Recap: Schurter scores seventh world championships in Switzerland

Local hero secures rainbow jersey for another year at home in Lenzerheide

Terry McKall September 8, 2018

nino schurter lenzerheide world championships — Nino Schurter celebrates fora roaring Swiss crowd winning 2018 UCI mountain bike world championships at home in Lenzerheide. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Racing at home, and with the 2018 World Cup title already under his belt, Nino Schurter was the odds on favourite going into 2018 UCI mountain bike world championships.

The Swiss superstar mountain biker rode the support of a massive and vocally supportive crowd, with 10’s of thousands lining the course, to win at home in Lenzerheide. Not just his home country, Schurter was racing just kilometres from his home. It’s a rare opportunity to win a worlds title in ones own backyard. Schurter capitalized to win his seventh world championship title.

schurter kerschbaumer — Nino Schurter and Gerhard Kerschbaumer battled hard in Lenzerheide before the Swiss rider was able to create a gap late in the race. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Schurter’s win didn’t come easy, as Italian racer Gerhard Kerschbaumer pushed him for much of the race. Kerschbaumer has been building momentum since placing second behind Schurter in the Val di Sole World Cup, then winning the Vallnord World Cup XCO a week later.

mathieu van der poel lenzerheide 2018 world championships — Mathieu Van Der Poel was on the front early before riding home solo for third. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Multidiscipline Dutch national champion Mathieu van der Poel chased hard to catch the leading duo. Once they had escaped though, the lanky Dutchman couldn’t quite regain contact. Van de Poel rode home solo for third place in Lenzerheide. The cyclocross / mountain bike and road specialist has just weeks now before the Cyclocross World Cup season kicks off with the series two American stops.

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Pretty happy to finish my season on a high with my best performance of the year! I got ups and downs this year so to prove myself that I was capable of such a performance is realy nice! Quelle joie de terminer la saison avec une 26e place, ma meilleure performance de l'année! J'ai connu des hauts et des bas cette année alors de me prouver à moi-même que j'étais capable de ce genre de course cette année me réconforte. Je peux maintenant rentrer avec le sentiment du devoir accompli! #VilledAlma #AlmaAcura @teamkmcekoisrsuntour @canmtbcycling Photo @kenophotographie

A post shared by Léandre Bouchard (@leandrebouchard) on Sep 8, 2018 at 11:54am PDT

Léandre Bouchard was the top Canadian finisher in Elite Men’s XCO world championships. For full results, check here.

Anton Cooper started fast, but couldn't hold the pace. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Nino Schurter styles his way to a seventh world championship title at home in Switzerland. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Gerhard Kerschbumer did what he could to push Schurter, but had to settle for silver. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Huge crowds lined the Lenzerheide course. XC is alive and well in Switzerland. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Marco Aurelio Fontana didn't have his best ever performance in Lenzerheide. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Gerhard Kerschbaumer has had a solid second half of his season, capped off with a silver at world championships. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

The massive crowd turnout dwarfed the riders on parts of the Lenzerheide course. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Gerhard Kerschbaumer, Nino Schurter, Mathieu Van Der Poel celebrate with champagne at 2018 UCI mountain bike world championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Image: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool