Nino Schurter wins his ninth World Cup overall at 37 years of age

 

The overall classification of the XCO World Cup is a trophy with little media repercussion but it is probably the one that most faithfully reflects which biker has been the best throughout the season. It is a prize for consistency and Nino Schurter has won it again for the ninth time and at the age of 37. In addition, he had to compete until the last race.

Nino Schurter wins his ninth World Cup Overall

The World Champion rainbow jersey is the biggest trophy in XCO, but it is a prize for the best during a one-day race, while the winner of the overall World Cup classification requires to have been the most consistent for 6 months. In any case Nino Schurter holds the record of victories in both cases with 10 World Cup titles and 9 times winner of the overall World Cup.

At 37 years old and after a frenetic race in which even some mechanical problems left him mathematically out of the game for a few minutes, Nino Schurter was proclaimed Overall Champion of the XCO World Cup 2023 at Mont Sainte Anne. This is the ninth time he has achieved it since he won his first Overall in 2010 and then he did it in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Over 13 years, Schurter has been nine times the top qualifier in a competition that requires him to be at his best for half the year. And, in addition, in 2023 he has managed to break the record of victories in World Cup races, for now he has left it at 35, with his triumphs in Lenzerheide and Val di Sole. Something that undoubtedly puts into perspective the extraordinary of this Swiss biker and makes it clear why he has marked an era in this sport.

But despite his good form, the Swiss has already hinted this year that his retirement may not be far off and many point to 2024 as the year when he will make a decision in this regard. So we will have to enjoy the remaining races of the 'king of XCO'.