Solid P11 in XCC and P13 in XCO at World Series #2 in Araxa 2, Brazil

Short Track World Series Araxa #2

Thanks to my position in the overall World Cup, I was able to start from the second row at the second Short Track World Cup of the season, which meant I was much further forward than in the previous week. Unfortunately, I didn't have that much vigour in my legs all weekend and wasn't able to convert my good starting position directly into a good position in the race. I was immediately a little behind. I then changed my tactics straight away and tried to avoid the crowds on the short climb on the first few laps. So halfway through the race I was in fourth last place in the short track race. Four laps before the end, I decided that now it's the time to work my way forwards to at least get into the top 24, i.e. the third row of the grid for Saturday. I then quickly made up a few places and was in 22nd place with two laps to go. I thought to myself: ‘There should still be a chance - probably second row, first will be tight’. And that's how it turned out. I went into the last lap in 18th place, got up to 10th place in the meantime, but touched the rear wheel of another rider in the final sprint and had to skip two pedal storkes. As a result, I crossed the finish line in 11th place. This not only secured me a starting position on the second row, but also 9th place in the Short Track World Cup classification.

Cross Country World Series Araxa #2

Unfortunately, things went similarly for me in the cross country on Saturday as they had the day before. Perhaps it was due to the heat, which other riders from the USA, South America and Southern Europe were able to cope with a little better. In any case, I wasn't particularly agile again and had to drop back to 25th place on the first lap. After that, however, I was quickly able to join the chasing group behind the leading group of 10 riders. My second lap was also one of the fastest of the entire race. Unfortunately, I lost a lot of time and the chance to catch up with the leading group when a rider three positions ahead of me crashed and blocked the group. After that, I tried to break out of the group a few more times, but I couldn't make a decisive gap and had to lose two positions on the last lap. In the end, 13th place is not my dream result, but I have achieved my goal of being among the top 16 in the overall World Cup at the next World Cup in Nove Mesto na Morave at the end of May. That will secure me a starting place from the second row there again. I'm also very happy with my new team Lapierre Racing Unity and the atmosphere here. The whole first World Series trip was a good start to this co-operation.

Until the next World Series, there are only two races left for me in the French league in Gueret on Friday and Sunday in two weeks. Apart from that, I will concentrate fully on training for Nove Mesto.