US Pro Cup MTB Fayetteville
Blevins, Courtney and Jackson shine in three days of World Cup tune-ups
What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, the Fayetteville US Pro Cup MTB presented by Walmart stop played a key part in helping solidify the team size for US MTB athletes competing at the 2024 Olympics. The intensity surrounding race days equaled a World Cup environment with crucial team points and athlete selection decisions in the balance.
Fast forward a year and out of the Olympic MTB cycle, and Fayetteville looked more like a World Cup tune-up race than a must-win scenario. That doesn’t mean the athletes at the top of the field took the race any less seriously, but for many, this was a place to get some racing into the legs and continue to prepare for the upcoming World Cup season that starts in the next few weeks in Brazil.
Fayetteville’s usual Wednesday, Friday, Saturday schedule was blown apart by dangerously heavy winds early in the week. Wednesday’s XCO race was pushed to Thursday, setting up a three-day stage race with Friday’s 20+ minute XCC race as the only actual rest day. Although the winds subsided some during the end of the week, they still played a strategic part in the racing and led to more group racing than we typically see.
Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) may have been the exception to what I mentioned above. After coming into Fayetteville under the weather last year, before winning a World Cup in Brazil, Blevins is on fire this year. He confidently rode away from the field in both XCO rounds and the XCC race. In a show of where his true form may sit, Blevins uncorked the event's fastest lap on his final lap during Saturday’s HC XCO race.
On the women’s side, Kate Courtney (She Sends Foundation) dominated Thursday’s XCO and Friday’s XCC race. Only Jenn Jackson (Orbea Factory Racing) could stay with Courtney during those rounds, coming up just short in the end.
On Saturday, Jackson committed early with a strong attack and stayed away for most of the race, grabbing the win in dominating style over Courtney.
The US Pro Cup MTB series is the best thing going in US cross-country mountain bike racing. Vail Lake and Fayetteville are the gold standard for racing and an ideal place for North American racers to start their World Cup campaigns. The fields are large and competitive, featuring the best cross-country MTB athletes from the U.S. and Canada.
You can watch livestream replays of all the racing from Fayetteville on the Insider MTB YouTube channel brought to you by Orange Seal.
Awesome photos, Bill!!!
XC AINT DEAD!