Nove Mesto XC World Cup Race Day

May 25, 2014
by Matthew DeLorme  
The clouds cleared over night in the Czech Republic, leaving behind blue bird skies for race day. The Women's field saw a thorough shake up with LIV Giant's Pauline Prevot Ferrand taking her first win and placing the team in the overall lead. Nino Schurter started from the second row, only to blast to first on the start lap and take the win.

U23 men s field heading up to the main climb to the top of the hill.
  U23 men's field heading up to the main climb to the top of the hill.

Victor Koretzky dives off the drop in the men U23 race. Koretzky finished fourth.
  Victor Koretzky dives off the drop in the men U23 race. Koretzky finished fourth.

Julien Trarieux riding nothing but rim on the rear during the U23 men s race. Trarieux narrowly missed the tree ahead of him. An excellent save but the technical put him back in thirteenth place for the day.
  Julien Trarieux riding nothing but rim on the rear during the U23 men's race. Trarieux narrowly missed the tree ahead of him. An excellent save, but the technical put him back in thirteenth place for the day.

Face plants in rock gardens with a cross country helmet are slightly unnerving. After smashing his face on the rock he got up an kept going like it was nothing. He is assuredly feeling it tonight.
  Face plants in rock gardens with a cross country helmet are slightly unnerving. After smashing his face on the rock, he got up and kept going like it was nothing. He is assuredly feeling it tonight.

The long slog to the top. The cheers here are damn near defining and the crowds only got bigger as the day went on.
  The long slog to the top. The cheers here are damn near deafening and the crowds only got bigger as the day went on.

Julie Bresset tries an outside pass on the first climb. The women s field was truly shaken up today Bresset finished in twenty sixth place.
  Julie Bresset tries an outside pass on the first climb. The women's field was truly shaken up today, Bresset finished in twenty sixth place.

Chloe Woodruff gets leaned over downhill.
  Chloe Woodruff gets leaned over downhill.

Sabine Spitz was in good shape until lap five when a mistake in Rock and Roll cost her some time.
  Sabine Spitz was in good shape until lap five when a mistake in Rock and Roll cost her some time.

The run in to AC DC. This part of the course had the fewest spectators but the woods themselves thundered with the sound of cheering fans.
  The run in to AC/DC. This part of the course had the fewest spectators, but the woods themselves thundered with the sound of cheering fans.

Catharine Pendrell was another that had a huge day here in Nove Mesto. The Canadian took second and moved up inside the top twenty in the overall.
  Catharine Pendrell was another that had a huge day here in Nove Mesto. The Canadian took second and moved up inside the top twenty in the overall.

Today was Pauline Prevot Ferrand s break out ride. The LIV Giant rider broke free early and amassed a 2 50 gap by the time she crossed the line.
  Today was Pauline Prevot Ferrand's break out ride. The LIV Giant rider broke free early and amassed a 2:50 gap by the time she crossed the line.

Irina Kalentieva had a solid ride to fourth place today. The Russian moved up in the rankings to second overall.
  Irina Kalentieva had a solid ride to fourth place today. The Russian moved up in the rankings to second overall.

Elisabeth Osl Alexandra Engen and Katrin Leumenn from Ghost Factory Racing congratulate each other at the end of a very tough race. Ghost slips from first in the overall team standings to second today after a solid performance by LIV Giant.
  Elisabeth Osl, Alexandra Engen, and Katrin Leumenn from Ghost Factory Racing congratulate each other at the end of a very tough race. Ghost slips from first in the overall team standings to second today after a solid performance by LIV Giant.

Luck wasn t with Katarina Nash today. She had a minor crash and finished fifteenth. Nonetheless she was all smiles for the home press core after the race.
  Luck wasn't with Katarina Nash today. She had a minor crash and finished fifteenth. Nonetheless she was all smiles for the home press core after the race.

Red Bull had a little air show between the Men s and Women s races.
  Red Bull had a little air show between the Men's and Women's races.

Start sprint to the Nove Mesto XC WC race
The pain starts here. Climb number one weaves it s way up to the top of the hill before spitting the riders out on the big rock garden.
  The pain starts here. Climb number one weaves its way up to the top of the hill before spitting the riders out on the big rock garden.

Nino Schurter started back on the second row today and quickly moved into first place during the start loop. The World Champ never looked back and took an easy win here in Nove Mesto. Looks like a time off did him some good.
  Nino Schurter started back on the second row today and quickly moved into first place during the start loop. The World Champ never looked back and took an easy win here in Nove Mesto. Looks like a little time off did him some good.

Just another day at the rock pile. Stephane Tempier blasts into the rock garden. Tempier rode to second place today.
  Just another day at the rock pile. Stephane Tempier blasts into the rock garden. Tempier rode to second place today.

Lost in translation. Or Should we say certainly hope not.
  Lost in translation. Or Should we say, certainly hope not.

Three wide charge to the top of the big climb. Marco Fontana Andrea Tiberi and Dan McConnell lead the main pack to the top of the hill.
  Three wide charge to the top of the big climb. Marco Fontana, Andrea Tiberi, and Dan McConnell lead the main pack to the top of the hill.

Maxime Marotte finished in fifteenth place pushing him back in the rankings today to fourth place.
  Maxime Marotte finished in fifteenth place pushing him back in the rankings today to fourth place.

Dan McConnell takes on water through the tech zone. McConnell had a great start jumping out in front and then settled in about nineteenth place until the diesel engine kicked in and he started to plow through the field. McConnell took fourth today.
  Dan McConnell takes on water through the tech zone. McConnell had a great start, jumping out in front and then settled in about nineteenth place until the diesel engine kicked in and he started to plow through the field. McConnell took fourth today.

Julien Absalon had a good run at rounds one and two but he just didn t have the legs today to take the win. Absalon was bested by Dan McConnell in a finish line sprint to come through in fifth.
  Julien Absalon had a good run at rounds one and two, but he just didn't have the legs today to take the win. Absalon was bested by Dan McConnell in a finish line sprint, to come through in fifth.

With six laps plus start loop for the men the tail end of the field came across the line looking like they had been to hell and back.
  With six laps, plus start loop for the men, the tail end of the field came across the line looking like they had been to hell and back.

Women s Podium Pauline Prevot Ferrand Catharine Pendrel Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa Irina Kalentiva Jolanda Neff
  Women's Podium, Pauline Prevot Ferrand, Catharine Pendrel, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa, Irina Kalentiva, Jolanda Neff

Men s Podium. Nino Schurter Stephane Tempier Moritz Milatz Dan McConnell Julien Absalon
  Men's Podium. Nino Schurter, Stephane Tempier, Moritz Milatz, Dan McConnell, Julien Absalon,

See you all in a few weeks for another round of World Cup Cross Country racing.

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45 Comments
  • 70 1
 Nobody wants to fall in the cock garden
  • 60 0
 ...not with your mouth open......
  • 36 0
 The place where you really do feel the difference between 6 inches and 8 inches..
  • 7 6
 ...or on your rear...
  • 4 80
flag SintraFreeride (May 25, 2014 at 21:39) (Below Threshold)
 lol. But seriously guys there are some people out there that love some hot tasty cock in there mouth, rich juices flowing and all... I apologise in advance for the inyourendo...haha
  • 10 9
 For us to make that face plant first we need to be able to climb up,and it s may be painfull Big Grin
Love XC,thank s PB to bring it to us!
  • 2 1
 ...dont forget, it might be slippery too....
  • 2 1
 Vick: "and don't forget to wear protection....."

Kenny: ".....And leave the locker room sword play off the course."

Vick: " Right you are Kenny.... right, you, are!"
  • 18 4
 Great photos. Still, I'm kinda on Batty withdrawal. I'll just wait patiently over here.
  • 1 1
 Prevot is way hotter. Serious lack of images of her.
  • 15 0
 text book faceplant, Ouch.
  • 26 0
 right in the cock garden too
  • 7 0
 Is it just me or do Nino's quads look about double everyone else's? No wonder the man drops a sack of sledgehammers on the field!
  • 3 0
 On a flat(ish) course, pretty much yeah. He's a bit more of a bulky lad than most of the other top guys, although that does count against him on long climbs. That's not to say he can't climb, he's still seriously rapid, but someone like Absalon, McConnell, or one of the Fluckigers, will be a bit more natural on really long climbs.
  • 8 0
 What the hell is up with Absalon's legs/knees?
  • 10 18
flag MortifiedPenguin (May 25, 2014 at 20:02) (Below Threshold)
 Steroids.
  • 8 2
 Training
  • 20 0
 Those are leg muscles, cyclists who actually pedal tend to develop those .
And for the guy who replied with "steroids", i would respond with " won consecutive gold medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics and at the 2008 Summer Olympics ... overall winner of the World Cup mountain bike cross-country series five times (2003, 2006-2009)... won four consecutive cross-country Mountain Bike World Championships from 2004 to 2007... won all eleven French cross-country championships between 2003 and 2013 " ( WP ) .

Imagine how many tests this guy has been through.
  • 2 1
 Giving it an educated guess.... i would say..... a lot.
  • 3 1
 Yeah i am sure he has been through probably hundreds of tests, and im not taking any credit away from him, he's amazing. but in the post-armstrong days you never know i guess. Look how many tests he did and got away with for many years. just had to say that because you never know which is sad. I am pretty f*cking confident hes just a beast though. im sure XC has no where near the drug culture of roadies
  • 1 2
 I was really trying to point out that they look like fluid filled sacks of skin rather than quad muscles. Especially in comparison to everyone else's
  • 2 2
 I wasn't actually accusing him of being a user. I have no doubt in my mind that he is pure muscle and has worked for every once of it. Just trying some Internet sarcasm, which never works. It's alright, I'll take my neg props and go
  • 2 0
 Sorry for the sarcasm, personally i'm still adjusting to the new curious & friendly atmosphere on PB towards xc. I'm still used to seeing the traditional " xc is gay, lycra, hurr durr bla bla bla " comments and attitudes.
  • 4 0
 It's not that Absalon didn't have the legs, he crashed once in a rock garden, then had to stop at the technical area to get his bike fixed, and finally yes, couldn't really get back in front Smile
  • 7 3
 WOW ~~~~Nice photo..............XC世界杯总算看到了中国人的身影 但是为毛要用黑白的照片 我抗议！！！！！！！！！！！！
  • 5 0
 World cups are getting so gnarly, I love it
  • 2 0
 I think Nino took the full Suspension because its more safe against flat tires... If he doesn't get any flat tires in the next Race he'll be sure the One to beat!
  • 3 0
 I see a new fail meme coming on.
  • 6 5
 its interesting to see nino on a dual suspension, first world cup hes raced on one?
  • 2 0
 He raced the last world cup race of 2013 on a full sus, Hafjell if I remember correctly. At that point he already had the championship in the bag though.
  • 3 1
 First he's won on full sus, not sure about first he's raced.
  • 7 11
flag mfbeast12 (May 25, 2014 at 20:52) (Below Threshold)
 He's actually on a hardtail, the Scott dude in the pic above him is not Nino. Check their kits and forks, Nino's fork is white and is wearing an all white kit and the other dude is on a black fork in a black/white kit.
  • 2 0
 No, he's on full sus. Just watch the replay at RedBull.com
www.redbull.com/us/en/bike/stories/1331645092595/watch-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup-2014-live
  • 5 0
 Check the podium photo. His bike is up there on the left. Full suspension pretty clearly.
  • 2 0
 my bad, thought he was rocking the hardtail in the bike check article a few days ago
  • 1 1
 The thing that u should have mencioned was the 2 bikes stolen from the portuguese athletes.
  • 1 0
 Some awesome photos from Matthew Delorme, really captured the race.
  • 1 0
 What's up with Julien Trarieux's rear tyre? Looks like a roadie wheel?!
  • 1 0
 No tyre!
  • 1 0
 Oops, missed that in the comment. I can't even see it wrapped around the stays. Commitment is- stopping to remove it and carrying on on the rim!
  • 1 0
 Its actually great to see some XC coverage on PB than enduro and downhill
  • 1 1
 9 better then 11
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