Mixed feelings for Team BMC after World Championships in Glasglow

After a splendid start and an excellent first half of the race, Jordan Sarrou had to settle for only the eighteenth place in the World XCO Championships in Glentress Forest this year. Despite not achieving the desired result the French former national champion had hoped for, he did not die wondering.

The emotions within Team BMC were a mix in Scotland over the past few days. While Sarrou and his compatriot Titouan Carod returned home disappointed, and Steffi Häberlin couldn't find satisfaction due to inadequate recovery from her earlier efforts in the Short Race earlier in the week, U23 rider Janis Baumann and Juri Zanotti had a positive reflection on their time in Peebles.

Undoubtedly, Janis Baumann was the BMC team rider departing Glentress Forest with the greatest sense of satisfaction. He secured a tenth place during the U23 World Championships, marking the highlight of his season thus far. "I had to start from the back, but I managed to make my way up quite swiftly."

"I felt comfortable and strong on the bike, improving with each lap. This is my best result of the year, so I'm quite content with it, especially when comparing my lap times with the top 5 from this week's race. I'm enjoying the progress and looking forward to the upcoming World Cup events."

Zanotti also felt he maintained a consistent race pace. "I was close to breaking into the top 20 this week. The race was exceptionally fast this year, and although I lost a few positions in the final lap, I'm content with my performance. The season is still long, and I hold a strong belief in my prospects for the upcoming World Cup races."

Häberlin is also enthusiastic about continuing the World Cup season, be it for different reasons than Zanotti. "I felt somewhat limited this weekend, as if I couldn't push myself harder," she expressed. "I could still feel the strain from the XCC race, resulting in my 17th-place finish. This race didn't evoke much emotion from me. I hope to enhance my race results in the upcoming World Cup races, especially at Les Gets."

Carod had a challenging start, encountering significant blockage in the very first corner of the race. This setback hindered his rhythm. Just as he began to regain momentum and approach the top 10, a mechanical issue caused another setback.

"Our mechanic, Adrien, did a remarkable job with a swift fix. Nonetheless, I struggled to regain my optimal rhythm after this unforeseen interruption. I felt that I could have secured a top 8 finish today, so 32nd place is certainly disappointing. The most positive takeaway for me is the overall feeling. With four World Cup races remaining this season, there's still plenty to fight for."

Sarrou concurred with his fellow countryman after crossing the finish line. "I came here with hopes for better than 18th," he shared. "Unfortunately, my legs didn't cooperate."

Sarrou primarily dictated the fast pace during the race, leading or co-leading for much of the initial three to four laps. However, he had to pay the price for this effort when the eventual race winner increased the tempo even further in the latter half of the competition. Despite falling short of the coveted medal, Sarrou raced in a courageous way that is likely to yield rewards in the remainder of the season.