Lake Placid UCI World Cup highlights

Perfect fall weather provided dry conditions at the first ever Lake Placid UCI World Cup stop. The racing was tight and exciting at the penultimate event of the series.

Frei times her XCC move to perfection

The women’s elite short track race kicked off with Olympic champion Jenny Risveds leading the charge on a dry, fast course. The rock garden posed a potential challenge, but all riders navigated it without incident. Series leader Alessandra Keller fought her way to the front, but the field stayed tight, refusing to let anyone break away.
Attempts from Chiara Teocchi and Nicole Koller to make solo moves were reeled in quickly, and it wasn’t until lap five that a breakaway stuck. Risveds, Laura Stigger, Loana Lecomte and Koller managed to pull clear. A stumble from Stigger in the rock garden opened the door for Risveds, Koller and Lecomte to get away.
As the race hit its final lap, it became a battle between Risveds and Frei, who had timed her effort to perfection. Together, they tackled the rock garden, but it was Frei who surged on the last climb, dropping Risveds and soloing her way to the finish. Behind them, Evie Richards outsprinted Lecomte for third.
“I tried to stay on the wheels and be patient,” Frei said. “In the last lap, we went full gas until the finish line, and I’m super happy I won.” It marked Frei’s first UCI World Cup victory in short track.
Jennifer Jackson from Duncan, BC, placed 17th.

Koretzky steals the show in XCC men’s

The men’s race was no less dramatic, with a packed field of riders hungry for victory. Alan Hatherly set a blazing early pace. Simon Andreassen joined his Cannondale Factory Racing teammate at the front, as tactics began to unfold across the course. But the real drama struck when series leader Sam Gaze crashed hard, falling to the back of the pack.
Sensing an opportunity, Victor Koretzky bided his time, testing the waters with bursts of speed but waiting for the right moment. As the race entered its final laps, it became clear that Koretzky had the legs to go for it. With just a few kilometers to go, he hit the rock garden with power and precision, opening up a gap that no one could close.
Koretzky crossed the line with a commanding lead, sealing his first win in the rainbow jersey. “It’s always special when you wear this jersey,” Koretzky said. “You need to enjoy it, and today was a great day for Specialized.”
Hatherly held on for…