The 2021 Marathon Mountain Bike World Championships took on the island of Elba in Tuscany. Almost every part of this course is demanding single track with challenging climbs. The men raced 71 miles with 14,000 feet of climbing. The women raced 50 miles with over 10,000 feet of climbing. It was going to be a challenging day to say the least.
The race proved to be one of the hardest most have ever competed in. Fan favorites like Swiss rider Nino Shurter led the lead group for a while and eventually pulled out of the race for health issues. It was a struggle for most to even finish such an effort. Keegan Swenson (Park City Utah; Santa Cruz Bicycles) left it all out on the course today. He had a 91st call-up and made it into the lead group early into Lap 1 of 3. On Lap 2, he had a hole in his tire that he was able to fix on course. By the end of the day, he was able to finish seventh after one of the hardest days he’s ever had on the bike.
Kyle Trudeau (Phoenix, Ariz.; Construction Zone Racing) and Kelly Catale (Pepperell, Mass.) were both able to manage a Top-40 in their respective races.
Men's Results
1. Andreas Seewald (GER)
2. Diego Alfonso Arias Cuervo (COL)
3. Jose Dias (POR)
7. Keegan Swenson (USA)
39. Kyle Trudeau (USA)
67. Jules Goguely (USA)
72. Will Foley (USA)
DNF. Alex Wild (USA)
Women's Results
1. Mona Mitterwallner (AUT)
2.Maja Wloszczowska (POL)
3. Natalia Fischer Equsquiza (ESP)
35. Kelly Catale (USA)
