Quebec’s Rafaelle Carrier landed the first win of the Soldier Hollow World Cup weekend on Saturday. The Trinity Racing rider flew to the win in the under-23 women’s short track cross country (XCC).
Under 23 XCC: Carrier wins, Comankiuk just misses podium
Carrier finished ahead of the U.S.A.’s Makena Kellerman and KMC Nikeproof’s Bloeme Kalis.
Marin Lowe (Liv Factory Racing) and Ella MacPhee (Wilier-Vittoria) followed in eighth and ninth for Canada.
Nicholas Halter (Thomus Arkos Youngstars) backed up his U23 men’s XCC world championships win last month with a win again in Utah. Niklaj Hougs (Cube Factory) finishes second and Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria) third.
Mika Comaniuk (Pittstop Racing) just missed the podium, finishing fourth in a six-person sprint for the win.
Elite men and women’s XCC: Jenn Jackson is back!
In the elite races, Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) and Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Premier Tech) take the elite short track wins in Utah.
Berta beats Alessandra Keller (Thomus Maxon) and Specialized Factory Racing’s Sina Frei.
Jenn Jackson finished an impressive sixth in her first race back from injury. The Canadian finished in the second group on the road behind Frei.
Gaze crosses the line ahead of a pair of Cannondale Factory Racing teammates. Luca Martin takes second and Charlie Aldridge third.
Owen Clark was the top Canadian in the elite men’s race in 20th.
Cross country racing continues on Sunday in Soldier Hollow with the Olympic cross country events.
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