Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic 23rd-25th May 2014

After a bit of a break the World Cup cross-country series moved to Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. There was no downhill action this weekend but the XC athletes were out in fine form showing us again some rapid racing.

XCE Round 3

The Cross country eliminator was held on Friday 23rd May, on a dry, technical and fast course. The course involved logs to hop over, an uphill rock garden and some tarmac thrown in for good measure.

In the women’s race the now familiar name of Alexandra Engen appears again. Engen won round one convincingly and looked set to do the same again this weekend. She set the fastest qualifying time, progressing through the heats with ease.

She was joined in the final by Kathrin Stirnemann, Ingrid Boe Jacobsen and Peta Mullens as the next fastest qualifiers. Stirnemann led the race at the beginning, but Engen is a force to be reckoned with. XCE is a tactical sport, and Engen placed herself neatly on Stirnemanns favourite side to jump, braking to try to slow her competitor up, failing in this meld to a full on sprint on have finish straight with Engen sweeping by to take the win.

Jacobsen took third and Mullens fourth. With a win at round one and two Engen also sits top of the leader board in the XCE World Cup standings with 120 points. Stirnemann lies in second place, distantly with 65 points.

Catch up on action and watch again courtesy of Red Bull TV: UCI XCE World Cup Nove Mestro

Get the full results here: UCI Results Page

Results

1. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing
2. Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team
3. Ingrid Boe Jacobsen (Nor) Sepura XC Superior
4. Peta Mullens (Aus) Team Colnago Sudtirol
5. Jenny Rissveds (Swe) Scott-Odlo MTB Racing Team

XCO Round 3

Perfect racing conditions were in place for the third round of the women’s XCO on the 25th May. The day held beautiful blue skies with a slight breeze to keep competitors cool. Well, as cool as you can be when you are pushing yourself to the limits as these riders are! Weather conditions also helped provide a sweet running track with plenty of grip.

Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Liv Pro XC), team mate of Jolanda Neff, started off the grid in 5th place. She took the lead in the first lap and never looked back! She pulled a slight gap on second place racer Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida), World Cup leader Jolanda Neff (Liv Pro XC) in third and Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory) in fourth in this lap and then steadily increased it. Prevot rode an amazing race; although still eligible to ride in the Under 23 category, she has chosen to race in the elite category. With that in mind it is astounding that she managed to lay down the fastest lamp times of the day consistently on each lap.

Rider Catharine Pendrel (Luna), Dahle Flesjaa and Annika Langvad (Specialized Racing XC) raced it out for second place. Pendrel is a former World Cup champion, and is also just returning to racing after breaking her collar bone. She rode impressively from quite far back on the start grid into second place with Dahle Flesjaa taking third after Neff struggled mid-race after dropping back to allow the Norwegian through along with Irina Kalentieva.

To keep you up to date with the current World Cup standings after this third round; Jolanda Neff managed a fifth place today, keeping her lead with 490 points, 60 ahead of Irina Kalentieva, with Eva Lechner 82 points back.

Missed it? Catch up the action courtesy of Red Bull TV: UCI XCO World Cup Nove Mestro

See the full results here: UCI Results Page

Results

1. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra)  1:26:50
2. Catherine Pendrel (Can) +0:02:50
3. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor)+ 0:03:30
4. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) +0:04:05
5. Jolanda Neff (Swi) +0:04:36