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UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2023 recap – Puck Pieterse claims stunning Cross-country Olympic World Cup win

ByEurosport

Updated 14/05/2023 at 18:32 GMT

Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) won the XCC race at the UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2023 on Friday. As is customary that set the starting grid for Sunday’s Cross-country Olympic race. Can Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Ineos Grenadiers) win the UCI Cross-country Olympic event on Sunday? The action gets underway on Friday at 10:00 live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.com

Highlights as Stigger claims glory in Cross-country Short Track

UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Multi-Audio

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UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Multi-Audio

02:18:23

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11:53 - Pieterse wins!

That was incredible. The 21-year-old crosses five seconds ahead of the world champion. Lecomte 11 seconds behind in third, Richards a very commendable fourth. That's her first elite level cross country Olympic race win at the World Cup, and with time to celebrate over the line.

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11:52 - six second gap

She's so close to the end!

11:51 - Pieterse descends!

Can she keep her lead?!

11:49 - Pieterse attacks!

She's created a tiny gap as she goes down the steps for the final time! What a race from the young Dutch rider!

11:49 - they're through the tech zone

Ferrand-Prévot and Pieterse pass the tech zone, Lecomte five seconds behind.

11:47 - Pieterse is close

She's not letting the world champion get away from her. Lecomte nine seconds behind.

11:46 - Richards gaps Keller!

She's made a great comeback, now in fourth following the climb!

11:44 - safely down the rocks

The front two expertly navigate the rocks for the final time. This is so close!

11:43 - Pieterse closes the gap

Ferrand-Prévot and Pieterse join up on the climb. Lecomte looking really strong behind.

11:40 - final lap!

Ferrand-Prévot with a six second lead on Pieterse. Lecomte is pushing well in third and Richards has moved to fourth! Keller in fifth.

11:37 - Pieterse out of the saddle

She puts in a strong effort to keep Ferrand-Prévot in sight.

11:35 - five second gap

Only seconds between the world champion Ferrand-Prévot and young Dutch rider Pieterse.

11:34 - Richards part of the chasing group

She's done well to make it into the chasing group.

11:31 - down the rocks

Ferrand-Prévot has completed the downhill rock section with a six second lead.

11:30 - Ferrand-Prévot creates a gap

Five second gap now between her and Pieterse.

11:28 - five laps completed

Ferrand-Prévot crosses first, a second ahead of Pieterse after the feed zone. Two laps to go!

11:22 - top ten

The top ten is made up of Ferrand-Prévot, Pieterse, Lecomte (+0:10), Keller (+0:23), Henderson (+0:23), Richards (+0:35), Frei (+0:37), Terpstra (+0:39), Berta (+0:42), and Bohé (+0:52).

11:20 - front two together again

Ferrand-Prévot joins Pieterse again.

11:19 - Pieterse with a slight lead

There's a small gap between and the Dutch rider makes an attack.

11:15 - Ferrand-Prévot and Pieterse complete another lap

Pieterse with the slight lead. Richards in seventh, 27 seconds back. That's now four laps out of six completed.

11:14 - chase group one

The leaders are being chased by Lecomte, Henderson, and Keller who are ten seconds behind.

11:12 - Ferrand-Prévot and Pieterse take the lead

Richards over 30 seconds behind them now in ninth.

11:10 - Richards flat tyre!

Her back tyre has gone flat as she approaches the tech zone. Ferrand-Prévot and Pieterse have overtaken her.

11:07 - Richards into the whoop section

She's having to put in a strong effort on the steep section to maintain her lead, she has a 13 second lead on Ferrand-Prévot.

11:04 - two chasers form a group

Ferrand-Prévot and Pieterse have joined up together in pursuit of Richards.

11:03 - Richards completes another lap

Pieterse ten seconds behind her after the feed zone, Ferrand-Prévot catching up only 15 seconds behind. Half way through now with three of six laps ticked off.

10:59 - downhill again

Richards going well down the steps again, 16 second lead. Pieterse in second, Ferrand-Prévot third.

10:56 - Richards maintains her lead

Yet another well ridden descent from Richards means she's still 15 seconds ahead. Pieterse working hard to catch up.

10:54 - the gap extends

Richards now has a 17 second gap.

10:51 - six in the chasing group

Richards has Pieterse, Batten, Frei, Berta, Ferrand-Prévot, and Henderson behind her.

10:50 - Richards takes the first lap

She has a lead of around 14 seconds as she goes into the second lap solo.

10:47 - Richards attacking downhill

She is rapid on the descent and down the steps! She's extended her gap.

10:45 - Richards to the front

She takes the lead on the climb, three seconds ahead of Batten. Ferrand-Prévot has worked hard to join the front group.

10:42 - steep downhill

The front group have successfully navigated the steep and rocky descent.

10:40 - lead group

Front group is made up of Batten, Frei, Richards, Henderson, and Martina Berta (Santa Cruz - RockShox Pro Team).

10:38 - Batten completes the start lap

She now takes the first lap of six. Githa Michiels has fallen off at the back of the group. Ferrand-Prévot crossed in 11th, 22 seconds behind Batten, Friday's winner Stigger in 12th with the same time. Keller crossed in 13th on the same time as 11th and 12th.

10:36 - Batten clear

The American has gone clear after a great start, Richards a few seconds behind her followed by Frei and Rebecca Henderson (Primaflor Mondraker Genuins Racing Team).

10:35 - Batten ahead

She is ahead on the first descent.

10:33 - second climb

The group are beginning to thin out. Richards and Batten pushing hard on the climb.

10:32 - first climb

Richards looking strong leading on the first climb.

10:30 - Pieterse takes an initial lead

She gets off to a rapid start leading the group early on.

10:30 - they're off!

And the start lap is underway! First we'll have a start loop followed by six more laps.

Front row - the top eight

After the short track on Friday evening, the top eight have earned their places in the front row of the start line. Here’s how they line up today: 1. Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing), 2. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon), 3.Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing), 4. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Ineos Grenadiers), 5. Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing XC), 6. Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing), 7. Puck Pieterse (Alpecin–Deceuninck), and 8.Anne Tauber (Orbea Factory Team).

What is Olympic cross country?

Today’s race is a mass start including a start loop, with starting positions determined from the results of the short track race a couple of days ago. The race is made up of laps ranging between 3.5km and 4.5km. The winner today will earn 250 points.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the final day of the opening weekend in Nové Město na Moravě! The action starts this morning with the women's Olympic race.

What has happened thus far this weekend?

As is customary, the short track race took place at the start of the weekend, on a smaller course and over a reduced distance, and it decided the starting grid for the Olympic distance race.

Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) was triumphant in a thrilling finish in the women's XCC race at the UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2023.

An enthralling finish played out as Stigger sprinted for the line as Alessandra Keller (Thomus Maxon) and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) completed the podium just behind the victorious Stigger.

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Ineos Grenadiers), who was one of the pre-race favourites for glory, and Britain's Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing XC) were also just +0.01 behind Stigger in the bunch finish.

HOW CAN I WATCH THE UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD SERIES IN 2023?

UCI World Cup cross-country Olympic, cross-country short track and downhill events from the UCI Mountain Bike World Series will be available live and on-demand on discovery+, GCN+ and the Eurosport App.

UCI World Cup cross-country marathon, enduro and E-enduro will benefit from in-depth highlights shows at every round.

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Stream the 2023 cycling season, and the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.com

UCI Mountain Bike World Series