Well, the rumours were true. 32″ wheels made a World Cup debut in Lenzerheide, though with mixed results. Keller shone, putting them on the podium, while Flückinger had a somewhat ironic 32nd finish in the men’s race.
It was Savilia Blunk and Adrien Boichis taking centre stage, though. Both riders claimed their career-first elite XCC wins on Friday in Lenzerheide.
Earlier in the day, the Canadian’s thrived in the short-format cross country, with Rafaelle Carrier earning her first U23 podium.
Savilia Blunk finds redemption and a first XCC win
Before we get to third place, Friday’s women’s race was won by U.S.A.’s Savilia Blunk. It was a bit of redemption for the Decathlon Ford racer. After a rough weekend in Leogang saw her on the wrong end of a controversial entanglement with Jenny Rissveds, forcing her to fight from the back of the pack into the top 5 at the finish, Blunk stayed near the front for the entirety of Friday’s XCC. It’s also the U.S. racer’s first XCC World Cup win.
“It’s been a long time coming, it feels good.” Blunk said after narrowly edging out Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing) on the line to take the win. On the final lap, Blunk found an inside line that helped push her into the lead. “I knew it was a secret line for the last lap. It took some extra effort, but it gave me a few inches and that’s all it took.”
With Jenn Jackson injured, Emilly Johnston was the lone Canadian on the start list for Friday’s elite women’s XCC. She finished 27th for Scott-SRAM.
Keller makes big wheels shine in World Cup debut
The first podium for 32″ wheels was the 21st career World Cup XCC podium for Keller, consistently one of the fastest women in the short-format cross country race since it was added to race weekends.
“It feels cool, to be Swiss and to race at home for the first time 32″ is in a race. I think it’s fast. My legs also had a good day,” The XCC world champion added, reminding viewers at home that it’s still the athlete that wins races. “I’m actually really proud of my third place. I’m feeling good for Sunday.”
How was the bike? Keller admitted that she’d only had the bike for around a week, making it a quick transition to bring it to the races so soon.
“It was really fast over the roots, it felt like I could send it. And, close to the lake, it felt like I could pedal through,” Keller said, adding that the team had waited for specific condidionts to debut the bike, presumably due to limited tire choices ruling out running dry tires as an option last weekend in Leogang.
Today was more of a necessity, as racers must start a weekend’s XCC and XCO World Cup on the same bike. The real advantages, Keller hinted, will come Sunday. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain before then.
Thomus wasn’t wasting the opportunity, of course. The Swiss brand quickly announced pre-orders for a limited run of 32″ version of its Lightrider, the Lightrider R32 World Cup.
Keller’s teammates didn’t have as much luck with the big wheels in the elite men’s XCC. Proving that you still need to back the mechanical advantage up with physiological prowess, Vital Albin was 21st, Lars Forster 30th and Mathias Flückiger finished, quite fittingly, 32nd.
Adrien Boichis. crosses the line in Lenzerheide. Michal Cerveny / WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series
Boichis bosses elite men’s XCC World Cup
Winning the elite men’s race was France’s Adrien Boichis. The young French racer backs up his first elite XCO World Cup win last weeekdn in Leogang with an XCC win here in Lenzerheide.
Boichis takes the win ahead of fellow French racer Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and the U.S.A’s Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM).
Michal Cerveny / WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series
Riley was on the poidum last weekend in Leogang in the XCO, after a controversial disqualification of Mathis Azzaro pushed him up into third. This weekend, there was no doubt. It’s the first XCC world Cup podium for the young Scott-SRAM racer. Asked about his flare for the dramatic on course, throwing whips mid-race while others are straight airing and tucking for speed, the U.S. rider said the reason was simple:
“I just like to flow. When I’m flowing, and being myself on the bike, I’m the fastest. Sometimes it’s almost not the fastest, but mentally I feel the fastest so I just do that.”
Carter Woods was the top Canadian in the elite men’s XCC, finishing 18th. Tyler Orschel followed in 33rd, one spot behind the big big wheels of Flückiger.