The men’s race at the 2024 Huatulco World Cup promises to come down to yet another barnstorming finish. Notwithstanding the power of the likes of Casper Stornes and Tjebbe Kaindl on the bike, the race will probably hold true to past form and yield a final sprint finish with the medallists separated by seconds.
Should a sprint be on the cards, the man that has already triumphed in Huatulco will be licking his lips. Genis Grau of Spain won the race in 2022, a result that stands as his sole World Cup victory to date. In addition he finished 4th at the race in 2023. Grau has therefore been on the giving and receiving end when it comes to the final sprint in Huatulco. He knows exactly what it takes to win the race and will back himself to claim a second gold medal.
The problem is, there is another super sprinter lying in wait. Vetle Bergsvik Thorn wears number 1 and looks set to ambush Grau. Thorn may actually have the best sprint finish of the field. He has already won the Lievin World Cup this season, at which his sprinting prowess was on full display. Moreover, he won World Cup medals in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Will Thorn’s form overcome Grau’s experience? It is certainly hard to bet against the Norwegian athlete.
Further contenders lurk throughout the start list. Diego Moya has won a World Cup medal already this season and historically has performed well in the Americas. For example, he lit up the Vina del Mar World Cup in 2022. Bence Bicsák and Kevin McDowell are also experienced hands and could nab a medal.
However, Huatulco may actually prove to be a day for youth.
Should the race come down to a sprint, anything can happen. Intriguingly, there are a batch of youngsters armed with superb foot speed that are starting and each could make the most of a running race. Mitch Kolkman, the World U23 Championships bronze medallist, could feature but the contenders might come from an even younger cohort. Here, the names to watch are João Nuno Batista, Reese Vannerson and Mathis Beaulieu.
Batista is the reigning World Junior and European Junior champion and is in his first season out of the Junior ranks. Vannerson is the current Americas Junior champion and has a frankly alarming turn of speed. Finally, Beaulieu is another top runner and has already won Americas Cup races. The chances of all three fighting for the top-5 are low, but at least one of them could threaten their more experienced rivals.
TriStats Predictions
- Genis Grau
- Vetle Bergsvik Thorn
- João Nuno Batista
- Bence Bicsák
- Kevin McDowell
