UCI Mountain Bike World Cup: Mona Mitterwallner wins second consecutive cross-country event in Les Gets, France

Austrian Mona Mitterwallner made it two wins out of two in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup cross-country event after a faultless ride in Les Gets, France on Sunday afternoon.

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, second in the overall standings only to Puck Pieterse was their great hope.

Pieterse, so far ahead in the standings, would be top at the end of the day regardless of the race’s outcome but the Dutch champion shot into an instant lead with 23-year-old Loana Lecomte in close pursuit and giving the peloton work to do from the outset.

Ferrand-Prevot had started the race from the fourth line after missing the short format race due to illness but she, too set to work right away as she moved to the head of the chasing pack.

Lecomte continued to impress as she pushed aggressively in the early stages. A chasing group of eight rejoined the three leaders as the course began to climb. Ferrand-Prevot showed power in the climb and shoved her way into the top ten. Lecomte refused to relinquish the lead despite attempts by Alessandra Keller to take it.

At the end of the first lap, Ferrand-Prevot had climbed to eighth while Pieterse attacked again, punishing the chasers.

Pieterse’s surprise attack split the leading group as only American Haley Batten and Austrian Mona Mitterwallner managed to go with her.

Ferrand-Prevot broke away from the second group and began to cut into the lead. Pieterse was feeling the pinch after her surprise attack and Ferrand-Prevot quickly reeled her back in.

Lecomte meanwhile had faded somewhat and was already 19 seconds off the lead, a gap which stretched to 31 seconds at the end of the second lap.

Pieterse was gradually moving ahead of the other three in the leading quartet and then attacked with vigour on the descent. Mitterwallner and Batten struggled to match her speed but Ferrand-Prevot slipped and fell from her machine. She was unhurt though and quickly remounted to join the chase.

The Dutch rider was 10 seconds ahead as the third lap came to an end.

Mitterwallner was leading the chase, while Lecomte continued to languish over a minute behind. Batten dropped off the chase.

Pieterse had eased off and the duo of Mitterwallner and Ferrand-Prevot cut viciously into her lead.

As soon as they reached her back wheel, Pieterse attacked again. Ferrand-Prevot suffered a technical glitch and the leading duo left her behind. Mitterwallner, who had kept pace with the Dutch leader, took her turn to attack. At the end of the fifth lap, the Austrian led with Mieterse alongside and Ferrand-Prevot 11 seconds behind.

Mitterwallner attacked again, provoking an instant response from Mieterse who would not let the Austrian get more than a few lengths ahead.

Ferrand-Prevot’s hopes seemed dashed as she slipped 27 seconds behind the leading pair. Wallner was not far behind and a podium place was up for grabs.

As the final lap began, it was a two-way fight for the victory between Pieterse and Mitterwallner while another one-on-one between Batten and Ferrand-Prevot would decide third place.

The American was now in contact with her French adversary and pushing hard, but Ferrand-Prevot matched her pace.

In the blink of an eye, Mitterwallner was 25 seconds clear of Pieterse and seemingly untouchable.

The chasing pack was a further 40 seconds behind, so Pieterse had nothing to fear from them unless something seriously went wrong.

As the leaders entered the wooded section for the final time, Ferrand-Prevot attacked one final time. Batten could not go with her.

Mitterwallner crossed the line first, with Pieterse second and Ferrand-Prevot completing the podium.

The Austrian won the last round in Pal, Andorra and moves within striking distance of Pieterse at the top of the overall standings with her victory.