Victory in the Leogang mudbath after chaotic finale

A rider from the Orbea Fox Factory Team took a commanding victory in the men's UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup at Leogang, surviving a chaotic final lap on a treacherous, mud-caked course.

The win was sealed after one rival suffered a dropped chain and another crashed in the final corner. The Orbea rider attacked late and held his advantage to the line, crossing it caked in mud but with arms aloft.

The day was one of survival for the entire field. The series leader in the orange jersey endured a disastrous start, failing to clip into his pedals and being forced into a long chase after being swamped by the pack.

Torrents of rain turned the Leogang course into a quagmire from the gun. The race began chaotically, with the series leader failing to clip in and immediately getting swallowed by the pack. After an early surge, a lull on the fourth lap allowed a large group to form before a crash on a slick corner split the field again.

The drama intensified on the seventh lap when the race leader, riding in the French national champion's jersey, slid out in the thick mud. His recovery was astonishing; he remounted instantly, forced his way back through the group, and launched an immediate, aggressive counter-attack to reclaim the lead.

The final lap was decided by attrition. One contender's chances evaporated with a dropped chain in a rock garden, a moment the eventual winner seized to launch a powerful attack on the final climb. His closest pursuer then crashed in one of the last corners, leaving the Orbea rider to take a solo, hard-earned victory.

• Torrential rain and thick mud made the race a test of survival. The podium was decided by a last-lap mechanical and a final-corner crash, proving bike handling and equipment reliability were as crucial as raw power.
• The French champion delivered a ride of resilience and aggression. His immediate recovery and counter-attack after crashing on the seventh lap was a masterclass, even if it didn't result in a win.
• The series leader's race was compromised from the start. Failing to clip in is a small mistake with huge consequences in short track, and the subsequent chase through the field likely cost him the energy to contest the finale.
• Positioning was paramount. Staying at or near the front was the only way to get a clear line, avoid mid-race crashes, and capitalise on the final-lap mistakes that decided the race.