Laura Stigger is the 2026 Short Track World Champion after a photo finish

The 2026 Short Track World Championship has its first Elite champion. Laura Stigger has been crowned World Champion XCC in Val di Sole after a lightning-fast race that ended with a spectacular sprint against Evie Richards. Both crossed the finish line practically at the same time, and it was necessary to wait to confirm that the rainbow jersey was for the Austrian. Sina Frei completed the podium just one second behind.

Laura Stigger wins the XCC World Championship 2026 in an incredible finish

With perfect weather conditions, the Women's Elite Short Track World Championship kicked off in Val di Sole. Jenny Rissveds occupied the first position on a grid whose order was not determined by the World Cup standings, while names like Alessandra Keller, Savilia Blunk, Sina Frei, Nicole Koller, and Laura Stigger also started from the front positions.

The start caused a small scare for Candice Lill, who had a mishap but managed to keep her balance and avoid falling. Up front, Ronja Blöchlinger was the first to take the lead, although it quickly became clear that Rissveds wanted to keep the race under control.

RECOMENDADO

2026 Short Track World Championships: schedules, favourites and where to watch

Gravel comes to La Vuelta 2026: route and favourites for stage 6

Megamo Silk 2027: new builds and a mullet version for its most racing-focused gravel bike

Italy wins the 2026 Team Relay World Championships in front of the home crowd

Matthew Brennan wins again: his second victory in five stages of La Vuelta

Jérôme Gilloux claims his fifth e-MTB World Championship and Anna Spielmann defends her rainbow jersey in Val di Sole

Evie Richards, Sina Frei, Savilia Blunk, Rebecca Henderson, Laura Stigger, and Alessandra Keller stayed in the top positions from the beginning. Puck Pieterse had a different situation starting from the 19th position, but it took her just a couple of laps to catch up and reach the group of main favorites.

The race was set for 10 laps, and during the first laps, the large front group advanced at a very high pace, as is usual in Short Track, although with the added tension of competing in a World Championship in a single race.

Blöchlinger and Keller lose contact after an incident

One of the moments that affected the race came during the fourth lap. Ronja Blöchlinger touched another rider with her front wheel, and when she tried to avoid falling, she ended up getting tangled with her teammate Alessandra Keller, the reigning world champion.

Neither of them fell, but the incident caused them to lose several seconds just as the front group maintained a very high pace. Both were cut off and had to start a particular comeback to try to return to a lead group where Rissveds, Richards, and Pieterse continued to play a significant role.

Keller and Blöchlinger gradually managed to reduce the gap, although the effort to recover the lost positions ended up being significant in the second half of the race.

Jenny Rissveds breaks the race

The move that ultimately selected the group came at the start of the seventh lap. Jenny Rissveds launched a powerful change of pace that completely stretched the front.

Sina Frei managed to stick to her wheel, while Nicole Koller, Evie Richards, and Laura Stigger also held on among the leaders. The attack opened a gap to a second group that included riders like Savilia Blunk, Puck Pieterse, Sofie Pedersen, and Alessandra Keller, who were about seven seconds behind.

During the eighth lap, there was a brief moment of respite up front, and Keller took the opportunity to attack from the second group. The Swiss rider closed the gap to the leaders after the earlier incident, although the accumulated effort ultimately prevented her from entering the direct fight for medals.

An agonizing sprint between Stigger and Richards decides the rainbow

The bell announced the last lap, and the race exploded definitively. Sina Frei was one of the first to attack, but shortly after, she had a line incident with Jenny Rissveds in a curve that caused her to lose positions.

Evie Richards and Laura Stigger took advantage of the moment to move, although Rissveds continued to defend the first position after being one of the riders who had worked the hardest to select the race.

Richards still had one last attack in her. The British rider launched a powerful acceleration on the straight before the last curve and managed to gain the position before facing the final meters.

Everything culminated in a numerous and agonizing sprint. Richards and Stigger arrived completely matched at the finish line, and at first glance, it was impossible to tell who had won. A review was necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Una publicación compartida de UCI Mountain Bike (@uci_mountainbike)

Jenny Rissveds, a protagonist throughout almost the entire race, finished fourth also one second behind, while Nicole Koller closed the Top 5 two seconds later. Alessandra Keller managed to finish sixth 12 seconds after her comeback, and Puck Pieterse, after starting 19th, finished eighth.

Top 10 2026 XCC World Championship – Elite Women

1. Laura Stigger (AUT) — 20:50
2. Evie Richards (GBR) — +0:00
3. Sina Frei (SUI) — +0:01
4. Jenny Rissveds (SWE) — +0:01
5. Nicole Koller (SUI) — +0:02
6. Alessandra Keller (SUI) — +0:12
7. Isabella Holmgren (CAN) — +0:14
8. Puck Pieterse (NED) — +0:20
9. Sofie Pedersen (DEN) — +0:20
10. Savilia Blunk (USA) — +0:21