severe crash caused to the European Champion.
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