N1NO claims the World Cup Champion crown for the 9th time
09 October 2023
It all came down to the very last race of the season. With Jordan Sarrou, winner of the last World Cup round in Snowshoe, and Mathias Flückiger on his tail in the World Cup Overall points ranking, N1NO's margin was slim going into the final, and ultimately deciding, race of the season. A heavy rainstorm turned the track into a brutal, not quite World Cup worthy race. With these kind of conditions, the race was very unpredictable. Nothing was decided until the very end.
The start set the race upside down from the very first lap. Filippo Colombo somehow made it all the way from 56 in the grid to top 15, riding right on Nino's wheel. Unfortunately, they both got trapped in a traffic jam which made them drop back quite far. At the same time, Mathias Flückiger made his way up to lead the race. This meant Flückiger was the virtual leader of the World Cup Overall.
While Mathias Flückiger had a flat tire, Nino and Filippo moved up in the ranks, riding side by side. N1NO was becoming the Overall Leader again.
In the second last lap, Flückiger once more had flat tire. This was in favor of Nino and Jordan Sarrou, who were both contending the top spot. Nino eventually finished in "only" 14th, yet was able to take the crown of the World Cup Champion for the ninth time in his career.
"I can't ask for more in how my World Cup season unfolded this year. Two more World Cup wins and, thanks to my consistency, the overall title as well. Not bad considering I'm the oldest athlete in the World Cup!"
Nino Schurter
9 x World Cup Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing
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