Denmark’s Mikkel Lose and Germany’s Carla Hahn won today’s junior short cross country (XCC) races, which opened the programme of the European Mountain Bike Championships, which runs in Anadia until Sunday.
A crash on the first corner made the first selection in the men’s race, leaving a group of just over ten slightly detached at the head of the race. That group held together until about halfway through the race, when Mikkel Lose decided to attack.
The Dane pulled away and rode the entire race in front until he crossed the finish line alone, 5 seconds ahead of compatriot Nikolaj Hougs. The dispute for the bronze medal joined six riders until very close to the finish. The strongest in the fight for the podium turned out to be the Swede Edvin Elofsson, who spent 13 seconds more than the winner.
The junior women’s race was divided in the first three of the six laps. In this period the peloton remained compact. But as the pace increased many cyclists started to feel difficulties.
Taking advantage of the fatigue that was taking hold of her opponents, the German Carla Hahn attacked at the entrance of the last two laps. Norwegian Kamilla Aasebø and Spanish Marta Cano responded promptly.
The Nordic joined the German in a head of race, but the Spaniard ‘burst’. Carla Hahn and Kamilla Aasebø entered a head of race together on the final lap. The German proved stronger and triumphed, slightly outscored. The Norwegian took second place, 2 seconds behind. Coming from behind and with a better effort management than Marta Cano, Austrian Eva Herzog won the bronze medal.
On Thursday afternoon the elite XCC races will take place. The women start at 3.30pm and the men at 5.30pm.
