Simon Andreassen, Sina Frei claim thrilling UCI Cross-Country Short Track World Cup wins at Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland

Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team) and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) made late moves to win in the UCI Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) World Cup at Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland.

Andreassen won a chaotic Elite Men’s race at Epic Bike Park in Austria by six seconds as he claimed his first UCI World Cup victory in more than two years and his wife, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing), was also on the podium after finishing second in the Women’s Elite race.

”I’m really happy,” said Andreassen. ”It’s quite a cruel sport. I had a tough start to the World Cup season and then suddenly I’m winning. It’s super difficult to suffer week in and week out. When you finally win it’s all worth it.

”I didn’t really have a plan, just tried to survive. With two or three laps to go I moved to the front. I was struggling to see, my glasses were so full of mud, and I just wanted to have clear vision. Nobody came past me after that; it was a good tactic.”

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There was drama early on in the men's race as overall leader Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC) suffered a snapped chain and Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) missed his pedal away from the line.

The slippery course resulted in Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing) crashing, ending his hopes of a top-10 finish.

Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) went on the attack as he pulled out a slender advantage along with Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). However, the pair were caught and, as the last lap started, there were 10 riders still with a chance of victory.

Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) pulled away up the first climb but his chances were ended when his chain came off.

Andreassen made the most of the opportunity as he attacked and won by six seconds.

Colombo took second after Martin Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) crashed on the final corner and Martin recovered from his mid-race crash to finish on the podium in third.

Azzaro, who came in 10th, tops the overall standings after three rounds.

Frei powers to victory

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Frei won the Women’s Elite race after breaking away from a leading trio and finishing with the fastest lap of the race.

Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) suffered an early setback as she slipped on the first turn.

European champion Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing), Alessandra Keller (Thomus maxon), and Frei then battled for victory with three laps to go.

Rissveds made several attacks but was unable to drop Frei, who powered up the climb on the last lap and then raced away down the descent to extend her overall lead in the UCI XCC World Cup.

She will seek her second double of the season in the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup on Sunday.

”From lap to lap it got hard and harder, because I couldn’t see any more,” said Frei.

”In the end it was trying to hit the perfect line. In the last lap I knew I had to go all in. When I crossed the finish, I didn’t know that I had won, I was so exhausted and just tried to go full gas until the line.”

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