European MTB Champion Tom Pidcock from Ineos emerged as the winner in the elite men’s cross-country race at the Nové Mesto World Cup. Pidcock engaged in a long cat-and-mouse game with Joshua Dubau from Rockrider Ford Racing Team on the technical circuit in the Czech Republic. The rider from Ineos admitted that the race was difficult due to the tricky conditions and lack of breaks in the short track.
Pidcock encountered some difficulties during the race as the tires were hard, and he struggled with the roots. However, he managed to recover from a lap 5 crash that left him well behind race leader Dubau. The British rider fought back and made a big attack on the penultimate climb of the course to take the lead. Dubau was too exhausted to chase after him, which allowed Pidcock to cross the finish line four seconds ahead of him.
Despite their intense battle for victory, Swiss rider Nino Schurter from Scott emerged as the winner of the race. He held on to his third-place position and beat Thomas Griot from Canyon CLLCTV and Jordan Saroo from Team BMC in the final podium battle. Schurter won the sprint, securing his spot on the podium.
In summary, Pidcock’s victory was hard-fought and well-deserved. He faced various challenges throughout the race, but his determination and perseverance paid off. Schurter and Saroo also showed impressive performances, which led to a thrilling finish in the final podium battle.