Race Analysis: Blevins XCO win in Mairipora

The 2024 WHOOP Mountainbike World Series kicked off in spectacular fashion at Mairipora. Thrilling races in both Short Track (XCC) and Cross Country (XCO) disciplines captivated the passionate Brazilian crowds.

In this article we want to take a closer look at Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) performance and his race to World Cup glory!

Blevins did not have the best start in the World Cup season. In saturdays XCC race, Blevins only finished on 37th place, which means starting from 37th position/4th row on sundays XCO race. Starting from 4th row in a XCO race is - depending on the course - at least a minor, if not a major disadvantage. In a world class field even a minor disadvantage can be enough that there's hardly any chance to see the front of the race all day. On the Mairipora course, the disadvantage was more in the minor side, but it's still a disadvantage.

Despite this hurdle, Blevins stayed calm and had a very consistent race. While not boasting the fastest lap times throughout, he prioritized consistent, steady riding – a winning strategy in endurance events.

After a really fast start loop, where Blevins already lost nearly 30 seconds to the lead, his consistency brought him back in contention in the following laps. While the lap times of the Top10 riders fluctuated between 11:33 min (Lap 1) to 11:23 min (Lap 2) back to 11:35 min (Lap 3), Blevins was able to ride at a steady tempo. He managed to nail 11:22 min, 11:26 min and 11:26 min for Laps 1 - 3 and was able to close in on the leading pack in Lap 5.

The race then became a tactical battle, with Blevins matching the lap times of the eventual top 10 finishers. He saved his winning move for the final lap, launching a decisive attack that earned him a crucial gap, which he held strong to claim the World Cup victory.

Lap Time Comparison

Fortunately for us, he uploaded his ride to STRAVA (but sadly without power data). Analyzing his segment times further highlights his unwavering consistency. Despite being the winner of the day, Blevins only secured one King of the Mountain (KOM) title for the "4 voltas mtb fastival 2022" segment. This segment encompassed laps 1 - 4, precisely where Blevins dominated with his consistent lap times, surpassing even the average of the top 10 finishers.

Lap Positions

If we take a quick look at his positions for each lap when crossing the finish line, we can see what an impressive ride Blevins had. Starting from 37th position his consistent lap times allowed him to catch up to the leaders. Being there in the pack, allowed him to take a breath and prepare for his final attack to win the race.

Blevins' performance in Mairipora serves as a masterclass in strategic riding and unwavering focus. He defied a challenging starting position and capitalized on his strengths – consistency and well-timed attacks – to secure a thrilling World Cup victory!

Cover Image by Michal Cerveny