New Zealand riders Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze finished mid-pack in the second round of the UCI MTB World Series Cross-country at Nové Mesto Na Morave in the Czech Republic today.
Cooper (Lapierre PXR Racing) was pushed back after starting on the fourth row but put in some strong laps late in the race to make up some places to 33rd.
“It was a battle royal out there, said Cooper. "It felt great on the first lap, but it turned out everyone else clearly felt a little better on the next couple. I felt stronger in the second half of the race and 33rd was my best World Cup XCO result since 2023, so some good signs to take away.”
Gaze, who started back on the ninth row, pushed up to be in touch in 23rd place. However, he had a bike issue when his saddle slipped which cost him any chance of continuing his forward momentum.
“It was a frustrating day today. I got myself off the line quite well and in touch of the pointy end of the race. Unfortunately, my saddle slipped which can happen and I suffered with some pretty gnarly back pain which doesn’t do much for going forward on a course like this. Is what it is, but there is plenty of season left.”
British World Tour rider Tom Pidcock, starting from the front after winning the short track race mid-week, was in a class of his own to win in 1:18.52, to be 18 seconds clear of Luca Martin (FRA) and more than a minute to third placed Filippo Colombo (SUI).
This weekend the UCI MTB World Series moves to Loudenvielle in France for the opening European rounds of the series for downhill and enduro.
Anton Cooper in training at Nove Mesto this week. (Credit: Thomas Weschta)