Sina Frei and Charlie Aldridge Claim Short Track Titles at MTB European Championships
Concurrently, Charlie Aldridge captured gold for Great Britain in the men’s short track battle at an altitude of 1,962 metres in the Lugano Prealps, navigating a warm day where riders utilized cooling vests and water bottles.
Elite Women’s Race Dynamics and World Cup Standings
Defending champion Jenny Rissveds of Sweden dictated the pace at the front for the majority of the 10-lap women’s event, keeping the Swiss trio of Sina Frei, Alessandra Keller, and Nicole Koller in close company. According to the race reporting, Rissveds attempted a decisive acceleration on the bell lap, but only Keller and Frei managed to match the move. Frei executed a powerful maneuver around the final right-hand corner, establishing separation to claim her third short track victory of the season. World Champion’s jersey wearer Alessandra Keller finished four seconds back in second place amid a cloud of dust, while Rissveds settled for third. Evie Richards of Great Britain took fourth and Sofie Pedersen of Denmark finished fifth.
The 2026 campaign marks significant milestones for Frei, who secured her first World Cup XCO victory in May before adding her maiden XCC European title. Official standings show Frei leading the elite women’s World Cup XCC table by a 30-point margin over Rissveds.
Elite Men’s Battle and British Gold
In the men’s 11-lap contest, Charlie Aldridge faced sustained pressure from a heavy contingent of Swiss riders, including defending champion Luca Schätti and Dario Lillo. Spain’s Jofre Cullell Estape alongside Danish riders Tobias Lillelund and Sebastian Fini Juul also animated the early pace, preventing significant tactical gaps from forming across the field. Aldridge utilized a late tactical shift, moving to the front position on the downhill corner leading to the finish line. He successfully distanced Italy’s Juri Zanotti to secure the victory, while Lillo edged Lillelund for the bronze medal, leaving Schätti on the Dane’s back wheel in fifth position.
“Of course, we came into the race aiming to defend the European title with the Swiss Cycling Team. We raced our hearts out as a team and gave everything we had,” said Schätti following the conclusion of the event on home soil.
Weekend Schedule and Olympic Cross-Country Outlook
Racing at Monte Tamaro concludes on Sunday with the Olympic Cross-country races. Frei and Rissveds are slated for an immediate rematch on the longer course, where the Swedish rider will defend her European title. In the men’s division, last year’s winner Tom Pidcock is absent from the start line, creating a clear opening for silver medalist Aldridge to keep the gold medal with Great Britain.
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