Boichis and Frei Headline Spectacular UCI XCO World Cup Showdown in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie

Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) and Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) mastered the ever-changing conditions in Les Gets to claim their maiden UCI Downhill World Cup victories. The French round also saw Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) secure a fifth Women Elite overall title as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series drew thousands of fans to the slopes of Haute-Savoie.After a six-week summer break, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returned for its final European stop of the season. While wet weather had dominated Saturday’s qualifying sessions, conditions improved for race day, creating a constantly evolving and unpredictable track.Last rider down the hill, Alran brought the home crowd to its feet as a sea of tricolour flags erupted in celebration of the teenager’s breakthrough UCI World Cup victory. In doing so, he denied Santa Cruz Syndicate a long-awaited win, with Andreas Kolb and Jackson Goldstone finishing second and third respectively.In the Women Elite race, Harnden’s precise and composed riding proved decisive. The Briton stormed to her first-ever UCI Downhill World Cup victory in an emotional triumph. Behind her, Höll’s third-place finish was enough to mathematically secure the overall series title with two rounds still to come. Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) finished runner-up on home soil, delighting the French fans.The junior categories delivered equally commanding performances. Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) and Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) kept their composure to take victory, with Williamson also clinching the Men Junior overall title with two rounds remaining.In the team standings, Canyon DH Racing emerged as the top-scoring squad of the weekend and climbed to second overall. With two rounds left in the season, COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction maintains the lead, but by a slender margin of just 36 points.A STAR IS BORN: ALRAN THRILLS FRENCH FANS IN LES GETS Max Alran crowned his first season in the Men Elite ranks with a flawless performance that sent the home crowd into raptures. The 19-year-old thrived under the pressure of racing in front of his local fans, topping qualifying before delivering a blistering race run to secure a breakthrough maiden elite victory.Fellow rising star Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) rolled off early after progressing through Q2 on Saturday but kept his overall title ambitions alive with a hard-fought fifth-place finish.Having twice finished runner-up in Les Gets, Andreas Kolb (Santa Cruz Syndicate) looked determined to go one better. The Austrian attacked the technical wooded sections with aggression and precision to set the benchmark time, one that would ultimately be surpassed by only one rider. Richard Rude Jr (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Antoine Pierron (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) both threatened Kolb’s lead but eventually settled for fourth and sixth respectively.UCI World Champion Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate), who will defend his rainbow stripes next weekend, once again showcased the fearless riding that carried him to the overall title last season. The Canadian clawed back time on teammate Kolb through the wooded sectors and unleashed some huge jumps in the lower sections to secure third place.Elsewhere, overall title contender Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) appeared on course to challenge for victory before a crash in the lower part of the track ended his hopes. Overall leader Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) also lost valuable points, a conservative run leaving him seventh on the day.Penultimate starter Martin Maes (Orbea FMD Racing) had impressed throughout qualifying but saw his podium hopes unravel when he unclipped a foot mid-run, eventually crossing the line in ninth. All eyes then turned to final starter Alran. With the French crowd packed trackside in anticipation, the teenager delivered under immense pressure, producing the fastest times in the final two sectors to stop the clock at 3:27.9, an astonishing 1.6 seconds clear of Kolb and enough to seal a dream home victory.Following his triumph, he said: “I don’t know how to feel, I’m just so stoked. It’s insane. I was feeling great up top and wasn’t stressing at all. Starting last puts the pressure on everyone else and it paid off. It feels unreal. I couldn’t be more proud. My parents, my friends and my brother were all here shouting for me.”With two rounds remaining, Williams continues to lead the overall standings, holding a 143-point advantage over Vermette and Finn Iles (Specialized Racing), who missed the Les Gets round through injury.HARNDEN BREAKS THROUGH AS HÖLL CLINCHES FIFTH OVERALL CROWNHarriet Harnden completed her transition from Enduro to Downhill by claiming the first Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup victory of her career. A former UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner, the 25-year-old Brit made the switch to downhill racing last season and has steadily established herself among the format’s elite. After narrowly missing the podium with fourth place at the season opener in MONA YongPyong (South Korea), Harnden has been a consistent top-10 finisher throughout 2026. In Les Gets, she took the final step to the top of the podium.The rider she succeeded on the top step, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division), endured a frustrating weekend. The Canadian was forced to advance through Q2 on Saturday and saw her hopes of defending her Les Gets victory disappear after crashing in the upper section of the course.Home favourite Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) showed immense determination as she continued her comeback from surgery on a broken and dislocated finger. Racing through the pain, the Frenchwoman secured a top-10 finish in front of her home crowd.Former Les Gets winner Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing), also still finding her way back after a lengthy injury layoff, finished 12th after struggling with the track’s physical demands.Entering the weekend second in the overall standings, Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) was the only rider capable of delaying teammate Valentina Höll’s title celebrations. Despite qualifying ninth, the Swiss rider produced a much stronger race run, finding significant pace throughout the course to finish sixth.Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) looked poised to challenge for victory until a mistake in a rut near the finish cost her crucial seconds, dropping her to fifth place. Newly crowned European Champion Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing) continued her impressive recent form, delivering one of her strongest performances of the season to take fourth.Having qualified third the previous day, Harnden excelled where it mattered most. The Brit looked composed and committed through the technical wooded sections before producing a near-flawless lower half of the run to move into the lead, guaranteeing herself a podium place with only two riders left on the mountain.Penultimate starter Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) came out of the gate aggressively and posted some of the fastest times in the upper sectors. However, the French National Champion could not match Harnden’s pace in the closing stages and crossed the line 1.2 seconds adrift of the Brit to take second place.All eyes then turned to Valentina Höll. The Austrian knew that a top five finish would be enough to secure a fifth overall Women Elite title. She flew out of the start gate, carrying impressive speed through the upper sections and into the woods, where she built an advantage of almost three seconds. But Harnden’s technical mastery proved decisive. The Brit clawed back time sector after sector and Höll eventually finished third, 1.4 seconds behind the winning ride.Following her breakthrough victory, Harnden said: “It’s unbelievable. I’ve always wanted to do this and to actually pull it off doesn’t feel real yet. Having so many friends and family here supporting me means everything. I felt good on track this morning and had a feeling it could be my day, but you never know and you still have to put everything together. Everyone else was absolutely flying at the top. I gave everything I had in the lower sections and found something that really worked for me. I’m having so much fun on the bike and living the dream. It was such a surreal moment. I can’t believe it.”Höll’s third-place finish was enough to secure her fifth Women Elite overall title, drawing level with French legends Sabrina Jonnier and Anne-Caroline Chausson on five series crowns. Harnden’s victory also elevated her to second in the overall standings, where she now holds a slim 33-point advantage over Baumann.Reflecting on her title-winning performance, Höll said: “I’m pretty stoked. I’ve qualified first in Les Gets a lot of times before and lost it in the final section. Maybe next year I won’t just focus on maximum watts all the way down. I was a little too cautious and comfortable at the bottom. It’s a good lesson to learn ahead of next week’s World Championships. I’m happy, healthy and ready for the challenge.”JUNIOR TITLE GLORY FOR WILLIAMSON, ANOTHER WIN FOR OSTGAARDJonty Williamson continued his dominant 2026 campaign by claiming a sixth Men Junior UCI Downhill World Cup victory of the season and, in the process, securing the overall series title with two rounds still to race.British privateer Elliot Smith had announced himself as a rider to watch by topping topping qualifying on Saturday in only his second Men Junior UCI Downhill World Cup appearance. But with the track drying out and conditions changing significantly for finals, it was New Zealanders Williamson and Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) who emerged as the class of the field.Boatwright threw down the gauntlet, shaving three seconds off the previous fastest time to take over the hot seat. However, series leader Williamson once again rose to the occasion, edging out his compatriot by just two tenths of a second to extend his remarkable winning streak. Final starter Smith could not match the pace of the New Zealand duo and completed the podium in third.Williamson’s victory not only secured a sixth win of the season but also made him the first New Zealander to win the Men Junior UCI Downhill World Cup overall title. With an unassailable lead of 124 points and two rounds remaining, the crown is already his.Following his victory, Williamson said: “I’m so happy to put down a good run and get on the top step of the podium. I struggled all week with the conditions and tyre choice, and the track was super physical. Winning the overall is so cool. I’ll head to the World Championships next week and try to bring the same consistency to my racing.”In the Women Junior category, overall series leader Aletha Ostgaard continued her imperious run of form with another commanding victory in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie.Rosa Marie Jensen (Specialized Gravity), one of the most consistent riders in the category this season, once again delivered a strong performance and set the benchmark time for the final two riders to beat. Cassandre Peizerat, racing as a guest rider for COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction, showcased her immense potential by going six seconds quicker than Jensen to move into the lead. But Ostgaard was once again untouchable. The American produced yet another masterclass on the drying track, carrying speed and precision throughout the run to stop the clock at 4:19.3, more than six seconds faster than Peizerat and comfortably enough for a third consecutive UCI Downhill World Cup victory.Ostgaard now holds an 85-point lead in the overall standings as she continues her charge towards the series title.Following her victory, she said: “This one was definitely rewarding for me. It was such a long and physical course, and the mud was changing every lap. To put together a clean run in those conditions felt really good. I’m stoked. Everyone was struggling because one minute it felt dry and the next it was incredibly slippery. I love riding in the mud.”The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, on Sunday with the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup. The UCI Downhill World Cup then heads to Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia, Canada, from 25-27 September, marking the long-awaited UCI World Cup debut of a venue widely regarded as the spiritual home of downhill mountain biking.

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 Heby 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 Heby 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 Heby 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.

Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) has been one of the standout performers of the year. The reigning UCI XCO World Champion has carried her late-2025 momentum into this season, leading the UCI XCO World Cup standings while sitting just 30 points behind Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) in the UCI XCC World Cup rankings.Yet the Swede can afford no room for error. A formidable chasing pack, led by riders enjoying the strongest campaigns of their careers, remains firmly in contention. Frei, teammate Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) and Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) have all emerged as title contenders and are ready to capitalise on any opportunity.With three UCI World Cup rounds remaining, as well as next week’s 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy), the battle for supremacy is set to intensify. Expect Rissveds, Frei, Stigger and Berta to be at the heart of the action every time the start gun fires.LAURA STIGGER: “YOU CAN’T UNDERESTIMATE ANYONE”Laura Stigger is enjoying the most consistent season of her career in 2026. The Austrian has finished outside the top 10 just once in the UCI XCO World Cup this year, in Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland, and secured a breakthrough victory at round two in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia).During the summer break, Stigger has taken the opportunity to recharge both physically and mentally, spending time with friends and family while reflecting on a season that has firmly established her among the leading contenders. Her last outing in Pal Arinsal-Andorra produced another strong showing, with second place in the XCC and fifth in the XCO.“It was good to remember after Nové Město and then having Leogang as a really tough race,” she said. “It made me appreciate that victory even more. Starting that four-race block with a difficult race and then gradually building momentum gave me a lot of confidence.”Although Jenny Rissveds remains the benchmark, Stigger believes the depth of competition at the top of women’s cross-country racing is stronger than ever: “There are so many riders you have to keep an eye on, and you can’t underestimate anyone,” she explained. “At the World Championships especially, everybody wants to be at their very best. We can only focus on ourselves and make sure we deliver our best performance.”The upcoming UCI Mountain Bike World Championships are one of the major targets of her season, but Stigger is equally excited about what lies beyond Val di Sole: “I’m super excited for the new venue in Utah, in Haley Batten’s backyard,” she said. “I can’t wait to see the course and experience a completely new destination on the World Cup calendar.”SINA FREI: “EVERY SIGNLE POINT COUNTS”Sina Frei is also enjoying a career-best campaign. During the summer break, the Swiss rider added the European XCO and XCC titles to an already outstanding season that sees her sitting second in the UCI XCO World Cup overall standings while leading the race for the UCI XCC World Cup crown.Frei credits much of her success to a change in mindset, learning to appreciate achievements along the way rather than immediately looking ahead to the next challenge: “What I learned is to really enjoy every little success as much as possible. In the past, I didn't do that as well,” she explained.The six-week block of racing also provided a valuable lesson. Rather than worrying about limited training opportunities between events, Frei embraced the fact that every rider faced the same challenge and focused on making the most of each race weekend.“When there are so many races close together, it's not easy to keep your focus and belief in yourself. Sometimes you start thinking your fitness is gone,” she said. “But I kept telling myself that the others couldn't train either, that we were all in the same situation. Realising that was a turning point for me. In the past, I would panic too much about not being able to train. Now I'm much more relaxed, and I think that's made the biggest difference.”Although her eighth-place finish in the XCC at Pal Arinsal reduced her advantage at the top of the standings to 30 points, Frei took pride in the way she fought for every position and every point.“That race didn't go as planned, but with two laps to go I told myself: ‘I have to give absolutely everything until the finish because every single point counts.’”That determination has been a defining feature of Frei’s season so far, and with the UCI World Championships looming and three UCI World Cup rounds still to come, she remains firmly in the driving seat in the battle for the UCI XCC World Cup title.MARTINA BERTA: “THERE’S NOT MUCH LEFT TO DO BUT RACE, ENJOY AND NOT THINK TOO MUCH”Another rider enjoying a breakthrough campaign is reigning Italian champion Martina Berta. The 28-year-old has grown in confidence and consistency throughout the season, culminating in a memorable maiden UCI XCO World Cup victory on home soil in La Thuile, Valle d’Aosta. She carried that momentum into Pal Arinsal-Andorra, where a second-place finish elevated her to fourth in the overall UCI XCO World Cup standings.The demanding July race block delivered some of the biggest highs of her career, but it also highlighted the mental challenge of staying focused after emotional peaks.“The July block of racing was amazing,” said Berta. “It required a lot of energy, and I was happy to have a proper break after the National Championships because I was quite tired, maybe more mentally than physically. When you have those highs in La Thuile and Pal Arinsal, there’s naturally a bit of a low afterwards, and it can be difficult to stay focused.”Berta’s success has mirrored the rise of Origine Racing Division, a team that continues to challenge the sport’s biggest names despite being only in its second season. The Italian is quick to credit the collective effort behind their progress.“There are a lot of people working behind the scenes who don’t appear on screen but do an incredible job,” she explained. “Mathis [Azzaro] has also been really important for me. Last year he had a very strong first half of the season while I was struggling a bit more, so it was inspiring to see him performing at that level and to have that example within the team.”Now, Berta turns her attention to a pivotal final chapter of the season, with the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the closing UCI World Cup rounds presenting an opportunity to transform an already outstanding campaign into a truly memorable one.“I’m really happy with the season I’ve had so far, and it’s motivating to arrive at the World Championships feeling confident,” she said. “Italy is home, I know the venue, and I know so many people there. On a good day you enjoy it even more, but if things aren’t going your way, you still have the crowd behind you.”Looking beyond Val di Sole, Berta knows the final stretch will demand careful management as the series heads to North America.“From Les Gets to Lake Placid it’s going to be a long block. There are a few weeks between Worlds and the U.S. trip, but there won’t be much time for training. The focus will be on recovery and making the most of the work we’ve already done over the past month. By the time you arrive in Les Gets, there’s not much left to do other than race, enjoy it and not overthink things.”