Gunnar Holmgren 12th in XCC World Cup
Canadian earns second-row start for Sunday's XCO in Andorra
Photo by:
Caroline Gautier
Gunnar Holmgren earned a phenomenal 12th-place finish in the elite men’s short track cross country (XCC) on Friday. The Ontario racer soared through the field in the 20-minute race, finishing near the front of the second group at the high-altitude World Cup.
The stellar result has another benefit beyond Friday’s finish line. Holmgren will start Sunday’s XCO on the second row as the first two rows (16 spots) are determined by finish order from the XCC.
Holmgren finished 23 seconds behind race winner Luca Schwarzbauer. The powerful German out-dueled Nino Schurter, who would finish second, in the sprint to the line. Jordan Sarrou narrowly beat Alan Hatherly for the final podium spot in the elite men’s race.
In the women’s race, Alessandra Keller took top honours. She rode away from Evie Richards and 2023’s standout rider, Puck Pieterse to take the win.
Jenn Jackson was, like Holmgren, the lone Canadian among the 40 field. Jackson finished 30th in the Andorra World Cup. Gwen Gibson, Kate Courtney and Savilia Blunk earned the top North American results, finishing 10th, 11th, and 12th in Vallnord.
