Lake Placid Hosts Mountain Biking World Cup
Mount Van Hoevenberg, just south Lake Placid, has hosted a multitude of international sporting events. Notably the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games. It has long been a central site for professional sports in North America, from Ironman’s to ski jumping. It hosted the International Cycling Union’s Mountain Biking World Cup this past weekend. Van Hoevenberg’s management, ORDA (Olympic Regional Development Authority) worked with UCI for the months leading up to organize facilities, lodging, and amenities for the participants and their supporting staff. Most importantly, ORDA put together challenging race courses that tested every aspect of the sport; The athletes’ fitness, agility, and willpower were tested by challenging ascents and descents amongst the steep pitches around the Olympic site. The UCI circuit has been racing since April around the world, Lake Placid was the penultimate event.
Events featured during the weekend included Cross-Country Short Track, Cross-Country Olympic, and Marathon. The difference between the three is the distance raced, which can compress or extend the field, while also altering the speeds and efforts during the events. Notable performances included Laura Stigger (AUT) and Sina Frei’s (SUI) respective first and second places in the Olympic discipline. After trading positions from the short track the day prior. On the men’s side Victor Koretzsky, a short track World Champion from France, won the short and Olympic races back-to-back. In fact, Koretzsky was able to fend off World Champion Alan Hatherly (RSA), who recovered from a mechanical when he had a rear puncture in the Olympic distance. That race was decided in a five-man sprint to the line. Hatherly still maintain his overall series lead as the circuit travels to its final site in Mont-Sainte-Anne this weekend.
Head Nordic Skiing Coach Ethan Townsend, an avid mountain biker in the North Country, served as an Anti-Doping Official at the event. Coach Townsend remarked that, “It was a great event with a fun atmosphere.” Next year Mount Van Hoevenberg will host the International Ski Federation’s World Cup Finals in March. The site continues to offer exceptional international sporting events in every season.