Video: Laura Stigger’s impossible comeback to win the XCC World Championships in the final 50 metres

Laura Stigger starred in one of the most spectacular finishes of the 2026 MTB World Championship. The Austrian entered the final stretch of the Elite Short Track in fourth position and several meters behind, but needed just 50 meters to climb to first place and win a rainbow jersey that moments before seemed out of her reach.

Video of Laura Stigger's incredible comeback to win the XCC World Championship

The Women's Short Track World Championship had been contested from the start at a pace even higher than what is already typical in a discipline characterized by short, explosive races with very little margin to recover positions.

But nothing that happened during the previous laps foreshadowed the outcome that was about to occur in the final meters.

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Evie Richards launched a powerful attack in the straight before the finish area and managed to take the lead just before facing the last turn, a tight 180-degree bend where entering in front provided a considerable advantage for the sprint.

Richards exited the turn leading, with Jenny Rissveds and Sina Frei also ahead of Laura Stigger. The Austrian was in fourth place and had lost some meters compared to the top three. At that point, her chances for the title seemed practically ruled out.

From fourth to first in just 50 meters

The four then faced the final straight. Richards was in an unbeatable position and even looked back to check the situation of her rivals. The power displayed in her attack and the lead she had entered the last turn with made it seem like the championship was already in her hands.

But there were still a few meters to go.

Stigger began to accelerate from fourth position and launched an extraordinary comeback. First, she regained the meters she had lost and then started to overtake rivals while Richards continued to advance toward the finish line.

In just 50 meters, the Austrian went from seeming completely out of contention for victory to being neck and neck with Richards. The comeback culminated exactly at the finish line.

The first one surprised by what happened seemed to be Laura Stigger herself. As soon as she crossed the finish line, she put her hand to her head, not yet knowing if that impossible comeback had been enough to win.

From fourth to first in the final meters and after a comeback that seemed impossible when the favorites exited the last turn. Laura Stigger is the new Short Track World Champion.