Charlie Aldridge wins the sprint in Lake Placid and Luca Martin finishes the XCO World Cup as champion

Charlie Aldridge has won the last XCO World Cup of 2026 in Lake Placid, edging out Filippo Colombo by centimeters in a spectacular sprint. Martin Vidaurre completed the podium just one second later, while Luca Martin finished fifth on a day that definitively closed a season that had already crowned him as the overall XCO winner.

Aldridge caps off Cannondale's last season

The last men's XCO race of the season arrived with one of its major uncertainties already resolved. The absence of Adrien Boichis had mathematically made Luca Martin the overall winner, while Mathis Azzaro also did not start after suffering from respiratory issues for weeks. But the last victory of the year was still up for grabs. And there were many candidates.

Martin Vidaurre started from the first position on the grid after winning Friday's Short Track and also arrived with the victory achieved two weeks earlier at the XCO in Soldier Hollow.

The start was fast. After a small tangle in the middle of the peloton that did not end in a crash, Filippo Colombo took the lead and set a very high pace that immediately began to stretch the group.

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The first lap ended with Charlie Aldridge in front and a large group of 16 riders still separated by just a few seconds. Vidaurre, Fabio Püntener, Luca Martin, Simone Avondetto, Mathis Guay, and Colombo were all perfectly positioned.

For Cannondale, it was also the last race of Cannondale Factory Racing, which closes its chapter in the World Cup with Luca Martin already the overall winner and with Aldridge, Martin, and Cole Punchard fully engaged in the fight for victory.

Colombo and Püntener push with the SCOTT Spark 32"

The pace did not drop during the following laps. Vidaurre took the lead in the race, but Filippo Colombo and Fabio Püntener began to gain more prominence with the new 32-inch SCOTT Spark.

The SCOTT-SRAM duo toughened the race, progressively reducing the group. By the halfway point, Vidaurre, Colombo, Püntener, Avondetto, and the three Cannondale riders Aldridge, Martin, and Punchard remained at the front.

Colombo accelerated again and for a moment managed to drop Luca Martin and Punchard, although the situation regrouped during the sixth lap.

The race also saw two significant withdrawals. Sam Gaze had to retire due to a mechanical issue, while Bjorn Riley later withdrew after losing a lot of time and showing back discomfort.

As the finish approached, Aldridge, Colombo, and Vidaurre began to appear more frequently at the front. Püntener remained in the group, and Avondetto stayed as another threat for victory.

Colombo, Aldridge, and Vidaurre reach the final lap together

The final selection began during the penultimate lap. Colombo and Aldridge increased the pace again, and the group was reduced, although still without enough differences to anticipate a winner.

With the bell for the last lap, Simone Avondetto took the lead for the first time, with Vidaurre and Colombo immediately behind. Aldridge, Püntener, Punchard, and Luca Martin were not far behind either.

It was Vidaurre who launched one of the first serious moves of the final lap. Everyone responded, but shortly after Colombo, Aldridge, and Vidaurre proved to be the strongest on the climb and managed to break away together.

The trio arrived together at the decisive stretch. Colombo and Aldridge pushed on the flat section, and Vidaurre initially lost a few meters, although the Chilean managed to return to them. The last XCO World Cup of 2026 would be decided in a sprint.

Aldridge wins by the narrowest margin over Colombo

Aldridge launched the sprint from far away, took the lead, and forced Colombo to chase.

The Swiss rider got close enough to practically match him, but the finish line arrived first. Charlie Aldridge won by centimeters over Filippo Colombo, with both clocking a time of 1:23:21.

Martin Vidaurre finished third just one second later, closing a strong North American block in which he won the XCO in Soldier Hollow and the XCC in Lake Placid before stepping back onto the podium in the last XCO.

Cole Punchard was fourth, seven seconds back, and Luca Martin finished fifth, 20 seconds behind, putting an end to the season as the overall winner of the XCO World Cup 2026.

Aldridge's victory also meant that Cannondale Factory Racing said goodbye to the World Cup in the best possible way with a victory, three riders in the top five, and Luca Martin's overall XCO title.

Top 10 Elite Men's XCO – Lake Placid 2026

1. Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) — 1:23:21
2. Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) — 1:23:21
3. Martin Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) — +1
4. Cole Punchard (Cannondale Factory Racing) — +7
5. Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) — +20
6. Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) — +21
7. Fabio Püntener (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) — +21
8. Riley Amos (Trek - Unbroken XC) — +22
9. Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing) — +42
10. Luca Braidot (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) — +51