Stigger wins the Snowshoe XCO World Cup, Pieterse takes the overall

Laura Stigger wins the Snowshoe XCO World Cup. The Austrian signs her first ever victory in the highest category of the competition. The triumph came after an early move that allowed her to break away from the leading group. Puck Pieterse is the other winner of the day as overall champion.

Stigger wins Snowshoe XCO World Cup, Pieterse takes overall crown

Berta continued her good habit of starting well and took the lead at the start. The Italian was ahead of Burquier, Pieterse, Stigger and company. It didn't take long to see some differences, caused by a bottleneck that caused a cut that left several victims. Mitterwallner, who dropped to 27th position, had to recover and come back to prevent the lead from getting too much ground to make up.

Pieterse took the lead and the first full lap began. The leading group consisted of Pieterse herself, Berta, Henderson and Stigger. The Dutchwoman changed the pace and tried to ensure that her fellow riders suffered the same fate as Lecomte, Batten, Richards and Blunk, who were already ten seconds down.

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Courtney crashed shortly after Pieterse got stuck and lost Henderson's slipstream. The Aussie went away 4 seconds behind, although the four regrouped just seconds later.

Batten joined the leading group, led at that time by Stigger. The Austrian grew and found enough watts to open a gap. The pedaling did damage and got a small cushion of 4 seconds with Berta and 7 seconds with Batten and Pieterse.

The next few minutes showed that Stigger's move was the right one; she managed to keep up the pace and, although Berta completed the lap faster than the previous one, it was insufficient to gain time. Pieterse, who struggled to get through some of the technical sections, led the group that also included Blunk, Lecomte and Batten.

Although she had managed to climb to twelfth place, Mitterwallner had to keep working to get as high as she could: in a race where the podium was already out of reach, she had to fight to keep her chances for the overall.

Interest then focused on the fight for third place. Pieterse, Blunk and Lecomte were riding evenly a few meters behind Berta, who resisted being swallowed up despite suffering on the last lap. Further back, Richards, Neff and Batten were fighting their own battle for sixth.

Nothing changed up front. Stigger retained a strength unknown this season and was on her way to victory on U.S. soil.

Lecomte moved to the front of the group and took the lead with the tricolore jersey in her sights. The Frenchwoman left behind Pieterse and Blunk, who soon after also overtook the Dutchwoman.

For her part, Neff went on a solo ride and signed the second fastest lap, second only to Stigger. The Swiss rider's good feeling had a big impact in the race. Neff had stung at the gates of the podium, which opened wide when Pieterse's fatigue became evident.

Divine inspiration did not visit Pieterse and Neff caught the Dutchwoman with apparent ease, waited a moment and then left.

Last lap. Lecomte turned on the watt machine and presented herself as a serious threat to Stigger's victory, which so far seemed under control. The Frenchwoman was able to cut the leader's lead by half in just one lap: 14 seconds. It was all up in the air.

Stigger dealt with this small crisis until she managed to stabilize the lead. And she was undeterred. The Austrian rode hard, withstood the pressure and burst into tears a few meters before crossing the finish line. Laura Stigger wins the first victory of her career in the highest category of the XCO World Cup.

Lecomte fought to the end but crossed second, while Berta put in a great performance to finish third.

Puck Pieterse is proclaimed Champion of the XCO World Cup 2023. The Dutch rider was the other big winner of the day. The brilliant rider did not manage to put together her best performance, although the solvency and superiority that she has shown in other moments of the season have allowed her to become the new queen of the XCO. A milestone that becomes even more relevant when achieved at only 21 years old.

Mitterwallner, meanwhile, finally came in tenth place.

Results XCO Snowshoe World Cup 2023 - Women's

1. Laura Stigger 1:21'56"
2. Loana Lecomte +23"
3. Martina Berta +32"
4. Savilia Blunk +38"
5. Jolanda Neff +46"
6. Puck Pieterse +55"
7. Evie Richards +1'07"
8. Haley Batten +1'36"
9. Jenny Rissveds +1'36"
10. Mona Mitterwallner +1'37"

All results at MTBDATA