![\"ccs-62657-0-01801900-1562572256.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-01801900-1562572256.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Henrique Avancini.<\/span><\/p>\nThe men’s race saw some of the leading contenders struggle early on with Czech rider Ondrej Cink eventually battling to the front with Brazilian Avancini.<\/p>\n
Cink soon fell back with a heart problem, leaving reigning champion Schurter and Swiss compatriot Mathias Flueckiger to move up alongside Avancini.<\/p>\n Flueckiger looked on track for victory, however the Olympic and world champion summoned a great last-gasp sprint to seal his first 2019 XCO World Cup win.<\/p>\n Avancini was 12 seconds behind for his best result with Italian Gerhard Kerschbaumer and Frenchman Jordan Sarrou rounding out the men’s podium.<\/p>\n Schurter, 33, said: “It was super tough. It is the hardest to race at high altitude. You are always suffering. The sprint worked out pretty well.”<\/p>\n Avancini, 30, explained: “I am stepping up and a positive outcome for the weekend. I was not far from the win. I just missed the move towards the end.”<\/p>\n In the women, Terpstra became the first ever Dutch women’s XCO winner on the World Cup circuit with a gutsy victory over reigning champion Jolanda Neff.<\/p>\n Terpstra had the lead for the majority of the race with Swiss star Neff unable to bridge the gap as Ukrainian Yana Belomoina hit back superbly for third place.<\/p>\n Terpstra, 28, said: “I knew I prepared very good for the altitude because normally it is a weakness for me. I also wanted to take a risk. I did my own race, my own pace.”<\/p>\n<\/a>Nino Schurter follows Mathias Flueckiger.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Mathias Flueckiger.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Nino Schurter.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Jolanda Neff.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Yana Belomoina.<\/span><\/p>\n