Nino descending during an XC race

Schurter and Courtney lead the Elite fields to the finish in Les Gets

SCOTT-SRAM’s dynamic duo racked up another winning weekend as Nino Schurter and Kate Courtney took victories in XCO at the World Cup in Les Gets, France.

In the Women’s Elite race Courtney had a 14-second lead by the start of the second lap, and maintained the front spot through the remainder of the race. She crossed the finish line 33 seconds ahead of the next rider, and now leads Elite Women’s World Cup XCO standings by 175 points. “Today I just rode my own race and focused on the objectives. I’m really happy it worked out. It’s been a really good weekend, but I’m new to this, so I’m learning to focus on just one race at a time and not let the pressure get to me,” she told cyclingnews.com. The victory was her third of the World Cup season. Ghost Factory Racing’s Sina Frei made the podium in fourth place. Norco Factory Team’s Haley Smith took sixth place, and Frei’s teammate, Anne Terpstra, who won last week’s Vallnord race, took seventh.

The Women's Elite field puts their first pedal strokes down on the XCO course. The Women’s Elite field gallops onto the Les Gets XCO course. ?@maddogboris

Kate Courtney cruises through a berm, giving the lungs a quick break. Courtney all alone out front. ?@maddogboris

Frei pedals across a grassy flat with a smile on her face. Frei enjoying the day on her way to fourth. ?@maddogboris

Anne Terpstra tilts the bike in through a down hill corner. Terpstra on the gas through the downhill. ?@maddogboris

Kate Courtney looks back at the finish line, waiting to congratulate her competitors. Courtney waiting to congratulate her competitors. ?@maddogboris

Schurter was part of the Elite Men’s front group from the start, and attacked to take the lead on the seventh lap, followed closely by Torpado Ursus rider Gerhard Kerschbaumer. Schurter attacked again at the start of the last lap, but was unable to shake Kerschbaumer. A final attack on the last climb proved successful, and Schurter won by four seconds, with Kerschbaumer taking second place. 

The Elite Men charge off of the start line on to the course. The Men’s Elite start stampede. ?@maddogboris

 The lead pack was nose to tail. ?@maddogboris

 Schurter in his zone. ?@maddogboris

 Classic Schurter style. ?@maddogboris

 After hard work Schurter crosses the finish. ?@maddogboris

The victory increased Schurter’s lead in World Cup XCO standings to 245 points. “It was a tough race, a tough course – very physical,” he told cyclingnews.com. “Gerhard was super strong, and I was a bit surprised when I dropped him on the second-to-last lap. That gave me confidence that I was the strongest today. On a physical track like this, it’s hard to get gaps, so for a long time it was an open race. Today was a big step towards the overall title.”

 Women’s Elite podium. ?@maddogboris

 Men’s Elite podium. ?@maddogboris

 The next World Cup XCO race is scheduled for August 304 in Val di Sole, Italy.

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