Durango was well-represented on the top step of the podium at the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, last week.
Riley Amos, Christopher Blevins and Asa Vermette each won gold medals for the United States to continue a phenomenal year for Durango mountain bikers and for United States mountain biking.
Blevins got things rolling for the United States last Wednesday when he was a part of the winning mixed-team relay.
The relay consisted of an American from the men’s U-23 level, the men’s junior level, women’s elite, women’s junior, women’s U-23 and men’s elite.
Blevins represented the United States from the men’s elite level. The United States took the gold with a relay with a time of 1 hour, 19 minutes and 38 seconds. France was second three seconds behind and Italy was third 1:31 behind the United States.
“I've had nine years of racing the relay, and to see the growth of U.S. MTB and finally bring home the gold makes this one of the most special wins of my career,” Blevins wrote on Instagram. “There aren't many chances in this individual sport to truly be a part of a team, and I loved the feeling of bringing home rainbows with this crew!”
Last Thursday, Vermette became the Men’s Junior Downhill World Champion. The accolades are piling up for Vermette. He’s the men’s pro United States champion and is in first place in the men’s junior World Cup standings.
Vermette finished the downhill course in 2:39.185, which was over 1.5 seconds faster than second place Max Alran.
On Friday, Amos continued his dominant form by winning the men’s U-23 cross-country short track race with a 22:02 winning time, barely beating out his teammate and fellow American Bjorn Riley to the championship.
“I’ve been working for 6 years trying to get one of these fancy jerseys and yesterday the stars finally came together,” Amos wrote on Instagram. “Not going to lie I was not particularly confident on the start line, battling a head cold since Wednesday still feeling pretty crummy after just sitting around for a couple days. Thankful for all the staff of USA Cycling and Trek Factory Racing for doing everything possible to get my mind and body back in the game.”
Amos’ stellar form didn’t continue into the men’s U-23 cross-country race on Sunday where he finished 10th in 1:02:45, 2:57 behind winner Luca Martin.
Blevins had a great performance in the men’s elite short track race with a fourth-place finish. He finished the 10-lap short track race in 21:52, only three seconds behind winner Victor Koretzky.
The 26-year-old Durangoan was in the top 10 the whole race and moved up to third on lap nine. He stayed in third for almost the entire final lap before he barely was caught on the sprint to the finish by Alan Hatherly for third.
“Fourth in short track Worlds today,” Blevins wrote on Instagram. “All morning I kept telling myself to “get there.” And I did end up “there” in the right position to burn my last match on the final lap, but just didn't have the kick.”
On Sunday in the men’s elite cross-country Olympic race, Blevins finished 14th in 1:12:52. Alan Hatherly took the win.
Durango resident Savilia Blunk had a good showing in Andorra finishing eighth in both women’s elite short track and women’s elite cross country Olympic races.
Blunk didn’t have the start she needed to stay at the front of the short track race on Friday. She was battling with the bottom of the top 10 during most of the race. Blunk finished at 20:18, 32 seconds behind winner Evie Richards.
On Sunday in the cross country Olympic race, Blunk had a great start and was third after the first lap. But she fell to 13th after the second lap and battled back to finish eighth after five laps. Blunk crossed the line at 1:12:13, 2:32 behind winner Puck Pieterse.
“Had a good fight out there today for P8 at World Champs,” Blunk wrote on Instagram. “Caught a glimpse of the podium for a bit but not this year … enjoyed a close battle all race long and ripping this track. Andorra always delivers with something dramatic, this time with a last-minute schedule change due to weather, ended up with no rain all day (so far) but a good opportunity to exercise our mental flexibility and adapt to new situations – a skill worth honing in this sport!”
Local rider Sofia Waite was also in Andorra and finished 11th in the women’s U-23 cross-country short track race and 16th in the women’s U-23 cross-country Olympic race.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
