Rissveds Becomes First Swedish XCO World Cup Overall Champion

Jenny Rissveds secured the 2026 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup overall title at the Lake Placid finale on Saturday. The 32-year-old defended a 220-point lead over rival Sina Frei, becoming the first Swedish rider to claim the crown.

The crown decided from deep in the field

Dry, sunny conditions greeted riders at Mt Van Hoevenberg, a stark contrast to Friday's wet and muddy Short Track races. The technical course twisted through ski trails, punchy climbs and a jump section inspired by the venue's bobsled heritage.

She settled into a rhythm far behind the lead group, accepting the pace was beyond her on the day. Up front, Frei threw her bike to the line to edge Martina Berta in a two-up sprint, with Samara Maxwell taking third. Rissveds crossed 11th, over two minutes behind the winner.

Six podiums, one first

"I was considering to just start and pull over and wait for them to lap me, but I thought at least I try, and I tried," Rissveds said afterwards. "I wouldn't say I gave up but I had to settle in like halfway through." The title had been shaped long before Lake Placid.

Rissveds won XCO rounds in Leogang, Lenzerheide and Andorra, and finished second in South Korea, Czechia and France. That run of six podiums built a margin no rival could close. Frei capped an exceptional season of her own with XCO and XCC European titles and her first elite World Championship, yet she never closed the gap in the overall standings.

A Short Track win at La Thuile in July signalled form. The Lake Placid crown completes a comeback that stretches far beyond a single season's points tally.