High Altitude Short Track Showdown - Vallnord World Cup XC 2019 by mdelorme

Avancini takes his second win in Andorra this one more commanding than the last.

High temperatures and a dusty track in Vallnord, Andorra, wowed the crowds before the big show as riders once again red-lined themselves for 25 minutes, vying for a place on the front row. Henrique Avancini continued his dominance with another win in the cross-country short track, while Jolanda Neff earned her first victory of the season. Nino Schurter was second for the men and Maxime Marotte rode to third. Alessandra Keller raced to second place in the women's XCST, while Kate Courtney made some late-race moves to finish in third.

Women's start.

Good crowds for short track. Race day should be packed.

Strong performance by Anne Terpstra as she led for a while and stayed in the top five spots.

Strong performance by Anne Terpstra. She led for a while and managed a top five finish.

Kate Courtney attacked part way through but ultimately couldn t hold on in the final lap.

Kate Courtney attacked near the half way mark, but couldn't hold on in the final lap.

Holeshot climb for Alessandra Keller. She d finish in second.

Holeshot climb for Alessandra Keller. She'd finish second.

Kate Courtney was playing the game well, it just wasn't enough today.

Jolanda Neff fighting her way through a dust cloud.

Jolanda Neff, fighting her way through the dust cloud.

Courtney, Keller, and Terpstra battle it out in the early laps.

Fourth for Ramona Forchini.

Alessandra Keller leads Kate Courtney in the last two laps.

Alessandra Keller leads Kate Courtney in the final laps.

Jolanda Neff takes her first win of the season.

Heat took it's toll.

Neff, Keller, and Courtney: your women's top three.

Men's start: powering up the first climb.

Nino Schurter fought hard to get back to the leading group after a first corner pile up. He wound up in second between the two Cannondale teammates.

Nino Schurter fought hard to get back to the lead group after a first corner pile up. He wound up in second between the two Cannondale teammates.

Titouan Carod was consistent with his pace and had to make quite a few passes for his fifth place finish.

Titouan Carod was consistent with his pace, but had to make quite a few passes to earn his fifth place finish.

Gerhard Kerschbaumer was good enough for fourth.

Maxime Marrotte also had some ground work to do. Third in XCC.

Maxime Marrotte also had some groundwork to do to scratch up to third place.

Try as he did, Nino couldn't match Avancini today.

Henrique Avancini got out front and stayed there.

Avancini, Schurter, and Marotte, your men's podium.

Author Info:

mdelorme

Member since May 11, 2011
186 articles

11 Comments

12 0

Tomelder (Jul 5, 2019 at 18:20)

Might shave me legs today.

kmsafety (Jul 5, 2019 at 20:37)

Women’s race was awesome!

Congrats to Neff and Avancini!

PinkyScar (Jul 5, 2019 at 23:03)

Lame, awkward short course to watch: must have been even worse to race.

Congrats to Neff and Avancini regardless- great personalities in this sport.

Bergsmannen (Jul 6, 2019 at 0:13)

Totally agree with you. Quite boring accually.

jclnv (Jul 6, 2019 at 1:47)

Worst course in some time.

hellanorcal (Jul 6, 2019 at 16:40)

I've always admired Neffs cadence, and tried it a few times myself. After watching the difference between Jolanda Neff and Kate Courtney (pushing a HUGE gear), I think I will try the high cadence more often.

wonny (Jul 5, 2019 at 17:28)

Courtney Neff and Keller battle again on Sunday. Go USA!

jozefk (Jul 5, 2019 at 22:40)

MvdP would own them all

vinay FL (Jul 6, 2019 at 23:50)

You can't tell until he's actually raced them. With all respect, I wonder how well he does at altitude against his Swiss opponent when he himself has spent the winter dominating CX below sea level.

marzoth (Jul 6, 2019 at 11:11)

Parabéns Avança e Neff e o seu colar da Liza sipmson

PapaStone (Jul 6, 2019 at 3:25)

Great photos!