Attack on the last lap and victory for Sina Frei in Les Gets

After a morning marked by rain and really complicated conditions in Les Gets, the weather gave a respite just before the Women's Elite Short Track of the World Cup. The ground was still wet and muddy, but it allowed for a very fast race in which Sina Frei confirmed her excellent form with a victory achieved thanks to an attack on the last lap.

Sina Frei wins the Short Track in Les Gets with an attack on the last lap

The French event also marked the return of the World Cup after the summer break and comes at a particularly important moment in the season. In just a week, the World Championship will take place in Val di Sole, making Les Gets the last major competitive test before fighting for the rainbow jerseys.

Even before the start, two important news items emerged. Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing) withdrew due to illness, while Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) decided not to compete in the XCC. The Dutch rider arrived directly after winning the mountain jersey at the Tour de France Femmes and chose to conserve energy for the XCO on Sunday.

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The front row was occupied by the eight best cyclists in the World Cup ranking: Jenny Rissveds, Sina Frei, Martina Berta, Laura Stigger, Savilia Blunk, Ronja Blöchlinger, Nicole Koller, and Alessandra Keller.

The start was explosive again, although the first part of the circuit, slightly wider and faster than in previous editions, allowed the peloton to tackle the first meters with a bit more space. This did not prevent a fall involving Samara Maxwell and Catalina Vidaurre without serious consequences.

Martina Berta and Sina Frei were among the first to take the lead, but it soon became clear that breaking the race was not going to be easy. The mud accumulated from the rain did not seem to slow the bikes down too much, and the pace remained very high throughout the seven planned laps.

Rissveds, Blunk, and Blöchlinger were some of the cyclists who took turns at the front while position changes occurred constantly. However, no one managed to create a gap.

Behind, Samara Maxwell staged a great comeback after the initial incident. The New Zealander, who was returning after several months on pause, regained positions until, on the fourth lap, she had managed to catch up with a leading group that still included eight riders.

The pace was high, but the decisive attack was still missing to definitively select the race. And when Maxwell had managed to return to the best, she suffered a flat tire with two laps to go, ending all her chances of fighting for victory.

Up front, the group finally began to shrink. Sina Frei, Jenny Rissveds, Savilia Blunk, and Martina Berta were in a position to contest the race, with the Swiss from Specialized occupying the top positions.

Frei arrived in Les Gets wearing the European champion jersey, achieved just a few days ago, and quickly demonstrated that her form was still excellent.

Everything was pending for the last lap.

As they passed the finish line and with the bell ringing, Sina Frei launched a powerful change of pace. Rissveds and Blunk tried to respond, but the Swiss quickly began to gain a few meters that turned out to be decisive.

Far from falling apart, Frei managed to maintain and even consolidate her lead during the final moments to cross the finish line alone and achieve victory in the Short Track of Les Gets with a time of 20:38.

Jenny Rissveds finished second, 6 seconds behind, while Savilia Blunk completed the podium, 8 seconds behind. Nicole Koller was fourth, and Laura Stigger rounded out the Top 5.

A victory particularly significant for Frei, who just a few days after being crowned European champion in XCC and XCO once again triumphs over some of the best specialists in the world.

Top 10 Women's Elite Short Track – World Cup of Les Gets 2026

1. Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) – 20:38
2. Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) – +6
3. Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) – +8
4. Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) – +13
5. Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) – +16
6. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) – +18
7. Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) – +19
8. Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing) – +34
9. Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) – +52
10. Ginia Caluori – +1:00