Thömus maxon double strike by Keller and Flückiger
Alessandra Keller and Mathias Flückiger both win the XCC World Cup race in Vallnord (Andorra) and provide a one-two punch for the Thömus maxon team. Keller thus took her second World Cup victory in short track at the same place as in 2018. Mathias Flückiger was able to place himself in the middle of the short track podium for the fourth time overall. With this result, Keller closed the gap in the interim World Cup ranking to the previous leader McConnell. Flückiger was even able to extend his lead.
Alessandra Keller was able to stay out of the starting tussle and won her second World Cup race in Short Track with an incredible show of will. Right at the beginning of the race, she was able to establish herself in the leading group and. Thanks to her constant speedforcing, she was able to thin it out to such an extent that she was even alone in the lead in the fifth of six laps. Due to the dry and dusty conditions, things got exciting again in the final lap. Keller’s slip brought about a further closing of the gap at the top.
Second career victory – ready for the race on Sunday
“I slipped on the final lap and hit my knee. But the other riders also had to invest in order to catch up with me. That’s why it was still enough for me to win,” said Alessandra Keller at the finish. Anne Terpstra from the Netherlands came second, Rebecca McConnell (AUS) third. With this result she closed the gap in the World Cup intermediate ranking to the so far leading McConnell. However, the white jersey of the leader remains on the shoulders of the Australian for the next race.
Flückiger: “One of the most important victories in my career!”
Mathias Flückiger was also part of the leading group from the beginning. In the men’s race, however, there were a lot of lead changes. In the fifth of seven laps Luca Braidot attacked. No one was able to follow. Due to a technical defect of the Italian, Mathias Flückiger took over the lead half a lap later and did not give it up again until the finish line. Thus he secured his fourth victory in the Short Track.
At the finish line, the visibly moved rider from Switzerland struggled for words. “This is one of my most important victories, I wanted it so badly and it worked out today. It makes me speechless!” The race had been very hard, he sums up further. The altitude, the heat and the dust had taken their toll on him. That’s another reason why this victory was so special.
Vital Albin did not have a perfect race and finished in 30th place.