UCI MTB World Cup Les Gets: Alan Hatherly wins XCO

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Hatherly becomes first South African to win an XCO event at a World Cup after claiming short track

LES GETS FRANCE JULY 05 Alan Hatherly of New Zeland competes in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Les Gets Cross Country XCC Elite Men on July 05 2024 in Les Gets France Photo by Piotr StaronGetty Images
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory Racing) followed his short track victory on Friday at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Les Gets to become the first South African to take an Olympic Cross Country World Cup title ahead of Mathias Fluckiger (Switzerland).

Hatherly moves into the overall lead in the World Cup series only weeks ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris and demonstrated dominant form on today’s circuit.

Braidot briefly lost pace with Fluckiger and Hatherly before Hatherly attacked the Swiss rider on the lap’s main climb, establishing a distance that grew to 30 seconds by lap 5.

“Unreal weekend,” Hatherly said after the race finished.

“When we spoke before the race and I kind of mentioned the double I think I kind of visualized it and yeah… I'm so happy to have executed it. An unreal weekend for myself and for the team, and two boys on the box in both races!

“A good sign for the team and especially for me leading to the Games around the corner.”

Speaking about his pacing and his gradual breakdown of Fluckiger, Hatherly had always expected the race to be one of attrition. “It's a lot of repeated climbs here, and if you go for it early on, you're gonna pay the bill,” he said. 

“I was happy with my pacing strategy I just cracked on and yeah, I was kind of surprised I rode away the way I did.”

Hatherly takes the overall leader’s jersey for the World Cup series, which will continue in Aletsch Arena/Bellwald in Valais, in mid-July ahead of the Olympic Games.

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Peter Stuart
Peter Stuart

Peter Stuart was editor of Cyclingnews from 2022 until 2025. Before joining Cyclingnews, Peter was the digital editor of Rouleur magazine. Starting life as a freelance feature writer, with bylines in The Times and The Telegraph, he first entered cycling journalism in 2012, joining Cyclist magazine as staff writer. Peter has a background as an international rower, representing Great Britain at the under-23 level and at the Junior Rowing World Championships.

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