Mud, rain, and spectacle: Andreassen wins a Short Track in Leogang filled with falls

The rain once again took center stage in Leogang during the men's Short Track race. After a women's race marked by mud, the elite men faced an even more delicate circuit, with constant rain turning the new Austrian track into a real trap. In this scenario, Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team) was the rider who best managed the chaos to take a brilliant victory and end the winning streak that Mathis Azzaro had achieved in the first two XCCs of the season.

Simon Andreassen conquers the Short Track in Leogang 

The Frenchman from Origine Racing Division arrived in Austria as the favorite after his victories in South Korea and Nové Město. However, from the very first moments, it was clear that the race would be marked by both technique and the management of the countless mechanical problems caused by the mud.

Dario Lillo says goodbye just after starting

The first major news of the race came just a few seconds after the start. The Swiss Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team), leader of the overall XCO classification, suffered a chain break while the group was still compact and was immediately out of any option.

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The incident also affected several riders nearby, including Mathis Azzaro, who lost positions and was forced to fight back from behind.

Up front, Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) took the responsibility of setting the pace from the early laps. Despite the extreme conditions, the front group remained surprisingly large, and the race was set for eleven laps.

Among the riders who got off to a good start, the Spaniard Jofre Cullell (BH Coloma Team) stood out, reaching seventh place in the early laps and staying within the group fighting for the front positions for much of the race.

Colombo and Martin try to break the race

Aware that a sprint finish could be unpredictable, Colombo sought allies to toughen the race. Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) responded to the Swiss's proposal, and both collaborated for several laps trying to thin out the group.

However, the mud made any decisive movement difficult. The differences remained minimal, and every attempt to break away was neutralized by the other favorites.

Falls also began to take their toll. Jordan Sarrou slipped in one of the most challenging corners of the circuit and had to abandon the race.

Halfway through the race, Colombo and Martin were still setting the pace, but the main group remained large. Moreover, the rain continued to fall on Leogang, and the mud-covered glasses began to become another added problem for the riders.

Luca Martin crashes… and returns to the front of the race

One of the most spectacular moments of the race came in the seventh lap.

Luca Martin went down exactly in the same corner where Sarrou had previously fallen. The Frenchman lost several positions but made an immediate recovery. In a matter of seconds, he returned to the front group, passed Colombo again, and took the lead.

The equality remained high, and with two laps to go, there were still about ten riders with real chances to fight for the podium.

It was then that Simon Andreassen appeared for the first time at the front of the race. The Dane took the lead in the ninth lap and began to prepare for the final outcome.

An attack, a mechanical failure, and victory for Andreassen

The last lap began with Andreassen, Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team), and Filippo Colombo occupying the top positions.

As soon as they crossed the finish line to start the last lap, Avondetto launched a powerful attack that seemed capable of definitively breaking the race. The Italian opened a few meters of advantage, but while building his offensive, he suffered a chain drop that ruined all his options.

Andreassen reacted immediately. He took advantage of Avondetto's mechanical problem to accelerate and launch the definitive attack. The Dane opened a few meters of difference, and no one was able to respond.

Behind, Martin Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) was in second place when he crashed in the last corner of the circuit, losing any chance to fight for the podium.

Andreassen finally crossed the finish line alone with a time of 22:35 to add one of the most important victories of the season and open his account of wins in the 2026 World Cup.

Filippo Colombo was second, six seconds behind, while Luca Martin completed the podium eight seconds behind the winner.

The Spaniard Jofre Cullell delivered one of his best recent performances in the World Cup by finishing eighth, just 14 seconds from victory and within the group that fought for the top positions until the last meters.

Top 10 - World Cup XCC Leogang 2026 (Men's Elite)

1. Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team) – 22:35
2. Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) – +6”
3. Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) – +8”
4. Fabio Püntener (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) – +9”
5. Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) – +10”
6. Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) – +11”
7. Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) – +11”
8. Jofre Cullell Estape (BH Coloma Team) – +14”
9. Ondrej Cink (Cube Factory Racing) – +16”
10. Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) – +22”