Maximilian Brandl takes the victory in the Super Cup La Nucía 2026 after a very close finish

The men's elite race of the Shimano Super Cup Massi MTB XCO 2026 concluded over the weekend in La Nucía with a fast, very tactical race decided by minimal margins after more than an hour of effort. The sun finally accompanied the riders after a light morning rain, leaving the circuit in good condition for a race marked more by physical demand than by technical skill.

Brandl, Fini, and Amos Star in a Tight Finish in La Nucía

The starting grid brought together several familiar names from the World Cup, with special prominence for Jofre Cullell and his new teammate Ulan Bastos from the BH Coloma Team, Sebastian Fini and Pierre Defroidmont from the Orbea Fox Factory Team, and American champion Riley Amos, representing Trek Unbroken.

On a 5.1-kilometer course, the race was structured in an initial loop plus five laps. The start was fast but without clear breaks, with Maximilian Brandl (racing for the German national team), Amos, and Cullell well positioned from the first meters. The leading group remained compact during the start loop, confirming that the pace would be high and that any movement would have to be very measured.

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In the first lap, it was Riley Amos who took the lead, with Brandl, Defroidmont, and Fini on his wheel. Behind them, Cullell and Bastos managed to catch up on one of the toughest climbs of the circuit, bringing the BH Coloma Team back into contention for the top positions just halfway through the race. The leading group remained numerous, and the changes in position occurred without anyone managing to break away definitively.

The first serious attack came in the second lap when Ulan Bastos launched a strong move that only Sebastian Fini could respond to immediately. Shortly after, Brandl and Defroidmont joined that duo, forming a quartet that began the third lap with about ten seconds of advantage over a solo-chasing Riley Amos. The performance of the Brazilian, in his debut with the BH Coloma Team, was one of the highlights of the day.

Far from stabilizing, the race changed script again with a lap and a half to go. Bastos tried his luck again with a new attack that further increased the pace and allowed Amos and Cullell to catch up, forming a group of five riders who would contest the victory.

The final lap began with Brandl, Fini, Amos, Bastos, and Cullell riding together, with maximum tension from the first meter. In the already decisive concrete climb, Bastos once again blew the race apart with a powerful attack that left Fini in the lead for a few meters. However, the constant changes in pace caused a regrouping, and everything was left pending for a very tight final sprint on the finish straight.

It was Maximilian Brandl who showed the most speed to take the victory by just a few tenths, ahead of Sebastian Fini and Riley Amos, in one of the tightest finishes ever seen in La Nucía.

Men's Elite Classification – Super Cup La Nucía 2026

1. Maximilian Brandl – 1:12:42
2. Sebastian Fini – at 0.46 s
3. Riley Amos – at 0.47 s
4. Ulan Bastos – at 9.45 s
5. Jofre Cullell – at 23.66 s
6. Mats Tubaas Glende – at 43.42 s
7. Freek Bouten (Sub23) – at 53.83 s
8. Antoine Philipp – at 1:02
9. Pierre Defroidmont – at 1:06
10. Mario Bair – at 1:10