Baum and Keller reign victorious at UCI Mountain Bike World Champs MyZA

Switzerland’s Alessandra Keller was unstoppable in the Junior Women’s Cross Country event at the UCI MTB and Trials World Championships 2013 at Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg. Photo: Darren Goddard / Gameplan Media

Yesterday’s cross country action of the UCI MTB Trials World Championships saw a fascinating pair of events unfold as Lukas Baum of Germany and Alessandra Keller of Switzerland reigned victorious in the testing junior men’s and women’s clashes respectively.

Baum overcame a powerful junior men’s field to add the globe’s most prestigious junior cross country title to his recently claimed German national and European continental victories, proving why he is regarded as one of the most talented young riders currently on the circuit.

“This is my third title this year so I guess I have done something right this year and it is just an incredible feeling for me right now,” said Baum.

“I prepared the whole year for this race and built my form up to this point so I’m so happy to have won.”

Earlier in the day Keller powered to a hard-fought victory in the junior women’s cross country event having put together a perfectly progressive performance over the four lap affair.

Keller, who was down in fifth position after the first half a lap, steadily worked her way through the field until she found herself all alone out in front halfway through the clash and the young Swiss competitor didn’t look back.

“This is crazy for me. I am the world champion in my first junior year!” said an overwhelmed Keller.”

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