UCI MTB World Cup Val di Sole: Pieterse, Gaze win short track openers

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Double wins for Alpecin-Deceuninck in short track round four of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series

Puck Pieterse wins short track event at UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Val di Sole
Puck Pieterse wins short track event at UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Val di Sole (Image credit: UCI Mountain Bike World Series)
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It was a good day for Alpecin-Deceuninck as Puck Pieterse and World Champion Sam Gaze triumphed in the elite women's and elite men's short track openers, respectively, at the fourth round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Val di Sole, Trentino.

Pieterse won the women's race by just one second ahead of World Champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Ineos Grenadiers) in a two-rider sprint to the line, while Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) finished in third place at five seconds back.

"I played my own tactic by riding on the front. I’m so happy I could play it smart in the final and take the win in the end. I thought I would use everything in the course that was hard to spread out the field and make sure I was racing for the podium," Pieterse said.

Ferrand-Prévot suggested she possibly could have played things differently in the end.

“It was fast but a comfortable pace, and I was waiting, waiting, waiting, but in the end, I was waiting too long. Puck attacked many times and was so strong. In the end, she deserved the win," Ferrand-Prévot said.

Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) continues to lead the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup standings.

In the men's race, Gaze also won by just one second, edging out runner-up Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) and Jens Schuermans (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC). 

“Really good. It’s been a lot of work over the last weeks, and I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect coming here. I’m just really happy to pull it off, have a good feeling and have as much fun racing my bike," Gaze said.

In what was a close race among the front riders, Nino Schurter (Scott-Sram MTB Racing Team) finished fourth, also just one second back.

“I’m really happy. If before the race I’d finish second, I would say ‘yes.’ I’m looking forward to resting and having 100% of my lungs," Koretzky said.

Sam Gaze

Sam Gaze wins short track event at  UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Val di Sole (Image credit: UCI Mountain Bike World Series)

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Kirsten Frattini
Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.

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