Tom Pidcock doubled up on mountain bike results this weekend, acing the gnarly Crans-Montana track to take his second win of the weekend and second World Cup XCO victory of the season.
Swiss rider Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM) led through the start loop joined by his compatriot and teammate Nino Schurter. Then Julian Schelb (Stop&Go) took the lead on the steep, muddy climb, followed closely by Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers).
Pidcock then moved into the lead, but Schelb took back the front position and Pidcock slid out in the tech zone, leaving the young Brit to join Schurter and Maximilian Brandl (Lexware) in chasing back to the leader. They made short work of doing so, with Schurter taking the charge into the wind.
As was the case in the women’s race, certain sections looked more like a cyclocross race. Muddy conditions forced even the best riders to dismount and run.
Pidcock knew Schurter’s game though and attacked during lap two, preferring to ride at the front at a hard pace just like the veteran Swiss rider. Meanwhile, Mathias Flückiger (Thömus maxon) slotted into third and Schelb was not far behind in fourth.
Flückiger is no stranger to battling with Schurter. He took the opportunity to overtake his longtime rival, showcasing the dynamism of the opening laps of the race, particularly for the Swiss riders performing in front of a home crowd. He gained 5 seconds over Schurter, but was still 13 seconds behind world champion Pidcock.
During lap three, it was Schurter's turn to crash, a rare occurrence for him, high siding a muddy rut and tumbling off the side of the course. He jumped back on his bike and appeared uninjured, but the incident saw him cede third position to Schelb. Schurter crashed again later that lap, narrowly escaping rock garden-induced injury, certainly off his usual game.
Canyon’s Luca Schwarzbauer and Lars Forster (Thömus maxon) then joined Schurter, adding some intrigue for the battle for the top five in the second half of the race.
On the next lap, Pidcock crashed again on an ice-slick off-camber section, but quickly remounted and retained the lead. While Forster crashed in a different section and looked like he might have injured his hand.
Schelb, Schurter, and Luca Braidot (Santa Cruz-RockShox) grouped up, all seeking the third podium spot. Braidot was dangling at the back of that group, but he overtook Schelb on the slick climb during the last lap.
Pidcock coasted to victory with a minute-10-second advantage over Flückiger, and another minute back, Braidot out-sprinted an exhausted Schurter for third place.
Men's XCO Results
- Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers)
- Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon) +1:10
- Luca Braidot (Santa Cruz Rockshox) +2:05
- Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM) +2:08
- Julian Schelb (Stop&Go Marderabwehr) +2:23
- Nadir Colledani (Santa Cruz Rockshox) +2:52
- Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV) +2:55
- Lars Forster (Thömus Maxon) +3:07
- Jordan Sarrou (BMC) +3:22
- Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM) +3:22
Brief Analysis
- Pidcock’s victory comes just one week ahead of the start of the Tour de France, which he is expected to start for the Ineos-Grenadiers. He’ll also defend his Olympic MTB gold medal at the end of July. It’s certainly a non-traditional approach but shows just how talented and busy the multi-disciplinarian is.
- The relatively unknown Julian Schelb had a fantastic weekend. A 2nd in the XCC and 5th in the XCO confirm the rider as a bonafide World Cup contender. He podiumed at the European Championships this year but otherwise did not have any significant results in the elite field until now.
- The ultra competitive Swiss love a home race, and it was Flückiger who shone brightest for the mountainous country on the day. He will head to Paris along with Schurter for the Swiss team’s men’s field Olympic contingent.
- The Italian Santa Cruz duo of Braidot and Nadir Colledani also had a great showing. Braidot’s third place reminds us that he can never be ruled out, and Collednai’s sixth is a career best.
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