XCC Short Track: Schwarzbauer powers to first win in Nové Město
German's efforts finally rewarded with Czech victory
Luca Schwarzbauer has attacked the Short Track World Cup races all year. Ever-present on the front, the powerful German has raced proactively, bringing more excitement to the short-format event. On Friday in Czech, that tactic paid off. The Canyon rider distanced the field to take his first-ever World Cup win.
XCC World Cup Nové Město – Elite Men
Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon Cllctv) picks up in Nové Město right where he left off last week in Albstadt: setting the pace on the front of the men’s XCC. That netted the German a fourth place on his home course last week but it’s a long 20-minutes to repeat that effort on this Nové Město course.
Much like the women’s race, the field is spreading out on the back half of the course before bunching up again coming into the start-finish straight. After a short grass hill, a headwind greets the riders as the roll onto the pavement at the lap point, all but neutralizing any attacks.
Close racing causes chaos
The lead is changing constantly, but Alan Hatherly (Specialized) is on the front mid-way through this men’s race. Sam Gaze (Alpecin Fenix) and Henrique Avancini (Cannondale) are smartly loitering a few wheels back, out of the wind. As is Tom Pidcock (Ineos). The group is all still there, though, making for fast, and dangerous racing.
Hatherly is the first victim, crashing on the fourth of 11 laps just as he was turning into the high-speed jump section. The South African quickly rejoins the race, but had to dig to do so.
The relentless Schwarzbauer
Filippo Colombo (BMC) and Schwarzbauer are trading leads halfway through the race, but there’s still nothing in it. With two laps to go, it’s Avancini and, again, Scwarzbauer taking turns on the front. Colombo’s in there too, going onto the last lap.
Schwarzbauer’s tactic is, miraculously paying off. The German creates a small gap going up the final grass hill into the start straight. Vlad Dascalu (Trek Factory Racing) is trying to close the gap, but his effort isn’t going anywhere and the Romanian fades to fourth.
Schwarzbauer accelerates again, giving himself time to sit up and celebrate his monumental achievement.
“I’m so breathless, not just from the hard sprint but I just can’t believe I won a World Cup,” a thrilled Schwarzbauer beams after the finish. Asked how this affects his race plan for Sunday, the German just smiles. “Lots of pressure is off. Now I can just go race.”
Tom Pidcock emerges from the group with a perfectly timed move to take second. Filippo Colombo (BMC) is rewarded for his work all race with the final podium spot in third.
After Dascalu, it’s Short Track world champion Christopher Blevins (Specialized) working his way up to fifth.
Results: World Cup XCC #3 – Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic
Elite Men
| 1. |  |
SCHWARZBAUER Luca (CANYON CLLCTV)
|
22:40 |
| 2. |  |
PIDCOCK Thomas (GREAT BRITAIN)
|
22:42 +2 |
| 3. |  |
COLOMBO Filippo (BMC MTB RACING)
|
22:42 +2 |
| 4. |  |
DASCALU Vlad (TREK FACTORY RACING XC)
|
22:42 +2 |
| 5. |  |
BLEVINS Christopher (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING)
|
22:43 +3 |
| 6. |  |
ULLOA AREVALO Jose Gerardo (MASSI-BEAUMES DE VENISE)
|
22:43 +3 |
| 7. |  |
CARSTENSEN Sebastian Fini (KMC – ORBEA)
|
22:43 +3 |
| 8. |  |
GAZE Samuel (ALPECIN – FENIX)
|
22:43 +3 |
| 9. | |
SCHURTER Nino (SCOTT-SRAM MTB RACING TEAM)
|
22:44 +4 |
| 10. |  |
AVANCINI Henrique (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING)
|
22:44 +4 |
| 11. |  |
HATHERLY Alan (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING)
|
22:45 +5 |
| 12. |  |
DE FROIDMONT Pierre (KMC – ORBEA)
|
22:45 +5 |
| 13. | |
COOPER Anton (TREK FACTORY RACING XC)
|
22:46 +6 |
| 14. |  |
CAROD Titouan (BMC MTB RACING)
|
22:47 +7 |
| 15. |  |
CULLELL ESTAPE Jofre (PRIMAFLOR MONDRAKER GENUINS)
|
22:47 +7 |
| 16. |  |
BLUMS Martins (CST POSTNL BAFANG MTB RACING TEAM)
|
22:47 +7 |
| 17. | |
SCHUERMANS Jens (SCOTT CREUSE OXYGENE GUERET)
|
22:47 +7 |
| 18. |  |
COLLEDANI Nadir (MMR FACTORY RACING TEAM)
|
22:48 +8 |
| 19. | |
FLÜCKIGER Mathias (THÖMUS MAXON)
|
22:48 +8 |
| 20. | |
BRAIDOT Daniele (CS CARABINIERI – CICLI OLYMPIA VITTORIA)
|
22:48 +8 |
| 21. | |
OLIVER Ben (NEW ZEALAND)
|
22:49 +9 |
| 22. | |
KORETZKY Victor (FRANCE)
|
22:49 +9 |
| 23. | |
MAROTTE Maxime (SANTA CRUZ FSA MTB PRO TEAM)
|
22:49 +9 |
| 24. | |
BRAIDOT Luca (SANTA CRUZ FSA MTB PRO TEAM)
|
22:50 +10 |
| 25. |  |
CINK Ondrej (KROSS ORLEN CYCLING TEAM)
|
22:51 +11 |
| 26. | |
VALERO SERRANO David (BH TEMPLO CAFÉS UCC)
|
22:51 +11 |
| 27. | |
ALBIN Vital (THÖMUS MAXON)
|
22:53 +13 |
| 28. | |
DUBAU Joshua (ROCKRIDER RACING TEAM)
|
22:53 +13 |
| 29. |  |
WAWAK Bartlomiej (KROSS ORLEN CYCLING TEAM)
|
22:57 +17 |
| 30. | |
INDERGAND Reto (GIANT FACTORY OFF – ROAD TEAM)
|
23:12 +32 |
| 31. |  |
RAGGL Gregor (JB BRUNEX SUPERIOR FACTORY RACING)
|
23:22 +42 |
| 32. | |
ROTH Joel (BIXS PERFORMANCE RACING)
|
23:23 +43 |
| 33. | |
SARROU Jordan (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING)
|
23:33 +53 |
| 34. | |
KERSCHBAUMER Gerhard (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING)
|
23:39 +59 |
| 35. | |
MARKT Karl (JB BRUNEX SUPERIOR FACTORY RACING)
|
23:39 +59 |
| 36. |  |
NORDEMANN David (CST POSTNL BAFANG MTB RACING TEAM)
|
24:07 +1:27 |
| 37. | |
BERTOLINI Gioele (TRINX FACTORY TEAM)
|
24:46 +2:06 |
| 38. | |
FRISCHKNECHT Andri (SCOTT-SRAM MTB RACING TEAM)
|
17:17 +1:43 |
