Christopher Blevins of Specialized Factory Racing continued his impressive early-season form by clinching back-to-back victories at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike Series XCO World Cup in Nové Město na Moravě. After securing his third consecutive short track win, the American went on to triumph in the elite men’s cross-country race on Sunday.
Blevins crossed the finish line seven seconds ahead of France’s Mathis Azzaro (AVC Aix-en-Provence), while Lars Forster of Switzerland (Thömus Maxon) claimed third. Blevins’ teammate, Victor Koretzky of France, finished just outside the podium in fourth place.
Reflecting on the emotional significance of his victory, Blevins said:
“Nové Město means so much to me and to the sport. I’ve been racing here for 11 years. I’ve cried in these woods after tough races in the Junior and U23 categories. To now win my first European World Cup at this iconic venue is an incredible moment. I’m just really grateful.”
The race saw the return of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) to mountain biking after nearly two years away from the discipline. However, the Dutch rider was forced to abandon the race early after suffering two crashes in the opening laps.
The start of the race was led by Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO), with Koretzky, Blevins, and Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team-XC) close behind. They were later joined by a competitive pack including Azzaro, Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team), Mathias Flückiger, Vital Albin, and Fabio Puntener, all representing strong contenders.
Blevins had a tense moment on the fifth lap, where a small mistake caused him to unclip and nearly crash.
“That hurt in a spot you don’t want to hurt,” Blevins commented, laughing. “I looked at Victor, and he just shook his head after seeing that sketchy moment. These roots are slick—even when dry—and when I’m pushing hard, I sometimes make errors. I’m working on it. Thankfully, I stayed upright and managed to regroup.”
Despite the mid-race mishap, Blevins strategically regained his rhythm. He made a decisive move on the penultimate lap, distancing himself from the chasers and securing a solo win by the final circuit. His performance further solidifies his position as a top contender in the 2025 season.
The victory not only marks a personal milestone for Blevins but also boosts the momentum of Specialized Factory Racing as they continue to assert dominance in this year’s World Cup campaign.
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