Jenny Rissveds scores her first victory in the XCO World Cup 2024 in Mairipora

Jenny Rissveds wins the opening race of the 2024 World Cup in Mairipora. The Swedish kept the winning card up her sleeve until the final attack that released a Batten who was the protagonist today. The American fell and crossed the finish line behind Blunk.

Rissveds takes victory in Mairipora in the first World Cup of the year

The clouds of Mairipora opened the 2024 XCO World Cup season and the more than sixty riders called to the start line took their first pedal strokes under a leaden gray sky. The favorites showed up early and Evie Richards -winner of the XCC race- set a pace that stretched the group from the beginning. Batten stuck to her wheel while Rissveds, Courtney, Lecomte, and company faltered in response and lost a few meters.

 

The initial differences disappeared and the front group regrouped to close the first short lap together. Behind them, some top riders were less fortunate and spearheads like Loana Lecomte or Jolanda Neff fell slightly behind, although shortly after they separated from the chasing group to go after those ahead.

Batten spread her wings in place of Richards and pushed hard. The efforts of the American paid off with a small gap. However, her former travel companions -Richards, Blunk, Teocchi, Rissveds, Tauber, Keller, Courtney, and Urban- caught up with her again.

After a brief leadership from Teocchi, the control passed to the legs of a Blunk who continued at the front. The nine riders in the lead group still formed a strong group with too many threats, although they had managed to neutralize several supposed favorites, relegated by their own merits to a bitter second place.

Batten tried to shake things up on the next pass through the finish line. Blunk and Teocchi responded promptly, Keller managed to catch up after some hesitant moments, and shortly after it was Rissveds who joined the group. With this scenario, the five understood they had to join forces and break away.

The pace took its toll and the front group split in two: Keller and Teocchi fell back, leaving the trio Blunk, Batten, and Rissveds ready to fight for victory. Meanwhile, Neff managed to climb back up after a poor start and placed herself in the top ten.

The clock kept ticking and Blunk seemed to lose some time, although she managed to return with apparent authority. The three riders had been pedaling together for several kilometers, the differences were slow to appear, and it became clear that the price of victory was high.

The front group started the penultimate lap and the first serious tensions of the trio appeared: a move by Batten, who pushed hard to take the lead just before the descent and use her downhill skills to stretch the group. The American's effort affected her compatriot, and despite Blunk's attempts to survive, Rissveds was the only one who managed to stay on her wheel.

The pair finished the lap several seconds ahead of Blunk. The final lap began with a move by Rissveds, who had been sheltered behind her rivals for much of the race.

The excitement grew as the race progressed; Batten took on the responsibility of leading as Rissveds seemed comfortable in that secondary role. The attack was delayed but it came, all in front of Blunk who watched closely just a few meters away. Batten's attempt was in vain, and the duo came back together. Batten tried again. Rissveds neutralized her once more.

And then Rissveds played her cards with a move that found the success that had eluded Batten moments before. Blunk caught up with Batten while Rissveds flew and disappeared into the dense trees of the Brazilian circuit. Batten fell and the top three positions were set.

With no more unexpected twists, Rissveds flew towards the finish line to claim victory in the Mairipora XCO World Cup. Behind her, the Americans Blunk and Batten appeared to take second and third place on the podium, respectively. Teocchi finished fourth and a strong Neff -including a comeback- crossed the line in fifth place.

Results XCO World Cup Mairipora 2024 - Women's

1. Jenny Rissveds 1h 17' 18"
2. Savilia Blunk +27"
3. Haley Batten +45"
4. Chiara Teocchi +58"
5. Jolanda Neff +1'09"
6. Alessandra Keller 1'24"
7. Anne Tauber +1'41"
8. Kelsey Urban +1'57"
9. Evie Richards +2'01"
10. Kate Courtney +2'02"