Results: XCC Short Track - Nove Mesto XC World Cup 2021

 Eric Olsen!

 Erin Huck really should be doing slopestyle or DH

 one of those Reece dudes!

 He managed 5th last race after starting way back...interesting to see how he fairs from up front.

 @ReformedRoadie: and had a slow-flat

 @ReformedRoadie: He's the future. No doubt.

 @onemanarmy: He was the future last year.
Can't wait for sunday!

 @nozes: Truth. Now he's the current.

 @nozes: his face when he looked around and there was no one. Lol

 Huge failure in the Olympic system not a huge shame

 @enduroFactory: Olympic MTB qualification rules are ridiculously complicated, but if I've read them right; so long as Pidders gets another decent result in XCO this w/e (on top of 2nd in XCC), then GB men will have moved high enough in the XC world rankings to guarantee him a place. ie he'll have ridden himself into the Olympics, rather than being reliant on spare unused places of other nations.

 A good sign he's accepting of his shortcomings and is willing to learn rather than "I'm the man". Young Padawan shall go far...

 It's no wonder the mental pressure these athletes face is enormous... unless someone is on the podium every week, there must be 'something wrong'. What conjecture should we make?

Serious injury that was near life ending just 16 months ago?
Still being trained by her father and not a high-profile coach?
Too many gravity days at the bike park with Luca?
Natural talent wearing away with age?

I'm sure there are lot of reasons we will never fully understand, the rest is just speculation.

 @Jamminator: But after she had that injury she raced a few races and did much better than she is doing now. I'm sure there is a valid reason she is not racing well.

 @tacklingdummy: peaking for olympic instead of early season races?

 Eliminator used to be even more exciting, especially when they ran the brackets back-to-back with minimal breaks. The problem was they never incentivized the top athletes to participate by using UCI points and starting positions. I don't believe Nino or Absalon ever did a single XCE event. Now no one watches XCE and it's spun off onto it's own thing with riders most people aren't familiar with. One bonus for XCC is that it has more in common with XCO than XCE does, which probably pleases the athletes.

 I felt the same way.

 Kate is the automatic. The other two available spots are determined by a selection committee, not UCI rank. It's theoretically possible they could put Woodruff and Huck on and leave Batten off if they wanted, but it's unlikely.

 She crashed in a muddy section and fell hard. She tried to carry on by was taken away by ambulance. Hope it's not serious.

 @SergeC: Yes terribly tragic

 Course marker pyramid to the side?

 She was in the lead group when she crashed out: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/pauline-ferrand-prevot-crashes-out-of-nove-mesto-xcc-short-track-race.html

 @sarahmoore: My wife: "eh, Pauline has a history of looking really hurt and not being seriously injured".

Most notably when she and Jolanda crashed each other out of a cross race, and Jolanda rushed over to console a moaning PFP, when Jolanda was the one with a broken collarbone and ribs.

My money is on her starting Sunday.

 I don't have any quotes or interviews to back this up, but my impression is that Yana knows she has an excellent power to weight ratio but isn't as exceptional in terms of absolute power compared to many of the other female riders. Also, consider the fact that Yana usually gains positions throughout XCO distance races especially during the latter stages. All of which perhaps indicates that with XCC not having so much climbing and only running about 20+ minutes, she doesn't see the value in expending energy for XCC when she knows she is likely to finish near the back in many cases.

 @Ginsu2000: Bart said during Albstadt race that she doesn’t like short track

 @dj100procentenduro: So, do you think Bart has a different reason for saying that she doesn't like short track other than what I wrote above?

 @Ginsu2000: you seem about right

 They roll the dice to pick a winner.

 @mi-bike: they poll the pinkbike comment section

 @abef: occasionally they armwrestle.

 UCI rule 247.7654435786 iiii c states:

Roadie beats MTBer, MTBer beats CXer, CXer beats Roadie - with exception of VdP* variation.

(*VdP beats all).

 Lots of photo finishes lately!

 He never dominates short track.

 Nino has never been best at short track so this isn't that much of surprise. Wait till sunday to see where he shines.

 @wilsonians: Also he's been pretty consistent about hating the mud, despite occasionally winning in it.

 His Era looks close to end imo...

 @Clem-mk: Coming to a close, yes. Thats to be expected after 30+ WC wins, 8 world champs and 3 Olympic medals. Not done yet though....

 @wilsonians: sure , that why I said "Era", now the life cycle going on!

 @Clem-mk: I wonder who Nino will pick to mentor through the ranks like Frischi did for Nino once his era came to an end. Has Nino raced for or under anyone else whilst an elite?

 @juanny: I hope nino skips the team manager business and just puts out sweet content and enjoys that celeb cyclists life. Prob one of a few mtb guys who can retire and I hope he spends it on his fam and occasionally gives the fans some love. No xc guy is more fun to watch.

 Nino is having done to him what he was doing to Absalon at Absalon's end... high intensity finishes and sprints.