Worst Dominant at Muddy World Cup Bern – Report, Results

Czech rider Katerina Nash (Clif Pro Team) was the rider to defend the World Cup lead in the Swiss mud at World Cup Bern on Sunday. The race was the 3rd race of the World Cup, but only the first one on European soil after two previous races in the US.

Canadian rider and second in the World Cup standings Maghalie Rochette (Specialized/Feedback Sports) was the rider with today’s head start, but towards the long running section, European Champion Annemarie Worst (777) took over the lead. A gap opened up immediately.

Anna Kay (Experza CX Pro Team ) tried to lead the chase but soon crashed into the Swiss mud. It was then U23 European Champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Corendon-Circus) who tried to chase the Elite European Champion down, but by the end of Lap 1 she already had a 19-second gap to bridge.

Nash, defending her World Cup lead, was already 29 seconds behind holding on to position 6. World Champion Sanne Cant (IKO-Crelan) looked at a 44 seconds arrear already with American national champion Katie Compton (KFC Racing) nearby.

One day isn’t the other, as yesterday’s winner of the Superprestige race in Boom, Alice Maria Arzuffi (777), went down in the Swiss mud and wouldn’t make today’s top 10.

Worst, on the other hand, responded well to racing yesterday and extended her lead on Alvarado in the 2nd lap. The U23 European Champion was already 32 seconds behind, which was the exact same deficit she faced at the end of Lap 3 as well.

Ceylin Alvarado chases after Annemarie Worst at World Cup Bern. © Steffen Müssiggang

Kay was the rider in third by the end of laps 2 and 3, but the podium spot of the British rider was still in danger entering the last lap, as Yara Kastelijn (777) and Kaitlin Keough (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) gathered forces. An unfortunate crash of Kastelijn, however, ensured Kay of the remaining spot on the podium.

Worst, who didn’t suffer from heavy legs after a tough race yesterday, took her second victory of the season.

“It went very well today,” Worst said about her win (Translated, source: Sporza). “If you can ride in first position, you can ride good lines and you’ll make fewer mistakes. I didn’t think it would go that easy. The doubts I had before the race are completely gone now. It’s fun to begin my World Cup this way.”

Annemarie Worst celebrates her win at World Cup Bern. © Steffen Müssiggang

Alvarado finished 2nd on 33 seconds, as Kay took her first podium ever in the World Cup with a 56 seconds arrear on Worst.

American rider Keough rode solo towards 4th place, while Kastelijn, just as yesterday, took 5th. Sxith place went to an American rider as well, as Katie Compton (KFC Racing p/b Trek Knight) had put down a strong comeback throughout the race. Nash took 7th and held on to her lead in the World Cup.

World Champion Cant had to be content with place 8. Canadian rider Rochette finished 11th and held on to her second place in the World Cup standings.

Another American rider Corey Coogan Cisek (CCC Racing) finished 47th and Rebecca Gross (Zero D Racing) took 54th. Full results are below.

Elite Women Results: 2019 World Cup Bern