Pedalling, Pain and Victory - XCO World Cup 6, Norway
While we may spend most of our time here on Pinkbike talking about how good the DH course is in Hafjell, the XC course looks equally good. Sure there were punishing climbs in there, it is XC after all, but on the downs it looked steep, tech and they even threw in a few jumps for good measure. Gone are the days with XC racing as a fireroad slogs, it's proper mountain biking these days.
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 The Viking spirit is alive and well here in Norge. Gunnrita Fans out in force. |
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| Tanja Zakelj stretching and showing the unwanted souvenir from Pietermaritzburg. |
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| Let the games begin. |
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| The dust made things horrible for the ladies in the back. |
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| Julie Bresset in the lead at the beginning of the second lap. |
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| Today's winner Irina Kalentieva. Injuries kept her just out of the top ten in the overall. |
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| Lea Davidson finished the season strong in fourth place. |
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| A phenomenal outcome for the Unior tools team in their first XCO season. |
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| World Champ Julie Bresset could not hold of the attacks on the course in Hafjell. |
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| Julie Bresset did this climb with a flat rear tyre quicker that I would onboard an eBike... |
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| The MTB legend Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa made the home crowds proud today. |
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| Tania Zakelj didn't have the gas for today's win, but she had enough in the tank to take the overall. |
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| The Slovenians were out in force to celebrate Tania's victory. |
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| Bloody shins and trophies. The sign of a good day on the bike. |
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| Irena Kalentieva took the win today for Topeak. |
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| Tania Zakelj World Cup overall Champion. |
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| Nino Schurter took the holeshot in the mens race. |
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| The jumps on the course here in Hafjell caused some controversy among the riders, but we'd love to see more of this in World Cup XC! Nino Schurter wasn't one of the riders complaining... If you're not sure how impressive this is, just try whipping a XC race bike with a high seatpost. |
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| Kulhavy was relentless on attacking Schurter's wheel. |
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| The back and forth attacking between Nino and Jaroslav was relentless. |
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| Mathias Fluckiger was strong in the first part of the race, but than he slowly faded out in the second half. |
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| Three laps to go and nothing to separate Schurter and Kulhavy! |
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| No, Thomas Frischknecht isn't doing the math, because it has been done already before the final stage here in Norway. |
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| This was one of Marco Fontanas strongest showing all year after what for him has surely been a slightly disappointing season. |
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| This time Kulhavy just had more in the tank. |
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| This is what we like to see, you shouldn't underestimate the rivalry between Kuhlavy and Schurter, you have to believe that Kuhlavy out sprinting him for Olympic gold last year hurts, but they still take the time to congratulate each other at the finish line. |
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| Wheelies and baggy shorts. Just two of the reasons why Marco Fontana is one of our favourite riders on the circuit. |
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| With Manuel Fumic in third and Fontana in fifth, the Cannondale boys bought those baggies to the podium. |
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| A touch of class from Kuhlavy, His South African teammate, Burry Stander, was killed in a training accident earlier this year. #irideforburry |
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| Schurter exhausted after it was all said and done. He may not have won the battle, but he won the war. |
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| Jaroslav Kulhavy sprays the champagne after a well-deserved win. |
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| Nino taking the overall for the World Cup to go with his World win. Total Domination. |
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Helluva nice track... that is what mountain biking is supposed to be, really - an interplay of *mountain* bike technique *and* physical prowess.
BTW and IMHO it also showed that there is no clearcut winner between 29 and 650b wheels. It's all in your heart, legs and riding skills.
Full stop.
where's emily batty, btw?
Cant get my eyes off that manly crotch bump together with those hard facial grooves imprinted on sensless workout drones looking like midgets on their girlie colored cartwheels.
Is that what fun is all about?