Inside Christopher Blevins’ Araxá streak
Specialized rider came home from the first two World Cups with three wins and a second place
The most dominant elite men’s team at the back-to-back World Cup weekends in Brazil was no-doubt Specialized Factory Racing, and the king of the castle had to be American racer Christopher Blevins. He warmed up at Round 1 with a short track win and 2nd to teammate Victor Koretzky in Sunday’s XCO. The following week, Blevins swept both wins and made a mark on the elite men’s field.
The first short track was déjà vu from last year in Araxá, where Blevins was second in the sprint to Koretzky. This time, Blevins told Ryan MTB that he benefited from aggressive racing and a shorter run-in to the finish line.
“I tried to take the initiative, rather than do what I typically do, which is just wait and kind of sit in the wheels,” he said. “Maybe spend a little more energy, but get out of the fight for position, which, you know, can be pretty chaotic and short track.”
Koretzky tried to come around Blevins to take the lead in the final minutes of the race, but the leader held steady and outkicked his teammate.
Blevins’ BMX background also helped him carry speed over the big Brazilian jumps that featured on the short track course.
“I spent like 10 years doing pull manuals on the first jump of a BMX track when I was racing,” Blevins said. “Maybe not 10 years, I wasn't doing it when I was six, but it's a cool section and makes it fun for me.”
The following day saw an unprecedented race performance from Specialized Factory Racing when Blevins and Koretzky took the men’s XCO race by force in a two-man raid. The team didn’t plan the road race-eque tactic, Blevins said, but took advantage of the race situation during lap one.
“As soon as we did get the gap and committed to it, we knew it was really efficient and that we actually could hold it,” he said. “So as soon as we had the gap, it was kind of a no brainer as to what to do.”
While the two leaders put time into their rivals up front, Specialized teammate Martin Viadaurre disrupted the chase effort.
“The best team tactics came from Martin in the group behind who was kind of disrupting things. You know, not the most committed chaser in the group behind, and then sprinted for third. So he definitely helped us grow that gap a bit from behind.”
After riding much of the race together, Koretzky pulled ahead to take the win.
“Chris was super strong at the beginning of the race, he did a super-high pace and it was difficult to follow him. Then I had a second life in the middle of the race,” Koretzky said.
“I think we were all the time teammates; the goal was to be together until the last moment. Alone it was difficult to do it but with my teammate it was like a hard day in training. It’s so cool to share that with the team.”
In the Round 2 short track, Koretzky again couldn't match Blevins who opened a small gap and kept it through the last lap to the finish.
The XCO was a more crowded and group-based affair, but Specialized still slept all three podium positions with Blevins sprinting ahead of Vidaurre and Adrian Boichis. Behind them were Wilier’s Simone Avondetto and privateer racer Luke Moir.
“It's just a cool feeling doing it with the team,” Blevins said after the sweep. “We were just so locked in as a unit, there is something about the four red jerseys at the front. When we all push each other, it’s like iron sharpens iron, and it’s hard to figure out exactly what to do with team tactics. Having four red jerseys at the front is changing the way we race.”
The American also noted that a big goal is consistency, something that he found in Brazil and will hope to carry onto the rest of the season.
“I still feel like I’m trying to find my consistency. It’s such a hard sport. There are so many guys who can win. I don’t take it for granted. I’m really happy to start as I have here,” Blevins said.
Blevins, Specialized, and the rest of the World Cup XC racers will get back on track May 23-25 in Nove Mesto.