UCI MTB World Championships: Alan Hatherly destroys the competition to defend elite XCO title. Image: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images.
(The Post News)– Alan Hatherly was crowned world champion in the UCI Mountain Biking (MTB) Championships for the second consecutive time on Sunday in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The South African dominated the race from start to finish, riding solo for most of the competition.
The World Championships in Crans Montana wrapped up with the men’s cross-country race. A day earlier, Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds claimed gold in the women’s competition, while Puck Pieterse was forced to settle for sixth place after equipment issues cost her a chance at a medal. In the men’s race, Dutch rider Van der Poel was seen as the country’s best hope for a podium finish.
The 3.8-kilometer circuit, completed nine times, featured 160 meters of climbing per lap. Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt described it as a challenging but rewarding track: “It’s a fair course where the strongest riders prevail. The mix of climbing, elevation, and technical sections makes this World Championship demanding, yet beautiful.”
Hatherly Faced Strong Competition in the UCI MBT
Mathieu van der Poel’s bid to claim a world title in a fourth discipline quickly unraveled, as the Dutch rider, who had been part of the select group chasing Hatherly early on, ultimately faded to finish 29th.
Hatherly, meanwhile, shrugged off pressure from three-time runner-up Mathias Flückiger in the opening stages and steadily pulled clear, stretching his advantage to a full minute by the halfway point. By the end of lap five, the chasing group of five riders had eased their pace, trailing by 1:21 and appearing to settle for fighting over silver.
From there, the race became a controlled display from Hatherly. He did falter briefly with a slip on the same root-strewn section that had earlier tripped up Koretzky and later Van der Poel, but his dominance was never truly threatened. Although his previously relentless lap times began to slow in the final stages, the real drama was unfolding behind him as the contest for the remaining podium spots heated up.
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