2021 Nove Mesto World Cup: favourites, schedules and where to watch the event

Just one week after the season opener in Albstadt, it's the turn of the Nove Mesto na Morave XCO World Cup in the Czech Republic.

This will be the second event of the year and it comes with many fronts open after the intense start of the season. Nove Mesto is a very special circuit for any professional biker and it could be the stage where we finally see if Loana Lecomte is at a much higher level than the rest, if Tom Pidcock is in a position to win a race starting from the front or if Van der Poel will be able to shine in the XCO race.

Who won the 2020 Nove Mesto World Cup?

2020 was a very strange year for everyone and the World Cup was not left out. After the cancellation of almost all events, only the Nove Mesto World Cup was left standing, where 2 consecutive rounds were held on the same circuit.

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Mexican José Gerardo Ulloa Arévalo was the surprise winner of the first men's XCC, with Henrique Avancini taking second, while Great Britain's Evie Richards was the clear winner of both XCC rounds.

In the XCO events Loana Lecomte and Simon Andreassen won their first World Cup in round one, while Avancini and Pauline Ferrand Prevot took second round.

How is the Nove Mesto circuit?

The Nove Mesto World Cup is the favourite of most of the riders because of its course, a pure XCO course with very natural and varied sections. In total the course is just under 4 km long and features short, explosive uphills, fast downhills and even a pump track.

The downhills combine singletracks with technical sections where roots and rock gardens only add to the fun.

Favourites for the victory at the 2021 Nove Mesto XCO World Cup

Elite women favourites to win in Nove Mesto

In the women's race there is no longer any doubt that Loana Lecomte is no young promise, despite her young age she has earned the respect of her fellow riders and will take the start as the rival to beat. The authority with which she won in Albstadt is enough to make her the top favourite in any competition. It remains to be seen if her performance does not have any ups and downs.

Meanwhile, Pauline Ferrand Prevot declared before the race in Albstadt that she was not aiming to win there, but she still finished second and kept strong in the chase for Lecomte. Knowing that the world champion has a bit of a hard time getting her season off to a good start, she may already be at the point where she can start winning.

Kate Courtney had to settle for fourth place in Germany, but the performance was good and she looks capable of being in the fight for the win again if she has a good day.

Además, no podemos dejar fuera de la nómina de favoritas a Haley Batten, que la vimos fortísima en Albstadt, Yana Belomoina, Anne Terpstra, Jenny Rissveds o Linda Indergand. Esta última fue la gran sorpresa en Alemania.

Furthermore, we cannot forget to mention Haley Batten, who was very strong in Albstadt, Yana Belomoina, Anne Terpstra, Jenny Rissveds or Linda Indergand, who was a great surprise in Germany.

Elite men favourites to win in Nove Mesto

Just a few days ago, what is probably the most competitive season in recent years started, and this means that the favourites multiply at every race.

Mathieu van Der Poel was unbeatable on the Short Track and at the start of the XCO race, but just after that he suffered one of the weekend's biggest crashes. However, he will once again be one of the favourites for victory in Nove Mesto.

Britain's Tom Pidcock made his elite debut on Sunday and did it in the best possible way, with a fifth place starting from 100th position. His performance in Nove Mesto, where he won last year as an under-23 rider, is expected to be at the same level and could be the culmination of his mountain bike consecration.

If Thomas Fluckiger hadn't broken his seatpost on the last lap in Albstadt he could have won it. The Swiss had a period when his performance fluctuated too much, but he has had a very consistent year and is arguably the favourite to win.

Nino Schurter was very solid in the first race of the year and since the beginning of the season we have seen him fighting for every race until the last lap. It's only a matter of time before he wins again and Nove Mesto is his favourite circuit.

He was already in our group of favourites a few days ago and now he cannot be left out, the Frenchman Victor Koretzky is the current number 1 in the ranking and leader of the World Cup after winning in Germany and it will not be in his plans to get rid of this position.

Last year Simon Andreassen and Henrique Avancini, now team-mates at Cannondale Factory Racing, won here and although we saw them a little behind last weekend, this circuit is still favourable to their racing style.

Schedule and where to watch the 2021 Nove Mesto World Cup

As usual, the Nove Mesto World Cup can be watched live and free online on the RedBull TV website, both the Short Track on Friday and the XCO race on Sunday. The broadcast, which was already available in English, Portuguese and German, can now also be heard in Spanish. In addition, we recommend that if you can, you connect a little before the races, as they usually broadcast interviews and some very interesting videos.

Friday 14 May 2021 

• 18:00 Short Track Elite Women (WATCH IT HERE FROM 17:50)
• 18:45 Short Track Elite Men (WATCH IT HERE FROM 17:50)

Saturday 15 May 2021 

• 15:00 U23 Men's XCO World Cup Final
• 17:00 U23 Women's XCO World Cup Final

Sunday 16 May 2021 

• 11:20 XCO Elite Women's World Cup (WATCH IT HERE FROM 11:50)
• 15:20 XCO Elite Men's World Cup (WATCH IT HERE FROM 15:00)