Flückiger claims victory in Les Gets World Cup

For the second consecutive XCO World Cup, Mathias Flückiger (Thomus RN Swiss Bike) completed a perfect weekend of racing in Les Gets, France, winning the Short Track (XCC) on Friday and then the XCO on Sunday. Ondrej Cink (Kross Orlen) finished second to Flückiger in both races for the second consecutive World Cup, while world champion Jordan Sarrou (Specialized) gave the French fans something to cheer about with his third place. Tom Pidcock (Ines Grenedier), back for his first race after breaking his collarbone, was not a factor, appearing to have crashed in the opening lap by his ripped shorts, and then sliding well back before withdrawing from the race.

The rain that began on Saturday during the Downhill turned the course into a muddy, slippery mess. Almost every rider went down at some point, with the off camber grass descents sending riders sliding out of control.

Cink proved once again that he is currently the best climber on the World Cup circuit, moving to the front on the first climb of the seven lap race. Unfortunately for him, Flückiger was almost as quick on the climbs and a significantly better descender in the mud. The Swiss champion gap jumped a couple of rollers to pass Cink on the descent and then further opened a gap in the muddy and slippery off camber switchbacks. While others were gingerly going around the corners, Flückiger railed them, showing off his handling skills, and possibly better tire choice.

Cink rejoined Flückiger on the first climb of the next lap, only to get gapped again on the first descent, this time for good. Cink was joined by follow chasers Sarrou, Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory), Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM) and Luca Braidot (Santa Cruz FSA). Braidot and Schurter were dropped before the end of the third lap, leaving the remaining chasers to fight for second.

Cink then attacked his fellow chasers on the fourth lap to move into solo position of second place. For the remainder of the race he would whittle Flückiger's lead down on the climbs, only to see it grow again on the descents; particularly the final one into the finish. The gap would shrink to less then 20 seconds each lap before Flückiger took it back to 30-plus by the start of the next lap, with the Czech rider eventually finishing 25 seconds back. Sarrou attacked Hatherly on the final lap, urged on by the cheers of the French crowd.

"I have a lot of confidence from the last World Cup, and just from this season," said Flückiger. "I was very motivated after winning [the XCC on] Friday and today was very special with the changed conditions from yesterday [training]. It was really tough. I'm happy with how I managed my gap that I made on the second lap. I just had in my mind that if I did a perfect job I could win."

Cink admitted that second was the best he could manage. "I lost much time in the downhills, because everyone knows I don't like these muddy conditions. I tried to risk everything in the climbs and went full gas, so in the end I am very happy with my result today, because this weather was not for me."