12 June 2023

Jenny Rissveds and Luca Schwarzbauer dominate

Old News
© UCI Mountain Bike World Series

In the first appearance of the cross-country elite at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Lenzerheide, Jenny Rissveds and Luca Schwarzbauer secured victory in the Short Track. In addition to the endurance specialists, the downhill elite were also in demand for the first time today in qualifying, while the DH juniors already competed in the final.

Jenny Rissveds defends Short Track World Cup victory in Lenzerheide with flying colours
The Swedish Lenzerheide specialist Jenny Rissveds (TEAM 31 IBIS CYCLES CONTINENTAL) finally took the lead in an exciting race with several lead changes two laps before the end and defended her victory from last year with aplomb. The Swiss overall World Cup winner Alessandra Keller (THÖMUS MAXON) finished second ahead of World Champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (INEOS GRENADIERS) from France.

Results XCC Women Top 5
1st Jenny Rissveds (SWE | TEAM 31 IBIS CYCLES CONTINENTAL) 20:34
2. Alessandra Keller (SUI | THÖMUS MAXON) 20:36
3rd Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA | INEOS GRENADIERS) 20:36
4th Puck Pieterse (NED | ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) 20:40
5th Anne Tauber (NED | ORBEA FACTORY TEAM) 20:48

Luca Schwarzbauer prevails in the last climb and wins
The cross-country elite men delivered a thrilling short track race with many lead changes in Lenzerheide, in which German champion Luca Schwarzbauer (CANYON CLLTVC) was able to prevail against Jordan Sarrou (TEAM BMC) from France in the last climb and sprinted to victory. Third place went to Sebastian Fini Carstensen (LAPIERRE MAVIC UNITY) from Denmark. Due to a crash two laps before the end, the World Champion in Cross-Country Olympic, Nino Schurter (SCOTT-SRAM MTB RACING TEAM) from Switzerland, and Cross-Country Short Track World Champion Sam Gaze (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) from New Zealand had no more chances to win.

Results XCC Men Top 5
1st Luca Schwarzbauer (GER | CANYON CLLTVC) 19:47
2nd Jordan Sarrou (FRA | TEAM BMC) 19:49
3rd Sebastian Fini Carstensen (DEN | LAPIERRE MAVIC UNITY) 19:51
4) Luca Braidot (ITA | SANTA CRUZ ROCKSHOX PRO TEAM) 19:52
5. Joshua Dubau (FRA | ROCKRIDER FORD RACING TEAM) 19:52

Erice van Leuven and Christian Hauser secure first Junior World Cup win
After finishing second in qualifying, New Zealand's Erice van Leuven (COMMENCAL LES ORRES) secured the first UCI Downhill Junior World Cup win of the season with a lead of over four seconds over Colombia's Valentina Roa Sanchez (TRANSITION FACTORY RACING). Third place went to Lisa Bouladou from France. 
In the Junior Men's final, Italian Christian Hauser (UNION - FORGED BY STEEL CITY MEDIA) beat Canadian Bodhi Kuhn (TRAK FACTORY RACING GRAVITY) and Hugo Marini (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION) from France to secure his first World Cup win in the first World Cup race.

Results Downhill Junior Women Top 5
1st Erice van Leuven (NZL | COMMENCAL LES ORRES) 3:22:247
2nd Valentina Roa Sanchez (COL | TRANSITION FACTORY RACING) 3:26:524
3rd Lisa Bouladou (FRA) 3:27:660
4th Vanesa Petrovská (SVK | NS BIKES UR TEAM) 3:34:182
5. Rebeka Aimi Kenyon (GBR | PINKBIKE RACING) 3:40:255

Results Downhill Junior Men Top 5
1st Christian Hauser (ITA | UNION - FORGED BY STEEL CITY MEDIA) 2:48:776 
2nd Bodhi Kuhn (TREK FACTORY RACING GRAVITY) 2:50:396
3 - Hugo Marini (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF BY RIDING ADDICTION) 2:51:775
4th Henri Kiefer (GER | CANYON CLLCTV PIRELLI) 2:51:984
5th Ryan Kenneth Pinkerton (USA | GT-CONTINENTAL FACTORY RACING) 2:52:000

Camille Balanche and Andreas Kolb set first scent mark Downhill Elite Qualifying
Reigning overall World Cup winner Camille Balanche (DORVAL AM COMMENCAL) from Switzerland showed her strong form already in qualifying in front of her home crowd and secured first place with a 5 second lead over British downhill legend Rachel Atherton (CONTINENTAL ATHERTON) and World Champion Vali Höll (ROCKSHOX TREK RACE TEAM) from Austria.
The qualifying of the Elite Men was won by Austrian Andreas Kolb (CONTINENTAL ATHERTON) ahead of Lloris Vergier (TREK FACTORY RACING GRAVITY) from France and Angel Suarez Alonso (UNNO RACING) from Spain.