Jenny Rissveds wins the XCO World Cup in Andorra and achieves the first double victory in Pal Arinsal

Jenny Rissveds capped off a perfect weekend at the World Cup in Pal Arinsal. After winning the Short Track race on Friday, the Swedish rider dominated Sunday’s XCO race to claim the first double victory of her career in Andorra. Martina Berta and Sina Frei rounded out the podium.

Jenny Rissveds wins the XCO World Cup in Andorra and achieves the first double victory at Pal Arinsal

The World Cup leader entered the race as the top favorite following her victory at the XCC and once again proved that she is in one of the best forms of her career. Rissveds attacked on the second lap, quickly opened up a significant lead, and rode virtually the entire race alone before crossing the finish line 17 seconds ahead of Berta.

Rissveds took control of the race as early as the second lap

The race began under conditions that were completely different from those experienced during the Short Track event. After Friday’s storm and heavy rain, the Pal Arinsal circuit welcomed the riders with sunshine, mild temperatures, and completely dry terrain.

The start was fast, and the first incident occurred almost immediately. Alessandra Keller collided with Savilia Blunk, was forced to dismount, and lost several positions.

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Up front, Laura Stigger, Jenny Rissveds, and Ronja Blöchlinger quickly took the lead. The fast pace set from the start began to create gaps even before the first lap was complete.

Rissveds and Blöchlinger managed to break away together and began the second lap with an 11-second lead over Martina Berta, Sina Frei, and Laura Stigger. However, the overall leader wasted no time in showing that she wanted no company.

The Swedish rider picked up the pace, dropped Blöchlinger, and began a solo run that would definitively change the course of the race.

By the start of the third lap, Rissveds already had a 20-second lead over Blöchlinger and a slightly larger lead over Stigger, Berta, and Frei. The race was completely broken up with more than half of the event still to go.

No one can keep up with Jenny Rissveds

While Rissveds continued to extend her lead, a chasing group formed consisting of Sina Frei, Martina Berta, and Laura Stigger. Blöchlinger, after the effort she put in during the early laps, was eventually caught.

Savilia Blunk also began to make up ground after a difficult start and gradually closed in on the riders battling for the podium.

But the situation at the front remained unchanged. Rissveds maintained an extraordinarily steady pace and, far from feeling the strain of riding alone, continued to extend her lead.

With three laps to go, Berta, Frei, and Stigger were separated by barely two seconds, but were already more than thirty seconds behind the Swedish rider. Blunk was 42 seconds back and continued to try to join the battle for the podium.

The demanding terrain at Pal Arinsal also began to cause problems. Rebecca Henderson suffered a flat tire far from the technical zone and eventually withdrew, while Jolanda Neff first suffered a flat tire and then a crash that definitively took her out of contention for the top positions.

Berta and Frei battle for a spot on the podium while Rissveds seals the race

The final stretch of the race definitively confirmed Rissveds’ superiority.

Behind her, Blunk managed to catch up to the chasing pack, and for a few moments, she even seemed capable of launching another attack, but the effort she expended during her comeback ultimately took its toll.

The battle for the final two spots on the podium ultimately came down to Martina Berta and Sina Frei. Both managed to shake off Laura Stigger and entered the final lap separated by just a few meters.

Meanwhile, Rissveds heard the bell for the final lap with a 39-second lead. Victory was practically assured.

The Swedish rider managed the final kilometers without taking any unnecessary risks and crossed the finish line alone with a time of 1:18:47 to cap off a perfect weekend at Pal Arinsal.

Martina Berta came out on top in the battle for second place. The Italian attacked on the final lap, managed to open up a small gap, and crossed the finish line 17 seconds behind the winner. Sina Frei rounded out the podium, 18 seconds behind.

Savilia Blunk finished fourth, 28 seconds behind, and Laura Stigger rounded out the top five, 35 seconds behind.

With this victory, Jenny Rissveds wins the Pal Arinsal XCO race for the first time and completes a one-two finish after also winning Friday’s Short Track race.

Top 10 at the 2026 Pal Arinsal XCO World Cup – Elite Women

1. Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) – 1:18:47
2. Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) – +17 s
3. Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) – +18 s
4. Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) – +28 s
5. Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) – +35 s
6. Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing) – +55 s
7. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) – +1:24
8. Evie Richards (Trek-Unbroken XC) – +1:48
9. Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) – +2:21
10. Anne Terpstra (Lapierre PXR Racing) – +2:37