XCC/XCO World Cup Leogang 2023: dates, how to watch and favorites

The XCC and XCO World Cup will be held this weekend in the Austrian town of Leogang for the third event of the season. The race will again feature the absence of Pidcock and will be contested by Schurter, who took the overall lead after becoming the most victorious rider in the history of the competition in Lenzerheide.

Schedule and how to watch the Leogang XCO World Cup 2023

The XCC and XCO World Cup will share the stage with the Enduro and Downhill World Cup for an action-packed week in Austria. The broadcasts will be available on GCN+, Eurosport or Discovery+.

Thursday, June 15th

• 11:00-17:30 Enduro World Cup
• 17:30-18:15 U23 Women's Short Track
• 18:15-19:00 U23 Men's Short Track
• 17:30-20:00 World Cup Enduro Final Stage

Friday, June 16th

• 17:30-18:15 Women's Short Track
• 18:15-19:00 Men's Short Track

Saturday, June 17th

• 10:45 Women's Downhill Semifinal
• 11:20 Men's Downhill Semifinal
• 13:00 Women's Downhill Final
• 14:00 Men's Downhill Final

Sunday, June 18th

• 8:30 U23 Women's XCO World Cup
• 10:30 XCO U23 Men's World Cup
• 13:00 Women's XCO World Cup
• 15:30 XCO Men's World Cup

What happened in the last race and how is the overall standings?

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The calendar gives us another dose of World Cup with barely enough time to recover from all the events of the past weekend. The Lenzerheide race (with the notable absence of Thomas Pidcock) was written in XCO history when Nino Schurter raised his arms to sign his 34th victory, breaking the tie with Julien Absalon and becoming the rider with the most victories in the history of the World Cup.

Schurter returned the warmth of the Swiss fans with his best version in an overwhelming victory that dismantled any option of his rivals. As if that wasn't enough, the result allowed him to take the overall lead.

Alan Hatherly pulled himself together when he seemed to be fading and was able to finish second. Much equality between the French Jordan Sarrou and Thomas Griot, who occupied the third and fourth positions, respectively. Also noteworthy was the comeback of David Valero, who again showed that he has few rivals in the second parts of the race.

Overall Classification - Men

1. Nino Schurter 475 points
2. Jordan Sarrou 410 points
3. Thomas Griot 336 points
4. Tom Pidcock 330 points
5. Alan Hatherly 328 points
6. Joshua Dubau 289 points
7. Mathias Fluckiger 287 points
8. Luca Schwarzbauer 283 points
9. Samuel Gaze 262 points
10. Lars Forster 259 points

In the women's category we witnessed a change in the lead. If Puck Pieterse dominated in Nove Mesto, Loana Lecomte took the baton in Lenzerheide and is very close to the Dutchwoman in the overall, who remains first.

Ferrand-Prevot fought and for much of the race seemed to have more legs than her compatriot, but in the end she was overtaken by the Canyon rider.

Overall Classification - Women general

1. Puck Pieterse 466 points
2. Loana Lecomte 457 points
3. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot 440 points
4. Alessandra Keller 430 points
5. Anne Terpstra 394 points
6. Evie Richards 348 points
7. Jenny Rissveds 289 points
8. Laura Stigger 272 points
9. Caroline Bohé 258 points
10. Sina Frei 257 points

How is the Leogang circuit

The Leogang circuit is located in the spectacular setting of Saalbach Hinterglemm in Salzburg. This Austrian location will host the XCO World Cup for the third consecutive year. On the other hand, it has been part of the Downhill World Cup since 2010.

It has become one of the fastest courses in its own right. The length is 3.6 km and the elevation gain is 168 meters, while for the start loop we will have a 2.5 km route and 94 meters of elevation gain.

Schurter, Fluckiger, Hatherly, Sarrou... everything open for the win in Leogang

Thomas Pidcock - who is competing in the Tour of Switzerland - will again be absent in Austria. The absence of the British rider, who would start as favorite in almost all bets, opens the door for other big names in XCO to score a World Cup victory.

As first name, we must mention Nino Schurter. The level shown in Lenzerheide was far superior to the rest of the participants, so it is mandatory to include the Swiss among the favorites.

Unlike Schurter, the other riders have not yet reached their goals, so it is likely that we will see the best version of some of them. Predictions are always difficult, but riders like Sarrou, Griot or Hatherly could extend their good start to the season and sneak into first place.

Fluckiger played a good role last weekend until his body started asking him to slow down. If he manages his strength and manages to extract something more he could be a clear candidate, he already won in Leogang last year in both XCC and XCO. Valero could also be there, in view of the fact that he made another remarkable comeback in Swiss territory.

On the other hand, the full-throttle explosiveness of Schwarzbauer and Dubau, Forster, Gaze or Griot can fight for the top positions. Dascalu, another favorite, suffered a crash that landed him in hospital in the last race in Lenzerheide, so his presence in Leogang is up in the air.

Pieterse, Lecomte, Ferrand-Prevot, Keller... the favorites arrive in great form

Only 72 points separate the top four in the overall standings. An equality that has already been evident in the first two races of the season. In principle, Pieterse, Lecomte, Ferrand-Prevot and Keller should be in the fight for the podium and the victory.

The Dutch rider had a beastly pace in Nove Mesto, although it is true that she was more covered in Switzerland. Lecomte signed a great race in Lenzerheide leaving nailed a Ferrand-Prevot who may be thirsting for revenge and try to seize the throne in Austria.

For her part, Keller has not shone in either of the two previous races, although she has always been in the top positions and could find that little extra point at any time. In addition, Richards, Rissveds, Berta or Bohé are others who are expected to be in the fight for everything.

Rocío del Alba, who suffered a broken collarbone in Lenzerheide, will probably not take part in the race.