Two silver medals for Team BMC in Capoliveri Legend

Titouan Carod secured the second place in the Capoliveri Legend XCO. A bit behind the French national champion, Janis Baumann powered to silver in the U23 category in Elba.

Results that satisfied both riders: both Carod and Baumann were all smiles at the podium ceremony.

After an entire week of beautiful sunny weather, the circumstances changed drastically in Elba. A night of rain caused new start times and resulted in an even faster course than reconned the days prior to the race.

Carod, who can trust on a fast start, maintained his good position in the opening lap. Also, Juri Zanotti accelerated away in the first loop. While a mechanical pushed back the Italian rider, Carod pushed on, together with Nino Shurter. The French champion and the World Champion slowly but steadily increased their lead over chasing riders.

A bit further back Zanotti recovered exceptionally well, overtaking competitors one by one while bringing Janis Baumann alongside him. “Juri and I rode well together. In the last few laps, I still felt relatively fresh and I could push on, particularly on the climbs. That was a feeling I missed in the first races of this season, so that made me happy. Also the result, a second place in the U23 category, was to my liking”, Baumann said after the podium ceremony.

Carod, meanwhile, was in a tough battle for victory in the Capoliveri Legend. It was only in the penultimate lap that one distanced the other.

“Schurter attacked for around forty seconds in a technical section and that's when I had to let him go. After that, I remained at a small distance. These attacks, during the second half of the race, are what I have to train on. Now I know. I felt good today, and I am satisfied with a second place behind him.”

With two silver medals, the riders and staff of Team BMC head back to Switzerland with smiles on their faces. The next race will be in France, as the team lines up for a race in the Coupe de France in Guéret at the end of April.