Courtney & Swenson Reign Supreme at UCI Marathon World Championships
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Valais, Switzerland – The rugged terrain of the Swiss alps played host to a thrilling UCI Marathon World Championships, witnessing the crowning of two new champions: American stars Kate Courtney and keegan Swenson. Both riders delivered dominant performances,solidifying their status as endurance powerhouses.
women: Courtney Claims long-Distance Crown
Kate Courtney cemented her reputation as a long-distance queen, adding a World Championship title in the marathon discipline to her already impressive palmarès. This victory comes just weeks after she shattered the course record at the prestigious Leadville 100, demonstrating remarkable consistency and strength. Courtney now boasts two rainbow jerseys in her career, having previously won in the cross-country discipline.
The 125-kilometer race saw Courtney and Switzerland’s Anna Weinbeer quickly establish a commanding lead.After the first hour and thirty minutes, the duo held a significant advantage of over thirty seconds over defending champion Mona Mitterwallner. Courtney then upped the pace around the halfway mark, breaking away from Weinbeer and steadily extending her lead.
She ultimately crossed the finish line after just over seven hours of racing, a full 3 minutes and 45 seconds ahead of Weinbeer. Austria’s Mitterwallner, who battled stomach issues late in the race, rounded out the podium in third. Tanja Priller was the top German finisher, placing 21st.
Results – Women:
- Kate Courtney (USA)
- Anna Weinbeer (SUI)
- Mona Mitterwallner (AUT)
Men: Swenson Conquers the Climb
Keegan Swenson mirrored Courtney’s success, claiming the men’s marathon title in a nail-biting finish. His winning time of 6:01:44 secured a narrow victory, just 26 seconds ahead of Italy’s Samuele Porro, with Colombia’s Hector Paez taking bronze, 3 minutes and 43 seconds back.
The men’s race was a grueling affair, starting with a large group of around 30 riders. The field gradually whittled down, with approximately 20 contenders remaining by the midpoint. As the race progressed towards the final climb to the Pas de Lona, only ten riders remained in contention.
Swenson unleashed a decisive attack on the ascent, reaching the summit first and holding off a charging Porro and Paez. European champion Andreas Seewald,considered a pre-race favorite,faded on the final climb,finishing 16th. Simon Stiebjahn (22nd) and Julian Schelb (29th) represented Germany in the top 30.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Swenson, solidifying his position as a leading force in marathon mountain biking.Key Takeaways:
American Dominance: The USA enjoyed a stellar day, with both Courtney and Swenson taking home gold medals.
Swiss Strength: anna Weinbeer’s silver medal performance was a standout result for the host nation.
Brutal Course: the challenging 125-kilometer course proved decisive,separating the strongest riders from the pack.
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