The 2023 Union Cycliste Internationale’s World Cup for cross-country mountain biking got underway this week in the Czech Republic.
The first of eight World Cups on this season’s schedule began on Thursday in Nove Mesto, and Durangoan Riley Amos started the season with a podium finish.
Racing in the U23 short-track cross-country race, Amos (Trek Factory Racing XC) ended up finishing second in the first race of the year. He finished just two seconds behind Adrein Boichis (Trinity Racing MTB) of France in 18 minutes and 57 seconds. Amos crossed just ahead of Oliver Solvhoj of Denmark in the same time and one second ahead of the next two riders.
“The hunt is on,” Amos posted. “Very happy with P2 after a rocky last two weeks. Congrats (Boichis) on the win, I wanted to have that much patience but was too scared. What a wake-up to how aggressive this level is when the race is less than 20 minutes.”
In the U23 women’s short-track race, Durangoan Baily Cioppa was also fighting to get on the podium. Cioppa ended up finishing 10 seconds behind the winner, Ronja Blochlinger (LIV Facort Racing) of Switzerland.
Cioppa finished 15th in 20:23.
The elite men and elite women then raced on Friday.
Reigning short-track national champion Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) got to race in his new stars and stripes jersey, but ended up finishing 34th in the race in 20:45, crossing 28 seconds after the winner, Thomas Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers). Pidcock started in 40th out of 41 positions and passed the rest of the field to take the early series lead.
The elite women began racing as the rain came down, making the technical course even more challenging.
Savilia Blunk (Rockrider Ford Racing Team) ended up finishing 29th in the race, crossing 26 seconds after the winner, Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing).
“First World Series XCC of the year felt like absolute carnage left and right tonight with not much room for separation on a fast track,” Blunk said. “I put myself in the wrong place at the wrong time almost every time for 20 minutes of completely all out racing. Great to open the body up though and do the first race at this level with the whole team.”
The U23 cyclists were also scheduled to race in the cross-country Olympic race on Saturday evening while the elite riders will conclude the event with cross-country Olympic races on Sunday.
The second World Cup will be held in Lenzerheirde, Switzerland, on June 9-11. Other stops on this year’s World Cup include: Leogang, Austria, on June 15-18; Val di Sole Trentino, Italy, on June 30-July 2; Pal Arinsal, Andorra, Aug. 25-27; Les Gets, France on Sept. 7-17; Snowshoe, USA, on Sept. 28-Oct. 1; and then Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, on Oct. 6-8.
