Haley Batten surprises and wins the Short Track in Nove Mesto

The rain stopped for the start of the 2021 Nove Mesto World Cup, but in the women's Short Track race the mud was already going to be decisive. American Haley Batten was the fastest to the surprise of many.

Haley Batten wins 2021 Short Track in Nove Mesto

It was no longer surprising to see the French rider Ana Lecomte take the lead from the start, although it is true that we expected to see her a little more conservative in this Short Track, nothing like that. Lecomte took the lead and in the first lap she led a group that included the Italian Martina Berta, Pauline Ferrand Prevot, Haley Batten, Annie Last, Linda Indersgand and Jenny Rissveds.

The pace was very high and the mud was not easy to ride in some areas of the circuit, but still the group stayed together until on lap 3 when Pauline Ferrand Prevot suffered a huge fall. And although the World Champion got back on the bike she soon realised that she would not be able to continue.

With one less rival at the head of the race, Loana Lecomte tried to break away with a new attack and succeeded, but she was followed by a great Haley Batten who was not content to keep up the pace and attacked again on the penultimate lap. American Haley Batten had already been in the limelight in Albstadt last week with her third place in the XCO race, and she was proving that it was no coincidence.

Lecomte could not keep up with Batten, who went solo with a large margin. And that's how she reached the finish line. 

American Haley Batten won the Short Track in Nove Mesto, Loana Lecomte was second and Jenny Rissveds third.

Results Women's Short Track 2021 Nove Mesto World Cup

1. Haley Batten
2. Loana Lecomte
3. Jenny Rissveds
4. Annie Last
5. Linda Indergand
6. Laura Stigger
7. Evie Richards
8. Sina Frei
9. Kate Courtney
10. Anne Taubar