The UCI mountain bike world cup resumed on Thursday in Andorra, and Durangoan Riley Amos was able to add another medal to his collection.
Amos (Trek Factory Racing) battled for the victory in the U23 men’s short-track cross-country race and had a one-second lead heading into the final lap. Adrien Boichis of France, however, ended up winning the race. Amos finished two seconds after Boichis to win silver.
“Another great start to the weekend spraying Champagne with the boys,” Amos said. “I went for it and almost had it today, (Boichis) just had a bit more punch at the very end. Love that guy, but three times second is starting to piss me off.”
Savilia Blunk (Rockrider Ford Racing) competed in the elite women’s short-track race and crossed 12th, just behind fellow American Gwendalyn Gibson. Alessandra Keller of Switzerland took the win.
Lauren Aggeler (Trinity Racing MTB) raced in the women’s U23 short track race and finished 35th. Ronja Blochlinger of Switzerland won the race while Madigen Munro finished 12th to lead the USA.
Christopher Blevins didn’t race in the elite men’s short-track race. Luca Schwarzbauer of Germany finished just ahead of Switzerland’s Nino Schurter to take the win.
Blevins, and the rest of Durango’s contingent, however, are scheduled to race in Sunday’s cross-country Olympic races. It will be Blevins’ first elite XCO race wearing the stars and stripes.
Durangoan Sepp Kuss and his Jumbo-Visma teammates started the Vuelta a España on Saturday with a technical 14.8 team time trial in Barcelona. Heavy rain, however, wreaked some havoc and caused multiple crashes.
Jumbo-Visma ended up placing 11th out of the 22 teams, finishing 32 seconds after stage winner Team DSM-Firmenich (17:30).
Kuss ended up being the first rider on his team to finish will start Stage 2 in 62nd place. Leaders Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic are 65th and 66th, respectively, in the same time as Kuss. Lorenzo Milesi of Team DSM will start Sunday’s mountain stage in the red general classification’s jersey.
The 28-year-old American is racing in his third grand tour of the season. Kuss recovered well from a heavy crash in the final week of the Tour de France to get cleared to compete in the Vuelta.
“It’s never nice to crash, but I recovered well,” Kuss said. “To do three grand tours in one season is unique and special, but I’m certainly not going to do it every year. It will be a physical challenge, but with my experience at the grand tours, I know when my body needs a rest. I wouldn’t be here if the team and I didn’t think I could be of value. I’m ready, and I’m looking forward to helping Jonas and Primoz.”
