{"id":748991,"date":"2026-06-20T07:17:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T07:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/748991\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T07:17:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T07:17:13","slug":"alessandra-keller-puts-32-wheels-on-the-podium-in-their-world-cup-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/748991\/","title":{"rendered":"Alessandra Keller puts 32″ wheels on the podium in their World Cup debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, the rumours were true. 32\u2033 wheels made a World Cup debut in Lenzerheide, though with mixed results. Keller shone, putting them on the podium, while Fl\u00fcckinger had a somewhat ironic 32nd finish in the men\u2019s race.<\/p>\n

It was Savilia Blunk and Adrien Boichis taking centre stage, though. Both riders claimed their career-first elite XCC wins on Friday in Lenzerheide.<\/p>\n

Earlier in the day, the Canadian\u2019s thrived in the short-format cross country, with Rafaelle Carrier earning her first U23 podium<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Savilia Blunk finds redemption and a first XCC win<\/p>\n

Before we get to third place, Friday\u2019s women\u2019s race was won by U.S.A.\u2019s 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\u2019s XCC. It\u2019s also the U.S. racer\u2019s first XCC World Cup win.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a long time coming, it feels good.\u201d Blunk said after narrowly edging out Ronja Bl\u00f6chlinger (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. \u201cI knew it was a secret line for the last lap. It took some extra effort, but it gave me a few inches and that\u2019s all it took.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Jenn Jackson injured, Emilly Johnston was the lone Canadian on the start list for Friday\u2019s elite women\u2019s XCC. She finished 27th for Scott-SRAM.<\/p>\n

Keller makes big wheels shine in World Cup debut<\/p>\n

The first podium for 32\u2033 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels cool, to be Swiss and to race at home for the first time 32\u2033 is in a race. I think it\u2019s fast. My legs also had a good day,\u201d The XCC world champion added, reminding viewers at home that it\u2019s still the athlete that wins races. \u201cI\u2019m actually really proud of my third place. I\u2019m feeling good for Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

How was the bike? Keller admitted that she\u2019d only had the bike for around a week, making it a quick transition to bring it to the races so soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

Today was more of a necessity, as racers must start a weekend\u2019s XCC and XCO World Cup on the same bike. The real advantages, Keller hinted, will come Sunday. Let\u2019s hope it doesn\u2019t rain before then.<\/p>\n

Thomus wasn\u2019t wasting the opportunity, of course. The Swiss brand quickly announced pre-orders<\/a> for a limited run of 32\u2033 version of its Lightrider, the Lightrider R32 World Cup.<\/p>\n

Keller\u2019s teammates didn\u2019t have as much luck with the big wheels in the elite men\u2019s XCC. Proving that you still need to back the mechanical advantage up with physiological prowess, Vital Albin was 21st, Lars Forster 30th and Mathias Fl\u00fcckiger finished, quite fittingly, 32nd.<\/p>\n

\"Adrien<\/a>Adrien Boichis. crosses the line in Lenzerheide. Michal Cerveny \/ WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series
\nBoichis bosses elite men\u2019s XCC World Cup<\/p>\n

Winning the elite men\u2019s race was France\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Boichis takes the win ahead of fellow French racer Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and the U.S.A\u2019s Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Michal Cerveny \/ WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0It\u2019s 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:<\/p>\n

\u201cI just like to flow. When I\u2019m flowing, and being myself on the bike, I\u2019m the fastest. Sometimes it\u2019s almost not the fastest, but mentally I feel the fastest so I just do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter Woods was the top Canadian in the elite men\u2019s XCC, finishing 18th. Tyler Orschel followed in 33rd, one spot behind the big big wheels of Fl\u00fcckiger.<\/p>\n