The course in Les Gets presented itself in bright sunshine, but with a slippery surface. The rain of the previous days had softened the ground and made it technically demanding. If you wanted to be at the front, you had to find the perfect balance between speed, riding technique and nerves. Martin and Rissveds did this best.

Rissveds untouchable

On Saturday, Jenny Rissveds had already ended her 26-month winless streak. She went one better on Sunday, and how. She took the lead immediately after the start and consistently extended her lead. After the first lap, she was already twelve seconds ahead of the field. A brief excursion off the track on the second lap barely knocked her out of her rhythm.

A scene on lap three was decisive: Alessandra Keller from the Thömus Maxon team led the chasing group, but faltered. The unrest in the peloton also played into Rissveds' cards. Unperturbed, she mastered the technical passages, didn't allow any nervousness or mistakes and crossed the finish line after one hour, twelve minutes and one second - more than a minute ahead of the competition.

After her, a thrilling duel developed for second place. Samara Maxwell from the Decathlon Ford Racing Team put Keller under pressure, but the Swiss rider mobilized everything in the final lap and saved the finish ahead of Maxwell.

This put Rissveds at the top of the podium, with Keller in second place and Maxwell in third. Maxwell remains narrowly in the lead in the overall standings, but Rissveds is now only 435 points behind. "I hadn't planned an attack," explained Rissveds at the finish. "I just wanted to ride my race. That's the key for me in cross-country: not thinking too much about the others."

When asked about her small misfire on the second lap, she said: "I thought I had a flat rear tire. It felt soft. The conditions were difficult after the rain of the previous days. There were a lot of discussions about tires and material. In the end, I made a good choice and I'm happy with it."

As the best Austrian, Laura Stigger rode to seventh place on soil, while Jolanda Neff proved her improving form with ninth place. Ginia Caluori also put down an exclamation marker from a Swiss perspective with her best elite result of twelfth place, just ahead of her Swiss colleagues Nicole Koller and Sina Frei. Nina Graf was classified as the best German in 16th place.

Results

Martin makes France shake

The big highlight for the local fans followed in the men's race. The 23-year-old Luca Martin, reigning French champion, delivered a memorable performance. He had already won the short track race in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, in July. Now he crowned himself in Les Gets.

At the decisive moment, he attacked on one of the steepest climbs. The Italian Luca Braidot from the Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team, who had been in the lead until then, was no longer able to follow. Martin seized the opportunity and extended his lead to the finish. With a spectacular wheelie, he crossed the line after 1:22.03 hours - twelve seconds ahead of Braidot. "It's just incredible," said a jubilant Martin. "The fans are chanting my name, it's literally burning with enthusiasm everywhere. I think I won because I had fun on the bike. I stayed focused and made the decisive attack on the steepest climbs."

Swiss rider Mathias Flückiger from Team Thömus Maxon rode to third place and said: "I knew I was in good shape. But translating the values from training into the race is always a different story. With third place today, I'm looking confidently towards Crans Montana." They were followed by Alan Hatherly from the Giant Factory Off-Road Team and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria). Superstar Mathieu van der Poel also proved his morale: from 33rd on the grid, he worked his way up to sixth place.

Another solid result was delivered by Fabio Püntener in ninth place. And his Swiss colleague Marcel Guerrini finished in a good 13th place, ahead of Dario Lillo and the best German, Luca Schwarzbauer. Immediately behind him, Nino Schurter finished the race in 16th place.

In the overall standings, Martin is now in third place, 396 points behind leader Christopher Blevins from the Specialized Factory Racing Team.

Results

Young riders: Treudler and Corvi make their mark

The favourites also dominated the U23 riders. The Swiss Finn Treudler from the Cube Factory Racing Team continued his winning streak and won for the fourth time this season in the cross country. After a time of 1:16.54 hours, he crossed the finish line as the soloist.

At the beginning, he had broken away with compatriot Benjamin Krüger, but Treudler's superiority soon became apparent. With a lead of 45 seconds, he left Krüger behind him. Frenchman Alix Andre Gallis from the Sunn Factory Racing Team took third place. "I felt very strong," said Treudler. "I had the race under control and set the pace." 

After fourth place in the short track, Nicolas Halter (SUI) once again had to settle for the leather medal in the cross country, while his compatriots Maxime l'Homme and Kahlid Sidahmed finished a good eighth and twelfth. Paul Schehl (GER) also made it into the top 10.

Results

In the women's race, Italy's Valentina Corvi confirmed her exceptional position. The European champion rode a confident race, pulling away on the first lap and controlling the field. With a lead of 56 seconds over the US American Vida Lopez de San Roman and 1:17 minutes over the Canadian Isabella Holmgren, Corvi was the winner.

"I felt strong," said Corvi. "I'm proud and happy, especially with a view to the World Championships next week."

The best Swiss athlete was Lea Huber in fifth place, with Elina Benoit and Fiona Schibler (both SUI) in seventh and eighth. The German Finja Lipp finished the race in 13th place.

Results

The "one-armed men" land a double victory at the Short Track World Cup

The Short Track World Cup races in Les Gets (France) offered high tension and new winners. Jenny Rissveds and Charlie Aldridge provided great emotion, while Finn Treudler confirmed his dominance in the U23 category and Vida Lopez de San Roman was able to celebrate for the first time in the U23 women's race. Rissveds won ahead of Alessandra Keller and Samara Maxwell, Aldridge landed a double victory for the Cannondale team with teammate Luca Martin, Luca Braidot came third.

Elite women

Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) ended her long drought and won a short track race for the first time since June 2023. She beat Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) on the decisive final climb. "I was cool, calm and tried to ride it smart," explained the Swede. Keller reduced her gap in the overall standings to leader Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli), who finished fifth in Les Gets. Third place went to the New Zealander Samara Maxwell (Decathlon-Ford Racing Team). With fourth and eighth place, Sina Frei and Jolanda Neff both secured a place on the front row for the cross-country race. After 15th place in the short track, Laura Stigger (AUT) will start from the second row on Sunday

Results

Elite men

In the men's race, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) seemed to be on his way to overall victory, but a chain problem stopped him and he only finished 17th. Instead, Cannondale team colleagues Charlie Aldridge and Luca Martin with the eye-catching single-arm Lefty forks delivered a thrilling finale, which the Brit won in the sprint. "The last few corners were a real battle, I'm over the moon," said Aldridge after his maiden victory. Behind the two, Luca Braidot (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) secured third place. The fastest German-speakers were Dario Lillo (SUI) and Julian Schelb (GER) in seventh and eighth place.

Results

U23 women

Vida Lopez de San Roman (USA) celebrated her first World Cup victory. In the final sprint, she relegated Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) and Ella McPhee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) to second and third place. "It hasn't quite sunk in yet, but it means a lot to me and gives me a lot of confidence ahead of the World Championships," said the 20-year-old. Swiss riders Lea Huber and Monique Halter finished the race in fourth and fifth place, with Andrea Kravanja the best German in 17th place.

Results

U23 men

In short track this year, Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) hardly seems to be a force to be reckoned with. The Swiss rider won his fourth race in a row in Les Gets and is clearly heading for overall victory. In Les Gets, he left Benjamin Krüger (GER) and the Dane Gustav Heby-Pedersen behind him. "I had a great preparation at altitude, which paid off today," explained Treudler. With a lead of 234 points, he could already seal the deal in Lenzerheide.

Results