MAXWELL

Six weeks on from the action in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, the world’s best cross-country riders returned to action at the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France). The iconic French venue would mark a fast and furious return to racing, and with only three rounds remaining until the end of the season, every point and place could make a difference to the destination of the overall titles.In the Women Elite race, Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) strengthened her grip on the overall standings by returning to the top step of the podium. The Swiss rider claimed her third XCC victory of the season and first since securing the European title in July. Overall rival Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) finished second, while Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) continued her impressive consistency with a third podium appearance of the year following her victory in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.The Men Elite race delivered a memorable result for the home crowd as Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) timed his effort to perfection. The Frenchman surged past compatriot Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) on the final climb before sprinting to his third UCI XCC World Cup win of the season. Martin completed a French one-two in front of the packed Les Gets spectators, while race animator David List (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) capped an aggressive performance with a maiden UCI XCC World Cup podium in third.Earlier in the day, the U23 categories took centre stage in wet and slippery conditions. Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) reinforced her position at the top of the Women U23 overall standings with another victory, while Herby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) emerged victorious in the Men U23 race.FREI RULES IN LES GETSAfter a rain-soaked morning, conditions began to improve just in time for the Women Elite race, although the Les Gets, Haute-Savoie course remained far from dry. Damp grass, slippery corners and constantly evolving grip levels meant line choice would prove decisive, particularly through the track’s technical off-camber sections.The race exploded into life almost immediately when a crash on the opening gravel climb disrupted much of the field. At the front, however, Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) wasted no time stamping her authority on proceedings. Enjoying the strongest season of her career, the Italian champion was chasing a maiden UCI XCC World Cup victory to add to the the breakthrough XCO win she secured on home soil in La Thuile-Valle d’Aosta.Berta’s early spell at the front was short-lived as Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) quickly took control of the race. The Swiss rider, racing in the European champion’s jersey, looked composed and calculated from the outset, repeatedly using the technical rock garden descent to test her rivals and identify where she could make the difference.While Frei dictated the pace, much of the attention shifted to Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing). Making her first race appearance since taking an extended break following her 2025 UCI XCO World Cup overall triumph, the New Zealander steadily carved her way through the field. Starting from the back rows of the grid, she remarkably joined the lead group by lap three, immediately showing she had lost none of her race sharpness.As the race settled, a familiar pattern emerged. Frei continued to apply pressure at the front, while those around her fought desperately to stay attached. Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) proved particularly resilient, matching each acceleration and ensuring the Swiss rider could not break clear.With two laps remaining, eight riders still contested the lead, although Maxwell’s impressive comeback was cut short by an untimely puncture. Moments later, another increase in pace split the race apart, reducing the contenders to four: Frei, Rissveds, Blunk and Berta.The decisive move came on the final lap. Berta was the first to lose contact on the long gravel climb, and shortly afterwards Frei delivered the acceleration that finally cracked her remaining challengers. What began as a gap of a few bike lengths quickly grew as neither Rissveds nor Blunk could respond. By the final passage through the rock garden, Frei had the clear advantage she had been working towards all race.Crossing the finish line with arms raised, the Specialized Factory Racing rider secured her third UCI XCC World Cup victory of the season and the fifth of her career. The result also strengthens her grip on the overall standings, extending her advantage over Rissveds to 80 points with just two rounds remaining. Blunk’s third-place finish, meanwhile, moves the American up to third overall in the series standings.Speaking after the race, Frei said: “I think the special bike and the jersey were shining today. I felt really good and it was so much fun to race here in Les Gets. The atmosphere was incredible and I really enjoyed every moment of it.”“The plan was to stay near the front without necessarily leading all the time. In the end it probably looked a little different, but I felt strong and when I saw an opportunity, I decided to go for it. Thankfully it worked out.”“I just tried to pedal as hard as I could. The bike felt amazing today. The Specialized S-Works Epic 9 was incredibly stiff through the grassy sections and that made a huge difference when it came to putting the power down and accelerating.”VAN DER POEL'S CHARGE FALLS SHORT AS BOICHIS TAKES THE WIN All eyes were on Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) ahead of the Men Elite race as the Dutch superstar lined up for his first UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup appearance since 2021. The most successful rider in XCC history, with 10 career victories, faced a formidable challenge from the outset after drawing 41st position on the grid.His presence shaped the race from the very first lap. Aware of the threat lurking behind them, the riders at the front immediately drove up the pace, determined to build a gap large enough to prevent Van der Poel from storming through the field and adding an 11th short track victory to his remarkable tally.The early initiative came from Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) and Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), who kept the pressure high at the head of the race. Yet it quickly became clear that even their efforts might not be enough to contain Van der Poel. The Dutchman sliced through the pack with ease, gaining more than a dozen positions on the opening climb alone and moving up to 24th by the end of the first lap.At the front, the French riders continued to set the tone. Azzaro, Boichis and Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) briefly turned the race into a French one-two-three midway through the second lap, while newly crowned European champion Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) remained firmly in contention.The race took another twist on lap three when David List (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) launched an aggressive move to the front. Capitalising on a brief hesitation among the favourites, the German opened a gap and began dictating the pace, refusing to relinquish the lead despite mounting pressure from behind.By the halfway point, Van der Poel had completed his charge into the lead group, transforming the race exactly as many had anticipated. However, while the Dutchman looked powerful on the climbs, he appeared slightly less comfortable through the course’s technical descent, where List continued to force the issue at the front.A key moment came on lap six when Van der Poel narrowly avoided disaster in the final rock garden, producing a spectacular save to stay upright. From then on, the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider appeared more measured in his approach, seemingly prioritising a strong result and valuable track time ahead of Sunday’s UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup rather than gambling everything for victory.Up front, the battle for the win was reaching boiling point. Azzaro, Boichis and Martin traded attacks on the gravel climb, their accelerations finally proving too much for List’s prolonged solo effort. Although eventually reeled in after four laps at the front, the German refused to crack completely and remained attached to the leading group.The decisive selection came on the penultimate lap. Azzaro slipped out of contention after putting a foot down in one of the race’s technical grass corners, while the relentless pace also ended Aldridge’s challenge.That left Martin, Boichis and List to battle for victory on the final lap. Martin held the advantage over the first climb, but Boichis had perfectly timed his effort. Drawing on the power that has made him one of the season’s standout performers, the Frenchman launched a sustained acceleration on the final ascent and surged past his compatriot. Martin had no response.Boichis powered clear to claim his third UCI XCC World Cup victory of the season, delighting the home crowd and extending his overall series lead to 170 points. Behind him, Martin completed a memorable French one-two, while List’s resilient ride earned him a maiden UCI XCC World Cup podium in third. Van der Poel, meanwhile, completed an eye-catching comeback from the back of the grid to finish 10th.Speaking after the race, Boichis said: “It's nice to see so many French fans. It definitely gives you extra energy. It was really hard. We haven’t raced short track for a long time and it’s impossible to replicate that intensity in training. From the front you don't always know what's happening behind, but to move through the field the way Mathieu [van der Poel] did from the back shows just how strong he is. We all know what he can do. “I hope he’ll be at the front on Sunday and that I’ll get the chance to race against him again. Let’s see.”CORVI CONTINUES HER REIGN AS PEDERSEN ENDS SCHEHL'S STREAKValentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) and Herby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) mastered the challenging conditions in Les Gets, both producing decisive late-race attacks to secure U23 UCI XCC World Cup victories on a wet and slippery Friday morning.In the Women U23 race, overall series leader Valentina Corvi once again showcased the composure and race craft that have made her the benchmark of the category in 2026. The Italian found herself in a select leading trio alongside Monique Halter (Thömus maxon) and Anina Hutter from lap four, and the group quickly distanced the rest of the field, turning the race into a battle for podium positions.With victory hanging in the balance until the closing stages, Corvi delivered the decisive move on the final lap. The Italian powered clear on the climb and never looked back, claiming her third consecutive UCI XCC World Cup victory and further strengthening her grip on the overall standings. The win extends her series lead to 202 points over nearest rival Lisa Kristina Jorde, while Halter narrowly edged Hutter in a sprint for second place.Speaking after the race, Corvi said: “Today was really important for me. I was super happy to race again. I felt good throughout the race and attacked on the climb of the final lap. Then I just tried to hold the gap all the way to the finish.”“They were really strong and kept trying to attack in the switchbacks. I just focused on staying calm and staying with them.”If Corvi’s victory reinforced the established order in the Women U23 category, the Men U23 race delivered one of the surprises of the day. Entering Les Gets, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) looked almost unbeatable, having won the previous five UCI XCC World Cup rounds dating back to Nové Město na Moravě (Czechia). But Herby Gustav Pedersen had no intention of allowing the winning streak to continue.The Dane set the tone from the outset and remained firmly among the leaders throughout a fast and tactical race. By the penultimate lap, only Schehl, Benjamin Krüger and Alix Andre-Gallis (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) could match his pace as the fight for victory intensified.When the decisive attacks finally came, Pedersen had the strongest response. Launching his move at just the right moment, he opened a gap that none of his rivals could close and powered to a breakthrough UCI XCC World Cup victory. He crossed the line three seconds clear of Schehl, ending the German’s remarkable run of dominance, while Krüger held off Andre-Gallis to secure the final podium position.Speaking after the race, Pedersen said: “That was pretty sick. I went all in with five weeks at altitude and I guess it paid off, so I’m really happy. I was riding on Paul’s wheel and felt good, so I thought, ‘Why not try now?’ I managed to get past him and then gave everything I had through the final corners.”The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues tomorrow (22 August) with a full day of UCI Downhill World Cup racing in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie. After laying down the marker in qualifying, Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) heads into the Women Elite finals as the rider to beat, while home favourite Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) will look to build on a breakthrough first Elite qualifying victory in front of the French crowd. Read the full qualifying report here.Racing gets underway at 11:30 CEST with the Women Junior final. Find out when and where to watch here.

After a six-week summer break, the cross-country and downhill contingents of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series return to action this weekend with a delicious double header in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France).The French Alps venue is one of the most iconic in mountain bike’s history and has been welcoming the Gravity format on and off since 1996. It’s been a staple of the UCI World Cup since 2019, including the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, and is renowned for its passionate, partisan French crowd. Next year, it’s also due to host the rainbow jersey races once again as part of Haute-Savoie’s 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships.Located in the heart of the Portes de Soleil mountain resort, close to the Swiss border, both formats take place at the Les Gets bike park. The park has 128km of trails across 23 different tracks and three ski lifts to help riders experience everything the park has to offer.The UCI Downhill World Cup takes place on the venue’s Mont-Chéry UCI World Cup track – a 2.2km course that features 571m of descent and a maximum gradient of 43.8°.The UCI Cross-country World Cup races, meanwhile, take on a custom trail that has its start/finish straight at the resort’s main hub. The UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup course is 3.55km long (140m elevation gain), while the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) course is 1km long (43m elevation gain).Beyond the racing, Les Gets has a packed schedule of fan activities and entertainment throughout the week. The festivities get underway on Thursday, 20 August, with the Team Presentation at the Village Fan Zone in front of Les Gets Town Hall.Fans can also take part in a treasure hunt around the venue alongside WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series mascot Roki, attend autograph sessions with WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stars or enjoy the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series trophy exhibition throughout the weekend.Open from Friday to Sunday, the Village Fan Zone will offer something for visitors of all ages, from souvenir medal-colouring workshops for children and an immersive virtual reality MTB experience to a personalised event photobooth. Live music, entertainment, film screenings, concerts and a host of other activities will ensure there is plenty to enjoy away from the racetracks.WILDCARD TEAMS SET TO JOIN THE ACTION IN LES GETSBefore diving deeper into the main storylines and key riders to watch this weekend, here are the wildcard teams that have been confirmed to compete in Les Gets, Haute-SavoieUCI Downhill World Cup: Crestline Speed Shop, Outlaw Intense Racing, Pivot Factory Racing, Team High Country, The Alliance, Stoic Racing.UCI Cross-country World Cup: KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Massi, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros - Youngstars, UNNO Factory Racing, Bike Team Solothurn.Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) remains the standout wildcard contender, with the German carrying an impressive nine-race winning streak across the Men’s U23 UCI XCO and XCC World Cups. In Downhill, wildcard teams also made their mark in Pal Arinsal - Andorra, where Bode Burke (Crestline Speed Shop) secured a second place in Men’s Elite qualifying before suffering a DNF in the finals. On the women’s side, Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory Racing) delivered the best wildcard result with a fifth-place finish in the Women’s Elite race.RISSVEDS CLOSES IN ON OVERALL CROWN, MAXWELL MAKES COMEBACKIt’s been a memorable season in the rainbow jersey for Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing), and as the Swede prepares to wear the 2025 UCI World Champion’s colours for the final time at Les Gets, another victory could leave her with one hand firmly on the overall title with two rounds remaining.Rissveds arrives in France full of confidence after claiming maximum points in Andorra with a dominant XCC-XCO double. As one of the most successful riders ever to race in Les Gets, where she also completed the double in 2025, she knows exactly what it takes to triumph on the iconic French Alps course.Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) remains Rissveds’ closest challenger in the overall standings, while Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) will look to carry her outstanding form through the summer break. The Italian backed up her maiden UCI XCO World Cup victory in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta (Italy) with a runner-up finish in Andorra and will be eager to continue her momentum.Another major name returning to the spotlight is Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech). Jointly tied with Rissveds as the most successful rider in Les Gets, Pieterse lines up for her fifth UCI World Cup appearance of 2026 after a summer that saw her claim the Queen of the Mountains polka dot jersey at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.Meanwhile, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) makes a highly anticipated return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The reigning overall UCI XCO World Cup champion is back on the start line after a ten-month sabbatical and will be keen to make an immediate impact in one of the season’s most prestigious rounds.VAN DER POEL RETURNS AS MARTIN AND BOICHIS RENEW TITLE FIGHTLuca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) endured a rare setback in Pal Arinsal, with the overall UCI XCO World Cup leader finishing 22nd and missing out on a top-two result for the first time this season. Despite the disappointment, the Frenchman remains firmly in control of the standings on 1,419 points.However, his lead over compatriot Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) was cut to 130 points after Boichis delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend, finishing second in the UCI XCC World Cup before claiming victory in the UCI XCO World Cup.Les Gets could provide the perfect opportunity for Martin to bounce back. The French venue was the site of his breakthrough UCI XCO World Cup victory in 2025, and he will be eager to rediscover that winning form on home soil. Yet with Boichis continuing to impress across multiple disciplines, the battle for the overall crown is far from settled.Adding even more intrigue to the weekend is the return of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech). The Dutch superstar swaps the road for the mountain bike as he begins his build-up to next week’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy), where he will aim to complete a unique set of rainbow jerseys across cross-country, road cycling and cyclocross.Fresh from winning the final stage of this year’s Tour de France, van der Poel will make his first mountain bike race appearance of 2026 in Les Gets. The 31-year-old is also beginning to turn his attention towards the LA 2028 Olympic Games, making his return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series one of the biggest storylines of the weekend.RISSVEDS, FREI AND VAN DER POEL HEADLINE XCC ACTIONAdrien Boichis’ consistency in the short track has allowed the Frenchman to establish a commanding lead in the UCI XCC World Cup standings, despite competing in only five of the six rounds so far this season. Yet all eyes will be on one rider in Les Gets: Mathieu van der Poel.The most successful men's short track rider in history returns to the format for his first UCI XCC World Cup appearance since 2021. Chasing an 11th career victory, the Dutch superstar also has the chance to become the first male rider to win more than one UCI XCC World Cup race in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie.Boichis is unlikely to make life easy for van der Poel, however. The current overall leader has been one of the standout performers of the season, while Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) and Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) have both demonstrated they have the speed and explosiveness required to win in the fast-paced format.The Women's Elite race promises to be equally compelling. Just 30 points separate Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) and Jenny Rissveds at the top of the standings, with both riders having claimed two victories apiece in 2026. Momentum, however, appears to be on Rissveds’ side. The Swede won in Les Gets last season and will be aiming for a third successive UCI XCC World Cup victory almost exactly a decade after her unforgettable Olympic gold medal triumph in Rio on 20 August 2016.Among those looking to disrupt the battle at the front are Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech), both capable of challenging for victory on their day. Meanwhile, reigning UCI XCC World Champion Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) boasts the strongest record of any rider on the Les Gets short track course, having amassed one win, two runner-up finishes and a third place at the French venue.HÖLL ON THE VERGE OF OVERALL GLORY IN LES GETSValentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) is enjoying the most dominant season of her career and arrives in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie in formidable form ahead of the final three UCI Downhill World Cup rounds and next week’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.The Austrian has won five of the first six rounds this season, surpassing her own record for the most victories in a single campaign. Another win in Les Gets would see her move onto 17 Elite UCI World Cup victories, drawing level with Sabrina Jonnier as the third most successful female downhill rider in history.Victory on Saturday would also secure Höll’s fifth overall UCI Downhill World Cup title with two rounds still remaining. Even if she falls short of the top step, she could still wrap up the crown this weekend provided she maintains a lead of at least 500 points over her nearest rival in the standings.The rest of the field may take some encouragement from one statistic: despite her dominance elsewhere, Höll has never won an Elite UCI World Cup race in Les Gets, with a third-place finish in 2025 standing as her best result at the Haute-Savoie venue. Ready to capitalise on any opportunity are the only other winners on the circuit this season, Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP), Höll’s teammate Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), and local favourite Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing). With one victory and two runner-up finishes in Les Gets, Cabirou boasts the strongest record of any Elite Women rider at the venue.The Women’s Junior category is also set to make history this weekend, with 41 riders entered for qualifying, the largest field since the category was introduced in 2017. The impressive number reflects the remarkable growth of women’s downhill racing in less than a decade.Among those to watch is Cassandre Peizerat, who will race as a guest rider for COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction. The 17-year-old Frenchwoman may come from an alpine skiing background, but she has already proven her ability to excel on two wheels, finishing third in Les Gets in 2025 and claiming another podium in La Thuile earlier this season. As part of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series regulations, teams are allocated two guest rider entries per season, with any points scored by those riders contributing to the Team Standings.10-WAY TUSTLE FOR MEN’S DOWNHILL TITLEIf 2025 was a two-horse race between Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity), then this series is turning into a 10-horse one with three rounds to go and only 393 points separating series leader Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) and 10th placed Till Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction).With Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) ruled out through injury, Williams will look to keep Specialized’s momentum going after the team’s four wins from the opening six rounds. But with no one rider dominating with consistent results, it’s set to go to the wire with plenty of twists and turns still to come.There are a number of riders out to spoil the Specialized party. Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) is the most successful current rider at the venue, and will have the backing of the iconic partisan home crowd as he targets his third win in Les Gets, while last year’s winner Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) is set to make his first start of 2026 after recovering from an injury that has ruled him out so far this season.Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) is another to watch – the American already tasting success in his first Elite season and a winner at the venue in the Junior class in 2024 – while Jackson Goldstone could still make a late surge to defend his title if he pulls together another winning record like that seen in 2025.Racing gets underway in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and events details are available here.

Andorra has become a familiar fixture on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series circuit, with Pal Arinsal featuring every year since 2022, aside from 2024 when it hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Before that, under its previous name, Vallnord, the venue had been ever-present since 2016, having also hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2015.Located in the heart of the Pyrenees and a short journey from the Andorran border with Spain, both formats take place at the Pal Arinsal bike park. The park has more than 60km of trails across 30 different lines and five ski lifts to help riders experience the more than 1,000m of elevation drop on offer.Downhill takes place on the venue’s third UCI World Cup track, with riders dropping from Pic del Cubil down to Fontanals on a rowdy 2.1km course.The UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup races, meanwhile, take on some of the hardest terrain that the riders will face all season, thanks to the addition of altitude. The XCO course is 4km long (160m elevation gain), while the XCC course is 1km long.WILDCARD ENTRIESThe following wildcard teams have been confirmed to compete in Pal Arinsal - Andorra:UCI Downhill World Cup: Crestline Speed Shop, Outlaw Intense Racing, Pivot Factory Racing, Team High Country, The Alliance, Stoic Racing.UCI Cross-country World Cup: Cabtech Racing Team, KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Massi, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros - Youngstars, UNNO Factory Racing.Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) continues to be the leading wild card entrant – the German on seven-win streak across the Men U23 UCI XCO and XCC World Cups.RISSVEDS LOSES PODIUM RECORD BUT STILL IN CHARGEJenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) was on an incredible run of form that stretched back to Val di Sole - Trentino (Italy) on 20 June last year that saw the Swede finish within the top three of a UCI XCO World Cup for more than a calendar year. Her record came to an end, again in Italy, as she had to settle for fourth place in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy) last Sunday, but the reigning UCI XCO World Champion retains a colossal lead in the overall that will be hard to overthrow. She finished third in Pal Arinsal - Andorra in 2025 behind Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), and with Maxwell taking a sabbatical this season and Keller yet to hit her stride, she will be confident of getting back to winning ways.Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) is amongst the favourites to prevent Rissveds from returning to the top spot. The Italian finished fourth in Andorra 12 months ago and will line up in the Pyrenees bursting with confidence after winning her debut UCI XCO World Cup in front of a passionate home crowd last weekend.Others knocking on the door include Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing), who is having her best season yet and is improving every round; Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech), who clinched her UCI XCO World Championship rainbow jersey at the venue in 2024; and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing), who sits 212 points behind Rissveds in the overall, and as the only rider within 350 points of the Swede, is the last realistic challenger for the title.MARTIN ON THE MARCHLuca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) extended his extraordinary record in 2026 of not finishing outside the top two in the XCO by winning his second consecutive round in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta following his victory in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). His lead in the overall standings is even more impressive than Rissveds’, and even if Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) does the XCO-XCC double this weekend and Martin fails to score a single point, the Cannondale rider has such an advantage (343 points) that he will enter the summer break in the top spot. A likely scenario is that Martin will extend his lead in Andorra – the 24-year-old finished second at the venue behind Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Team Cycling) 12 months ago, and with the Brit absent at the Tour de France, Martin will be confident of going one better on Sunday.Boichis will also look to stand on the top step in Pal Arinsal - Andorra, while another Frenchman, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), showed he can compete in the longer Olympic-distance format by finishing second in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta. Bjorn Riley (Scott SRAM MTB Race Team) is another to watch – the American sitting third in the overall and the third most consistent rider (behind Martin and Boichis) in this packed block of racing since round three in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria).ALL TO PLAY FOR IN THE SHORT TRACKWith some steaming ahead in the XCO overall standings, there are battles being fought in the XCC. In the men’s contest, any of the top six in the standings could mathematically go into the summer break in the lead, although series leader Mathis Azzaro and second-place Adrien Boichis are the most likely – only 55 points separating the pair.Meanwhile, Sina Frei is the clear frontrunner in the women’s contest, and only Jenny Rissveds can catch the Swiss star this weekend (and would need a 170-point swing to do so). Frei is the only rider to win multiple UCI XCC World Cups in 2026, while Rissveds added a record-extending win in the short track in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta to take her career total to nine. But while both will fancy their chances in Friday’s race, Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) will be the favourite – the Swiss rider holding a 100%-win record at Pal Arinsal - Andorra, clinching three UCI XCC World Cup wins in 2022, 2023 and 2025.HÖLL CHASES BEST EVER SEASONWhile the competition has come on leaps and bounds in the women’s field, when you’re as good as Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), your closest competition is yourself. The Austrian returned to winning ways in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, putting a disappointing 10th-place finish in Lenzerheide behind her to make it four victories from five rounds. The reigning overall series winner has already amassed a 363-point lead over second place Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), and with four rounds still to go, she can be expected to clinch a fifth overall title before the series finale in Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA). Now, the 24-year-old can target personal records, starting with a career-best fifth win of the season in Pal Arinsal - Andorra. Victory would also be the 16th of her career, taking her level with Tracy Moseley in joint-fourth place in the overall, one shy of Sabrina Jonnier.Höll isn’t the only rider taking to the start hut this weekend, and there are a number of riders ready to pounce if she makes an uncharacteristic mistake. Teammate Baumann has finished second best in the last two rounds, Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) is the only rider other than Höll to have won in 2026, and Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) has tasted success in Pal Arinsal - Andorra before back in 2023. Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing) won’t be there to defend her top spot 12 months on from her 2025 win though – the Brit taking a break from racing to recover from injuries and focus on the UCI Downhill World Championships.PIERRON LEADS A FOUR-WAY BATTLE FOR THE OVERALL TITLEWhile the women’s contest is all-but decided, there’s a four-way fight for the men’s competition with four rounds to go. Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) leads the way, and having the experience of two overall title wins already in his career (2018 and 2022) will be confident of closing things out with his consistent performances.The Frenchman’s advantage is only 12 points over Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) though, and with the Canadian recording two wins in 2026 to Pierron’s zero, the Commencal rider will need to do something he hasn’t managed since Lenzerheide last September if he is to put more breathing space between himself and second place.La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta winner Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) is next in line after his perfect score in Italy propelled him up the leaderboard, while Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) looks likely to join Williams in the two UCI World Cup wins club sooner rather than later.One other rider you can’t rule out is Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate). The rainbow jersey hasn’t been kind to the Canadian in 2026, but he is gradually starting to show the race pace that rocketed him to his first overall title last year. Scoring a win on Saturday would put him firmly in the title conversation with three rounds to play.Racing gets underway in Pal Arinsal - Andorra on Friday 10th July with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and event details are available here. Find out where to watch here.