Boichis powers to victory in Lenzerheide XCC

Adrien Boichis (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) powered through the final metres to win the opening cross-country short track race at the Lenzerheide 2026 World Cup.

On a blisteringly fast course where a good start was paramount, Boichis held off Luca Martin, who finished just two seconds back in second place. Bjorn Riley rounded out the podium a further four seconds behind, taking third.

The race, defined by its technical features and high-speed descents, saw a tight battle for the top spots, with less than 20 seconds separating the top ten finishers.

The Lenzerheide course was a short, intense circuit that demanded good positioning from the very start. Riders were immediately faced with a series of tight switchback corners that funnelled the field onto a long, fast drag, making an explosive start essential.

Key selection points on the lap included a steep, grassy pinch-point climb and a technical, root-strewn wooded section that demanded precise bike handling. Riders able to maintain momentum through these features were rewarded with a clean run into the high-speed descents that followed.

On the decisive final lap, Boichis proved to be the strongest, emerging from the trees with a small advantage. He navigated the final high-speed grassy descent and powered through the paved finishing straight, holding his gap to secure the victory ahead of a charging Martin and Riley.

• Boichis's victory demonstrated his explosive power and the technical skill needed to navigate the demanding Lenzerheide circuit. It's a commanding start to his weekend.
• The extremely tight time gaps, with the top seven riders finishing within eight seconds of each other, underscore the brutal intensity of XCC racing, where any small mistake is immediately punished.
• The course design, with its critical bottleneck in the opening corners, heavily influenced the race. Riders unable to secure a top position from the gun were likely out of contention from the first minute.
• Luca Martin and Bjorn Riley's strong second and third-place finishes show they have the form to challenge Boichis, setting the stage for a tight battle in the upcoming XCO race.