Victor Koretzky, the XCO leader, recently took to Instagram to announce that he will not be participating in the upcoming Crans-Montana World Cup race. This decision comes after a crash at the Val di Sole World Cup last week and his ongoing battle with the effects of a recent COVID illness. Koretzky will be using this week to focus on his recovery and regain his strength.
In 2024, Koretzky has already secured three XCC podium finishes and two XCO podium finishes. Unfortunately, he fell ill before the Nove Mesto World Cup, resulting in 20th and 24th place finishes in the last two rounds. With the Olympics on the horizon, Koretzky is aiming to perform at his best in his home country in just over a month. It is for this reason that his absence from this weekend’s race is understandable.
In addition to Koretzky, other notable racers will also be missing from the start line. World Champion Pauline Ferrand Prevot is currently at an altitude camp preparing for the Olympics, Olympic Champion Jolanda Neff is undergoing therapy to heal her lungs ahead of the Paris Olympics, and Anne Terpstra is recovering from a hand injury sustained in Leogang.
The absence of these top racers creates an opportunity for others to shine on the course this weekend. Fans will undoubtedly be eager to see how this lineup change impacts the competition and who will rise to the occasion in their absence.