Laura Stigger signs a magical ending and wins the XCO World Cup in Lake Placid

After a race dominated from the start by South African Candice Lill, it was the Danish Laura Stigger who took the victory after knowing how to recompose herself halfway through the race and launch a magical final sprint to victory.

Laura Stigger wins the XCO World Cup in Lake Placid

Lake Placid made its debut in the World Cup with an idyllic autumnal setting and a very fast track that was praised by cyclists and the public. After a week of rain, the sun came out on Friday to accompany the competition throughout the weekend. And so the XCO race began.

South African Candice Lill quickly took the lead in the race and after a fast start by Jenny Rissveds, the South African set a very high pace that left her at the front of the race.

Only American Candice Lill from the Decathlon Ford Racing Team seemed determined not to let her go and despite numerous attempts by Lill. Both led the race until Laura Stigger and Loana Lecomte joined them in the 4th lap.

After a couple of laps where calm left Lill, Lecomte, and Stigger at the front, everything changed during the 6th lap. Lecomte attacked to go solo, Lill followed closely, while Stigger dropped back to a group led by Bec Henderson who was in the middle of a comeback.

The bell for the final lap rang as Loana Lecomte set the fastest lap so far. But it was not enough to shake off Candice Lill. Everything would be decided in the final meters.

In a last lap of real heart-stopping action, Laura Stigger and Sina Frei caught up and attacked Loana Lecomte and Candice Lill.

But it was Danish Stigger who orchestrated a perfect strategy by first attacking Lecomte on the final climb and then staying alone with her teammate Sina Frei to contest the final sprint.

Laura Stigger took the victory, Sina Frei was second, Lecomte third, and Candice Lill fourth.

XCO World Cup Results Lake Placid Elite Women

1. Laura Stigger - Specialized Factory Racing - 1:18:36
2. Sina Frei - Specialized Factory Racing - +0 seconds
3. Loana Lecomte - Canyon CLLCTV XCO - +4 seconds
4. Candice Lill - no team mentioned - +4 seconds
5. Rebecca Henderson - Primaflor Mondraker Racing Team - +26 seconds
6. Savilia Blunk - Decathlon Ford Racing Team - +51 seconds
7. Jenny Rissveds - Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental - +1:21
8. Nicole Koller - Ghost Factory Racing - +1:53
9. Alessandra Keller - Thömus Maxon - +2:01
10. Steffi Häberlin - Team BMC - +2:24