Martina Berta enjoys a perfect weekend and also wins the Soldier Hollow XCO

Martina Berta has won the XCO World Cup in Soldier Hollow and completes a perfect weekend after also winning on Saturday in the Short Track. The Italian attacked again at the decisive moment and this time she left Gwendalyn Gibson behind before the last lap. Gibson finished second and Sina Frei won the sprint for third place.

Berta's victory came in a race that could also mathematically decide the overall World Cup standings. Jenny Rissveds had the first opportunity to secure the title, but her eighth place, combined with Frei's third place, postpones the resolution until the final event in two weeks in Lake Placid.

Martina Berta wins the XCO World Cup in Soldier Hollow after controlling the race from start to finish

After the storm on Friday and the unexpected rain that appeared during Saturday's Short Track, Soldier Hollow welcomed the riders with good conditions to tackle the XCO.

The race was set for six laps and it was Jennifer Jackson who initially took the lead. The Canadian was competing in her first World Cup since the patellar injury she suffered in Leogang and she looked competitive from the start.

RECOMENDADO

Martina Berta catches everyone off guard with a decisive attack to win the Soldier Hollow Short Track

Video with the highlights of the XCO World Cup in La Thuile: the victories of Martina Berta and Luca Martin

Valero wins La Tramun and the XCM World Cup, while Fischer secures second place overall

The Soldier Hollow XCO World Cup is tonight: schedule, favourites and where to watch for free

Valero battles for the 2026 XCM World Cup at “the most technical race in the world”: schedule, key points and where to watch

Honda returns to making mountain bikes: a closer look at its radical comeback to MTB

The 32-inch bikes were once again prominent from the very start. Evie Richards and Gwendalyn Gibson used the new 32" Treks, just as they had during the Short Track.

Gibson quickly appeared at the front. The American led a good part of the second lap until Sina Frei took over and began to increase the pace. The group stretched out, although there were still no significant differences among the favorites.

Frei was feeling good and a new change of pace coincided with a mishap from Jenny Rissveds that forced the Swede to put a foot down. At the start of the third lap, Gibson was back in first place, with Frei, Alessandra Keller, Martina Berta, Laura Stigger, and Rissveds still separated by just a few seconds.

Martina Berta breaks the race

The differences began to become clearer on the fourth lap. Gibson was still in front with Keller, Frei, and Berta very close, while Savilia Blunk, Rissveds, Stigger, Jackson, and Haley Batten were chasing from behind. It was then that Martina Berta launched the move that changed the race.

The Italian attacked strongly and only Gibson was able to respond. The two quickly began to open a gap and by the middle of the fourth lap, they had 14 seconds over Frei, Batten, and Keller. At the same time, Rissveds started to struggle and lost 36 seconds.

The situation was particularly important for the overall standings. The Swede had arrived in Soldier Hollow with the possibility of mathematically securing the title, but the race was taking a completely different direction.

Berta and Gibson continued to collaborate at the front and entered the decisive phase with a sufficient lead to start thinking about victory. Keller tried to close the gap from the chasing group, while Frei, Blunk, and Batten continued to fight to maintain their podium options.

Berta attacks again and completes the double

Berta had won Saturday's Short Track with a devastating attack in the final stretch and 24 hours later she chose a similar strategy.

The Italian and Gibson received the bell for the last lap together. Behind, Frei, Blunk, Batten, and Keller were preparing to fight for third place.

Frei was the first to make a move among the pursuers. The world champion accelerated and managed to drop Batten and Keller, although Blunk was able to stay on her wheel.

Up front came the decisive move. Berta attacked strongly and Gibson tried to follow her, but this time she couldn't keep up with her pace. The Italian quickly opened a gap that proved insurmountable and headed towards her second victory of the weekend.

Martina Berta crossed the finish line in 1:15:51, thirteen seconds ahead of Gibson. Frei won the sprint against Blunk to finish third at 48 seconds, while Keller completed the Top 5.

Rissveds finished eighth at 1:37. A result that, combined with Frei's third place, keeps the fight for the overall standings open for the last World Cup of the season. Texto pegado.txtTXT

Top 10 XCO World Cup Elite Women – Soldier Hollow

1. Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) – 1:15:51
2. Gwendalyn Gibson (Trek - Unbroken XC) – +13
3. Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) – +48
4. Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) – +48
5. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) – +1:00
6. Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) – +1:17
7. Evie Richards (Trek - Unbroken XC) – +1:36
8. Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) – +1:37
9. Jennifer Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory Team) – +1:52
10. Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) – +1:56