Watch: Highlights from a thrilling XCC in Andorra
High speed racing at high altitude leaves even World Cup racers gasping for air
The first combined cross country and downhill World Cup of 2019 delivered three wild days of exciting racing.
Starting Friday, with the Short Track XCC, there was unexpected winners and impressive displays of skill. All of this performed high up in the Andorran mountains. The startline in Vallnord sits at 2,000 m of elevation above sea level. Thin air, steep hills, and an ever-present cloud of dust left even the world’s best gasping for air.
Start with highlights from Friday’s XCC. Then catch up on the full weekend from Andorra.
On Saturday, Canada’s junior men continued their incredible 2019 season with Lucas Cruz and Patrick Laffey on the podium. Then crash-filled elite downhill pushed the most skilled riders to search for traction, and saw Rachel Atherton write her name in the record books again.
Peter Disera and Sean Fincham each put down career best World Cup performances in Sunday’s elite and under-23 XCO events. In the women’s races, Catharine Pendrel attacked early to animate a dynamic women’s XCO, while Mackenzie Myatt rode to 20th in the under-23 women’s World Cup.
Watch Highlights from Friday’s XCC World Cup – Vallnord, Andorra
Sunday’s XCO
