US-American Kate Courtney takes her first victory in the first round of the Mercedes-Benz UCI XCO World Cup in Albstadt. She makes US cycling history as the first US athlete to win in 20 years.
From the start, defending champion Jolanda Neff and reigning UCI World Champion Kate Courtney battled it out. An unusual fall by Neff led to Courtney applying pressure and pushing forward. In the end, the 23-year-old American celebrated her first elite XC World Cup victory and America's first elite XCO win for women in 20 years. Neff finished second, while 2017 overall winner Yana Belomoina, who started from the fourth row of the grid, fought back to finish third.
Courtney revealed to us after the race what this win means to her:
"This win is incredibly special for me. Last season I ended the year with a win at the World Championships and the first impression that it might be possible for me to race at the top of the elite women's field - but this weekend I really surprised myself. I've worked harder than ever this off-season and an incredible team around me has put so much energy into my development. The belief and support I've received both at the races and from home means the world to me. It's a very special moment to celebrate my first World Cup win, but it also motivates me a lot for the future. I'm looking forward to continuing to learn and improve my skills and fitness throughout the rest of the season."
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