Martina Berta (Origine Factory Racing) and Martín Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) conquered the damp and muddy conditions at Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA) to bring a memorable UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup season to a close in style.
Berta made it back-to-back XCC victories, underlining her status as one of the breakthrough riders of 2026 and securing third place in the overall standings. Vidaurre, meanwhile, carried his late-season form into Lake Placid following his his XCO victory at Soldier Hollow, Utah (USA). His win also marked a third consecutive Men Elite XCC victory at Lake Placid Olympic Sites for Specialized Factory Racing, following Victor Koretzky in 2024 and Christopher Blevins in 2025.
The racing also brought a nail-biting Women Elite UCI XCC World Cup overall battle to a close, with Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) edging Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) after a season-long fight for the title.
Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing), meanwhile, was confirmed as the Men Elite UCI XCC World Cup overall winner shortly before racing got underway. His closest rival, and the only rider still mathematically able to overtake him, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Factory Racing), withdrew from the event due to a lack of form.
Earlier in the day, the U23 XCC races delivered maiden UCI World Cup victories for Bethany-Ann Jackson and Alix André Gallis (Decathlon Ford Racing Team).
BERTA BRAVES THE MUD AS FREI SEALS UCI XCC WORLD CUP OVERALL CROWN
In the build-up to the Women Elite XCC race, all eyes were on Sina Frei and Jenny Rissveds, with the pair battling not only for victory on the day but also for the overall title. Frei’s advantage in the standings meant the Swiss rider only needed a top three finish to seal the crown, while Rissveds had to win and hope Frei finished off the podium.
The pair set the pace from the gun, with Berta and Evie Richards (Trek-Unbroken XC) also part of the leading group. The conditions added an element of chaos with the rain leaving the corners greasy, the rock garden slippery and riders struggling for traction.
By lap three, a lead group of eight had broken clear, with Rissveds setting a fierce tempo at the front. The pace proved too much for Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing), who lost contact with the group.
Two laps later, the group had swelled from eight to 11 as three riders, including Sammie Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing), rejoined the fight following a lull in the attacks. At the front, however, Rissveds, Frei and an energised Berta continued to set the tone.
The race soon settled into a familiar pattern, with Frei upping the pace at the end of the start/finish straight to lead into the technical section, before Rissveds clawed back the advantage on the course’s bobsleigh-inspired descent.
That pattern continued until the penultimate lap, when Berta finally showed her hand. The Italian moved up to second before attacking as the leaders took the bell for the final lap, setting a pace that only Rissveds could follow.
The Origine Racing Division rider maintained her advantage through the rock garden and remained composed despite having Rissveds, the most successful Women Elite XCC rider of all time, right on her wheel. Berta entered the final corner with a bike-length advantage and refused to relent in the drag race to the line, holding off Rissveds to claim her second UCI XCC World Cup victory in North America.
Rissveds was forced to settle for second, while Frei crossed the line in third, enough for the Swiss rider to come out on top in their season-long battle and secure the overall title by just 60 points.
Speaking after the race, Martina Berta said: “It’s insane. I think I still have to process what happened two weeks ago. To do it again today is just amazing. I’m so happy. Not only because of the results themselves, but being here and winning three World Cups means I’ve taken a really big step forward. Most of all, I’m so happy and grateful to everyone who has worked with me, not only on days like today, but also through the hard days. They’re the reason why I’m here.”
Speaking after the race, Sina Frei said: “It’s really amazing. I don’t know what to say, but it’s insane that I managed to keep it together from the first straight to the last. I can be really proud, and it was fun to race here. I tried not to think about [the title], but it was always somewhere in my mind. In conditions like today, the equipment is even more important. One little slip can cost you the overall. I had to push as hard as I could, stay at the front, avoid mistakes, stay out of trouble and give it everything I had.”
VIDAURRE POWERS TO FIRST XCC WIN AS MARTIN WRAPS UP OVERALL
Like the Women Elite competition, the Men Elite overall title was still up for grabs heading into the final round, with Martin and Azzaro locked in a two-way battle for the crown. The suspense ended before the racing even began, however, after Azzaro withdrew from the weekend, explaining that his body “is not fit to race at World Cup level.”
But Vidaurre and Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon XC Racing) had plenty of drama of their own in store, producing a thrilling battle in the wet and slippery conditions.
It was Schwarzbauer who lit the touchpaper, with the German XCC champion setting the pace from the start. Martin, meanwhile, sat back in 12th position, while Bjorn Riley (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) was also among the contenders.
Two laps later, Vidaurre and Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) had joined Schwarzbauer at the head of the race, glued to the German’s back wheel. By the halfway point, European champion Aldridge took the initiative, leading through the rock garden and stretching the seven-rider front group. But the Brit’s WHOOP live data suggested he was already deep in the red and, with four laps still remaining, the question was whether he had made his move too soon.
The decisive attack came a lap later. Schwarzbauer accelerated into the final corner, with Vidaurre the only rider able to follow. The Chilean then launched a move of his own as they crossed the start/finish line, and the pair quickly opened a gap over a chasing trio led by David List (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing).
Six seconds soon became double figures, making it increasingly clear that victory would come down to Schwarzbauer or Vidaurre. And when Specialized Factory Racing’s rider surged again at the start of the final lap, the elastic finally snapped. Vidaurre powered through the final Short Track lap of the season, opening a comfortable advantage that allowed him to negotiate the churned-up course cleanly. He crossed the line to claim his maiden UCI XCC World Cup victory, celebrating in style.
Schwarzbauer followed shortly behind and immediately congratulated his rival on his breakthrough Short Track win, while Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) timed his race well to secure the final place on the podium.
Martin crossed the line in fourth, sealing the UCI XCC World Cup overall title without winning a single round during the season.
Speaking after the race, Vidaurre said: “Before this, I used to hate Short Track, but when you’re in good shape and you’re at the front with a good guy like Luca [Schwarzbauer], it makes the race so special. More than winning, for me, being out front with him with three laps to go made it such a special way to win. I was thinking, if I don’t win, I don’t care. It was so good. I’m so happy to get my first win like that. It was so special.”
Overall winner Luca Martin said: “It’s cool. There was a lot of pressure before this race because it would have been a nice battle with Mathis [Azzaro]. In the end, he wasn’t here, but we stayed focused and tried to push hard in the race. It wasn’t the race I expected today. There were a lot of crashes at the front, but I’m still happy with the overall.”
JACKSON TAKES FIRST XCC WIN AS CORVI CLOSES OUT TITLE-WINNING SEASON
The opening race of the day saw the Women U23 field take on the New York course for a fast and frantic Short Track showdown. Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) had already secured the overall title, but the Italian was looking to cap a podium-packed season with a fourth victory.
It wasn’t to be for Corvi, however. She crashed out of the lead group on lap five and was forced to retire, leaving her title-winning tally at 776 points. Her exit only intensified the five-way battle for second in the overall standings, which had been led by Lisa Kristine Jorde.
Heading into the final lap, Jorde sat second wheel behind Anina Hutter in a nine-rider lead group, but the decisive move came from further back. Bethany-Ann Jackson launched a powerful attack, with only Rafaelle Carrier (Trinity Racing), Makena Kellerman and Bloeme Kalis (KMC Nukeproof MTB Racing Team) able to respond.
Jackson did enough to hold off the chase and claim her maiden Women U23 UCI XCC World Cup victory. Carrier crossed the line second, a result that propelled the Canadian from fifth to second in the overall standings, while home favourite Kellerman completed the podium and secured third overall.
Bethany-Ann Jackson said: “It’s incredible. One of my goals this year was to get a podium. I made the podium at Worlds, and now I’ve done it in the World Cup too. I couldn’t be happier. I don’t know what changed [during the off-season], but I couldn’t be happier. I’m so excited [about tomorrow’s Women U23 UCI XCO World Cup]. The course is wicked and, if there’s a bit of mud, that only helps me.”
Overall winner Valentina Corvi said: “Not exactly what I was hoping for, but every race is different. Today I crashed after making contact with another rider. It was a big impact, so I couldn’t finish the race. I’m happy I took the overall. I would have liked to finish the season in a better way, but that’s racing. I’m not going to race tomorrow because it’s better to focus on staying healthy. This season, I’ve already achieved some big goals, so I’m super happy. Next season will be another challenge.”
ANDRÉ GALLIS ENDS XCC SEASON ON A HIGH AS SCHEHL CLAIMS OVERALL
The Men U23 UCI XCC World Cup overall had also been decided before a pedal was turned in Lake Placid, with Paul Schehl’s (Lexware Mountainbike Team) five consecutive victories earlier in the season proving decisive.
With the pressure off, the German was looking to bounce back from fifth place in Soldier Hollow, Utah (USA), and end his title-winning season on a high.
Schehl was immediately prominent at the front in the damp and muddy conditions, but he wouldn’t have things all his own way. After leading deep into lap five, he slipped back to fifth on the following lap and was unable to return to the head of the race.
Instead, it was Alix André Gallis (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) who seized the initiative. Outside the lead group after three laps, the Frenchman steadily worked his way back into contention before launching the decisive move from a nine-rider group on the final lap.
André Gallis held firm to claim his maiden Men U23 UCI XCC World Cup victory, while Benjamin Krüger won the sprint for second, edging Naël Rouffiac (Origine Racing Division) at the line to complete the podium.
André Gallis said: “I’m so happy. This morning, for the last one, I just wanted to have fun. I didn’t expect this at all. I missed my pedal at the start and thought I wouldn’t be able to make it back into the top 10. Over the last few laps, a few opportunities made things easier for me, and on the final lap I just gave it everything I had. It worked. XCO is a different race, but my weekend is already good. Tomorrow is just a bonus.”
Overall winner Paul Schehl said: “It was super tough. The pace was super high from the beginning. I had planned a mid-race attack, but I didn’t have the chance because everyone was attacking from the start. It was super hard. On the last lap, there was a crash in front of me that cost me a bit of momentum. In the end, I could sprint for fourth, but I didn’t have the power anymore. With the overall, Worlds, my XCC results this season and P5 here, I’ll take that.”
MORE TITLES ON THE LINE AS LAKE PLACID RACING CONTINUES
In a change from the standard double-header schedule, the Endurance riders will be back between the race tape tomorrow for the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup, while the Downhill field will also return to action as riders battle to qualify for Sunday’s UCI Downhill World Cup finals.
In the Women Elite XCO, the tables are turned, with Jenny Rissveds and challenger Sina Frei set to go bar-to-bar once again in the fight for the overall crown. In the Men Elite race, Luca Martin heads into the season finale on the verge of completing an impressive XCO-XCC overall double, a feat that will further establish him as one of cross-country mountain biking’s leading young riders.
