Photo Epic: Vallnord XC World Cup 2022
It was a drama-filled day in the Vallnord Bike Park for round six of the Cross Country Mountain Bike World Cup. Conditions were hot and dusty which made for some brutal racing conditions, especially when combined with the high altitude. The U23 Women got the action underway and it was Line Burquier who put down a commanding win in front of Ronja Blochlinger and Puck Pieterse. The U23 men’s order got shaken up with Carter Woods returning to winning ways with Luca Martin and Riley Amos joining him on the box.
There were some big names absent from the elite start sheet which would have had an impact on today's results, the likes of Neff, Rissveds, Lecomte and Flückiger sitting this one out. The elite women's race was all about one person. Anne Terpstra was a cut above the rest today, she went early and pulled away from the pack to take another World Cup win. Mona Mitterwallner and Ramona Forchini had great rides into second and third whilst Laura Stigger and Caroline Bohé took fourth and fifth.
The men's race was wide open from the start with plenty of names in the mix. As the race edged towards the finish it looked like it was between Luca Braidot, David Valero and Vlad Dascalu. The Romanian made a strong move and pulled a gap on Braidot and Valero before suddenly falling backwards after a mechanical struck. Braidot had the legs on Valero and backed up his maiden win last time out in Lenzerheide, making it two in a row. Valero was second, Schurter third and Dascalu held on for fourth with Jordan Sarrou in the final podium spot.
The haze rolling out as the heat settles in. Another scorcher is in the forecast.
Line Burquier prepping for battle.
The U23 women kick off the racing action.
Puck Pieterse stalks Ronja Blochlinger up the first climb.
Ronja Blochlinger slotted into second.
Puck Pieterse would have to settle for third today.
Line Burquier makes her escape to record another win by a big margin.
Another win notched up for Line Burquier.
Line Burquier takes the win in front of Ronja Blochlinger and Puck Pieterse.
Line Burquier gets to spray that winner's champagne once again.
Carter Woods keeping cool before lining up. He's got his mojo back especially after that podium finish last week.
Go time for the U23 Men.
Riley Amos was first to pressure Vidaurre until being overtaken by Woods then Martin. Third for the young American.
Good day for Luca Martin clawing into second from a few rows back.
In the lead group from the get-go, Carter Woods put the hammer down, pushing the pace until he came away with a win.
Job done. Carter Woods takes the win in Andorra.
Your Men's U23 podium - 1st Carter Woods, 2nd Luca martin, and 3rd Riley Amos
Back on top of the podium for Carter Woods.
It's great to see a return to form for Emily Batty who rode into the top 10 today.
Anne Terpstra's warm-up must've worked!
McConnell has had quite the season so far. Her race today was pulled out from under her after suffering a mechanical a couple laps in.
Mona Mitterwallner might be the youngest in the Elite category but that sure ain't stopping her from putting on a show.
Women's Elite start under the midday sun.
Anne Terpstra comes out up front halfway through the first lap, setting the pace for the rest of the race.
Emily Batty had a fire lit from under her as she began her overtaking rampage from way back. She'd finish a well-earned 10th.
Pauline Ferrand Prevot found some extra gas in the tank and held on to ninth.
8th place for Alessandra Keller after her Friday night short track heroics.
Managing the dust into seventh is Martina Berta.
Janika Loiv cuts through the dust.
Caroline Bohe made a late push to reach the podium.
Laura Stigger digs deep up the long climb after the technical descent.
Ride of the day could well go to Ramona Forchini in third.
What a ride from Mona Mitterwallner to climb up to second.
Anne Terpstra was untouchable out there today.
A return to the top step of the World Cup podium for Anne Terpstra.
What an afternoon for Mona Mitterwallner.
All smiles for Terpstra as she waits for her teammate to cross the line not too far behind.
Ramona Forchini could hardly believe it.
Anne Terpstra was joined on the podium by Mona Mitterwallner, Ramona Forchini, Laura Stigger and Caroline Bohe.
Job well done for Anne Terpstra.
Vlad Dascalu is having one hell of a season so far.
Jordan Sarrou lines up for a ride that would take him to the podium.
Who predicted that Luca Braidot would make it two in a row?
The elite men charge up the first climb
Joshua Dubau good enough for 10th
Another strong ride from Luca Schwarzbauer into the top 10.
Eighth place for Jens Shuermans in a cloud of dust.
Titouan Carod with a strong ride into 7th.
Just off the podium in 6th for Vital Albin.
Jordan Sarrou leads Victor Koretzky and Vlad Dascalu down the longest and most technical descent.
It looked light it might've been Vlad Dascalu's day but a mechanical slowed him down at the worst possible time.
Davide Valero, Vlad Dascalu and Luca Braidot battling it out towards the end of the race.
Nino Schurter seemed to have got caught in the traffic early on but emerged late taking third. His record-winning victory remains elusive.
Luca Braidot was hard on the gas and was pressuring Dascalu in the closing laps of the race.
He sat quietly and pounced when he knew he had the chance. Luca Braidot takes it here in Andorra.
A massive win for Braidot in the gruelling heat.
David Valero got the loudest cheers in the venue.
Vlad Dascalu absolutely gutted after a late race mechanical took him out of the running.
Your Men's Elite podium - 1st Luca Braidot, 2nd David Valero, 3rd Nino Schurter, 4th Vlad Dascalu, and 5th Jordan Sarrou
Champagne cool down.
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- Is McConnell really not running a rear insert? I mean, even if you were going for crazy light weight (which is understandable here), wouldn't it be a great idea to at least have on in your spare rear wheel?
- What was going on with Keller's bike - she's been so strong, and battles so hard, but kept losing a few spots and mentioned her bike had numerous mechanicals and 'took a holiday' on her at the race.
- Did Vlad crash or did something just go out of sorts on his bike?
- Was Nino's mid-week illness simply related to the amount of rage he was still carrying from Lenzerheide?
- Were there really that many top performers ill this week, or did people just opt to 'load manage' NBA-style?
If pinkbike would like to answer these questions and more at the next round, I'm happy to travel and find out all the answers!
(Those are great questions BTW)
Wait. There was a pod cast with Nino's mechanic. They talked about this. I can't remember for certain what he said, but I think it was "no inserts"
The heat was a big factor for many of the racers (40 deg and very dry), I think even worse than the altitude, for Keller I think this was the case, she seemed tired very early on the race, same thing for PFP, she was already sitting on some of the downhills mid race.
A lot of them were also complaining about the dust, they say they couldnt breathe, and some of them were even coughing and spitting a lot during the race. It was amazing to see the pace they manage to keep despite the brutal conditions of the race.
@nattyd: Fair point about the best climbers skipping good chances here (esp Lecomte, who seems unequalled when it gets steep). I'd suggest that Valnord still has slightly more intrigue than Leogang though, which really does need a refresh. I'd always prefer to see the best combination of athlete/skill take a win, versus just having it go to the lightest rider - something I feel does a disservice to our sport.
In Valnord, you have the risk of blowing up in the altitude. It's so much harder to make 'burst' comebacks from mechanicals or crashes (or even PFP's attempt to stick with the kids pace). Or maybe it's not any harder / doesn't take any longer, but the price is much higher for the rest of the race, so there's a real tactic to manage in those situations.
Of course, if we end up with another dirt crit in Snowshoe, I reserve the right to change my opinion of which course is most in need of a refresh. Last year was better, but that first year in Snowshoe was embarrassingly plain, with so few places to actually make positive racing.
Also, the username of @carbking is pretty awesome!
I think Brad’s quote was more blunt: “Flats are usually… the rider’s fault”.
Can’t control everything, but to some degree the riders make their own luck.
BTW Nino was just slow out of the gate early on and then came back strong. Didn't quite have it in him to pull through to the front as Dascalu attacked right when Nino got to the leading group. It was a really smart move to ensure that Nino didn't have any time to rest and make a late stage run at the win.
Overall great race and Braidot is on fire right now. He rides really intelligently and just sits back letting others attack and fight it out while staying out of mind for the rest of the leading group. Then at the end is showing the ability to come through when it counts most.
Maybe this was real, but he sounded a little sheepish, and I’m wondering if maybe he just blew up (common in Vallnord!) and the mechanical was a face-saving explanation.
I've broken a frame at the chain stay (a Trek too believe it or not) and at first all I noticed was the gears skipping all over. At first I thought it was the derailleur. But was able to ride 5 hilly km by keeping the chain line straight as possible in a middle cog (after work I splinted the chain stay with a U lock and duct tape to ride 10km home)
When Vlad is climbing the Wall, you can see on TV that he is in a middle cog at that point, and you can later see a wobbly rear wheel when he descends the grassy ski slope.
I can't believe what great PR training the World Cup pros must have to not say something like "F***ing frame broke" to the first person that asked.
No one racing or working for Trek is going to admit the frame broke
PS: Didn't Armstrong crack a stay after he crashed by snagging that spectators bag, but after a moment of chain jump, he figured out the problem and finished the stage
The whole value proposition of that bike was to be the weight of a hardtail with the control of dual suspension. But it's not lighter than a Spark or an Epic, so that kinda just makes it a less capable fully. And the geometry was pretty much dated by the time it launched.
It's still a great bike by the standards of 5 years ago, but probably at least a slight liability in most World Cup XCO races these days.