Riders Respond to Crash at the Lenzerheide XC World Cup 2022

Jul 10, 2022
by Ed Spratt  
Nino Schurter is always racing to win but a 4th place will set him up quite nicely for the main event on Sunday.


The XC racing at Lenzerheide provided plenty of drama and that was before a final lap crash took out both Nino Schurter and Mathias Flückiger.

Currently, it is unknown what exactly happened in the woods between the two riders but from post-race interviews it appears Mathias Flückiger made the move against Nino Schurter that took the pair out after they held the number one and two spots in the race.

Following the race SRF talked to both riders about what happened with Nino appearing to be quite angry about the incident and even suggesting Mathias was upset about some sketchy overtakes between the pair last year.

Mathias Flückiger told SRF: "I'm sorry that happened. But you have to see: It's a race, man against man, everyone wants to win. Of course it's a shame that the race ended like this." Interestingly Mathias even says that he learned from Nino "to drive boldly and to overtake."

In comparison Nino Schurter told SRF: "He wanted to overtake me at a point where it just wasn't possible and shot me down. It's just sad. I would have won for sure."

Nino continued: "That's a very bad answer from him. Something like that shouldn't happen at a Swiss World Cup. I interpret that as saying that he hasn't gotten over last year's defeat yet."

The UCI has shared on social media that Mathias added: "We crashed! There is not much more to say. It is racing but it is sad for everybody. I am confused actually. It is not super nice to end this race like this but it is like it is. I would say that everyone wanted to go for the win and it was tight. It is racing."

We will update this story if we hear any more information about the crash.

Posted In:
Racing and Events XC Racing Lenzerheide World Cup Xc 2022 World Cup XC


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229 Comments
  • 120 7
 Flückigers vague response makes it seem like he might’ve caused it…
  • 15 4
 Bah, he's just channeling his inner #3

NASCAR fans may join the chat now.
  • 10 0
 @scott-townes: rubbins racin
  • 15 2
 He didn’t slam into you, he didn’t bump you, he didn’t nudge you. He rubbed you, and rubbin’ son, is racing!
  • 19 0
 a bit of a fluck up
  • 1 0
 Just wanted to rattle his cage a little
  • 1 0
 Maybe he already knew what was coming...

This report says he tested positive for doping in June and he has been provisionally suspended www.srf.ch/sport/mehr-sport/european-championships/positive-doping-probe-mathias-flueckiger-provisorisch-suspendiert
  • 86 1
 As a motocross guy, generally you can have a pretty good idea who was mostly at fault when 1 rider says he took me out and the other rider says "we were both racing for the win " also when Nino came up after the race he was chirping to MF, and MF just sat there. We will never know, but pretty good feeling MF was probably more at fault.
  • 24 45
flag Notmeatall FL (Jul 10, 2022 at 13:32) (Below Threshold)
 yeah, but I've seen Nino take Ulloa out in cold blood and nothing happened. In this case, Nino was pissed. Yet, Mathias haven't crashed like this before because he always took his bike out of the line so the accident wouldn't happen. Nino is the Verstappen of XC.
  • 25 0
 i’ve watched enough justin barcia to know you are exactly right, “racing for the win”
  • 4 0
 Blame pie?
  • 5 0
 @ajaypate1: facts dude. Every weekend barcia w someone
  • 7 0
 @pargolf8: fr, bogle, anderson, kookier, anderson again, i’d say barcia is dirty in my books haha
  • 1 0
 @pargolf8: mookie, not kookie hahaha
  • 10 0
 We need a petition to get Warner to start referring to MF as Bam Bam
  • 1 0
 @nilswalk: haha
  • 1 0
 @ajaypate1: haha even dungey recently he pinched off the side of booter, and that dude is a saint!
  • 1 0
 MF is parroting Barcia.
  • 81 6
 Just watched Nino's pass last year. That was clean. Nobody crashed. Fluckinger was clearly pissed AF that he lost. Sounds like he was desperate to return the favor but didn't quite have the game to pull it off cleanly and crashed them both. That sucks.
  • 33 29
 Why didn't they just get back up and carry on? Broken bikes or broken bodies?
  • 23 0
 @jaame: they did but came 3rd and 4th instead of fighting for the win
  • 11 2
 @cypher74: oh right. I was under the impression they both failed to finish.
  • 29 7
 @jaame: how dare you ask a reasonable question… downvote downvote
  • 8 1
 @enduroNZ: I was actually curious too
  • 2 0
 Is it clean if you force the rider you've just passed to brake hard to avoid crashing? Honestly not sure the answer, which is why I'm asking, I'd think in F1 if you squeezed someone like that to the point they had to lock up their wheels to avoid the wall it would be an issue?
  • 2 0
 @gramboh: I think "clean" refers to whether or not contact was made
  • 75 7
 MF lost but he stole the chance for Nino to break the record at his home race, likely something he’s dreamt about for years. Nino isn’t going to wait until next year to try to win so this opportunity is gone. It’s not the end of the world but it’s one of those fairytale situations he was one the cusp of achieving. MF shouldn’t have let Nino win but this almost feels intentional or personal, could be wrong though.
  • 1 2
 On*
  • 9 2
 Additionally, there is a strong rivalry going between the two... They both acutely dislike each other and there has been quite a bit of subtle trash talk from both sides in the past. Not suggesting anything here, but that does indeed make it seem like it could have been personal. Ultimately though, it doesn't matter if Flückiger acted intentionally or recklessly. Both isn't acceptable.
  • 2 8
flag mi-bike (Jul 11, 2022 at 0:13) (Below Threshold)
 He dreamt for years about breaking the record, not about doing so at his home race.
  • 8 0
 @mi-bike: How do you figure? Why would it be both. If it were me, i’d dream about breaking the record but the fairy-tale would be breaking the record at my home race, which was my original statement.
  • 62 5
 MF has all the grace of a brick in the face.
  • 2 0
  spot on
  • 6 0
 ...What's red and bad for your teeth?!...
  • 20 0
 @iwhizz: Gingivitis.
  • 1 0
 @iamamodel: -nuff said!
  • 40 2
 There is this saying in German „Wenn zwei sich streiten freut sich der Dritte“ , meaning when two people quarrel the third one rejoices. So happy for Braidot!
  • 1 0
 @Rainozeros I like that saying! Ta.

It reminds of the final part in this scene from 'The Simpsons' where millions of people learned the word 'schadenfreude':

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B01e7n4RzZc
  • 2 0
 @Rainozeros you said everything. Two guys played and lost, the third oen takes the cake.
Well done, Lucas Braidot! Do not give up until the checkered flag
  • 31 2
 On several occasions Nino has moved to the limit. And several times it happened because the other competitors didn't insist on not being on the ground. At the 2020 European Championship Nino forced the passage of Titouan Carod who was in the lead in a technical and dangerous passage just before the finish line. And if Titouan hadn't slowed down and put his foot down, they would both have found themselves on the ground. As much as I love athlete Nino, he's no saint and drags those pots too! The stake was as important for him as for Mathias to win in front of the Swiss public.
  • 6 6
 I am glad you decided to comment as I have not been a spectator at any European races. You confirmed my suspicion about Nino. Seemed to me like he expects other riders to yield for him but is never willing to return the favor.
  • 7 8
 @Hugi13 glad you mention this. Guys like Nino think the victories belong to them. And they therefore become dangerous and agressive. Same story with Jumbo Visma on the road with agressive behavior and audacious overtaking.
Nino is not clean at all, he always had very risky moves. As you said, it always got on because other riders let him pass.
  • 4 0
 @RoadRunner13: Oh jiminy christmas. I've been watching road racing for years, and I don't think TJV is some menace in the peloton. Sure, every team that's ever raced at that level has been involved in incidents, but TJV has great athletes, who ride well, just like 95 percent of the other World Tour teams.
  • 4 0
 @RoadRunner13: Sagan is the poster boy for this.
  • 7 0
 @RoadRunner13: i don't think he thinks that. He has earned his place through years of clean powerful racing and immense skill and tactics. When something is so big as 34th win, on swiss soil, he is going to go 110% and not let anything stop him, why would he. He was in charge of this race from the start and not riding behind others hoping to attack on the last lap like Sagan when he won the Worlds back in USA first time. N1no was leading the suffering from the start lap.
  • 30 6
 Switzerland could have had a 1-2-3. Instead it's just a 3. Rubbing is racing (pretty sure MF t-boned Shurter and they both went down, but that is pure speculation).

I do feel bad for the Swiss fans, it could have been epic. Instead, it was a bit anti-climatic for them, I'm sure.

In other news Blevins in 8th! Courtney 7th! OK USA!
  • 4 2
 Amen!!!
  • 23 36
flag Muscovir FL (Jul 10, 2022 at 12:57) (Below Threshold)
 Why the f does everything have to be about nationality...
  • 23 2
 @Muscovir:

I’m about the least patriotic or nationalistic person in the world. That being said, being happy that your country’s racers are doing well, to me, is more about an indicator of the state of our national cycling scene and how young riders are able to (or not able) to develop and be relevant on the global stage more than any kind of patriotic fervor.

To make relevant: if you have a kid who aspires to go pro in cycling, when you see riders from your country doing well globally, it lets you know that the path exists. If everyone from your country is getting trounced and not qualifying at WC events, then the picture starts to look pretty grim.
  • 4 0
 @Muscovir: Have you noticed how ape shit crazy people go for the World Cup (football/soccer)Have you seen how many Columbian's are cheering on the side of the road at the Tour? Sport and national pride go hand in hand.
  • 30 7
 Next years Discovery director can't get any worse than this guy today, who should be fired! It isn't only this race, but he constantly pans to other groups on the last lap, rather than keeping the live feed on the lead group. He even kept the live feed on a back marker for 3-4 seconds while taking a swig of his Bourbon, or something. GTFO!
  • 9 20
flag BDKR (Jul 10, 2022 at 12:50) (Below Threshold)
 I said the same thing in another page/thread and got down voted. Hmm.... I guess peeps are cool with mediocrity.
  • 12 8
 @BDKR: Look at the sad state of the World right now. These same people who down voted you vote, so go figure.
  • 17 0
 The announcers said that the video feed was provided by the Swiss hosts, suggesting Red Bull had no control over the shots
  • 6 0
 @AndrewHardtail: Yeah it was hosted by the Swiss TV,Rob and Bart where in a close TV room I think not even close to the finish line.
The XC coverage is decent most of the races.
  • 22 0
 Thought this was universally known, but there aren't enough cameras to keep the live feed on the lead group at all times.
  • 4 0
 @mi-bike: Plus, if you take Nino at his word that passing wasn't possible MF attempted to, it probably wouldn't have been a great spot for cameras anyway. It'd likely just give shots of single file riders, if the view wasn't obstructed by trees.
  • 2 16
flag BDKR (Jul 10, 2022 at 17:02) (Below Threshold)
 @AndrewHardtail: Don't pass the buck now! It has Red Bull's name on it!

Now I don't doubt what you are saying, but this is might be a cause or reason for Red Bull to have a chat with the local providers.

The truth? Rob and Bart should say what scenes should be shown AND no more replays on the LAST FRACKEN LAP.
  • 3 0
 @BDKR: The Tour de France TV coverage worldwide is provided by local French TV coverage. I'm not from there and don't know the nuances of it, but I'm pretty sure it's a monopoly of sorts. In countries that have long established cycling infrastructure this is part of it. TV contracts are ultimately what pay athletes salaries. Look at the big sports leagues around the world.
  • 1 3
 @georgiamtbiker: None of what you just said counters my statement.

For those not in the know, it's Red Bull. Considering that, how a business is seen by a good swath of people is usually considered important to that business. If you care about providing better service, then that is important.

Now I've not fallen in hate with Red Bull all of a sudden. I just want it done differently. I don't care how they do that or what they need to do to accomplish it.

But much of the Pinkbike world seems like brand loyal conspicous consumers. Or was that too high falootin?
  • 5 3
 @BDKR: I don't want to come across as hifalutin, but "conspicous" is not a word.
  • 5 0
 @BDKR: red bull won’t be investing any further into a product they lose at the end of the season.
  • 3 0
 @BDKR: But specifficaly for this round red bull tv is not the producer of the image, it's the swiss TV, they only use the feed and produce the commentary.
For the tour de france ASO is the organizer of the event, French TV produce the image that are sell worldwide and the other TV add their commentary but it's mostly the same feed for everyone
  • 2 5
 @BiLKiNiS: Whatever....
  • 3 1
 @BDKR: You were wrong - just move on.
  • 1 3
 @suspended-flesh: Still here... Still whatever.

B1tch35!
  • 1 0
 @BDKR: nice :-(
  • 27 6
 You really gotta feel for Schurter here. He's been denied a hard-fought and well deserved victory. What Flückiger did wasn't clean racing, doesn't even matter if he acted intentionally or recklessly. Both is ultimately unacceptable.

If we can't stick to a set of basic rules to keep things fair in sport, then what even is the point...
  • 17 2
 A great opportunity for cookies, hugs, thoughts and prayers. Maybe even hot cocoa...
  • 6 0
 Don't forget the popcorn.
  • 5 2
 Username checks out.
  • 12 1
 When the camera was on bradot lying on the ground at the finish Mathias was to his right and nino briefly pulled up. I may have imagined it but thought i heard something rhyming with Flückiger
  • 2 5
 Schmück Tiger! (="decorate tigers")
  • 3 1
 Yeah, I heard this exchange too. Sounds like Nino shouted several sentences at him. Would be great if someone could translate.
  • 8 1
 From the comments below, with captions: www.instagram.com/p/Cf1fIt4KV7r/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y

Something like "you're not normal... you shot me down"
  • 14 2
 Throwing in a little hockey-style combat is one way to make things more interesting.
  • 35 0
 4X has entered the chat
  • 6 4
 @naptime: Long as your hands stay on the bars and feet on the pedals, it's all good
  • 3 0
 @Monty916: Tell that to Fabio Jakobsen
  • 1 0
 @nattyd: I think Fabio would agree that it certainly makes things more interesting, but interesting definitely doesn't have to be good or positive. I would say Fabio's nose is certainly more interesting now.
  • 1 0
 @naptime: in my youth BMX Racers would take each other out by putting their bar under your brakelever and then pulling up - those were ridingbuddys made in hell as they even did it on a casual backcountry tour -but thats racing, obviously
  • 1 0
 @optimumnotmaximum: ah the good ol elbow hook, had it done to me once in a berm.. so I put my full body wieght on the other rider. Didn't end well......... for him :'D
  • 14 5
 Why is there no mention on the fact that Nino SLAPPED Mathias at the finish?! This was slightly more than nasty words exchange. Just asking for my friends. Who were also there and saw.
  • 2 2
 Hard to see from this…

www.instagram.com/p/Cf1fIt4KV7r/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y
  • 1 0
 You could be right
  • 6 0
 @raceright: We were tright there at the fence, everyone saw! We were waiting for a different headline this eve. ‍♀️
  • 7 1
 Nino was punching his handlebar real hard just before the finish line. He was pissed. After the finish he just threw his bike, went directly to Fluckinger and punched/slapped him. Fluckinger was already on the floor and looked really dazzled and confused by the Nino's action.
  • 14 1
 @tudorm: the slap wasn’t clear in any video I’ve seen, but if that happened, I’m guessing Nino is going to get a break from racing.
  • 10 8
 @cls6677: yeah, we are looking for videos other than the live stream one. There were quite a few people that saw the incident and we are still perplexed that it happend. Totally uncalled for.
  • 6 0
 @cls6677: "I would have won for sure"
  • 5 3
 @tudorm: Really sad,Nino could be furious but you could never ever go that far when the race is finish.
That´s why no one talk about the incident and that´s why Bart and Rob where talking there was something going on in the finish line,weird silence.
In the live feed the camera operator decided to not show the incident cos he was looking at the ground and MF was almost on sight.
  • 11 3
 @tudorm: I’m not sure it was “totally uncalled for.”
  • 5 3
 Haha, he did? Good tit for tat.
  • 7 2
 I have no idea what happened and I'm not necessarily defending violence in a "non-violent" sport. However, I would say having discretionary time at an awards show versus being in the heat of the moment in a top-tier athletic endeavour are two distinctly different scenarios. The similar analogies would be found notably in hockey ("ice hockey" for the rest of my non-Canadian friends), Moto GP and NASCAR (though "top-tier" athletic endeavour is used a little more liberally here). When some of those racers get jammed up in a clearly poorly planned action by another driver the adrenaline is high. I guess I'm rationalizing punching someone in the chicklets for being a dick...not only costing one or more people a podium at their home event but possibly a serious injury. Also rationalizing...I know Schurter is in amazing shape but how hard is one flyweight punching another flyweight.

Unrelated, are the initials MF coincidental or manifest destiny?
  • 8 18
flag dancingwithmyself (Jul 10, 2022 at 17:59) (Below Threshold)
 Slap? If you're going to resort to physical violence (which you shouldn't), at least get in a proper fist fight. What is it with dudes slapping each other these days. Growing up and in my 20's and 30's, I can't ever remember a guy slapping another guy.

I usually get a hard for being liberal, but guess it'll be the other way around this time. Bring on the downvotes, but consider whether the Dems could use fewer slappers and more punchers.
  • 10 0
 @dancingwithmyself: Dude a slap is so insulting
  • 5 1
 @TCR-NZ: probably too strong a statement but given that Nino is a much better sprinter than Fluekiger and that the other two were gapped, probably right. Nino rode a tactically perfect race.

Insult to injury is that Fluekiger will almost certainly win in Vallnord.
  • 4 0
 @dancingwithmyself: I mean. Have you heard Charlie Murphy describe Rick James slapping him? Pretty cold
  • 22 3
 @nattyd: dude, Fluekinger's life is going to be hell in Switzerland. He clearly f*cked up. He cost the local fans podium spots. He cost most fans desire of seeing Nino breaking an all time record at home.

I saw this happening fairly early in the race with both their racing. They were racing each other, not really the field.

All around this is tragic, entertaining, an opportunity, wild, and so many other emotions.

I feel bad for both Nino having the opportunity to become the winningest XC racer of all time at his home track, and Mathias for getting emotionally drawn into making himself a villain.

Racing is emotional. It's filled with adrenaline. Shit happens. Today the fans lost, especially the Swiss.

Wow. Just wow
  • 2 1
 @nattyd: MF knew he wouldn't beat Nino in a sprint, and tried in desperation for what sounds like an impossible and dangerous pass.

I could see the UCI handing out a fine or even suspension for that slap, though, however justified it felt in the moment.
  • 1 2
 @TCR-NZ: narcist much ?
  • 3 0
 @georgiamtbiker: everyone should just chill its racing and that means pushing it to the limit, there is no room for judging it out of the armchair. Not that anyone punched another racer or anything- oh wait.
  • 5 2
 @georgiamtbiker: fans won, we got a new winner and a very exciting race with a bit of hero villain drama. So many e bikers want to take up XCO now
  • 3 0
 here is the video of the "slap".. www.blick.ch/sport/rad/video-von-brisanter-szene-aufgetaucht-das-geschah-wirklich-zwischen-schurter-und-flueckiger-id17657510.html
  • 2 0
 @paulpimml: that is not a slap or anything out of normal,it just a: hey listen to me!
Anyway not the best moment in XC WC history.
  • 1 0
 @paulpimml: Thanks for this! Everyone has been wondering. Definitely not a slap or anything aggressive, so I'm glad of that for Nino's sake. That shows restraint.
  • 12 0
 Somewhere out there , Levy is pissed
  • 3 0
 By somewhere, you mean the gimp box Outside now store him in, only to come out for podcasts?
  • 14 7
 Nino should understand that he created his nemesis. He knows that Mathias felt slighted by him twice last season. Of course Mathias will try a risky pass against Nino, because Nino did the same to him. Be ready for that and ride accordingly.
  • 9 1
 Schurter completed his passes successfully. Flückiger didn’t. According to Schurter, he wasn’t even close.
  • 2 0
 @FuzzyL: But Schurter still was lucky when he did that. If the other rider did move unexpectedly they would probably been down too. Also Flückiger did countless "risky" overtaking moves just in the race yesterday. Just the last one didn't work out.
  • 1 0
 @juuro: have you seen the nino pass? Watch a clip of it, it was standard racing.

Not sure what happened here, however.
  • 18 8
 So we reached peak soccer in XC racing?
  • 12 0
 Nope. That wold have meant they writhed around for five minutes, lied still while holding a body part for another five, and then finished last and next to last.
  • 1 0
 No dive was spotted
  • 5 3
 @dancingwithmyself: Agreed, no one stopped the race to wave around birthday cards and both riders got up quickly and still finished in great positions. About as far from a soccer mentality as it gets.
  • 3 1
 oily hair is missing
  • 12 3
 The focus should be on Bradoit win. He stayed composed. Never a foregone conclusion who's going to win. N
  • 6 0
 Braidot really mashed when he bridged the gap up to 4th on the hill. Very impressive.
  • 12 6
 Honestly, there should be a points penalty with incidents like this. It was intentionally set up to make Nino move or crash its entirely MF fault. He knew he wasn’t going to win, very dirty move to prevent someone else from winning as well hence the scuffle at the end of the race.
  • 12 3
 to finish 1st. you must first finish...
  • 2 0
 Exactly!! I had that mantra taped to the upper roll bar in my rally car!
  • 5 0
 Typical racing. It’s always the other guys fault and when Im the one doing the overtaking it’s always a clean pass and a dodgy manoeuvre from the one being overtaken. I get why. Nino is pi$$ed but Im sure both are as bad as each other
  • 9 2
 when Nino has made challenging passes in the past they have been very precise and well timed where someone left a door open.
  • 6 8
 And he was lucky.
  • 11 1
 @juuro: True, but luck can also be described as preparation + opportunity.
  • 3 1
 Reminds me of Ayrton Senna: "By being a racing driver, you are under risk all the time. By being a racing driver means you are racing with other people. If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver, because we are competing - competing to win. And the main motivation, for all of us, is for victory - it's not to come third, fourth, fifth or sixth."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRWXdPSoUT0

I'm not saying I disagree or agree with Ayrton (especially in terms of the incident that this interview follows), but he's a pretty experienced dude with more than a MTB race on the line so his POV might be relevant.
  • 5 0
 @iamamodel: to be clear, the incident that preceded this famous quote was Senna doing something like Flückiger did here except crashing his competitor out on purpose. The quote sounds cool and driven, but the implication that you go for every gap no matter how risky isn't true in the real world of risk vs reward, wasn't true of Senna's own racing, and was just a nice tale to build a cover story for a blatantly dirty act of going or a gap he knew didn't exist so that he could hit the other driver.
As bad as it looks for Flückiger to have crashed into Nino, I don't dare accuse him of anything like that
  • 2 0
 @iamamodel: This reminds me of Senna v Prost in Suzuka 1989......at the final chicane......
  • 1 0
 @Starch-Anton: oh, my search for that video got me too Suzuka too, LOL.
  • 2 0
 @showmethemountains: I said I wasn't going to say whether I agreed or disagree with SENNA, but I will say I agree with YOU! Heh heh.
  • 2 0
 @Starch-Anton: And Schumacher v Hill in Adelaide 1994. Last race and Hill trails by 1 point:

youtu.be/91JoW4mSiZo
  • 1 0
 @juuro: The problem became a problem when someone "runs out of talent" in a corner on or a difficult part of the trail,then run out of the trail or crash...
  • 1 0
 @homerjm: Or if the other rider does something unexpected. Shit happens.
  • 11 6
 Looks like MF panicked and f'd things up for the both of them. If he's gambling on a high-risk overtake that close to the finish I'm thinking he probably wasn't too confident in his legs for the sprint finish.
  • 7 0
 Luca Braidot be out there like Valtteri Bottas in 3rd waiting for the Verstappen vs Hamilton crashes to happen lol.
  • 6 0
 Just imagine how many more outrage clicks this could generate if there were some kind of visual media coverage…!
  • 5 0
 Absolutely gutted for Nino~ Yeah, I’m a big Nino fan and I wanted him to get his 34th win. Whatever happened during the crash I’m gutted it had to end that way.
  • 3 0
 “ He wanted to overtake me at a point where it just wasn't possible and shot me down. It's just sad. I would have won for sure."

That sounds like an F1 excuse when someone dares to overtake where it doesn’t normally happen. Is Nino suggesting there are only certain permitted places where you can overtake some one? If there are then you could cruise round the non overtaking parts as slowly as you like with no consequence
  • 6 0
 A really good piece of evidence that a pass was bad, at least in XC mountain biking, is that it takes out both riders.

I’ve watched every race since 2016 and can’t think of a similar scenario. Lots of aggressive racing, some start-line pileups, but never two riders taking each other out due to an aggressive pass.
  • 8 2
 Flücker…….
  • 15 0
 Mudda Flucker
  • 5 0
 He done Flücked up
  • 3 0
 Hatherly and his visor almost set a new trend. Who was the pro racing in baggies two or three seasons ago? Also on Cannondale (me thinks).
  • 5 0
 Manuel Fumic
  • 3 0
 Marco Aurelio Fontana also wore baggies while racing for Cannondale Smile
  • 1 1
 Loic Bruni (the DH racer) also made it to the semi finals of a XC Eliminator World Cup in 2020. Dressed in baggies and riding a his "downcountry" bike.
  • 1 0
 Dont most riders wear some kind of Go Pro or similar pov camera?? Seems a review of each riders personal footage would be helpful to determine who or what was at fault or at least some good spicy audio from the two at the time of the incident??
  • 6 0
 Not in XC racing.
  • 3 0
 I am just really glad there is no XC fantasy league as I would have had a terrible weekend from my comfortable couch
  • 4 0
 Sometimes the risk delivers wrong kind of reward.
  • 1 0
 Made for an exciting finish, it's not the first sports race to finish in this way and it won't be the last. Unlucky for the swiss fans, I really wanted Nino to get the win too but that's racing for you...
  • 3 0
 Obviously no bmx background...
  • 3 0
 Someone, somewhere has the video we need.
  • 1 0
 I'm not mad about it. These two dudes are intense and driven and accept nothing less than winning every race. Their rivalry is good for the sport!
  • 2 0
 The Swiss are so competitive that it took out #1 and #2 Now thats poetic justice! Bravo Italy and South Africa!
  • 2 0
 Does anyone have video of the crash?
  • 6 0
 It happened out of sight of the broadcast cameras, but with the number of fans present there's a good chance someone's phone camera was in the right place at the right time. We'll have to wait and see if anything surfaces.
  • 7 0
 @tacopop: Yeah.... That will be internet gold if that's the case.
  • 11 0
 @BDKR:
That’s Gold, Jerry! Gold!
  • 4 0
 @paulskiboard: Bania!
  • 14 0
 @tacopop: The Director would have had the live feed on the 7th place rider anyway!
  • 1 0
 @paulskiboard: LMAO!! Nice. Wink
  • 2 0
 @chicane32: maybe not 7th place but definitely moody slowmo shots of lapped riders
  • 4 1
 That's4X.... Oh yeah..
  • 3 3
 The two are intense competitors, hate each other, and will do anything to win a world cup race. It's the best thing to happen to XC racing in years. Keep it going men!
  • 1 0
 Just let everyone battle it out:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7ITjHbFG3I
  • 11 10
 Nino has issues with Avancini AND Flükiger. I'm usually of the idea that Nino is the problem not everyone else.
  • 1 0
 yells, punches and claims to be the true Winner - Will is that you ?
  • 4 0
 Make no mistake, Nino is a stone-cold killer on the race course. This is what it takes to be the best of all time.

But this is a deeply abnormal circumstance. I’ve never seen anyone kamikaze another rider trying to pass late in a race. So, pretty good chance this was a bad move.
  • 6 6
 That's why downhill is better for me. They show talent withowth psychological games. And motivate each other to do better.
  • 4 3
 « bündner » are always a bit bitchy
  • 1 0
 Very inelegant attitude from MF ☹️
Really disappointed
  • 1 0
 Braidot:
Italian for Bradbury.
  • 2 0
 Bring back 4X
  • 9 9
 mountain biking is not a contact sport. WTF was MF thinking?... revenge?
  • 7 1
 4X
  • 3 0
 Cycling is definitely a contact sport, it's just not a *tackle* sport.
  • 2 0
 @naptime: bike polo
  • 5 6
 Is Mathias related to Schumacher ?
  • 16 5
 no, he's related to Hamilton
  • 8 1
 @conoat: or is ir Versmashem?
  • 2 1
 We all remember the absolute shambolic efforts of Vettel in Baku a few years ago. But yes, Adelaide 97 was it?
  • 4 4
 @conoat: not watched F1 for years cause it is shite so Schumacher is my only reference for those that crash into people on purpose.
  • 6 1
 no, he is the crashstappen type
  • 2 4
 When someone gives you back your own medicine...
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