Winners of the World Championship MTB rehearsal in Les Gets face setbacks, top talent Philipsen (Lidl-Trek) also withdraws

On Saturday, the U23 men will kick off the weekend, but that will happen without one of the top favorites. Albert Withen Philipsen, the 19-year-old top talent from Lidl-Trek, has withdrawn from the event. He announced this on social media.

“This week I was supposed to line up at the World Championships in Switzerland, but after a crash at the last World Cup in Les Gets, I’ve decided not to race. Of course, I’m really disappointed as it was a big goal of mine, but I believe it’s the right decision. I’m now back on my road bike, getting ready to finish the season as strong as possible,” said the Dane.

Philipsen ends his short mountain bike campaign disappointed. He did win silver at the European Championships in Portugal, but had to skip the World Cup in Andorra and then crashed in Les Gets.

There are also problems in the elite men's category. Charlie Aldridge and Luca Martin of the Cannondale Factory team finished first and second in the Short Race in Les Gets, while the latter also claimed his first World Cup victory in the Cross Country race. However, both men have fallen ill ahead of the World Championships.

COVID is the culprit, according to Eurosport commentator Thijs van Amerongen during the broadcast of the World Championship Short Race. Both Scotland's Aldridge and France's Martin did not appear at the start, but will hope to be fit in time for Sunday's Cross Country race in Crans Montana.