Martin Vidaurre settles a thrillingly close Soldier Hollow XCO on the final lap

Martin Vidaurre has won the XCO World Cup in Soldier Hollow after a race that started slow and was decided in the last lap. The Chilean stayed within a large group of favorites for much of the race and waited until the final minutes to launch the decisive attack. Cole Punchard finished second, five seconds behind, and Mathis Guay completed the podium.

The new circuit in Soldier Hollow produced a very different race for the women. Its fast sections practically neutralized all attacks, and the selection took a long time to occur. So much so that 12 riders received the last lap bell together, separated by just seven seconds.

Martin Vidaurre waits until the last lap and wins the XCO in Soldier Hollow

The men's race was set for eight laps on a 4.2-kilometer circuit. From the start, it was clear that the pace would be very high. Christopher Blevins immediately took the lead, followed by Mathis Azzaro and Luca Martin, as the peloton began to stretch out.

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Blevins suffered a fall in a rapid succession of turns during the first lap, but he was able to get up quickly and maintain contact. The first pass through the finish line left a group of 14 riders in front and another of 11 practically glued to them. The differences were still minimal.

Jordan Sarrou then took command and increased the pace. The Frenchman managed to create the first splits, with Blevins and Luca Martin initially on his wheel, although Samuel Gaze soon arrived from behind with a larger group.

The Short Track winner had a bad start and was rolling outside the Top 10, but before completing the third lap, he was back in front. By that point, more than 20 riders were still together.

Many attacks and no definitive difference

The Soldier Hollow course was conducive to a race of attrition. Gaze tried to accelerate during the fourth lap, but he barely gained two seconds and was quickly neutralized.

The first significant selection came in the fifth lap, although it still left 18 riders at the front. Cannondale then began to control the race with Luca Martin, Charlie Aldridge, and Cole Punchard occupying the top positions.

Aldridge was the one who launched one of the most serious moves. His acceleration initially left Punchard, Martin, Azzaro, and Luca Schätti in front, but Vidaurre, Bjorn Riley, and Filippo Colombo worked from behind to close the gap again.

Mechanical issues and falls also began to take their toll. Schätti went down in a rock garden and Filippo Colombo suffered a flat tire that forced him to stop for repairs. The Swiss rider was competing with the new SCOTT Spark with 32-inch wheels.

Vidaurre appears at the decisive moment

Until then, Martin Vidaurre had gone relatively unnoticed among the numerous changes in pace, but his race began to change in the final moments.

The Chilean moved to the front for the first time and increased the speed on a very fast descent. The pace even made Samuel Gaze suffer, although it was still not enough to definitively break the group.

Shortly after, Charlie Aldridge suffered a fall after a bad landing. He was able to continue, but his rear wheel was damaged, and he had to stop for repairs just before starting the last lap.

Despite all the moves, the bell rang with 12 riders still together. Luca Martin passed first, but Guay, Vidaurre, Punchard, Azzaro, Bjorn Riley, Sarrou, Amos, and Gaze were separated by just three seconds. The victory was still completely open. It was then that Vidaurre made his move.

He first began to increase the pace with Mathis Guay and Cole Punchard on his wheel. Shortly after, he launched the definitive attack, and this time he managed to open a gap. No one was able to make contact again.

 

 

 

 

 

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Martin Vidaurre crossed the finish line alone with a time of 1:28:55, five seconds ahead of Punchard and seven over Guay. Luca Braidot finished fourth and Mathis Azzaro fifth. The overall leader, Luca Martin, was seventh, 15 seconds back, while Samuel Gaze rounded out the Top 10 after his victory on Saturday in the Short Track.

Top 10 XCO World Cup Elite Men – Soldier Hollow

1. Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) – 1:28:55
2. Cole Punchard (Cannondale Factory Racing) – +5
3. Mathis Guay (KTM Factory MTB Team) – +7
4. Luca Braidot (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) – +12
5. Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) – +15
6. Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) – +15
7. Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) – +15
8. Riley Amos (Trek - Unbroken XC) – +22
9. Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing) – +33
10. Samuel Gaze (Alpecin-Premier Tech) – +35