First XCC-Podium for Nicole Koller
Nicole Koller once again coped extremely well with the demanding course and rode to her first XCC podium, finishing in an impressive 2nd place. This marks a big milestone in her World Cup career! Read now how the second world cup in Araxá unfolded.
Check out the team Check out the teamSame Same, but different
After the World Cup opening in Araxá the Team stayed another week to start again. But wait – same place? Yes, same place, same XCC track, but very different XCO course. The course is known for its technical challenges, steep climbs, and natural terrain features that demand precision and power. The fast and punchy XCC track pushed riders to their limits with its short but explosive efforts, while the classic XCO course, filled with root sections, off-cambers, and relentless rhythm changes, required maximum focus.
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First XCC-Podium for Nicole Koller
Nicole Koller had a fantastic time in Brazil! She managed to adapt well to the conditions, got strong race legs and the mental capacity to finish in a strong 2nd place in the XCC! This marks a big milestone in her World Cup career! Anne Terpstra crossed the line in 17th, while Caroline Bohé opened her World Cup season after skipping the first round due to sickness. She delivered a solid performance, narrowly missing a front-row start due to a few seconds lost in qualifying.
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Mixed Fortune for the Young Guns in XCO
In the XCO race, the two U23 riders didn’t find one another this time. Finja Lipp was unfortunately stung by an insect in the XCC the previous day and was therefore not able to race at her full potential. On the other hand, Sara Cortinovis had a much better start compared to the week before and battled hard all race long for a podium finish. She eventually finished in a super strong 4th place, showing great progress and determination! Finja finished the XCO in 18th position.
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Solid performances: Elite Women all lined up
For the first time this season, all three Elite women were at the start line together. Racing was intense, with every rider pushing for top results on the Araxá course.
Nicole Koller started a bit more conservatively into the XCO and didn’t quite have the same race legs as the week before, but still delivered a strong effort to finish 7th after her grand podium debut in the XCC!
Caroline Bohé needed some time to find her rhythm but picked up the pace in the final laps to finish 23rd in the XCO and 28th in the XCC.
Anne Terpstra’s 15th place in the XCO may look similar to her results from the previous week, but she stated that her form and race feeling already improved a lot.
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Looking Ahead: Next stop – Europe!
After a few weeks at home and another solid training block, the Ghost Factory Racing Team will head to Nove Mesto from May 23-25 for the next round of the World Cup in Europe. Spirits are high and the motivation stronger than ever – we can’t wait to see what’s in store at the next races!