I’ve had a real mixed bag of results over the years in Andorra, from winning the Under 23 World Champs in 2015 and a 7th place in the 2019 Elite World Cup to 40th placings and even a DNF in 2023 due to a crash. I’d felt quite fatigued since the last World Cup in Val di Sole and wasn’t expecting too much to come from the race in Andorra.
I struggled in the short track with the high intensity, especially up at close to 2000m and finished in 33rd position, outside of the top 24 and the front 3 rows.
I was hoping I would fare a little better in the XCO on Sunday, but it was a struggle to get going properly after getting caught up in the usual first lap carnage. I was extra cautious not to overdo things on the first laps and try to build into the race.
I rode nice consistent lap times but in the end was unable to make any major inroads into the riders in front of me, with a puncture on the final lap sealing my fate just as I was about to catch the group in front. 52nd in the end and time to have a rest week to freshen up the body and get things moving in the right direction again.