Sina Frei finished the women’s elite XCO World Cup season with victory at Lake Placid, while Jenny Rissveds left with the overall title. The Swiss and Swedish riders had different reasons to celebrate, as detailed in the series’ report published on 3 October 2026.

Frei takes the final sprint

Frei beat Martina Berta in the sprint for the final round, with Samara Maxwell completing the podium. It was Frei’s third XCO World Cup win of the season.

Berta had already won both the XCO and short-track races at Soldier Hollow two weeks earlier. At Lake Placid she challenged Frei again, but the final sprint went the Swiss rider’s way.

Jenny Rissveds riding a mountain bike in 2016.
Jenny Rissveds pictured in 2016. File photograph; not taken at Lake Placid. Photo: Valentin Baat · Photo source · CC BY 3.0. Displayed at reduced size; no other changes.

Rissveds secures the season title

For Rissveds, the season standings were the bigger prize. Eleventh place in the finale was enough to secure the overall XCO title; the series identifies her as the first Swedish athlete to win it.

The under-23 women also had a new race winner: Fiona Schibler took her first XCO World Cup victory, ahead of Lisa Kristine Jorde and Anina Hutter.

Valentina Corvi retained the under-23 overall title. Schibler’s final-round win moved her into second in the season standings, with Jorde third.