Sina Frei completes the double in Les Gets and confirms she’s flying into the World Championships

Sina Frei continues to shine. The European champion has won the XCO World Cup in Les Gets after a very open race that only broke apart in the final minutes. Jenny Rissveds was the only one able to keep up with her pace until the decisive attack and finished second just 2 seconds behind, while Savilia Blunk completed the podium.

Sina Frei wins the XCO World Cup in Les Gets 2026

The race started at a very high pace with Jenny Rissveds attacking from the first minutes. The Swede opened a small gap in the first lap, but Savilia Blunk and Martina Berta quickly managed to catch her wheel.

Sina Frei, who had fallen a few meters behind in those early stages, did not take long to regain ground. The Swiss rider improved throughout the race and during the second lap managed to reach the front to set the pace.

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From there, a very strong front group formed. Frei, Rissveds, Blunk, and Alessandra Keller ended up being the four main protagonists for a good part of the race, while Nicole Koller and Martina Berta tried to stay relatively close.

The competition was intense for over an hour. Frei took on much of the work at the front, but none of her pace changes initially managed to create definitive gaps.

Pieterse and Maxwell climb from far behind

Behind, two of the main focuses of attention were Puck Pieterse and Samara Maxwell, both forced to start from the back positions.

Pieterse had skipped the Short Track on Friday and started the XCO from the 33rd position, but she made a spectacular start. In just one lap, she had already positioned herself near the Top 10 and continued to gain places throughout the race.

Maxwell had a similar situation. The New Zealander started 29th after a flat tire ended her chances in the Short Track, but she proved once again that her level remains very high despite the months she has been out of competition.

The two advanced practically in parallel until they made it into the Top 10. Finally, Maxwell finished sixth and Pieterse eighth, two particularly notable results considering their starting positions.

Frei begins to break the race

At the front, the balance began to shift in the final laps.

Frei progressively increased the pressure on the climbs and Alessandra Keller was the first of the four leaders to lose contact. Savilia Blunk and Jenny Rissveds still managed to stay with the European champion, leaving the victory reduced to three riders.

Blunk even tried to attack with just over a lap to go, but Frei responded immediately and regained control.

The final lap bell, which this time was rung by Peter Sagan, marked the beginning of the decisive move.

Frei tightened the pace on the climb again, and this time Blunk could not hold on. Rissveds managed to stay on her wheel, setting up a direct duel between the two riders who had shown the most strength throughout the race.

Before that final lap, one of the most special moments of the day also took place. The teams raised their wheels as they passed through the technical zone to pay tribute to Anne Terpstra, who was competing in Les Gets in her last professional XCO race.

Decisive attack by Sina Frei

Everything came down to Frei and Rissveds in the final minutes.

The Swiss rider had been the one who worked the hardest for much of the race, but she still had enough strength for one last change of pace. Frei launched a very powerful attack on one of the last climbs, and Rissveds finally began to give up a few meters.

The difference was minimal, but enough.

Rissveds tried to close the gap in the final stretch and managed to get close again, but Frei managed to maintain the lead until the finish line to win with a time of 1:22:48.

Jenny Rissveds crossed the finish line just 2 seconds later, after a final lap in which she never gave up on the victory.

Savilia Blunk, who had been part of the front group practically from the start, finished third 30 seconds behind. Alessandra Keller was fourth at 1:07, and Nicole Koller rounded out the Top 5.

For Frei, the victory confirms the extraordinary form she is in. After also winning the Short Track in Les Gets, the Swiss rider completes a perfect weekend and arrives at the World Championship in Val di Sole as one of the top contenders.

But the race also makes it clear that the World Championship promises maximum equality. Rissveds was just two seconds away from victory, Blunk proved once again that she can compete with the best, and riders like Keller, Maxwell, or Pieterse also arrive with real chances of entering the battle.

Top 10 XCO Women's Elite World Cup – Les Gets 2026

1. Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) – 1:22:48
2. Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) +2
3. Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) +30
4. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) +1:07
5. Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) +1:32
6. Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) +1:45
7. Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) +1:52
8. Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) +2:05
9. Gwendalyn Gibson (Trek - Unbroken XC) +3:01
10. Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) +3:34