Once again it was Sofie Pedersen who controlled the U23 Women’s race as an attack at the start of the first full lap carried her all the way to the finish. The brutal climb at the start of each lap proved crucial for Sofia Pedersen as an overtake against Ronja Blöchlinger as they began the first full lap saw her build an impressive 33-second lead once she reached the top.
Sofie Pedersen did not show signs of slowing down as by the end of this lap she was ahead by almost 50 seconds. No rider had an answer for her speed today as she secures her third XCO win of the 2023 season. Samara Maxwell put down a strong ride to beat Ginia Caluori to the line after a close battle for the silver medal position.
After the race Sofie Pedersen shared in a broadcast interview: “I was actually a bit nervous before this race because this course is so different from the two first world cups. This one is brutal with a lot of climbing, so my tactic was to go a bit slower in the beginning. I just felt very good, got away and could pace myself.”
Adrien Boichis played a clever race to stick at the front across every lap before a final lap attack proved to be unbeatable as he went across the line 12 seconds ahead. The speeds were high for the U23 as we saw some fierce competition at the front. A third lap push from Dario Lillo and Adrien Boichis saw the pair move into the leading positions and built a gap that couldn’t be closed by the chasing racers. The pair headed into the final lap with nothing between them before Adrien Boichis put the power down at the start of one of the course’s brutal climbs and pulled away from the Swiss Rider. There was no answer to Adrien Boichis’ show of strength as he would secure the third-round victory.
Straight after his World Cup victory, Adrien Boichis said during the live broadcast: “It just feels like I’m getting better and better day by day, races by races.
“To be honest yesterday I crashed really hard in training and this morning when I woke up I could barely get out of my bed. I was thinking ‘I’m never going to race.’ Then I just did my warm up and I felt I had good legs.”
Check out the results below.
Results:
U23 Women
1st. Sofie Pedersen: 1:05:09
2nd. Samara Maxwell: +1:08
3rd. Ginia Caluori: +1:10
4th. Noëlle Buri: 1:40
5th. Sina Van Thiel: +2:33
U23 Men
1st. Adrien Boichis: 1:06:54
2nd. Dario Lillo: +12
3rd. Luke Wiedmann: +38
4th. Tom Schellekens: +42
5th. Bjorn Riley: +1:18
23:30 pm PDT: The U23 Women are Off
The U23 are off the line with Sofie Pedersen leading into the shortened start loop.
23:36 pm PDT: Ronja Blöchlinger & Sofie Pedersen Lead
This season’s two fastest riders are looking strong as they lead the race by four seconds through the start loop.
23:42 pm PDT: Sofie Pedersen Attacks on the First Climb
Sofie Pedersen makes an attack up the first climb of lap 1 and already has an eight-second lead.
23:45 pm PDT: The Gap Extends to 33 Seconds
What a performance from Sofie Pedersen as on one climb she builds a lead of over 30 seconds.
23:53 pm PDT: Top 5 After Lap 1
After the first full lap the top five are:
1st. Sofie Pedersen: 21:27
2nd. Samara Maxwell: +49
3rd. Ronja Blöchlinger: +49
4th. Sina Van Thiel: +54
5th. Noëlle Buri: 1:01
0:00 am PDT: A Small Crash for Sina Van Thiel
Sina Van Thiel goes down on one of the tricky downhills, dropping from 4th to 6th position.
0:07 pm PDT: Top 5 After Lap 2
After the second lap the top five are:
1st. Sofie Pedersen
2nd. Samara Maxwell: +1:17
3rd. Noëlle Buri: 1:17
4th. Ronja Blöchlinger: +1:18
5th. Ginia Caluori: +1:27
0:22 pm PDT: Top 5 Heading into the Final Lap
As riders start the final lap the leading five are:
1st. Sofie Pedersen: 50:28
2nd. Ginia Caluori: +1:26
3rd. Samara Maxwell: +1:26
4th. Noëlle Buri: 1:27
5th. Sina Van Thiel: +2:23
0:29 am PDT: Ginia Caluori is Attacking in the Battle for 2nd
Ginia Caluori is upping the pace of the chasing group as she overtakes Samara Maxwell.
0:36 am PDT: Sofie Pedersen Wins in Leogang
After a dominant performance it is Sofie Pedersen who takes her third win in 2023.
1:30 am PDT: Riley Amos Leads the U23 into the Start Loop
Riley Amos has taken to the front of the race as the U23 Men kick off the shorter start loop.
1:30 am PDT: Riley Amos Leads the U23 into the Start Loop
Riley Amos has taken to the front of the race as the U23 Men kick off the shorter start loop.
1:37 am PDT: Riley Amos Still Leads After the Start Loop
Riley Amos will lead into the first brutal climb as he is followed by Tom Schellekens and Vedersø Oliver Sølvhøj
1:38 am PDT: Tom Schellekens Heads to the Front up the Brutal Climb
Tom Schellekens powers his hardtail into the front of the race as he looks to up the pace.
1:49 pm PDT: Top 5 After Lap 2
After the first full lap and start loop the top five are:
1st. Jan Zatloukal: 18:39
2nd. Dario Lillo: +2
3rd. Tom Schellekens: +3
4th. Riley Amos: +4
5th. Adrien Boichis: +5
2:02 pm PDT: Top 5 After Lap 3
After the third lap the top five are:
1st. Tom Schellekens
2nd. Dario Lillo
3rd. Jan Zatloukal
4th. Adrien Boichis
5th. Luke Wiedmann
2:07 am PDT: Adrien Boichis & Dario Lillo are Pulling Away
Adrien Boichis and Dario Lillo have picked up the pace as we reach the midpoint of the race. The pair have built a five-second gap back to the chasing riders.
2:14 pm PDT: Top 5 After Lap 4
After the fourth lap the top five are:
1st. Adrien Boichis: 42:55
2nd. Dario Lillo: +2
3rd. Tom Schellekens +14
4th. Jan Zatloukal: +27
5th. Luke Wiedmann: +34
2:26 pm PDT: Top 5 Going into the Final Lap
After the fifth lap the top five are:
1st. Dario Lillo: 55:03
2nd. Adrien Boichis: +1
3rd. Tom Schellekens +26
4th. Luke Wiedmann: +38
5th. Jan Zatloukal: +44
2:33 am PDT: Adrien Boichis & Dario Lillo are Evenly Matched
Adrien Boichis and Dario Lillo remain equal at the front as neither rider can find a way to break apart. It’s looking like we are in for a wild second half of this final lap and maybe even a sprint finish if they can’t separate before the finish area.
2:34 am PDT: Adrien Boichis Launches an Attack
Adrien Boichis puts the power down as the pair begin to climb but there is no answer from Dario Lillo. Adrien Boichis creates a 10-second gap from nothing.
2:38 am PDT: Adrien Boichis Wins in Leogang
Adrien Boichis has an incredible race with a last-lap attack proving unbeatable for 2nd-placed Dario Lillo.
U23 Women
U23 Men
