The XTR mechanical wins the World Cup in which its new electronic version debuted

This weekend in Leogang has marked a key moment for Shimano: the long-awaited debut in competition of the new wireless XTR Di2 group. And it couldn't have started with a better introduction. Dutch rider Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) dominated both the Short Track and the Olympic Cross-country (XCO) race, becoming the first rider to win a World Cup with this new transmission.

But the story doesn't end there. In the men's category, Czech rider Ondrej Cink (Cube Factory Racing) also took the victory in the XCO... riding the previous version of the XTR, with cable mechanical shifting.

Shimano XTR shines in Leogang: reliability as a common denominator

The Cube Factory Racing team, officially sponsored by Shimano, has not yet introduced the new XTR Di2 on their competition bikes. It is not clear if Cink deliberately chose the cable version due to personal preferences or if it simply was not available to him yet. What is clear is that the veteran Czech rider made the most of a transmission that, although now has a successor, continues to perform at the highest level.

On the other hand, Puck Pieterse did compete with the new wireless electronic group, and she did it in extremely demanding conditions of mud and humidity. Her double win in Leogang marks a dream start for the new generation of Shimano XTR Di2, which bets on wireless technology while maintaining the robustness that has characterized this range.

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The extreme mud, constant changes of pace, and technical demands of the track served as the best possible testing ground. And Leogang has made it clear that both versions of the Shimano XTR group remain fully competitive at the highest level of mountain biking.