Women’s Elite XCC 2026 Results: Sina Frei Wins Round 1 in South Korea

The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Series opened with a dramatic and tactical Women’s Elite Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) race in YongPyong, South Korea, where Sina Frei (SUI) delivered a perfectly executed performance to take victory in Round 1.  

In a race shaped by aggressive early positioning, a major crash, and decisive late-race tactics, Frei made her move on the final lap to secure the win ahead of Evie Richards (GBR) and Martina Berta (ITA).  
   
Fast Start: Berta Leads the Opening Charge  
From the gun, the pace was immediately high.  

Martina Berta surged to the front on the tarmac start, followed closely by Jennifer Jackson, as riders fought for position heading into the opening climb.  

Behind them:

• Jolanda Neff moved up aggressively
• Laura Stigger positioned herself near the front
• Riders scrambled to avoid the mid-pack bottleneck

The YongPyong course proved demanding early:

• A long climb that steepens toward the top
• Narrow pinch points that punish poor positioning
• Fast descents requiring confidence and precision

👉 In XCC, being outside the top group early can cost the race.  

Early Laps: Tight Racing and Tactical Positioning

The opening laps were defined by a tightly packed lead group.

Key developments:

• Jenny Rissveds had a slower start and was forced to chase
• Riders constantly shifted positions in the front group
• No early breakaway was able to stick

The pace remained consistently high, making it difficult for anyone to create a gap.

👉 The race was building toward a late decisive move.  
 

Mid-Race Drama: Haley Batten Crashes Out  
The race took a major turn when Haley Batten (USA) crashed heavily while attempting to move up.

Carrying speed into a tight section, Batten clipped her handlebars and hit a tree at high speed.

Impact:

• She initially remounted
• Eventually retired from the race (DNF)
• Lost valuable positioning for the upcoming XCO race

👉 One of the most dramatic moments of the race.

Lap 9: Laura Stigger Forces the Race Open  
With two laps remaining, Laura Stigger (AUT) made the first major move.

Attacking hard on the climb:

• She created a gap
• Forced the rest of the field into a chase
• Increased the overall race intensity

For a moment, it looked like Stigger might hold the advantage—but the chase group responded.  

Final Lap: Specialized Executes Perfect Strategy  
As the bell rang, the race reached its decisive phase.

👉 This is where Specialized Factory Racing controlled the outcome.

After Stigger’s effort stretched the field, Sina Frei launched her attack on the final climb.

Her move was perfectly timed:

• Accelerated past the lead group
• Opened a gap immediately
• Forced others into reactive chasing

Behind her:

• Evie Richards led the pursuit
• Martina Berta held strong in third
• The lead group began to split

👉 A textbook team strategy.  

Final Straight: Frei Holds Off Richards  
Coming off the final descent, Frei had a narrow but decisive lead.

Richards pushed hard:

• Closed slightly through the descent
• Carried speed into the final straight

But Frei remained composed.

👉 She held her line and powered to the finish to take the win.  

🏁 Official Results – Women’s Elite XCC 2026 (Round 1)

1. 🥇 Sina Frei (SUI)
2. 🥈 Evie Richards (GBR)
3. 🥉 Martina Berta (ITA)
4. Laura Stigger (AUT)
5. Jenny Rissveds (SWE)

👉 Full Top 10 available via official UCI timing sheets  

Race Analysis: Why Frei Won

🧠 Perfect Timing

Frei waited until the final climb—when others were already fatigued.

🚴 Team Execution

Stigger’s earlier attack softened the field, setting up Frei’s move.

🔋 Energy Management

She avoided unnecessary efforts early in the race.

⚡ Climbing Power

Her acceleration on the final climb created the winning gap.  

Key Moments

💥 Biggest Incident

Haley Batten’s crash reshaped the race.

🔥 Turning Point

Stigger’s Lap 9 attack forced the race into full intensity.  


🚀 Winning Move

Frei’s final lap attack broke the race apart.  

What This Means for the Season

This result shows:

• Sina Frei is a major contender in 2026
• The field is extremely competitive
• XCC races will be decided by tactics, not just power

• The Women’s Elite XCC Round 1 in YongPyong delivered a complete race—fast, tactical, and dramatic.

  For Sina Frei, this wasn’t just a win—it was a statement to open the season.

  👉 And with riders like Richards, Berta, and Stigger in top form, the battles are just getting started.