Jenny Rissveds and Luca Martin secure 2026 MTB World Series overall titles
Lake Placid Closes 2026 World Series With Cross-Country Crowns
Jenny Rissveds and Luca Martin secured the 2026 Mountain Bike World Series overall cross-country titles on Saturday at the Lake Placid Olympic Sites in New York, cyclingnews.com reported. Both riders entered the final round of the cross-country Olympic competition needing only to finish the race to lock up their respective overall series victories.
Sprint Finishes Decide Final Lake Placid Outings
Dry and sunny conditions greeted the field for Saturday’s racing, providing a direct contrast to the mud of Friday’s short-track events where Martina Berta and Martin Vidaurre claimed victories. Both the elite women’s and men’s races concluded in sprint battles following dynamic final laps across the Mt Van Hoevenberg course, which blends wide ski trails with twisting singletrack, punchy climbs, and a distinctive jump section. Sina Frei claimed the elite women’s victory in a two-up sprint against Berta, while Charlie Aldridge took the men’s race win for the Cannondale Factory Racing squad.
Rissveds Fends Off Field Despite Early Struggles
Rissveds struggled to match the early pace in the women’s event, finishing 11th over two minutes behind Frei. Rissveds noted that the level of competition has grown significantly tighter and faster compared to previous seasons. Samara Maxwell and Christopher Blevins had previously secured distinct titles during the North American double-header portion of the international calendar, according to coverage from the Union Cycliste Internationale.
Cannondale Factory Racing Concludes Era in Top Five
Martin crossed the finish line in fifth place, 20 seconds behind his winning teammate Aldridge, as the Cannondale Factory Racing team completed its final official World Cup appearance before folding at the end of the year. Martin finished the overall standings behind Blevins and Vidaurre, while Aldridge held off Filippo Colombo to seal his victory on the New York circuit.