After starting his cross-country mountain bike season on fire with five consecutive World Cup wins, Durango’s Christopher Blevins looked like he was heading for another win and his second men’s elite short track world championship on Sept. 9 in Switzerland. Victor Koretzky had other ideas.
Koretzky came from what seemed like nowhere on the last lap and out-sprinted Blevins for the world title. Blevins didn’t have the response on Sunday in the men’s elite cross-country Olympic world championship and finished 14th.
On Sept. 9, Blevins finished the 10-lap and 10-kilometer men’s elite short track race in Zermatt in 21 minutes and 27 seconds. Koretzky won in 21:26 and Mathis Azzaro was third in 21:29.
“I have to say I was only aiming for the win though and Victor Koretzky was simply the best on the day,” Blevins wrote on Instagram. “I've gotten the better of him a few times this season, but his last lap chase down and sprint made for a brilliant ride worthy of back to back World Champ titles. He'll keep doing the jersey proud. This is what sport is about and I hope we can go toe to toe for years to come with Specialized Factory Racing.”
Blevins had a poor start and was in the middle of the pack. However, he recovered well enough to be sixth at the start of the second lap.
The Durangoan took the right side of the rock garden and made his way into the top three in the middle of the race. He hit the front momentarily in the fifth lap.
Blevins was in the top four as the pace picked up in the eighth and ninth laps.
He attacked early and created a gap in the middle of the final lap. Blevins looked like he had the win until Koretzky attacked on the final climb. He closed up on Blevins in the rock garden and was right behind him around the banked final corner.
Blevins had nothing left as Koretzky sprinted past him for the easy win.
On Sunday, Blevins finished the men’s elite cross-country Olympic race at the Crans-Montana, Switzerland course in 14th in 1:34:14. Alan Hatherly won the race in 1:30:30, followed by Simone Avondetto in second in 1:31:18 and Koretzky in third in 1:31:21.
“You gotta go for it at Worlds,” Blevins wrote on Instagram. “I raced near the front for a couple of laps until it was clearly not the day for me. Detonated and then rode back to 14th in the end. One of those hard days. Still lots to race for in the next month as I try to wrap up the World Cup overall!”
Savilia Blunk had a strong week in Switzerland for the world championships, finishing the women’s elite short track race in sixth and the women’s elite cross-country Olympic race in fifth.
Blunk finished the nine-lap and 9 kilometer women’s elite short track race on Sept. 9 in 21:08. Alexandra Keller won the world title in 20:43, followed by Jenny Rissveds in second in 20:47 and Jennifer Jackson in third in 20:57.
On Sunday, Blunk finished the women’s elite cross-country Olympic race in fifth in 1:23:21. Rissveds took the title in 1:21:35, followed by Samara Maxwell in second in 1:21:53 and Keller in third in 1:22:31.
Ivan Sippy had a good week in Switzerland competing in the men’s U-23 world championships. He finished 18th in the short track race and 20th in the cross-country Olympic race.
Bailey Cioppa had a mixed week of results in the U-23 women’s field. She finished 12th in the short track race, but didn’t finish the cross-country Olympic race.
Riley Amos battled in his first men’s elite world championships experience, finishing 27th in short track and 28th in cross-country Olympic.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
