Pauline Ferrand-Prevot successfully defended her title in the elite women's race. Jordan Sarrou followed suit a little later with a similarly impressive solo ride in the men's race. The French festival kicked off with young star Loana Lecomte in the U23 competition.
What a day of celebration for the French national mountain bike cross country team: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Jordan Sarrou and Loana Lecomte secured a gold hat-trick for the Grand Nation in the final cross country events of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Saalfelden Leogang.
In the women's race, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot successfully defended her title with a record lead of over three minutes over Italy's Eva Lechner and Australia's Rebecca McConell. The 28-year-old secured her third World Cross Country title, her second in a row: ‘I was able to ride my own race, both on the uphills and the downhills. I would like to thank the organisers for making this race possible. They are also world champions for me,’ said Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.
While the Frenchwoman was able to extend her lead from lap to lap in difficult conditions, Eva Lechner (ITA) and Rebecca McConnell (AUS) fought a dramatic sprint to the finish for the other medal places. With the happier ending for the Italian, who can add another silver medal to her collection, nine years after her first World Championship gold. From an Austrian perspective, Elisabeth Osl skied a solid race to 24th place.
First individual gold for Sarrou in the elite men's event
There was a similar picture a little later in the elite men's race. Jordan Sarrou also put in a similarly spectacular solo ride as his compatriot Pauline Ferrand-Prevot a little earlier: the 28-year-old gained a comfortable lead early on and then rode his own race to the Frenchman's first World Championship gold in the men's category for six years, Sarrou's first ever victory in the elite. In second place, Switzerland's Matthias Flückinger celebrated silver, eight years after taking bronze in Saalfelden Leogang. It is now the Swiss athlete's third World Championship medal. Bronze also went to a Frenchman, Titouan Carod. The best Austrian was Tyrolean Max Foidl in 34th place.
Gold for Lecomte in the U23 women's race
In the U23 women's race, Loana Lecomte more than lived up to her role as favourite and secured the second Rainbow jersey in the U23 competition in superior style after winning team gold on Wednesday: ‘It was very tough, I didn't have the best form today, so I was all the happier to be able to win the race.’ In second place, Hungary's Blanka Kata Vas secured Hungary's first silver medal in cross country in 12 years. Bronze went to Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado from the Netherlands. The best Austrian was Anna Spielmann from Tyrol, who achieved a respectable 13th place.
Cross Country World Cup will stop in Saalfelden Leogang next year
Today's elite decisions were certainly one thing: the best advertisement for cross country sport in Saalfelden Leogang. The organisers are all the more proud that the World Cup in the Olympic discipline will return next year: For the first time, a double World Cup (downhill and cross country) will be held in Saalfelden Leogang from 11 to 13 June 2021.
The final World Cup day in Saalfelden starts tomorrow with the downhill decisions: From 9.25 am with the junior races, from 12.50 pm the women's elite around local hero Vali Höll awaits, at 2.10 pm it's the elite men's turn.
