Ainsley Haggart of Durango represented the USA in the U21 women’s Enduro World Cup stop in Leogang, Austria, and came away with a seventh-place finish. Haggart was consistent throughout the weekend, finishing seventh on five of the stages and sixth on the other.
“Was a blast to be back in Italy racing Round 3 of the (UCI Mountain Bike World Series),” Haggart said on social media. “The competition is fierce! Had a good day out there on the race tracks, but I want more. Stoked to have two more races ahead to try and get there.”
Haggart finished the six stages in 33 minutes, 29.25 seconds. Emmy Lan of Canada won three of the six stages in Leogang to finish first in 30:40.53.
Haggart also finished seventh overall at the World Cup stop June 2 in Finale, Italy.
She’ll race next in Val di Fassa Trentino in Italy on Saturday and Sunday.
The world cup cross-country Olympic races were also held on Sunday in Leogang.
In the elite women’s race, Savilia Blunk (Rockrider Ford Racing Team) had her best XCO result of her World Cup season, finishing 30th out of the 84 riders in 1:22:46. Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) of the Netherlands won the race by 38 seconds in 1:16:38.
“Today was a step in the right direction,” Blunk said. “And what a course, hot and steep, 3,600-feet of climbing in (1 hour, 20 minutes). I enjoyed the suffer today, and respect the process, so I’m leaving motivated. This is a big positive. It’s so important to find big motivation in the smaller wins when things aren’t going great. Sometimes that belief and motivation is easy and clear and sometimes you really have to reach for it, but when it feel it, grab it. Next for me, time to get 100% healthy and train for 2023 (part) 2.”
In the elite men’s XCO, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) finished 57th out of 113 bikers in 1:24:06. Switzerland’s Lars Forster took the win in 1:17:41.
After three WC stops, Blunk is 30th in the overall standings while Blevins is 27th. Jordan Sarrou of France and Pieterse lead the overall standings.
In the U23 women’s XCO, Bailey Cioppa (Bear National Team) finished 19th in 1:10:31 while Lauren Aggeler crossed 55th in 1:18:16.
“Climbed my way into the top 20 in Leogang, with my whole family there,” Cioppa said. “Starting to figure out these races and motivated for one more world cup in (Italy).”
“Racing in Europe is no joke,” Aggeler said. “Still figuring it out, but enjoying the process and so inspiring to seeing the level of all the U23 girls.”
Sofie Pedersen (Wiler-Pirelli Factory Team XCO) of Denmark took the win in 1:05:09.
In the U23 men’s XCO, Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing XC) finished 27th in 1:11:07 after placing second in the cross-country short-track race on Thursday. Carson Beard (Durango Segment 28) crossed 39th out of 118 cyclists in 1:12:12.
“Obviously doing some little things wrong that I am working to get right eventually and I know it’s in there,” Amos said “Congrats to my teammates on great rides, thanks for being the best people to be around.”
Adrien Boichis (Trinity Racing MTB) of France won the men’s U23 race in 1:06:54.
Bjorn Riley (Trek Future Racing) and Madigen Munro (Trek Factory Racing XC) led USA in the U23 races with a fifth and seventh-place finish, respectively.
The cross-county World Cup will resume on June 30 in Val di Sole Trentino, Italy.
