Boichis beats Van der Poel on the final lap to win the Les Gets XCO World Cup

Adrien Boichis has won the XCO World Cup in Les Gets after a very close race that was decided in the final lap. The Frenchman managed to break away with Mathieu van der Poel in the closing stages and opened the definitive gap on the descent to win by 7 seconds. Martin Vidaurre completed the podium, while Luca Martin finished fourth and Simone Avondetto fifth.

Boichis wins in Les Gets after a head-to-head with Van der Poel

The start made it clear that the pace was going to be very high. Mathieu van der Poel, who started from the second row, quickly moved up positions and took the lead in the first minutes, confirming from the outset that he was ready to compete with the best in his return to XCO.

A first group quickly formed ahead with Adrien Boichis, Luca Martin, Mathis Azzaro, Van der Poel, Simone Avondetto, Martin Vidaurre, and Cole Punchard. The race remained very compact during the first laps, with continuous changes at the front but no one able to open significant gaps.

One of the first significant moves came from Mathis Azzaro, who lost contact with the front group due to a mechanical issue and ended up withdrawing after passing through the technical zone.

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Without Azzaro, Boichis and Luca Martin took on much of the race's weight. Both maintained a very high pace that progressively selected the group, although for many kilometers the differences remained small.

Van der Poel holds on with the best

As the laps went by, the main question was how far Van der Poel could go in a complete XCO race after almost a year without competing in mountain biking.

The Dutchman not only held on but began to take the lead. On lap 5, he moved ahead to take the front of the group, while the final selection left five riders at the front: Luca Martin, Adrien Boichis, Simone Avondetto, Mathieu van der Poel, and Martin Vidaurre.

Mathias Flückiger was one of the last to lose contact with them, while David List also remained relatively close.

The Les Gets circuit, very physically demanding but without significant differences in the technical sections, favored a race of endurance and stamina. For much of the race, the top five rode separated by just a few seconds, leaving everything open for the final laps.

Everything is decided in the last lap

The penultimate lap began with Luca Martin first, Boichis 1 second behind, Van der Poel 2 seconds behind, Vidaurre 3 seconds behind, and Avondetto 4 seconds behind.

From there, the attacks began.

Boichis launched a change of pace, and Luca Martin responded with a counterattack. Shortly after, it was Van der Poel who tried his luck and took the lead, but the group regrouped again on the descent.

With the bell for the last lap, sounded by Paul Seixas, the final battle began.

Boichis attacked with great strength on the climb, and Van der Poel had to give his all to close the gap. Martin Vidaurre also managed to catch up initially, while Luca Martin began to fade.

Shortly after, Boichis pressed again, and only Van der Poel was able to follow him. Vidaurre and Martin were definitively out of the fight for victory.

The Frenchman continued to push on the climb, but Van der Poel responded to all his changes of pace. The definitive gap came on the descent.

Boichis makes the difference on the descent

Boichis managed to open a few meters on the descent and entered the final stages with a small advantage.

Van der Poel tried to recover on the last climb, but the Frenchman maintained the pace and finished the race with great confidence.

Adrien Boichis crossed the finish line in 1:19:48 and took the victory by 7 seconds over Mathieu van der Poel, who completed a spectacular return to XCO with a second place.

Martin Vidaurre finished third, 32 seconds behind, Luca Martin was fourth, 36 seconds behind, and Simone Avondetto rounded out the Top 5, 45 seconds behind.

For Van der Poel, the result is an important confirmation ahead of the World Championship in Val di Sole. After finishing 10th in Friday's Short Track, the Dutchman has shown in the XCO that he can now compete head-to-head with the best specialists in the World Cup.

And for Boichis, the victory completes an almost perfect weekend in Les Gets after also winning in the Short Track.

Top 10 XCO World Cup Elite Men – Les Gets 2026

1. Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) — 1:19:48
2. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) +7
3. Martin Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) +32
4. Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) +36
5. Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) +45
6. Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon) +1:00
7. David List (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) +1:09
8. Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC) +1:57
9. Cole Punchard (Cannondale Factory Racing) +2:06
10. Luca Braidot (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) +2:10