Strong chase brings Alessandra Keller second place
Alessandra Keller once again proved her strong form at the Mountain Bike World Cup in Andorra. Two days after her victory in the XCC, the Thömus maxon rider fought her way to second place over the Olympic distance (XCO). Mathias Flückiger gained many places by the finish line after a puncture in the middle of the race.
Keller was able to start the race from the front row thanks to her XCC success. However, she lost many positions at first and dropped back as far as 15th place. However, the Swiss rider did not let this upset her: “I didn’t have a good start and was also set back by mistakes made by other riders. But I was able to stay calm and work my way forwards step by step.”
Difficult start – strong reaction
In the final lap, she once again proved her strong nerves and fighting spirit: With a final effort, she managed to catch Jenny Rissveds (SWE), who had been in second place until then. The winner was Samara Maxwell from New Zealand, who is currently also leading the overall standings. Keller cemented her place at the top of the world with this result and is clearly back on the right track after undergoing knee surgery in autumn 2024.
Flückiger with a solid race despite a puncture
In the men’s race, Mathias Flückiger was able to achieve a conciliatory eleventh place despite a tyre defect in the middle of the race. The Bernese rider was satisfied at the finish: “It was a tough race, but a step in the right direction for me. After the puncture, I was able to attack again and make up a few places.” The race was won by Olympic champion Pidcock (GBR), ahead of Martin (FRA) and Aldridge (GBR).
Vital Albin said he did not have the best day and finished 30th, while Lars Forster struggled with back problems and finished 31st.
Thömus Akros – Youngstars set an exclamation mark in the U23 races
The trip to Andorra was very successful for the junior team, Thömus Akros – Youngstars. Nicolas Halter finished third in the men’s short track race. He followed this up in the cross-country competition, finishing in second place. Monique Halter also took second place in the U23 women’s XCO.