Can Pidcock & McConnell Win Back to Back? The Nove Mesto 2022 Primer

May 12, 2022
by James Smurthwaite  
Puck Pieterse unfortunately just missed out on the podium.

In what is quickly becoming a cross country tradition, Albstadt and Nove Mesto follow each other for a quickfire kick off to the European World Cup season. As tracks, they are chalk and cheese so every aspect of a racer is tested over the course of two weekends. Albstadt suits the light weight climber with its straight up and down profile, whereas Nove Mesto is a techier affair that undulates through the Czech forest. Here's what to look out for this weekend.

The Track


Nove Mesto is one of the most popular tracks among racers on the circuit and that's not just because of the huge crowds it attracts. It's a track you can't rest for a mont on as you're either breathing through your eyeballs on the brutal climbs or picking your way through techy descents that are just waiting to snatch your wheels away.



Last Time in Nove Mesto


The rain fell hard last time out in Nove Mesto making this challenging track the trickiest it has ever been. Able to rise above the carnage were Loana Lecomte and Tom Pidcock who put down impressive performances and took solo victories.



Previous Winners

Lecomte fighting grip up the climb with absolutely nobody else in sight. In fact she put well over a minute into the rest of the start list.

Nove Mesto has a history of producing first time winners with Pidcock, Lecomte, Avancini, Andreassen and Van der Poel all breaking their ducks here since 2019. Beyond that, the results list reads like a who's who of 2010s cross country with successes for Pendrel, Neff, Prevot and Kulhavy. One thing to note is how successful Nino has been here, which bodes well as he arrives in the Czech Republic this weekend chasing a record 34th World Cup win.



2011:

Elite Men: Jaroslav Kulhavy
Elite Women: Catharine Pendrel


2012:

Elite Men: Nino Schurter
Elite Women: Catharine Pendrel



2013:

Elite Men: Nino Schurter
Elite Women: Tanja Zakelj


2014:

Elite Men: Nino Schurter
Elite Women: Pauline Ferrand Prevot



2015:

Elite Men: Jaroslav Kulhavy
Elite Women: Jolanda Neff


2016:

Elite Men: Nino Schurter
Elite Women: Annika Langvad



2017:

Elite Men: Nino Schurter
Elite Women: Annika Langvad


2018:

Elite Men: Nino Schurter
Elite Women: Annika Langvad



2019:

Elite Men: Mathieu van der Poel
Elite Women: Kate Courtney


2020 double-header:

Elite Men: Simon Andreassen, Henrique Avancini
Elite Women: Loana Lecomte, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot



2021:

Elite Men: Tom Pidcock
Elite Women: Loana Lecomte



What Happened at the Last Race?



It was only three days ago, but if you need a reminder of what happened in Albstadt then look no further. In the women's race, Rebecca McConnell continued her fine run of form to take a second win on the bounce ahead of Jenny Rissveds with Mona Mitterwallner delivering on the hype in third. In the men's race, Tom Pidcock was the imperious class of the field and cantered to victory with Nino Schurter and Vlad Dascalu settling for second and third respectively.



Current Overall Standings


Nino Schurter never forgets to enjoy himself on the bike.


Elite Women


Unsurprisingly, Rebecca McConnel is on top of the pile after taking 3 of a possible 4 wins so far this year. She's currently on nearly double the points total of second placed Anne Terpstra with Mitterwallner's consistency securing her third.

photo
photo
photo




Elite Men


Nino and the number 1 plate is a familiar sight in XC racing and he continues to hold it after a successful weekend in Albstadt. Marotte is second and Hatherly third. Tom Pidcock's victory last weekend lifted him up to seventh after just one race.

photo
photo
photo



Weather Forecast


Annie Last and Laura Stigger lead the pack off the line.
Friday, May 13 - Short Track
Clouds and sunshine with a couple of showers and a thunderstorm // 22°C // 88% precipitation // wind 9km/h

Saturday, May 14 - Junior and U23 races
Nice with periods of sun and clouds // 23°C // 1% precipitation // wind 9km/h

Sunday, May 15 - Elite races
Nice with intervals of clouds and sun // 25°C // 1% precipitation // wind 9km/h

Weather forecast as of Wednesday, May 11. Live updates from [L=https://www.accuweather.com/en/sk/nove-mesto-nad-vahom/300916/daily-weather-forecast/300916?day=5[/L].



Schedule

Thomas Griot fighting his way through the field and into the top 10.

All times CEST

Thursday, May 12
• 12:00-13:30 // Official XCO Training - Women Under 23 and Elite
• 13:30-15:00 // Official XCO Training - Men Under 23 and Elite
• 15:00-17:00 // Official XCO Training - All including Juniors

Friday, May 13
• 09:30-11:00 // Official XCO Training - Women Under 23 and Elite
• 11:00-12:30 // Official XCO Training - Men Under 23 and Elite
• 12:30-14:00 // Official XCO Training - Junior Women
• 14:00-15:30 // Official XCO Training - Junior Men
• 16:15-17:00 // Official XCC Training - Women
• 17:00-17:45 // Official XCC Training - Men
• 18:00 // World Cup Cross-country Short Track - Women
• 18:45 // World Cup Cross-country Short Track - Men

Saturday, May 8
• 08:00-08:45 // Official XCO Training - Juniors
• 09:15 // XCO Junior Series - Men
• 11:15 // XCO Junior Series - Women, all Juniors awards to follow
• 12:30-13:30 // Official XCO Training - Men Under 23 and Elite
• 13:30-14:30 // Official XCO Training - Women Under 23 and Elite
• 15:00 // World Cup Cross-Country Olympic - Men Under 23
• 16:30 // World Cup Cross-Country Olympic - Women Under 23, all U23 awards to follow

Sunday, May 9
• 09:00-10:30 // Official XCO Training - Men and Women Elite
• 11:20 // World Cup Cross-Country Olympic - Women Elite, followed by awards
• 15:20 // World Cup Cross-Country Olympic - Men Elite, followed by awards

Note: All times are local and subject to change by the UCI/event organizer.



How to Watch

The first XCO of the year is go

Tune in to Pinkbike to catch all the Nove Mesto coverage throughout the week.

All the Elite races can be streamed live on redbull.tv.

Schedule:
(All times in CEST, replay available immediately following the races)

XCO

The Men’s Elite final takes place on Sunday, 15 May, at 3:20 pm (CEST)

- Albstadt XCC Women and Men: Friday, May 13 - 6:00pm (9:00am PDT, 12:00pm EDT, 5:00pm BST, 04:00am +day NZST)
- Albstadt XCO Women: Sunday, May 15 - 11:20am (2:20am PDT, 5:20am EDT, 10:20am BST, 9:20pm NZST)
- Albstadt XCO Men: Sunday, May 15 - 3:20pm (6:20am PDT, 9:20am EDT, 2:20pm BST, 1:20pm +day NZST)

Note: These times are subject to change. Please check with your local provider.




Author Info:
jamessmurthwaite avatar

Member since Nov 14, 2018
1,770 articles

26 Comments
  • 31 3
 I think a more axcurate headline would have been “Can Rebecca McConnell make it a Hattrick and will Tom Pidcock prevail again?”

Two very different achievements.
  • 19 2
 Came to the comments to say the same thing. McConnell has already won back to back, so the answer there is yes.
  • 4 1
 @Tambo: "Can Pidcock & McConnell Win Back to Back?" McConnell has already won her back to back, so the answer there is NO (she can win a back to back to back). Pidcock can win for the second time in a row, so the answer there is YES.
  • 1 1
 @mi-bike: McConnell can't win back to back? She just did... I don't know what extra proof you want that she is capable of winning back to back.
  • 11 0
 But Bec already has won back to back (to back, if you count XCC)
  • 6 0
 No comments on the race stuff but that @andy9 wide angle pan shot is money.
  • 2 0
 Unless Pidcock has a mechanical he’s going to be hard to beat. Maybe some high altitude events will cause some complications, but it looks like he’s the man to beat. Nino’s going to have a challenge to get that elusive win to move past Julian.
  • 5 0
 I can't wait.
  • 2 0
 I've not been following it, but what happened to Evie Richards? Does the curse of the rainbow jersey also apply to MTB?
  • 5 0
 Evie picked up a stomach bug or similar in Brazil that kept her out of the main event there, and off the bike for training leading up to Albstdat.
  • 5 0
 @dglobulator:
Back problems as well.
  • 2 0
 I don't think any rainbow curse. She was strong in the first short track race, nearly won it. Just got derailed a little by illness
  • 2 0
 Rainbow curse happens a lot in DH I think Seems like the whole Trek squad almost got caught out with something in Brazil
  • 1 0
 @Wyndbrook: vaccine reactions and "period problems" for the quadfecta.

Wonder if she can tweak her riding position a little. Her bad back has been a bother for a while now.
  • 4 2
 I hope so. my fantasy team would like that
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.130159
Mobile Version of Website