Sarrou wins in the wonderful chaos of the Snowshoe XCO World Cup

Sarrou takes the win at the Snowshoe XCO World Cup. The Frenchman beat Schurter in the final sprint and survived a frantic day in which flat tyres ruined the chances of Pidcock and Schwarzbauer. The race suffered several unexpected twists and turns that left the outcome open until its conclusion.

Sarrou triumphs in the extravagant Snowshoe XCO World Cup

The race started with the absence of David Valero -winner at Snowshoe last season- and Sam Gaze. Clean start, no incidents. Aldridge took the lead ahead of Koretzky, Hatherly and Dascalu, while Jofre Cullell rode strong the first meters and placed ninth. 

Schwarzbauer's trademark move as he took the lead just before the end of the start loop. The race had only just begun, so it was too early to find any differences; the leading group had been replaced by an army of bikes moving the pedals in unison. Among them was Pidcock, who was fourteenth.

The pace began to take its toll and the first gaps appeared. Fluckiger closed the pack of eighteen riders that formed the front group, while Koretzky relieved Schwarzbauer in the first position.

Pidcock used his power and skill to climb up the table. The British rider was strong from very early on, overtaking whoever was in front of him. Fifth position after swallowing Hatherly, the last of his victims.

The lead was in the hands of Schwarzbauer, who was holding his own for the moment and was on his way to opening a new lap. Koretzky moved into the lead; Blums in second position.

Aldridge crashed, but was able to recover without major problems.

Pidcock's change of pace at the start of the fourth lap was stifled by Schwarzbauer, who prevented the British rider from taking the lead. A mirage. The Rider galloped off and the German had no choice but to give way. Koretzky resisted the maelstrom steadily and Sarrou joined them with effort.

With no time to digest the move, the race got hectic again. Pidcock got a flat tyre on the front wheel. The rainbow jersey re-entered in twelfth position after the obligatory stop in the technical area. Dascalu fell without consequences - although he was not back on top - shortly before Schurter took the lead.

Pidcock stopped again to change the front wheel for the second time. Confusion due to the strangeness of the episode, which in any case relegated the Briton a little more: 32 seconds from the lead.

Schwarzbauer and Sarrou in the lead. Both opened a gap of 13 seconds with Guerrini, Schurter and company. New plot twist in the race: flat tyre in Schwarzbauer's rear wheel. 40 seconds in a repair that brought him back beyond tenth place.

Sarrou, who had dutifully responded to every change of pace, became the solo leader.

Fluckiger's attack in the chasing group was answered by Schurter and Guerrini. Ahead, Sarrou lost seconds but held on as the sole owner of the race baton; Pidcock chased Schwarzbauer to take eleventh place, 27 seconds behind.

Last lap. Sarrou struggling to keep up the intensity. 4 seconds with Guerrini, Schurter and Fluckiger, who in turn had 3 seconds with Blums and Griot. Next, a Pidcock who was signing a scandalous comeback.

Fluckiger's slide that caught Pidcock and left Guerrini and Schurter alone to chase down Sarrou. The three joined in a leading trio. Moments of tense calm in which it was necessary to wait for the right moment to attack, without falling into exaggerated speculations that would give an option to Fluckiger and Pidcock, who were earning it.

The riders consumed the last kilometers with the outcome still in the air. Nino in front. Change of pace. Guerrini gives way and Sarrou follows. Overtaking the Frenchman for glory in the sprint. The two faced the finishing straight together. Sarrou squeezed his quads as much as he could and it was enough to overtake Schurter and raise his arms to celebrate the victory in the Snowshoe XCO World Cup.

Guerrini took third place, while Fluckiger saved his strength for the final battle and was able to resist the pressure of Pidcock, who finished fifth.

Results XCO Snowshoe World Cup 2023 - Men's

1. Jordan Sarrou 1:18'38"
2. Nino Schurter +1"
3. Marcel Guerrini +3"
4. Mathias Fluckiger +10"
5. Thomas Pidcock +13"
6. Martins Blums +19"
7. Thomas Griot +20"
8. Alan Hatherly +30"
9. Filippo Colombo +39"
10. Victor Koretzky +41"

All results at MTBDATA