UCI Mountain Bike World Series: Luca Schwarzbauer dominates Val di Sole short track, Laura Stigger edges Puck Pieterse

Luca Schwarzbauer continued his dominance in the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup with an imperious victory at Val di Sole, while Laura Stigger pipped Puck Pieterse in a photo finish to win a thrilling women’s elite race. Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV) is the runaway leader in the Short Track rankings this season and put in a masterclass under the rain on the famously demanding Italian course. Ad A large group of contenders was bunched up for much of the race until a two-way battle between the German and Nino Schurter (Scott-Sram) emerged in the final lap.

UCI Mountain Bike World Series'I'm sliding!' — Val di Sole course recon on GoPro ahead of UCI Mountain Bike World Cup weekend8 HOURS AGO But Schwarzbauer left the Swiss in his wake with an explosive late burst on the flat grassy section, leaving Schurter dropping all the way down to 10th as Alan Hatherly (Cannondale) and Joshua Dubau (Rockrider Ford) grabbed the remaining podium positions. Schwarzbauer now has 860 points in the overall standings at the halfway stage of the season, 180 more than his closest rival Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC). “I was pretty surprised I was so strong, I’m in good shape that’s for sure but I also felt pretty tired,” said Schwarzbauer.

“I did the Euros [European Championships] last week and it was [a lot of] travelling. I was just hoping I can conserve my legs one more time. “Today I think tactically I did it perfect.

Thank you to Nino who made a good lead-out for me, but I think in the end I was the strongest. “This course really suits me, it has one really hard kick, but also some flat sections. So it’s crazy, I just catch my third World Cup win.” As the rain poured down and the umbrellas came out in the crowd, Schwarzbauer immediately