Puck Pieterse sprints to Mountain Bike XCC World Series victory as Tom Pidcock is denied by Mathis Azzaro at Nové Město Na Moravě

Puck Pieterse secured a thrilling victory in the Women’s Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) World Series race at Nové Město Na Moravě, marking a strong return to mountain biking after a spring spent competing on the road. Starting from near the back of the pack, Pieterse steadily worked her way forward, taking the lead early in the third lap and maintaining a relentless pace on the climbs. Despite intense pressure from her rivals, the race was ultimately decided in a sprint finish, where Pieterse outpaced Nicole Koller to claim the win, with Laura Stigger finishing second. The men’s race saw Tom Pidcock adopt a cautious strategy, beginning at the rear of the field before gradually moving up through the pack. Pidcock took the lead on the penultimate lap, launching a powerful attack on the final climb. However, Mathis Azzaro was able to draft closely behind and then overtake Pidcock in the final sprint, denying the Briton victory. Azzaro expressed pride in beating a high-profile competitor like Pidcock, while Pidcock himself acknowledged the challenges of returning to mountain biking after time away and remains determined to maintain his winning streak in the upcoming events. Both Pieterse and Pidcock, who have shown versatility by competing across road and mountain disciplines, will continue their campaign at Nové Město with the Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race scheduled for Sunday. Pieterse reflected on the race dynamics, highlighting the high pace set by rivals and her focus on controlling the race to deliver a strong sprint finish. Pidcock, meanwhile, remains optimistic about his form and is aiming to convert his experience and fitness into success in the longer XCO format. The event underscored the growing competitiveness and tactical complexity of the World Series, with crashes and strategic positioning playing key roles in the outcomes. Pieterse’s victory adds to her impressive record in the series, while Azzaro’s breakthrough performance signals the emergence of new contenders in the men’s field. As the season progresses, the performances at Nové Město set the stage for an exciting battle among the world’s top multi-discipline riders.