Photo Epic: First Ever Short Track Rainbow Stripes Awarded - Val di Sole World Championships 2021
It was a historic day with the very first XCC World Championship taking place in Val di Sole. World Cup short tracks are always a frantic affair with the grid for the main XCO event being decided on the results, but today there was a lot more on the line with the rainbow jersey and three medals laying in wait. It lived up to the hype with both races being decided in the dying seconds of the race.
Sina Frei just pipped Evie Richards in a photo finish whilst Pauline Ferrand Prevot was a few meters behind in third. In the men's field, it looked like Max Brandl had broken free from the chasing pack with one lap to go before he was reeled in for a final straight show down with Christopher Blevins, Henrique Avancini, Ondrej Cink and Alan Hatherly.
It was the American Christopher Blevins who had the most left in the tank and Avancini and Brandl fought over the remaining medals in his dust with Avancini coming out ahead.
Moody skies moved in during the afternoon, but the rain held off until after the race.
Jenny Rissveds finished in the top 10 but was a contender midway through the race.
Deep breathes for Evie Richards as the clock runs down to the start.
Sina Frei about to make history.
The women leave the start for a fast and frantic 20 minutes in the saddle.
Olympic champ Jolanda Neff led the first lap but would slip back to 5th with a few mistakes.
Eva Lechner goes up ahead with many laps still to go.
Pauline Ferrand Prevot was a permanent fixture at the front of the field today.
Rebecca McConnell rode another consistent race and ended up in 6th.
Evie Richards found herself ahead fending off attacks towards the last couple laps.
Linda Indergand digs deep. She'd finish fourth.
Eventual winner Sina Frei content to hold back from the front in the early laps.
It came down to a 3-way sprint between Sina Frei, Evie Richards and Pauline Ferrand Prevot.
There was absolutely nothing to separate Sina Frei and Evie Richards on the line.
The smallest of margins separated Evie Richards from the gold medal today.
Pauline Ferrand Prevot gave it her all but didn't quite have the legs to take another gold medal and World Championship jersey.
A photo finish for the first XCC Champion. What a way to write history here in Val di Sole.
Your top 3 XCC Women Elite: Sina Frei 2nd Evie Richards 3rd Pauline Ferrand Prevot
The champagne flies for the first time this week in Val di Sole.
Ondrej Cink in the final moments before the race start.
Alan Hatherly has had a good week so far and today was no different.
Chris Blevins finished third in his XCC qualifying heat and today, he wanted more.
The men round the first turn with eventual winner Christopher Blevins already at the sharp end of proceedings.
Anton Cooper won his qualifying heat but was left frustrated after the race tonight.
It was good to see Sam Gaze back in the mix again.
The lead group heads up the four cross track.
Out on the lead lap was Denmark's Sebastian Carstensen.
Henrique Avancini was hungry for it today. He ended up second, but has a shot at redemption on Saturday.
Ondrej Cink was at the front for the whole race but didn't quite have the legs to hang on at the end.
Chris Blevins making his way up the pack with Max Brandl in tow.
Christopher Blevins rode the last lap to perfection and was rewarded with the very first World Championships in XC Short Track.
Madness as Blevins is greeted by his team.
Unbelievable finish by Blevins taking the stripes.
Max Brandl had one hell of a ride but couldn't sustain his breakaway and had to settle for third in the end.
So close yet so far for Henrique Avancini.
Your top 3 Men Elite - 1st Christopher Blevins, 2nd Henrique Avancini, 3rd Max Brandl
Champagne before the rain trickled into the venue. Let's hope everything stays dry a little longer.
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28 Comments
- 57 0
nozes
(Aug 26, 2021 at 17:52)
The last USA male gold medal on a XC world Championship was John Tomac in 1991...7 years before Chris Blevins was born!
- 41 2
ticoslayer
(Aug 26, 2021 at 18:20)
Let's not forget that it was a US rider who also to the Master's XC gold medal this year. Tinker Juarez at 64 and kicking butt. Californian latino from LA, chauuuu!
- 12 0
Grantma
(Aug 26, 2021 at 20:57)
Both live in Durango, Colorado. They put something in the water here... :o
- 11 0
notsofastoverfifty
(Aug 26, 2021 at 22:45)
@Grantma: Or take something out of the air? :-)
- 3 0
suspended-flesh
FL (Aug 26, 2021 at 22:56)
@Grantma: CBDs
- 2 0
Arnaudevinci
(Aug 26, 2021 at 23:32)
@Grantma: some Goldorado power drink !
- 1 0
Northtwin
(Aug 27, 2021 at 6:37)
@Grantma: Along with the Koos factor..
- 13 0
Speeder01
(Aug 26, 2021 at 19:34)
Huge win for the Durango guy! Way to go Blevins! Nice job, PB, on the pics and reporting, as noted before not giving away the winners. That pic of the men in the first turn is fantastic!
- 8 0
bikewriter
(Aug 26, 2021 at 18:36)
Appreciate the no-spoiler headlines! Shocked about Blevins! Who dat?! Incredible career-defining day.
- 5 0
mfoga
FL (Aug 26, 2021 at 19:31)
I wish they had a directly down the line shot of the finish line for womens race.
- 4 0
wilsonians
(Aug 27, 2021 at 6:06)
US male wins first world champs in 20+ years.....US can't watch because of geo restrictions. Cool beans. Ya ya ya I know, VPN and all that. Still not really the point.
- 4 1
like2pedal
FL (Aug 27, 2021 at 6:33)
It’s on flowsports. I watched it yesterday.
- 6 1
NorthEasternDownhiller
(Aug 26, 2021 at 17:37)
that's a lot of bubbly oakleys
- 6 1
ticoslayer
(Aug 26, 2021 at 18:21)
This article was brought to you by _______
- 3 0
BrambleLee
(Aug 26, 2021 at 20:31)
Do they have to ride the same bikes in they XCO like they do for World Cups? Or is that rule not present for World Championships?
- 2 0
mrkkbb
(Aug 26, 2021 at 21:15)
I think it is independent, but also have this question
- 3 0
nilswalk
(Aug 26, 2021 at 21:53)
They don't have to use the same bike - totally separate event in the WCs.
- 2 0
primarydevices
FL (Aug 27, 2021 at 9:02)
Evie Richards is such a joy to watch. So fast and committed, and completely magnanimous in defeat. PFP could do with learning a thing or two about that from her.
- 2 1
billreilly
(Aug 26, 2021 at 18:01)
That should give him lots of confidence going into Saturday's XCO race... Could the USA finally win its first men's world championship in 30 years since John Tomac??
- 2 0
kylethehobo
(Aug 26, 2021 at 21:44)
Blevins is such a class act! Cheers to the world champ!!
- 1 0
Becciu
FL (Aug 26, 2021 at 23:53)
Genuine question: are XCC world champs allowed to wear stripes in XCO races?
- 2 0
tuna-fish
(Aug 27, 2021 at 1:30)
No, you can only (have to) wear the stripes for the discipline actively competing in: XCO, XCC, XCM etc. Same as all the jerseys.
- 3 0
azogas413
(Aug 27, 2021 at 6:41)
@tuna-fish: Well up until this point, the XCO champion has been wearing the stripes in XCC races but I guess that is changing... But this brings up a question about Avancini. If you've been watching some of his previous XCO races, his kit displays rainbow stripes but he has never won an XCO championship. So can you display the stripes in XCO races if you have won an XCM championship (Like Avancini?) I guess the answer is yes since that is what has been happening.
- 1 0
championpsychlist
(Aug 27, 2021 at 8:32)
Wow... So cool to see this kid earn the stripes! I remember when he was a kid racing BMX!
- 2 0
surflife64
(Aug 26, 2021 at 21:27)
Hell yeah Blevins!!
- 1 0
mm732
(Aug 26, 2021 at 22:05)
everytime i hear the name blevins i think of all the pretty horses iono
- 1 0
Tigergoosebumps
(Aug 26, 2021 at 18:28)
- 1 2
Binderclip
FL (Aug 27, 2021 at 6:47)
Sebastian Carstensen looks like someone who would be banned from being around schools or playgrounds with that mustache.
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