Haley Batten of Specialized Factory Racing maintained her dominance in the women’s elite racing at the Whoop UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Araxá, Brazil on Sunday. She won the cross-country Olympic (XCO) race after a thrilling battle with Jenny Rissveds of Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental that went down to the wire. In the final lap, Batten made a strategic move and managed to carve out a 17-second gap on Rissveds by the finish line.
Batten’s compatriot, Savilia Blunk of Decathlon Ford Racing Team, finished in third place behind Rissveds. The race saw multiple lead changes and was full of excitement as riders battled for position on the course. In an interview after the race, Rissveds acknowledged Batten’s clever tactics and expressed her frustration at not being able to respond to her move.
The next cross-country round will take place in Nové Město na Moravě from 24-26 May as the racing returns to Europe following the Brazilian rounds.
