Mitterwalner and Seewald rode to mountain bike marathon world glory

A great day for Austria and Germany in Italy as Mona Mitterwallner and Andreas Seewald win the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships.

Today, on the stunning island of Elba, Italy, Mona Mitterwallner (AUT) and Andreas Seewald (GER) rode themselves into the history books by claiming the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships crowns. It was one of the most competitive championships of recent times.

Women’s race: Mitterwallner dominates

The incredible Mitterwallner looked in imperious form as she took the victory, the 19-year-old dominant over the 80km course, which combined a series of technical sections, steep climbs, fast firebreaks, mule tracks and many kilometres of dirt roads, taking place over two tough laps.

Mitterwallner finished clear of second-placed Maja Wloszczowska. Incredibly, the 37-year-old Polish rider won this event just one year after Mitterwallner was born in 2003. Many speculated that this could be the last race of her career. If it is, what a memorable way to retire. Spain’s Fisher Egusquiza completed the podium, while the home crowd celebrated Giada Specia’s fourth position.

Mitterwallner’s major senior victory looks set to be the first of many after she moved to Trek Vaude in the last off-season. On arrival, she immediately signalled her confidence. “The first thing someone should know about me is that I’m really, really ambitious,” she said. “I don’t know why, but it’s in my blood. No matter what I do, I want to be the best at it.”

And why should she not be confident after winning the Junior cross-country Olympic event at the 2020 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Leogang (Austria)? That day she destroyed the competition on a wet and wild day, beating runner-up Luisa Daubermann by nearly two minutes.

In 2021, after moving to the Under 23 category, her form’s been equally as extraordinary. Mitterwallner won the first four races of the season in the Under 23 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup before going on to win the National Championships. She took that form to Val di Sole for the Under 23 event at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships where she prevailed over compatriot Laura Stigger.

In short, Mitterwallner’s been nigh-on unbeatable and she was a deserved winner of a memorable race.

Men’s race: Seewald claims the crown

The Men’s race comprised three laps of the taxing circuit, though not for reigning UCI World Champion Héctor Leonardo Páez León (COL), who had to withdraw because of a fall suffered last week. A collection of further favourites also went by the wayside: Lars Forster (SUI) pulled out due to a broken chain; Andri Frischknecht (SUI) because of physical issues; and Nino Schurter (SUI) due to gastrointestinal problems.

As the brutal day rolled on, the conditions also took their toll on other pre-race contenders for a medal including Martin Stosek (CZE), Tiago Ferreira (POR) and David Valero (ESP), who finished between eighth and 11th.

Back upfront, it was the Swiss team who pushed things on from the start but it soon became clear that 30-year-old Seewald would be the rider to beat, carrying over the power and guile that’s seen him not only win the cross-country Olympic European Championships this season, but also three rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series, most recently at La Forestière in France.

At the start of the last lap, Seewald and Colombian Diego Alfonso Arias Cuervo had carved out a lead of just over 20 seconds, which they increased over the passing kilometres. But Arias Cuervo just couldn’t live with the German as he dropped to over a minute behind. Seewald crossed the line first with Arias Cuervo claiming silver. Portuguese rider José Dias won the bronze medal.