Rissveds wins and Blevins takes the overall victory at Lake Placid Short Track

The Short Track returned to the Lake Placid World Cup with a fast and wide circuit that has given us two exciting races.

Jenny Rissveds wins in a vibrant women's Short Track and leaves the overall open

The women's Short Track was held under a perfect autumn day with clear skies, cool temperatures, and a wide and fast circuit. Despite some notable absences such as Dutch rider Puck Pieterse (Alpecin) or French rider Loana Lecomte (BMC), the list of favorites was immense and the atmosphere was tense in the battle for the overall.

From the start, British rider Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) took the lead with the aim of winning the overall Short Track at this same event. Also starting with an eye on the overall combined classification was New Zealand's Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), but a mishap in the first lap relegated her to last place, forcing her into a comeback race.

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The race was set for 9 laps and soon a compact front group was formed with Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO), Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon), and Richards at the front. Rissveds tried to set a selective pace, but halfway through the race, she looked back incredulously as more riders joined the group. Names like Swiss rider Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) or Canadian rider Jennifer Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory Team) joined the battle, and at the start of the sixth lap, there were up to 11 cyclists in the lead group.

Meanwhile, Maxwell continued her personal comeback and was already riding within the Top 20, aware that every point was crucial to strengthen her lead in the combined classification.

In the penultimate lap, the attacks began. The reigning world champion, Alessandra Keller, launched powerful accelerations to which Richards and Rissveds responded. Everything was decided in the last lap when Swedish rider Jenny Rissveds started a long sprint from halfway around the circuit that no one could match, crossing the finish line in first position ahead of Richards and Keller.

 

 

 

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With this result, the Short Track overall is still undecided and will be resolved between Richards and Keller. Meanwhile, Maxwell finished 13th, allowing her to start from the second row on Sunday and continue to accumulate points towards victory in the combined classification.

Top 10 Lake Placid World Cup XCC Women's Elite

1. Jenny Rissveds (CANYON CLLCTV XCO) - 21:22
2. Evie Richards (TREK FACTORY RACING - PIRELLI) - +2s
3. Alessandra Keller (THÖMUS MAXON) - +5s
4. Nicole Koller (GHOST FACTORY RACING) - +9s
5. Laura Stigger (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) - +11s
6. Jennifer Jackson (ORBEA FOX FACTORY TEAM) - +12s
7. Kate Courtney - +12s
8. Sina Frei (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) - +13s
9. Candice Lill - +13s
10. Rebecca Henderson (ORBEA FOX FACTORY TEAM) - +15s

Chris Blevins wins at home and is crowned Short Track overall champion

The elite men's race started with all eyes on Chris Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing). The American was racing at home and had the opportunity to win the Short Track overall in front of his home crowd.

The start was fast, with Blevins leading from the first meters, although he was not alone. Riders like Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team), Adrien Boichis (Specialized), reigning world champion Victor Koretzky (Specialized), and Martín Vidaurre (Specialized) took turns at the front in very fast opening laps. The race was set for 10 laps and from the start, the control of Specialized was evident, with their riders setting the pace. Even halfway through the race, Boichis and Blevins allowed themselves to chat and smile while leading the group, something unusual in a discipline where effort is usually extreme.

The calm was broken in lap 5, when Victor Koretzky suffered a spectacular fall after flying over his bike. Fortunately, he was able to quickly recover and return to the race, although he had to make a comeback from behind. Later, a multiple accident knocked Luca Braidot out of the race, forcing him to retire with his arm in a sling.

At the front, Blevins maintained control with a lap and a half to go, but the final bell unleashed the final battle. Adrien Boichis launched a powerful attack and opened a small gap, with Blevins following closely and Azzaro chasing from behind. Specialized continued to dominate.

Everything was decided in the sprint. Blevins did not let the opportunity slip away and was the fastest in the final meters, winning in front of his home crowd. Boichis took second place and Azzaro completed the podium.

With this victory, Chris Blevins is crowned the 2025 Short Track overall champion and strengthens his chances of also conquering the combined classification in the coming days.

Top 10 Lake Placid World Cup XCC Men's Elite

1. Christopher Blevins (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) - 21:37
2. Adrien Boichis (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) - 21:37
3. Mathis Azzaro (ORIGINE RACING DIVISION) - 21:38 (+1s)
4. Dario Lillo (GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM - XC) - 21:41 (+4s)
5. Luca Martin (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) - 21:41 (+4s)
6. Simon Andreassen (ORBEA FOX FACTORY TEAM) - 21:43 (+6s)
7. Charlie Aldridge (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) - 21:45 (+8s)
8. Marcel Guerrini (BIXS PERFORMANCE RACE TEAM) - 21:47 (+10s)
9. Jose Gerardo Ulloa Arevalo (MASSI) - 21:48 (+11s)
10. Timon Rüegg (BIXS PERFORMANCE RACE TEAM) - 21:49 (+12s)