Lenzerheide XCO/XCC World Cup: favorites, times and how to watch

The XCC and XCO World Cup will travel to the Swiss town of Lenzerheide for the second race of the year. The absence of Pidcock opens the door for the rest of the favorites to inaugurate their victories of this season. This weekend will also see the first event of the Downhill World Cup.

Schedule and how to watch the XCO World Cup Lenzerheide 2023

The riders will face a circuit of 4.3 km and 200 meters of elevation gain. The organizers have already announced that in 2024 there will be no World Cup in Lenzerheide, as Valais - host of the World Championship in 2025 - will have the privilege of organizing a race as a dress rehearsal.

Still, there is optimism that it will once again host the World Cup. "We are basically positive about a resumption from 2025," said OC President Christoph Muller.

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Regarding this weekend, while Thursday and Friday we will have XCC events, Saturday will be reserved for DH and on Sunday will be the final show with the XCO races. The broadcasts can be followed on GCN+, Eurosport or Discovery+.

Thursday, June 8th

• 17:30 U23 Women's Short Track - No live transmission
  
• 18:15 U23 Men's Short Track Track - No live transmission

Friday, June 9th 

• 17:15 Women's Short Track WATCH ON EUROSPORT - WATCH ON GCN+
• 18:00 Men's Short Track WATCH ON EUROSPORT - WATCH ON GCN+

Saturday, June 10th

• 11:00 Women's Downhill Semifinal - WATCH LIVE for FREE
• 11:30 Men's Downhill Semifinal - WATCH LIVE for FREE
• 13:00 Women's Downhill Final -  WATCH ON EUROSPORT - WATCH ON GCN+
• 14:00 Men's Downhill Final - WATCH ON EUROSPORT - WATCH ON GCN+

Sunday, June 11th

• 8:30 U23 Women's XCO World Cup - WATCH LIVE for FREE
• 10:30 U23 Men's XCO World Cup - WATCH LIVE for FREE
• 13:00 XCO Elite Women's World Cup - WATCH ON EUROSPORT - WATCH ON GCN+
• 15:30 XCO Elite Men's World Cup WATCH ON EUROSPORT - WATCH ON GCN+

Candidates accepted to replace Pidcock at the top of the men's podium

The start of the season in Nove Mesto allowed us to draw the first conclusions of the season. One of them was, without a doubt, that Tom Pidcock is today a step above his rivals. The Czech circuit has always adapted very well to the British rider but the truth is that it was a hard-earned victory, as he had to recover from a crash and showed that he had an extra strength that eventually gave him the first position.

For all these reasons, the absence of Pidcock in Lenzerheide is perhaps the most notable novelty. Even so, the list of candidates to raise their arms to the skies of Switzerland includes some huge cyclists who occupy a distinguished place in the elite of the discipline.

Among these names we must highlight Nino Schurter. The Swiss rider will race at home and although he is already a veteran, he is still in good shape -he has just finished third in Nove Mesto- and is called to play an important role.

Luca Braidot -winner last year in Lenzerheide-, Mathias Fluckiger and Alan Hatherly -top10 in Nove Mesto- will be looking to step on the podium and fight for the victory. Samuel Gaze, Titouan Carod or Vlad Dascalu are other more than contrasted riders who should also be in the fight for the race.

The pleasant surprises of Nove Mesto were Luca Schwarzbauer and Joshua Dubau, who will try to repeat the formula and sign another great performance.

Pieterse, Ferrand-Prevot, Lecomte and Richards are the main contenders for the women's victory

Not even the most accurate analysis could predict a clear favorite for the victory on Friday and Sunday. The women's category is full of great figures with a very similar level, so any attempt to decipher the outcome of the race is really difficult.

Among the top favorites is Puck Pieterse, who gave a spectacular performance in Nove Mesto and once again reminded us that she is a rider capable of everything on all terrains.

The legend Ferrand-Prevot continues with a power at the level of the best and is another of those who should fight for the top step of the podium. Loana Lecomte -winner here last year- will be looking for a repeat victory, while Evie Richards or Alessandra Keller will be other riders who will be in the spotlight.