9th overall World Cup victory – Schurter continues to work on his legacy – sport

Nino Schurter wins the overall World Cup for the 9th time and cements his position as the best mountain biker in history.

Thanks to his 14th place at the end of the season in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, Nino Schurter won the overall World Cup, this for the 9th time. The Graubünden native is thus continuing to extend his record. Until a year ago he held the record together with his former competitor Julien Absalon (FRA).

Historic victory in Lenzerheide

This year he also surpassed the Frenchman in an important area: at the home race on Lenzerheide, Schurter broke another long-held record. With his 34th World Cup victory, the 37-year-old moved past Absalon, having drawn level with his eternal rival in Brazil more than a year earlier.

But the Graubünden player didn’t just stop at one success this season either. In addition to his victory in the home race, the Swiss also triumphed in Val di Sole (ITA). In an open field with many potential winners, Schurter also finished on the podium 5 times in 8 races. Meanwhile, none of his competitors made it onto the podium more than three times.

Reactions to setbacks

Even if things didn’t go as planned for Schurter this season, he knew how to react promptly. 21st place in Leogang (AUT) was followed by a record victory in Grisons and he responded to the disappointing 12th place in Vallnord (AND) with 2nd place in Les Gets (FRA). So he always stayed close to the top in the overall World Cup and now deservedly won it.

Olympics as the final highlight?

Schurter has also celebrated numerous successes at the Olympics. After the bronze medal in 2008 and the silver medal in 2012, the really big coup followed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The Olympic Games are coming up again in Paris next season. If Schurter were to be at the top there again, he would also catch up with Absalon in terms of Olympic gold medals. It is perhaps the only important record that the Swiss has not yet broken.

Legend:

With the gold medal in hand

Nino Schurter celebrates his 2016 Olympic victory in Rio de Janeiro.

Imago/Xinhua