European champion Jenny Rissveds and rising talent Adrien Boichis claimed elite victories at the UCI MTB World Series short track (XCC) race in La Thuile, Italy, on Friday. Rissveds secured the women’s win in a sprint finish against Sina Frei, while Boichis took his second consecutive XCC victory following a late-race crash involving his rivals.
Elite Women’s XCC Results
Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) demonstrated tactical patience throughout the eight-lap race in the Aosta Valley. According to race reports, Rissveds controlled the front of the pack alongside Specialized Factory Racing riders Sina Frei and Laura Stigger during the opening stages.
By the fourth lap, Frei increased the tempo, narrowing the lead group to a select few, including world champion Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing). The decisive move occurred on the penultimate lap when Rissveds and Frei dropped their competitors. Rissveds ultimately outpaced Frei in the final forest section to take the win. Savilia Blunk finished third, 16 seconds behind the leaders, while Alessandra Keller took fourth place.
Elite Men’s XCC Drama
Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) secured his second straight World Cup short track win after a high-stakes battle against Cannondale Factory Racing teammates Luca Martin and Charlie Aldridge.
The race intensity peaked with two and a half laps remaining on the 3.42km circuit. As the lead group navigated a sharp climb, Charlie Aldridge crashed after his front wheel touched the rear wheel of Luca Martin. Boichis, who had been positioning himself behind the two French riders, capitalized on the opening to maintain his lead.
"With two laps to go, Luca tried to make space for Charlie, and he crashed," Boichis told organizers. "Luca tried to push me on the outside, but Charlie was suffering anyway, so I don’t think he would have changed the outcome."
Luca Martin finished second, while Charlie Aldridge recovered to take third place, finishing 16 seconds off the pace.
Notable Returns to the World Cup
The La Thuile round featured the return of several high-profile riders to the XCC circuit. Reigning XCO world champion Alan Hatherly (Jayco AlUla) competed in his first World Cup mountain bike event of the season after spending the first half of the year racing on the road, including an appearance at the Giro d’Italia. Christopher Blevins also returned to the starting grid following a collarbone injury sustained during training prior to the South Korea World Cup round.
Quick Facts: La Thuile XCC
- Women’s Podium: 1. Jenny Rissveds, 2. Sina Frei, 3. Savilia Blunk.
- Men’s Podium: 1. Adrien Boichis, 2. Luca Martin, 3. Charlie Aldridge.
- U23 Winners: Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) and Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team).
- Course Details: The 3.42km circuit featured a technical start, a new rock garden, and steep climbs exceeding 20% gradient.
The UCI MTB World Series continues in La Thuile with the cross-country Olympic (XCO) racing events scheduled for Sunday.
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