Final Day Of MTB World Championships Throws Up Some Surprises

It was a tough day out on course for the Australian team on the final day of the 2022 UCI MTB World Championships in Les Gets, France.

Tasmanian Sam Fox would be the shining light around the XC course finishing 13th in the Under 23 Men.

Elite XCO

Rebecca McConnell lined up as a three time world cup winner, and world championships medalist for the six lap tester.

With the likes of fellow heavy-weights Pauline Ferrand Prevot, Joanda Neff and Loana Lecomte taking of from the start loop the pace was set to be a hot one.

It would prove to be a pace the Australian couldn't keep up with as she would cross in 26th place.

Ferand Prevot created history as she added the XCO rainbow jersey to her XCC one she claimed on Friday.

Despite starting down the back of the elite men’s field of 111 Dan McConnell showed the form of old.

The nine-time to pull his way up 50 places finish 25th after seven laps.

While Cameron Ivory stuck at the task to end his world championship campaign wih an 83rd.

Switzerland's Nino Schurter would solidify his legend status claiming his 10th rainbow jersey.

U23 XCO

A quartet of Under 23 Australian men, Sam Fox, Cameron Wright, Dominic Paolilli and Tom Cheesman lined up for their six laps for world championship glory.

Fox had a blistering start to be up in a group of 10 heading out onto the first lap.

The Tasmanian would keep a steady pace to push his way into 13th and finish only 30 seconds outside the top 10.

After getting caught in a first lap crash Wright fought his way through the field to finish in 30th place.

While the 3.9km a lap would test the metal of Paolilli and Cheeseman.

Italian Simone Avondetto would take the gold medal.

What was supposed to be a four-prong attack from the Aussess in the Under 23 women it would only see two riders take to the start line.

Zoe Cuthbert and Izzy Flint would not strap on a race plate after coming down will illness days before.

That left Katherine Hosking and Holly Lubcke to battle it out in the field of 62 for five laps.

The pace was hot from the start and the Aussies did their best to pick their way through the pack.

Hosking would finish on the lead lap in 39th while Lubcke finished in 53rd place.

Full results can be found here.

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Photo Credit: Matt Rousu Photography / Hixit