PAL ARINSAL, Andorra: The 2024 Mountain Bike World Championships concluded with a bang on Sunday, as South Africa’s Alan Hatherly and Dutch rider Puck Pieterse secured their first Elite Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) titles, solidifying their place among the sport’s elite.

The exciting final day also saw France’s Luca Martin and Canada’s Isabella Holmgren emerge victorious in the Under-23 categories. Holmgren pulled off a stunning double after her earlier win in the Cross-Country Short Track (XCC). Full results

With storm warnings looming, the organisers adjusted the schedule, advancing the men’s finals and trimming one lap off the Women’s Elite and Under-23 races for safety. Despite these changes, the competition remained fierce, with athletes delivering world-class performances.

Men Elite XCO

The Men’s Elite race produced a thrilling finale, with Hatherly delivering a masterclass performance. Fresh from a bronze in the XCC and a recent victory at the UCI World Cup round in Les Gets, Hatherly entered the race full of confidence.

Initially, France’s newly crowned XCC world champion Victor Koretzky led the pack, closely followed by Hatherly, Frenchman Jordan Sarrou, and Switzerland’s Mathias Flückiger. As the race progressed, the field began to spread out, with top riders like Switzerland’s Nino Schurter and New Zealand’s Sam Gaze dropping off the pace.

As the race neared its conclusion, Hatherly and Koretzky were locked in a tight battle, with British Olympic champion Tom Pidcock and his compatriot Charlie Aldridge not far behind. In a decisive move on the final climb, Hatherly powered past Koretzky and maintained his lead to secure the win. “I’m really emotional, to be honest. I knew I had strong legs, but to be able to win like that is a dream come true,” he said. World title, and I’m just so happy.”

Women Elite XCO

The Women’s Elite race featured a strong field of 60 riders, including defending world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of France, Switzerland’s Alessandra Keller, and South Africa’s Candice Lill. The race took a dramatic turn when Britain’s Evie Richards, the reigning XCC world champion, crashed early on.

Pieterse quickly established her dominance in the race. By the third lap, she had fended off a strong challenge from Lill and surged ahead, opening up a 30-second lead. As the race wore on, Lill began to falter, allowing Dutch teammate Anne Terpstra to close in. A mistake by Lill in the penultimate lap allowed Terpstra to overtake her, with Italy’s Martina Berta also gaining ground.

On the final lap, Berta made a bold move in the rock garden to pass Lill and secure a podium finish. Pieterse, however, remained untouchable, crossing the finish line to claim her first Elite world title. “I cannot comprehend it yet!,” the 22-year-old said. “I rode my own pace from the start. I thought I need to go all-in if I want to win this. And I kept pushing, and apparently it was enough. I have my first Elite UCI

Women U23 XCO

Running concurrently with the Women’s Elite race, the Under-23 category saw Canada’s Isabella Holmgren dominate once again. The 19-year-old, who had already clinched the Under-23 XCC title earlier in the week, showcased her skills on the demanding Andorran course.

Holmgren initially faced pressure from France’s Olivia Onesti and the USA’s Madigan Munro, but by the halfway point, she had broken away. On the final lap, Holmgren even outpaced some of the Elite riders, crossing the finish line well ahead of her Under-23 rivals to complete her double victory.

Men U23 XCO

The Men’s Under-23 race kicked off in the cool Andorran morning, with Switzerland’s Dario Lillo and France’s Luca Martin leading the early charge. American Bjorn Riley and Denmark’s Tobias Lillelund were also in contention but began to fade as the race progressed.

Luca Martin, 22, showcased his strength in the latter stages, pulling away from Lillo to secure a decisive win in under an hour. His victory marks a significant milestone in his promising career, making him a rider to watch in future competitions.