McConnell finishes 5th in XCO World Cup overall

Kate Courtney dug in for a gutsy fifth on home soil at Snowshoe behind winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot to wrap up a maiden UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO overall title as Swiss legend Nino Schurter sealed an amazing seventh men's title. Rebecca McConnell rode a storming race to finish 4th and ended up 5th overall in the World Cup, while Dan McConnell closed out the season with a stellar top 20 ride.

Guns blazing 

It was nip and tuck between the 2018 world champion Courtney and four-time World Cup champion Jolanda Neff all season heading into the final 2019 stop, however the Swiss rider was soon dropped as Courtney managed to stay in sight of the leading pack. Neff appeared to have her engine jammed in reverse and she drifted a long way back before gettin on top of things.

Ferrand-Prévot had come into the race on the back of a superb 2019 World Championship display in Mont-Sainte-Anne where she held off Neff for her second career gold and she looked in great shape again chasing down the in-form Dutch rider Anne Terpstra.

She pulled off an audacious uphill overtaking move on the final lap to pass Terpstra and held on to win by four seconds with Briton Annie Last a bold third and Courtney crossing the line fifth to win the title by just 30 points from Neff who could only finish 11th.

Ferrand-Prévot, 27, said: "In the last lap I was 10 seconds behind, but I never gave up and I came back. I was not so good in the first two races, so third in the overall ranking is a good result. I didn't imagine to have such a good year and I am proud of myself."

Courtney, 23, revealed: "I think it will sink in over time. Every race you can't make a big mistake and you have to fight for every spot. Today was about going out as hard as I could and then holding it together hoping that it would be enough. This win means a lot to me."

Tight battles

After Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel decided not to contest the final men's race, it was a formality for Schurter in his pursuit of a seventh title as he started strong before he punctured to leave Brazilian Henrique Avancini up front alone in the hot temperatures.

The course in Snowshoe was not highly decisive, and so gaps came from mistakes like Schurter's puncture. And later, a crash by Fumic through the start-finish from just going too fast!

Avancini was eventually reeled in as Schurter hit back to set up an exciting showdown with compatriot Lars Forster, who battled back from a knee injury to finish the season on a high by fending off Schurter for his first World Cup win with Frenchman Maxime Marotte third.

Forster, 26, added: "I had the feeling yesterday about something good. Finishing with this win is amazing. I made my way up again after the crash in Albstadt."

Thirty-three-year-old Schurter, who won his eighth World Championship gold in Canada last weekend, enthused: "It was so cool to see Lars winning. He more than deserved it after a tough season. I am super happy winning overall. It was an insane season again."

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO women's result from Snowshoe:

1. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot FRA 1:17.51
2. Anne Terpstra NED +0.04
3. Annie Last GBR +0.27
4. Rebecca McConnell AUS +0.57
5. Kate Courtney USA +1.37

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO women's overall standings:
1. Kate Courtney USA 1772 points
2. Jolanda Neff SUI 1742
3. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot FRA 1575
4. Anne Terpstra NED 1480
5. Rebecca McConnell AUS 1217

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO men's result from Snowshoe:

1. Lars Forster SUI 1:26.09
2. Nino Schurter SUI +0.05
3. Maxime Marotte FRA +0.07
4. Henrique Avancini BRA +0.08
5. Stephane Tempier FRA +0.10

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO men's overall standings:
1. Nino Schurter SUI 1995 points
2. Mathieu van der Poel NED 1649
3. Henrique Avancini BRA 1565
4. Mathias Flueckiger SUI 1348
5. Jordan Sarrou FRA 1097