Updated XCO World Series report and gallery: Stigger rides away as Pidcock stays undefeated in Nové Město

Whoop UCI MTB World Series

After the season opener in South Korea two weeks ago, the Whoop UCI Mountain Bike World Series returned to European soil. Now in its 16th year as a World Cup venue, Nové Město has become one of cross-country racing's most iconic stops, instantly recognisable for its forested rock gardens, root-filled climbs, and long tarmac start-finish straight lined with fans.

The return to Nové Město also saw both Puck Pieterse and Tom Pidcock swap skinny tyres for knobbly ones, adding extra intrigue to the elite races. Both riders took advantage of the UCI's updated multi-discipline rules, allowing them to contest the XCC event that determines XCO grid positions. Pieterse won the short track in dominant fashion, while Pidcock had to settle for second after spending much of the race riding off the back of the lead group.

And while Christopher Blevins and Victory Koretzky remain sidelined for the Specialized Factory Racing squad, Adrien Boichis made his first World Series appearance of the season after missing the opening round while racing on the road with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, now returning to mountain bike duties through to Andorra.

Brief results

Elite Women

1. Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) 1:21:32
2. Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) +0:47
3. Seina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) +0:47
4. Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) +0:56
5. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) +0:58

Elite Men

1. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) 1:18:52
2. Luca Matin (Cannondale Factory Racing) +0:18
3. Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM) +1:04
4. Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) +1:19
5. Fabio Püntener (Scott-SRAM) +1:20

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