WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series: final act in Canada

XC and DHI action in Mont-Sainte-Anne

The thrilling final rounds of the 2024 UCI World Cups for cross-country (XC) and downhill (DHI) in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, saw the overall titles decided.

Women Elite XCO: Keller’s double

With Alessandra Keller (SUI) having already secured the overall cross-country Olympic (XCO) and cross-country short track (XCC) victory – repeating her 2022 triumph – South African Candice Lill and the USA’s Savilia Blunk went into the final XCO race fighting for 2nd position with Laura Stigger (AUT).

Stigger and Loana Lecomte (FRA) took the bell together with Sina Frei (SUI) 30 seconds back. Lecomte attacked and repeated her 2023 win, from Stigger and Frei, while Lill held off Keller’s attack for fourth, and Blunk finished 10th.

“I really wanted to finish this season on a high note,” said Lecomte. “It’s always a pleasure to race with Laura [Stigger]… I tried to attack in the steep part, and she was a little bit more tired than me.”

Keller won the overall with 1558 points from Stigger (1262), Lill (1242), Lecomte (1205) and Blunk (1192).

Men Elite XCO: Hatherly strong in stripes

After his victory in Lake Placid (USA), Olympic silver medallist Victor Koretzky (FRA) kept the overall fight alive to the final race, albeit needing an improbable result from leader Alan Hatherly (RSA). All top five overall positions could still switch.

UCI World Champion Hatherly wasn’t taking any chances, and went hard from the start, putting almost 30 seconds into the Frenchman. Koretzky chased with his fellow Frenchman Mathis Azzaro but started to drift back at half distance and was caught by a chasing group. Azzaro chased down the South African with two laps remaining.

But Hatherly was too strong. Azzaro took second, with Koretzky outsprinting Charlie Aldridge (GBR) for third.

“The overall was obviously one objective for today,” said Hatherly, “But the main objective for me was to win with the rainbow jersey.”

Hatherly won the overall with 1678 points from Koretzky (1359) and the Swiss trio of Filippo Colombo (1229), Nino Schurter (1164) and Mathias Flückiger (1034).

XCO Under 23: Böhm and Amos

Echoing her XCC performance, Kira Böhm (GER) won her third Women Under 23 XCO round of 2024 from Olivia Onesti (FRA), with Fiona Schibler (SUI) third. Böhm took the overall with 1002 points from Onesti (803) and American Madigan Munro (709).

The Men U23 XCO winner in Canada was Dario Lillo (SUI), outsprinting Bjorn Riley (USA) and Luke Moir (RSA). Finishing 7th, Riley Amos (USA) won the overall with 926 points from Riley (788), and France’s Luca Martin (703).

Women Elite XCC: Swiss win on the day and overall

Sina Frei won the two final rounds back-to-back. After a superbly timed sprint she passed Lecomte and Evie Richards (GBR) with the top 10 covered by just 16 seconds.

Keller finished 8th and won the overall with 1370 points from Richards (990), who overtook Australian Rebecca Henderson (986). Frei finished just 2 points off 3rd spot.

Men Elite XCC: unstoppable Koretzky

On-fire Victor Koretzky secured another Men Elite XCC win, this time ahead of Azzaro. Hatherly fought hard for third ahead of Lars Forster (SUI) and Luca Schwarzbauer (GER). Koretzky won the title with 1350 points, followed by Hatherly on 1090. Schwarzbauer (981) moved up to third narrowly ahead of Sam Gaze (NZL) and Colombo.

Under 23 XCC: Böhm and Amos take the double

In the Women Under 23 XCC, Kira Böhm (GER) won the final round sprint from Isabella Holmgren (CAN) and Lea Huber (SUI). Böhm won the overall with 821 points from Canada’s Emilly Johnston (620) and Munro (573).

In the Men Under 23 XCC, Dario Lillo won ahead of Riley and Moir. But Amos retained the overall top spot (730 points), from Riley (690) with Lillo third (668).

Women Elite DHI: Höll’s victory secured

Valentina Höll had secured the Women Elite overall in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes, France, with second place. Mont-Sainte-Anne saw a home 2nd place for young Canadian Gracey Hemstreet, and 6th for Tahnée Seagrave (GBR). A crash meant eighth for Myriam Nicole, with a second victory of the season for her fellow Frenchwoman, Marine Cabirou, earning her 2nd overall.

“I’m really happy to take the win today,” said Cabirou. “It was such a hard week, the track was so tough, so I tried to push but with the conditions it was not so easy.”

Third in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Höll won the overall with 1849 points from Cabirou (1431), Seagrave (1411), Nicole (1145) and Germany’s Nina Hoffmann, 972.

Men Elite: Bruni the boss

Like Höll in the Women Elite competition, Loïc Bruni had secured the Men Elite overall in France. Of his four overall titles it’s the first time he’s done it with a round to spare. He finished 26th in Canada.

With a broken hand, Amaury Pierron (FRA) was not racing. Ronan Dunne (IRL) had a chance of 2nd overall, but 10th place in Canada left him in 4th overall. Local Canadian hopeful Finn Iles crashed in sector 2. Laurie Greenland (GBR) was fastest before being unseated by the young Kiwi Lachlan Stevens-McNab. But the last rider, Troy Brosnan went 0.06-sec faster, the Aussie taking the win and 2nd overall.

“I feel amazing on the bike, everything was just clicking!” said Brosnan. “Honestly, I can’t believe I’ve put that run down in the rain.”

Bruni took the overall with 1651 points from Brosnan (1317), Pierron (1301), Dunne (1202) and Iles (1152).

Junior DHI: Van Leuven and Alran

Erice van Leuven (NZL) won her third Women Junior round of the UCI World Cup season, reinforcing her overall dominance (350 points) ahead of the Briton Heather Wilson (290) despite just 8th place in Canada. Kiwi Sacha Earnest finished third overall (280).

In the Men Junior DHI, France’s Max Alran won again to total 332 points. Luke Wayman (NZL, 246 points) took advantage of Asa Vermette’s (239) non-start to leapfrog the American for 2nd overall.