Luca Martin wins and Van der Poel shakes off his ghosts in the XCO World Cup in Les Gets 2025

The Frenchman Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) won this Sunday at the XCO World Cup in Les Gets 2025, achieving the most important victory of his career after an electric finish against the Italian Luca Braidot (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and the Swiss Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon).

Luca Martin wins and Mathieu van der Poel surprises at the XCO World Cup in Les Gets

The race started with a strong pace set by Simon Andreassen and Dario Lillo, who stretched the group on the first ramps. Soon a front block was consolidated with up to eight riders: Martin, Braidot, Flückiger, Hatherly, Punchard, Avondetto, Azzaro, and a Mathieu van der Poel who once again was a protagonist with an impressive comeback from the fourth row of the grid.

The Dutchman climbed positions relentlessly, reached fourth place, and even came close to catching the leading trio, but he ended up paying for the effort in the last lap, ultimately finishing in sixth place.

Another of the great protagonists was the Canadian Cole Punchard (Cannondale), only 21 years old. The young rider showed bravery and led the group of favorites for several laps, even taking the lead in the race. However, a puncture with three laps to go forced him to stop and took him out of contention for the podium, although he managed to stay in the top 10.

 

 

 

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With three laps to go, the battle was between Martin, Braidot, and Flückiger, who rode together and took turns at the front. The tension reached its peak in the final lap: Braidot launched a strong attack at the bell, Flückiger stayed on his wheel, but it was Martin who took risks in the descents and pushed hard in the final meters to open the necessary gap that gave him the victory.

With this win, Luca Martin confirms the leap in quality he had been announcing throughout the season and puts his name on the list of favorites for the upcoming World Championships in Crans Montana. Braidot and Flückiger showed their experience with a podium of high level, while Van der Poel made it clear that, although still far from his best form, his comeback ability remains formidable and he will be one of the contenders at the World Championships.

Top 15 - Elite Men's XCO World Cup, Les Gets 2025

1. Luca Martin - Cannondale Factory Racing - 1:22:03
2. Luca Braidot - Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team - +12s
3. Mathias Flückiger - Thömus Maxon - +19
4. Alan Hatherly - Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC - +32s
5. Simone Avondetto - Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team - +45s
6. Mathieu van der Poel - Alpecin-Deceuninck - +1:00
7. Mathis Azzaro - Origine Racing Division - +1:01
8. Simon Andreassen - Orbea FOX Factory Team - +1:10
9. Fabio Püntener - Bike Team Solothurn - +1:15
10. Cole Punchard - Cannondale Factory Racing - +1:20
11. Jofre Cullell - BH Coloma Team - +1:35
12. Christopher Blevins - Specialized Factory Racing - +1:56
13. Marcel Guerrini - Bixs Performance Race Team - +2:03
14. Dario Lillo - Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC - +2:09
15. Luca Schwarzbauer - Canyon CLLCTV XCO - +2:14