Aldridge and Rissveds win World Cup final in Canada
Samara Maxwell also made history: the New Zealander became the first rider from her country to win the overall Women's Elite World Cup. The Decathlon Ford Racing Team athlete completed her triumph with an emotional second place, while Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) finished third after an intense race.
The men's elite race was much closer. British champion Aldridge made the decisive attack on the last lap and narrowly relegated Martin Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) to second place. Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) took third place.
In the women's U23 category, Canada's Isabella Holmgren celebrated an impressive comeback at her home World Cup, winning both races of the weekend. Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) was rewarded with overall victory thanks to her consistent season performance. In the men's U23 category, Swiss rider Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) crowned his outstanding season with another double victory, having already won the overall standings in the XCO and Short Track (XCC).
Rissveds excels with record win
Jenny Rissveds ended her season in Mont-Sainte-Anne with a historic success. The Swede won by the largest margin ever achieved in a women's elite XCO race. After a difficult start to the season, she turned things around impressively: Eight wins in the last ten races, including the world title.
Samara Maxwell needed to finish in the top eight before the final to win the overall World Cup. Rissveds would only have had a theoretical chance of taking over the series if Maxwell failed.
Linda Indergand (Liv Factory Racing) put down an early marker in her farewell race and briefly led the field. But Rissveds quickly took the lead and steadily extended her advantage. After just a few minutes, she was already ten seconds ahead of Maxwell, who was the only one who came close to holding on. After the first lap, Rissveds was already leading by over a minute. Behind her, Frei, Richards, Blunk, Keller and Berta battled for the other podium places.
At the halfway point of the race, Rissveds' lead was almost two minutes. Maxwell was safely in second place, while Frei and Richards battled for third. Maxwell had a brief scare when she almost crashed in a groove, but was able to continue. Meanwhile, Rissveds remained undeterred and steadily increased her lead.
In the end, she won by a record margin of three minutes and thirty seconds ahead of Maxwell, who was delighted with her overall victory. Richards secured third place ahead of Frei after a strong final section.
Rissveds said: "This is the first time I've been speechless. I was completely exhausted at the end, but I tried to stay in the flow and enjoy the race. It was a great course, real mountain biking. I had no plan, I just wanted to ride my own race. It worked and that's a wonderful feeling."
Maxwell explained: "I've been thinking a lot about the mental pressure we face as athletes. We've had eleven races this season, including the World Championships, and I've been on the podium ten times. That was only possible because the team always believed in me. It was crucial to trust my process, my coach and my environment."
Aldridge takes first World Cup win
Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) produced a strong tactical race in the men's elite race and took his first World Cup win with two powerful attacks. The 24-year-old Brit had already reached the podium several times this season and now crowned his upward trend with victory.
After a botched start, Aldridge quickly worked his way to the front. Martin Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) set the pace early on, followed by Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Racing). The race was marked by incidents right from the start: Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) both crashed in the early stages.
A fierce battle formed in the leading group between riders from the Specialized and Cannondale teams. Vidaurre, Aldridge, Azzaro, Blevins, Martin, Andreassen and Boichis formed the leading pack. On the penultimate lap, Aldridge attacked on the climb and pulled away by a few seconds. Vidaurre countered, but the Brit repeated his attack on the last lap and was able to pull away decisively.
Aldridge won by eleven seconds ahead of Vidaurre, with Azzaro completing the podium.
The winner said: "What a way to end the season, I'm over the moon. I've been working towards this moment my whole life. In the last two laps it was just a fight against exhaustion. I saw that I had a small gap and gave it everything I had until the finish. It was enough."
Christopher Blevins, who was already the overall winner, was satisfied: "It was a wonderful year. I'm proud of myself, the team and the process we went through. It all came together."
Holmgren shines in front of home crowd, Corvi takes overall victory
Isabella Holmgren celebrated a perfect weekend in the women's U23 category. After a season with few mountain bike events, the Canadian made an impressive return and won both races in Mont-Sainte-Anne.
Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) started the race as overall leader and secured the title with third place. Vida Lopez De San Roman (Trinity Racing) took second place.
Holmgren said: "I really wanted to avoid crashing in the same place as last year. I stayed focused and was happy to have a perfect weekend. I want to continue combining road and mountain bike racing - I've found a good balance."
Corvi explained: "This jersey means a lot to me. It was a difficult season with injuries, so the result is all the better. I'm just happy and want to enjoy the moment."
Treudler sets highlight with eighth victory
Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) crowned his outstanding season in the men's U23 category with another victory. The Swiss rider won eight of the ten World Cup races and also dominated the final in Mont-Sainte-Anne.
Treudler broke away from Maxime Lhomme on the first lap and was soon riding alone at the front. His lead grew to over 40 seconds by the middle of the race. Behind him, Heby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and Naël Rouffiac (Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret) battled for the other podium places. Pedersen finished second, Rouffiac third.
Treudler thus secured the overall classification well ahead of Rens Teunissen Van Manen (KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team) and Pedersen.
The winner said: "It means an incredible amount to me. It's been a fantastic season and I'm happy to end it like this. The course suited me very well, especially the climbs. I just try to be the best version of myself - success will come naturally."
Cross-Country World Cup Final Mont Saint Anne
Rissveds triumphs in short track - Richards celebrates overall victory
Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) has continued her impressive winning streak and celebrated her fourth success in a row in the UCI XCC Women's Elite World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada). The Swede put in a dominant performance and left her rivals behind her early on. With a lead of 18 seconds, she rode confidently to victory.
Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) finished in the top eight to secure overall victory in the short-course World Cup. The Brit made a strong start, leading the field on the first climb and setting the tone early on. Jennifer Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory Team) initially set the pace on home soil before Rissveds forced the pace on the third of nine laps.
For a short time, Richards and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) were able to follow, but Rissveds stepped it up again and used the last climb before the finish to pull away decisively. She went into the penultimate lap with a lead of 24 seconds and defended her advantage to the finish.
Behind her, Richards and Ronja Blöchlinger (LIV Factory Racing) battled for second place. Richards came out on top on the final descent and finished second, with Blöchlinger in third place.
"I felt really strong today and didn't have to wait, so I attacked earlier than usual," said Rissveds after the race. "I've learned a lot this year - as an athlete and about how to ride races as fast as possible. It's sometimes scary to try new things, but if you have the confidence and trust, you can be proud of it. I really like this course here, it's a good feeling to be so strong."
In the overall standings, Richards won by 110 points ahead of Rissveds, with Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) third.
"I'm so happy," said Richards. "It's been a turbulent year. When I didn't start in Italy, the overall win didn't matter to me. I just wanted to get healthy so that I could fight again. The fact that I made it despite everything is incredible. I was very nervous today, I wanted to win, but I also didn't want to risk finishing outside the top eight. Jenny is very strong and I had to make smart decisions. I couldn't afford to chase her and risk everything."
Martin and Aldridge ensure Cannondale double victory
In the men's elite race, Cannondale Factory Racing celebrated a double victory. Luca Martin came out on top in a thrilling finale, just ahead of his team-mate Charlie Aldridge. Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) completed the podium.
The pace was high right from the start. Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) opened with a fast first lap, while Boichis followed closely behind. Series winner Christopher Blevins was also in the mix at the front. Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) led the field in the middle of the race, but Cannondale positioned itself perfectly with Aldridge, Martin and Canadian Cole Punchard.
On the final lap, Martin, Aldridge and Boichis fought a thrilling duel. Martin held on to the lead on the final climb, while Aldridge held on and allowed his team-mate to take the win. Boichis couldn't find a way past and finished third.
"It's great to win here in Mont-Sainte-Anne," said Martin. "Charlie helped me a lot, we worked together perfectly. The sport is changing and you need teamwork to win. Today we did that perfectly."
In the overall standings, Blevins was already the winner before the race. Martin and Aldridge finished second and third.
Holmgren wins in front of home crowd
Canadian U23 world champion Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) celebrated a successful comeback on the mountain bike and won the women's U23 race with an attack on the penultimate lap. Anina Hutter (Nexetis) followed nine seconds behind, with Katharina Sadnik (KTM Factory MTB Team) in third.
"It's great to be back on the mountain bike - especially here in Canada with family and fans on the course," said Holmgren. "It's hard to hold a good position on this course, so I wanted to stay out front as long as possible and race hard."
Despite her third place finish, Sadnik's result was enough to secure the overall win in the U23 classification.
"I can hardly believe what I've achieved this year," Sadnik said. "I'm over the moon, it will take me a while to realize it. Sometimes I look at my jersey and think I have to defend it, so I give it my all."
Treudler celebrates seventh win in a row
Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) remains the measure of all things in the men's U23 category. The Swiss rider won his seventh race in a row in Mont-Sainte-Anne and had already secured the overall victories in the XCC and XCO World Cup before the final.
The race remained open for a long time until Treudler pulled out a small gap on the penultimate lap and defended it to the finish. Behind him, Heby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and Nils Johansson took second and third place.
Treudler won the overall standings with a 281-point lead over Pedersen, with Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountain Bike Team) in third place.
"It was a tough battle today," said Treudler. "I tried to get away several times, but the peloton wouldn't let me. In the end, it was another sprint and I'm over the moon to have taken my seventh win in a row. It sounds crazy, but I'm very proud of this season."
The top 3 riders: Evie Richards (overall World Cup short track winner), Jenny Rissveds and Ronja Blöchlinger.
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