Photo Report: Hurricane of Pain - Nove Mesto World Cup XCC

May 25, 2018
by Irmo Keizer  

photo
Race Report
Huricane of Pain
UCI XC MTB WC Short Circuit presented by Mercedes Benz
Photography by Irmo Keizer and Matthew DeLorme

Better course. Wild racing. Jumps. Climbing. Crashes. Order restored. Short Track gets its legs under it here in the Czech Republic. The race happens so fast we aren't sure what happened when, but at least it's now televised so you can figure it out later when you can watch the replay. Short Track XC made a move forward here at Round 3 in Nove Mesto. Annika Langvad and Sam Gaze take the win. Be on the lookout later on for our chat with Simon Burney about XCC and its future at the UCI MTB world cup.

It s pretty chill in the pits until the twenty minutes of hell.
It's pretty chill in the pits until the twenty minutes of hell.

Just like Colorado has a Dream Stream so does Nove Mesto. But different.
Just like Colorado has a Dream Stream, so does Nove Mesto. But different.

There s an app for that. What ever it is.
There's an app for that. Whatever it is.

Pauline Ferand Prevot had what it took to win today. She was close but Langvad had her in the end.
Pauline Ferrand Prevot had what it took to win today. She was close, but Langvad had her in the end.

Anne Tauber is one of the upcoming athletes in an exciting women s elite field.
Anne Tauber is one of the upcoming athletes in an exciting women's elite field.

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Kate Courtney took another shot and led the race.
Kate Courtney took another shot and led the race.

Mathieu Van der Poel s wrist is still causing him issues but no holding back for this guy. He almost crashed in today s XCC race but managed to keep upright and clung onto second.
Mathieu Van der Poel's wrist is still causing him issues, but there's no holding back for this guy. He almost crashed in today's XCC race, but managed to keep upright and clung onto second.

If it stays dry they ll be chocking on dust some Sunday.
If it stays dry, they'll be choking on dust come Sunday.

photo

Although the course was far from exciting the XCC race is gaining momentum with top start positions and a bucket of UCI points to be won.
The XCC race is gaining momentum with top start positions and a bucket of UCI points to be won.

photo

Mathieu van der Poel and Sergio Mantecon get after it mid race.
Mathieu van der Poel and Sergio Mantecon get after it mid-race.

David Valero taking the lead.
David Valero taking the lead. Fast-paced action is what XCC does offer.

Manny the missile leads out on one of the laps.
Manny the missile leads out on one of the laps.

Schurter tried to redeem himself
Schurter tried to redeem himself

Florian Vogel gets ahead of the dust.
Florian Vogel gets ahead of the dust.

That one hurt. In more ways than one.
That one hurt. In more ways than one.

How you get up from a fall is what sets you apart. Nino will be fighting harder than ever come Sunday.
How you get up from a fall is what sets you apart. Nino will be fighting harder than ever come Sunday.

On to this weekend's XCO finals, with Mathieu van der Poel and Jolanda Neff now leading the series. Sun, roaring crowds and one hell of a course await.

Watch the replay on Redbull TV.

Video Highlights

Full Results

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51 Comments
  • 49 0
 That's some quality photography there. Great shots shooting into sun haze, shadows, depth of field, etc.
  • 3 0
 Seconded. Excellent photography, and journalism, Irmo and Matthew.
  • 29 0
 Jolanda Neff is sensational! Awesome shot of her airing!
  • 7 0
 I like this shot of her sending next to Kate Courtney staying low Smile
  • 5 1
 Most of the time high isn't fast. BMXers and downhillers push away most jumps. Looks nice admitedly.
  • 16 1
 @Brightside: yes, but scrubbing a jump is like scrubbing the joy out of life.
  • 2 2
 My balls hurt just looking at these pics
  • 14 6
 Where the heck is UCI going with this stuff? This is not Mountain Biking? No trails, pavement and gravel pathways? this is cyclocross at best and should not be part of a "Mountain Bike" tour. Fat tire crit racing isn't worthy of full tour point world cup stuff. WTF! Euro's twisting the sport into something it should never be. the XC races seem super real and challenging mountain biking but this is grasping at making shit up to create none relevant racing. UCI - maybe do hill climb challenges up real mountain bike trails? What real mountain bikers deal with every day. 1500-2500ft challenges that show us skills and suffering!
  • 4 3
 Well, there will be some words from the UCI on that in the coming days here. There is something to it, but I fully agree it needs work. On the plus side; the racing and World Cup does get more interesting, as riders are able to gain points and a better start position. However, like you said it should be mountainbiking, which at this point it is not.
  • 2 0
 Yeah, that track was a bit embarrassing.
  • 2 0
 Would love it if cyclocross were more like this, jump/pump sections that demand bike handling skills, rooty sections that risk tires if you're not smooth.
  • 1 0
 Just looks like prime opportunity for significant injury on silly dirt/paved Crit. Stupid course and too many points at stake.
  • 8 1
 I wonder how many riders would do this XCC racing if they weren't almost forced to? i.e. what if there were no points and grid positions on offer.
  • 2 0
 None! That's why UCI put all the points on the line (!) fir XCC. See what happened to Eliminator. The model is likely taken from DH where points for qualifying matter. The discipline needs more exposure. The top teams and riders will do fine but everyone from 5th to last suffer in terms of exposure and financing
  • 5 1
 Sam Gaze is terrifically talented and it’s great to see his strength and power. However, to me he comes across as very arrogant and does not carry himself with a great deal of class. Also, this XCC format just sucks - while entertaining it’s not even close to mountain biking, yet drains valuable points away from the overall standings for those riders that are not road crit specialists. XCO itself has become very engaging because it requires the riders to be very well rounded with solid technical skills, have a huge aerobic engine, and be able to deliver massive power - for 1.5 hours.
  • 2 0
 If you look at who is in the top 10 of the Mens XCC and then the XCO, you would notice they are very similar - so good mtbkers are good mtbkrs regardless, it is just another facet of racing, well rounded as you say. The top technical mtbkers just happen to be good at speed and tactics as well. So it is not draining points away from the top riders - if anything it is cushioning the blow if a top rider has a DNF for no fault of their own, and keeps them still in the hunt - which I am sure everyone wants
  • 1 1
 @sjg6: a good mountain biker rides xc to stay in shape.
  • 8 1
 Kate led the race for 8 of the 10 laps, more or less.
  • 6 1
 It cost her the top spot though. She's still testing the waters in the elite category Wink
  • 7 0
 She's just a young pup!
  • 18 1
 Two weeks in a row with Kate on the front pushing the pace super hard and Annika chilling in the pack and coming round at the end to take the win. Seems like they have some solid team tactics going on here. Kate gets lots of coverage being super aggressive on the front, still finishes well enough to get a good spot on the start grid on Sunday, and Annika racks up points for the overall.
  • 6 0
 Hopefully Kate gets a podium this season.
  • 5 0
 @adamleedy: yea, for sure man. I think in a couple more races, it will be interesting to see if Kate Courtney sits in a little more during the XCC rather than leading it out for 9 laps. Girl has some serious grit.
  • 2 0
 It’s just doing so much for the MTB community worldwide. I love it. The Marzapan of MTB. I can’t wait till’ my local club has another no-dig day so we can smooth out more features, knock off those annoying roots, place some manmade rocks and create “b” lines around them, jeez, we might even attract some new members and better spades
  • 3 0
 wait, i checked redbull.tv, didn't see a replay there....so wher's this being replayed? youtube or something?
  • 2 0
 n/m, redbull.tv it is
  • 2 0
 This link should work: www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1VR6YDKSN2111/xc-short-track-en-nove-mesto
  • 1 0
 @sarahmoore: awesome stuff, thanks for the link and thanks red bull for sharing it.
  • 1 1
 Hello UCI, if you care what the audience thinks, I'm the audience. Here's what I think. This XCC racing is an utter disgrace. Riding a flat course on grass, tarmac and some crappy loose gravel. Is this the freaking 1990s? You've finally got some momentum with great XC courses and quality racing. So you decide, let's have them ride some old school man made garbage. I feel for all the riders. I apologise to the riders on behalf of all MTB riders. Please UCI, let an actual MTB rider have something to do with how you run the sport. Or better yet, just quit and let another organization do it. How bout a Pinkbike poll on the immediate cancelling of this XCC junk, maybe the results could be sent to the UCI? Muppets will muppet.
  • 4 0
 Plenty of the top riders have come out in support of XCC.... and the top riders are the top riders in both styles. As for demanding a cancelation of 6 XC MTB races a year, that have the potential to be live and available to watch worldwide, well I say bring on more as there are hardly enough as it is. The way to bring more sponsorship into XC MTB is more media exposure for their brands. What fan is going to say give us less XC MTB races to watch? and for those that don't want to watch, well there is always the off button.
  • 3 0
 When did Nino crash? Is there footage?
  • 10 1
 Did his electronic $1000 derailleur survive?
  • 2 0
 The still photography was wonderful, it seems to capture the moment better than films in some cases.
  • 3 0
 Nino's shoulder seems to have taken some gnarly shit
  • 3 0
 How has no one mentioned Langvads attack, holy hell
  • 9 0
 Crushing it. I thought that was it when Neff took off, she’s stretched out a few lengths on everyone out of the jumps and up the start of the climb and then BOOM, Langvad just hit turbo! That attack was the definition of power and form, so killer. My wife and I were yelling WHOOOOAAAAAHHH when she went. Inspiring, and makes me wish I’d spent a bit more time on the trainer this winter...
  • 2 0
 @catfish9797: I definitely screamed when she went. My son thinks I’m crazy! ????
  • 4 0
 @catfish9797: Lol, so it's not just me that screaming when Annika attacking in that last lap
  • 2 2
 Suggestion tag for the pic of Neff jumping the double
"Neff showing she has skills that's Hips and Shoulders above the rest"
  • 6 6
 Shit photo report with no photo of the men’s winner, Sam Gaze is killing it this season !
  • 8 1
 No photos of either winners by the look of it. But to be fair, Sam's bad attitude has given him enough media attention this year.
  • 1 0
 @webby01: true, small hot headed indiscretion though and he did apologise. I just hope he doesn’t repeat it and people can view him for the talented racer he is.
  • 1 0
 @webby01: Not disagreeing about Sam's attitude, but i thought he was trying quite hard in the post race interview to sound enthusiastic and likeable, and even positive about the new race format. Definitely sounding like marketing BS.
  • 2 0
 @Hockerz: If anything Sam probably does less marketing than most of his competitors with their Social covered in hashtags. At the end of the day though, all of the riders for factory teams are employed as marketers as most teams are businesses.
  • 1 0
 Warner photoshopped himself for this years' tag...
  • 1 0
 Warner!
  • 1 0
 Pro-pain
  • 2 4
 Lots of 800x534 images in here....
  • 6 1
 The internet connection isn't optimal so unfortunately so they couldn't be reloaded.
  • 2 4
 Just another dusty road UCI race. It’s not MTB
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