Andreassen wins chaotic mudbath short track in Leogang

Simon Andreassen (Cannondale Factory Racing) timed his move to perfection to win a wild and attritional UCI Cross-Country Short Track World Cup in Leogang. The Dane took his first-ever victory in the discipline after navigating a chaotic final lap that saw the leader drop a chain and another rider crash out of a podium spot.

In torrential rain that turned the course into a river of mud, Andreassen took the lead late after Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team XCO) suffered a heartbreaking mechanical in a rock garden. Andreassen then launched a decisive attack on the final climb to seal the win.

Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) finished six seconds back for second place, with Luca Martin (Orbea Factory Team) taking third, another two seconds adrift. Martin Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) had been in the silver medal position before crashing just metres from the finish line.

The race began with immediate drama under a steady downpour. At the start, series leader Mathis Azzaro (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) failed to clip in and was swamped by the field, while overall leader Dario Lillo’s race ended within seconds when he snapped his chain on the line.

The treacherous, muddy conditions made it a war of attrition, with numerous crashes reshuffling the lead group. A large pack entered the final lap together before Simone Avondetto attacked, but his hopes were dashed by a dropped chain in the rock garden.

Simon Andreassen was perfectly placed to seize the opportunity, surging into the lead and attacking on the final climb to open a decisive gap. Behind him, Martin Vidaurre slid out on the last corner while chasing second, allowing Filippo Colombo and Luca Martin to sweep past for the remaining podium spots.

• Simon Andreassen’s victory was a masterclass in calm amid chaos. While others suffered misfortune, he stayed in the front group, avoided mistakes, and had the legs to capitalise when the opportunity arose on the final lap.
• The abysmal weather conditions were the great equaliser. The race became less about raw power and more about bike handling, skill, and luck, with numerous crashes and mechanicals underscoring the unpredictability of racing in deep mud.
• It was a disastrous day for the series frontrunners. With overall leader Dario Lillo out at the start and points leader Mathis Azzaro having a poor getaway, the overall classification is now wide open.
• The final lap distilled short track's brutal intensity. Avondetto’s dropped chain while leading and Vidaurre’s last-corner crash are reminders of how quickly a race can be won or lost.
• Adrien Boichis (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) navigated the carnage to secure a strong fifth place. In a race where survival was half the battle, his top-five finish is a significant result.