In the week leading up to the third XC round of the Whoop UCI Mountain Bike World Series, heavy rain fell throughout Leogang, creating testing conditions and setting the stage for the second mud race of the season.
Friday's short track was held in biblical conditions, with riders fighting for visibility as much as grip. Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) continued her recent run of form to win the women's race, while Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team) dominated the men's event.
Heading into Sunday, the forecast offered little certainty, making tyre choice one of the biggest talking points in the pits. Riders faced a difficult compromise between grip, rolling speed and weight on a climb-heavy course that retains an old-school character.
Yet by the end of Sunday, the biggest talking points had little to do with the weather, with both elite races producing controversies that lingered after the finish.
Brief results
Elite Women
- Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) 1:25:29
- Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) +0:56
- Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) +1:14
- Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) +1:32
- Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) +2:03
Elite Men
- Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) 1:21:09
- Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) +0:18
- Bjorn Riley (Sc0tt-SRAM MTB Racing Team) +0:45
- Simone Avondetto (Willier Vittoria Racing Team) +1:05
- David List (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) +1:14
*DSQ: Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) +0:08
Did we do a good job with this story?
