Nino Schurter wins the first race of the year in Albenga and Martina Berta dominates the women's race

The Italian city of Albenga became the epicenter of the best international XCO this weekend. This was the race chosen by Nino Schurter to start his season and he did not disappoint. Schurter and the Italian Martina Berta took the victory.

A single final attack is enough for Nino Schurter to take the victory

If last year's race was marked by rain and mud, this edition was the opposite and Albenga welcomed the best XCO specialists with sun and a fast track.

The elite men's race was extremely tactical from the start and for almost 7 laps, a compact group formed by the main favorites controlled the pace. Nino Schurter (SCOTT SRAM) took the lead of the group in which names like Sebastian Fini (Mondraker Factory), Filippo Fontana (CS Carabinieri - Olympia) or Bjorn Riley (SCOTT SRAM) stood out.

But it was in the last lap when everything went out of control with a precise attack from Nino Schurter in the final meters that allowed him to open a minimal but definitive advantage. The Swiss rider took the victory crossing the finish line first with 1 hour, 31 minutes and 5 seconds.

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The Frenchman Titouan Carod (BMC), the Czech Ondrej Cink, the Italian Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria), and the Swiss Andri Frischknecht tried to follow him, but in the end, the last two podium positions were decided in a sprint. Cink finished second and Avondetto third.

1. Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) - 1:31:05
2. Ondrej Cink (Czech Republic) - +3 seconds
3. Simone Avondetto (Italy) - +4 seconds
4. Titouan Carod (France) - +5 seconds
5. Andri Frischknecht (Switzerland) - +9 seconds
6. Juri Zanotti (Italy) - +9 seconds
7. Finn Treudler (Switzerland) - Time not specified
8. Luca Braidot (Italy) - +1:24
9. Daniele Braidot (Italy) - +1:29
10. Filippo Fontana (Italy) - +1:34

Martina Berta prevails in Albenga

In the women's race, the Italian champion Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) lived up to her jersey and won with an outstanding performance.

After controlling the race for most of the course, she chose the penultimate lap to launch an attack that none of her rivals could match. Leaving behind Sofie Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria) and Giada Specia (KTM Factory), Berta crossed the finish line first with 1 hour, 14 minutes and 25 seconds.

Her compatriot Giada Specia took second place 14 seconds behind Berta, and the Danish Sofie Pedersen closed the podium.

1. Martina Berta (Origine Racing Team) - 1:14:25
2. Giada Specia (KTM Factory MTB Team) - +14 seconds
3. Sofie Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) - +34 seconds
4. Ronja Eibl (Origine Racing Team) - +48 seconds
5. Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) - Best U23 - +53 seconds
6. Matilda Szczecinska (Poland) - +01:56
7. Emily Johnston (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) - +3:11
8. Chiara Teocchi (Lapierre Racing Unity) - +3:56
9. Ella Maclean-Howell (Cube Factory Racing) - +5:31
10. Andrea Kravanja (Sunshine Racers Nals) - +06:06