Koretzky wins a spectacular Short Track of Mont Sainte Anne

Koretzky takes the victory in the Mont Sainte Anne Short Track with an attack on the last lap that no one could replicate. The nerves for the XCO overall were latent throughout the race and surfaced at the end with several risky maneuvers. Sarrou finished second and leaves the 2023 XCO World Cup title up in the air.

Koretzky wins a brilliant Short Track of Mont Sainte Anne

The race -important for the overall XCO classification- started without a good part of the Spanish representation, after the absences of David Valero and David Campos. The start was for Dascalu, while Schwarzbauer, Sarrou and Schurter were right behind him. The Romanian stretched the group from the beginning with a brutal pace that forced the rest to do the same.

Pidcock was 26th behind Brazilian Bastos.

Ahead, Dascalu maintained hegemony and Sarrou moved into second position. However, normality prevailed soon after when Schwarzbauer moved to the front, in his favorite position, from where he controlled the race. The aggressive pace of the start eased slightly and the lead was compacted into a large group of riders.

Schurter made his presence felt very early on and made his chances count, looking for the German's wheel, who led the race until Koretzky relieved him. Another pass through the finish line that served to completely consummate the first part of the race.

Seventh lap. Koretzky's move was seen perfectly by Schurter, who took up position behind him. Moments of nerves in the leading group, with continuous changes of position indicating that the final attack was getting closer and closer.

Schurter then decided it was time to uncover the cards. The Swiss appeared in all his splendor to take the provisional lead, although the umpteenth change of the race's governor came when Schwarzbauer took the lead again.

Fourth place went to Sarrou who, despite the doubts that his lack of impact on the race might suggest, was just a little more than a pedal stroke away from taking first place.

Penultimate lap. The riders in front lengthened the suffering with a pace that gained in intensity. Schurter opened up to pass on the outside; the tight space the Swiss was looking for got smaller as Sarrou and Frei appeared on either side of him.

And suddenly Pidcock. The British rider had consummated a fantastic comeback, which was eclipsed by Schurter, who shook up the group a bit, although it was Koretzky who attacked. Blevins caught up but the Frenchman quickly opened up a gap. And from there he was unstoppable. No one came close to his rear wheel and Koretzky was able to reach the finish line in first position.

Sarrou was second, cut some points to Schurter -who came in fifth place- and both left the homework for Sunday, when the overall champion will be decided. The Swiss has a big advantage, although he will have to deal with Sarrou's own chances and the remote options of Fluckiger and Schwarzbauer.

Results XCC Mont Sainte Anne 2023 World Cup - Men's

1. Victor Koretzky 22'05"
2. Jordan Sarrou +2"
3. Christopher Blevins +3"
4. Thomas Pidcock +4"
5. Nino Schurter +5"
6. Martin Vidaurre +5"
7. Luca Schwarzbauer +5"
8. Charlie Aldridge +8"
9. Jens Schuermans +9"
10. Mathias Fluckiger +11"

All resutls at MTBDATA