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The 2023 Cross-Country World Cup is officially underway. Round 1 took place in Nové Město, Czech Republic over the weekend, with MTB's top names duking it out for early-season bragging rights. In today's gallery we focus on the weekend's premier events: the elite women's and men's XCO races.
In the elite women's race, Evie Richards took an early lead but was later delayed by a puncture. The race would ultimately come down to a battle between two riders: world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Ineos Grenadiers) and emerging star Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in her first elite World Cup XCO event.
Ferrand-Prévot led Pieterse for much of the last three laps, but the young Dutchwoman pulled away from her French rival on the final lap to take the win. Read more on how it unfolded in our breakdown of the key moments.
In the elite men's race Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) was looking for a third-straight XCO World Cup win at Nové Město and managed just that, adding to his short track win from a few days earlier. It was far from a gimme for Pidcock though – the Englishman crashed at one point and was forced to chase back to leader Joshua Dubau (Rockrider Racing).
A series of attacks in the final lap allowed Pidcock to get clear and take the win. You can read more on how it unfolded in our breakdown of the important moments.
Without further ado, here's a big ol' gallery of photos from the weekend's elite XCO races, courtesy of Piper Albrecht and Jered & Ashley Gruber. Enjoy!
The elite women set off ...... with Pieterse fighting for the holeshot.Evie Richards was strong early, leading the race, but a couple of mechanical mishaps spoiled her day. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Pieterse is just 21 years old and already winning at the elite level. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Gwendalyn Gibson of Trek Factory Racing XC. (Image: Piper Albrecht)American racer Rae Hannah Otto narrowly avoids one of the many crashes caused by Nové Město's slick roots. (Image: Piper Albrecht)USA national champion Savilia Blunk. (Image: Piper Albrecht)(Image: Piper Albrecht)(Image: Piper Albrecht)One of several tough climbs that define the Nové Město circuit.Ferrand-Prévot is the reigning world champion in four disciplines (XCO, short track, MTB Marathon, and gravel) and looked a good chance to take another win on Sunday.It wasn't Jolanda Neff's best race, managing only 15th.After her earlier mishaps, Evie Richards would eventually make it back for a fourth-place finish. (Image: Piper Albrecht)(Image: Piper Albrecht)(Image: Piper Albrecht)Australian Rebecca Henderson was in the mix, eventually finishing in eighth place. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Blurred vision.Blunk putting the prototype Rockrider bike and Manitou suspension to the test. (Image: Piper Albrecht)(Image: Piper Albrecht)(Image: Piper Albrecht)Ferrand-Prévot led Pieterse for much of the race ...... but the young Dutchwoman made the catch on the final lap ...... and rode away to take what is likely to be the first of many World Cup wins for the former U23 cyclocross world champ. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Respect among rivals. Pieterse first, Ferrand-Prévot second.What next for Pieterse?European champion Loana Lecomte took third ahead of early leader Evie Richards and Alessandra Keller. (Image: Piper Albrecht)The weather was ordinary for the start of the elite men's event ...... where Luca Schwarzbauer claimed the holeshot. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Not the ideal start.(Image: Piper Albrecht)The rain made a tough climb even tougher with many of the riders faltering on the slick features.Italy’s Simone Avondetto tackles one of the iconic rock features. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Ten-time and reigning world champ Nino Schurter was in the mix on Sunday but couldn't quite reach the top step of the podium. (Image: Piper Albrecht)(Image: Piper Albrecht)Just a quick stretch of the back for Luca Schwarzbauer and then back to business. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Pinarello's new Dogma XC had the dream reveal with Pidcock.The race was largely a battle between Tom Pidcock and Joshua Dubau. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Pidcock is the reigning European champion and Olympic champion. (Image: Piper Albrecht)As usual, the racing was even more tightly fought away from the leaders. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Romanian national champion Vlad Dascalu didn’t have his best day and would eventually finish in 15th. (Image: Piper Albrecht)(Image: Piper Albrecht)When in doubt, style it out. The young Australian champion, Sam Fox, is always one to put on a show. (Image: Piper Albrecht)(Image: Piper Albrecht)Fitting light for the world champion.After Pidcock crashed, Dubau led the race for a time ... (Image: Piper Albrecht)... but Pidcock eventually made his way back to the front, then rode Dubau off his wheel ...... to take his third-straight win at Nové Město. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Yep, we know all about the bike, Tom.Schurter held off Jordan Sarrou in the sprint for third. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Time for a shower. (Image: Piper Albrecht)Thomas Griot completed the podium in fifth. (Image: Piper Albrecht)
