New world champions emerge in Andorra

In a slightly frantic morning of racing in Andorra, new cross country world champions emerged from the dust, taking charge and taking the rainbow jerseys for the rest of this year and into next.

Canadians thrived in the high-elevation Pal Arinsal venue, with Isabella Holmgren winning another world championship title, Emilly Johnston joining her on the podium and Cole Punchard riding into a top 10 finish.

Under-23 men

The under-23 men were the first riders on course Sunday in a weather-adjusted schedule. Bjorn Riley and Riley Amos have dominated this category all year for the U.S.A. and, off the start Bjorn Riley was up there again. That would not last, though. Instead, France’s Luca Martin moved through the U.S. racers to take the lead, and his first under-23 world championship title. Dario Lillo of Switzerland takes silver and Tobias Lillelund of Denmark bronze.

Cole Punchard led the Canadian effort with a fantastic sixth-place finish. The Ontario racers finishes just two seconds behind the fading Riley. It’s a huge result for Punchard, who has showed steady progress through the under-23 field all year. Zorak Paille followed in 28th, Owen Clark 30th, Noah Ramsay 35th and Ian Ackert 43rd.

Elite and under-23 women: double rainbows for Holmgren

In an … interesting move from the UCI, the under-23 women’s and elite women’s field lined up on the startline together, though results were to be separated. The combined field was intended to give some room to compress the day’s racing schedule to avoid looming lightening storms that were forecast for the afternoon. The effect, though, was to show off the incredible level of riding in the under-23 women’s field.

That effort was led by Canada’s Isabella Holmgren. After winning the U23 women’s short track (XCC) earlier in the week, Holmgren stormed her way through the elite women’s field. On her way to winning her first under-23 XCO world championship, just one year after winning the junior women’s XCO world title, Holmgren finished in what would have been a top-five finish in the elite women’s race. Olivia Onesti of France finishes second. Emilly Johnston made it another double Canadian podium, earning her first world championship medal in third.

Ava Holmgren followed in seventh and Ella MacPhee 12th in another sensational day of racing for the young Canadian XC program.

Anne Terpstra, Puck Pieterse, Martin Berta make up the 2024 elite women’s XCO podium. Photo:  Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

While most of the elites struggled to stay ahead of the hard-charging Holmgren, Puck Pieterse was riding away from the rest. The Dutch phenom led nearly from the start gun in Andorra. Only Candace Lill of South Africa and, briefly, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot could hold Pieterse wheel.

Anne Terpstra fought back through the field late in the women’s XCO. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

That effort cost both riders. Lill finished fourth, as both Anne Terpstra and Martina Berta passed her to join Pieterse on the podium. It’s a first elite world championship title for Pieterse. Olympic champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot finishes in 14th.

Jenn Jackson, reigning national champion, was the top Canadian racing in the elite category. She finishes in 24th. Sandra Walter followed in 49th and Roxane Vermette 51st.

Victor Koretzky leads Charlie Aldridge and Alan Hatherly in Andorra. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Elite men

The final race of the 2024 UCI mountain bike world championships was the elite men’s XCO. Olympic champion Tom Pidcock has rarely missed a win when he’s started a mountain bike race, no matter where in the field he’s started. While it took the INEOS rider a while to make his way near the front of the men’s field on Sunday, eh couldn’t quite get the win.

Alan Hatherly takes his first elite men’s XCO title. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Instead, South Africa’s Alan Hatherly takes his first elite men’s XCO world championship title. The Cannondale rider’s been on form all year, taking bronze at the Olympics and a World Cup win in Les Gets. While his first elite title, Hatherly won under-23 XCO worlds way back in 2018.

Victor Koretzky follows in second with Pidcock rounding out the podium in third place.

Gunnar Holmgren led the Canadian effort, in 36th, with Tyler Orschel 44th, Leandré Bouchard 45th and Carter Woods 47th.

The elite men’s XCO world championship podium for 2024. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

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