Adrien Boichis hails maiden World Cup victory as 'highest' career achievement while Jenny Rissveds reclaims winning form in Leogang
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Published 14/06/2026 at 20:36 GMT+1
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Adrien Boichis described his maiden Elite UCI Mountain Bike World Cup victory as the "highest" achievement of his career following a breakthrough performance in Leogang.
'It's something special' - Boichis reflects on 'crazy' debut cross-country Olympic World Cup win
Video credit: TNT Sports
The iconic Austrian venue provided a fitting stage for two standout performances, and for Boichis it will now forever hold fond memories, as the 23-year-old was rewarded for taking risks on the final lap.
Torrential rain earlier in the day left the course slick and unpredictable, but as conditions improved and as the track began to dry, Boichis trusted his instincts.
The Frenchman carefully positioned himself among the leading contenders as the field was gradually whittled down by crashes, mechanical setbacks and the relentless demands of the Leogang circuit.
"It is the highest thing ever," Boichis said afterwards. "There is no bigger race than the World Cup and there are no stronger riders than Elite World Cup winners. To think that today I was the best in the world is something special, and I'll never forget it."
By the closing stages, only a select group remained in contention, with compatriots Mathis Azzaro and Luca Martin among those matching his pace.
Boichis, Azzaro and Martin had quickly established themselves at the front, while early misfortune struck several rivals. Bjorn Riley saw his challenge unravel after a puncture, while Jordan Sarrou's hopes were similarly compromised by mechanical problems.
As the laps ticked by, the leading group splintered under pressure. Simone Avondetto mounted an impressive charge to rejoin the front-runners, while Martin erased a seven-second deficit on one of the course's demanding descents to re-enter the podium battle.
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Highlights: Boichis secures first cross-country Olympic World Cup win
Video credit: TNT Sports
Yet when the decisive moment arrived, there was only one rider capable of seizing it, as approaching the final climb, Boichis launched a devastating acceleration that immediately left his rivals trailing.
Martin was the first to lose contact, before Azzaro was also unable to respond. With daylight opening behind him, Boichis pressed on relentlessly, carving out an advantage that would carry him all the way to the finish line.
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Crossing the line in 1:21.09, almost 20 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Boichis sealed a memorable victory and the most significant result of his career to date.
The victory carried a sense of symmetry. Leogang was the venue where Boichis claimed his first Under-23 World Cup success in 2023, and it has now become the setting for his arrival among the sport's elite ranks.
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'The French revolution!' - Boichis takes debut victory ahead of compatriots Azzaro and Martin
Video credit: TNT Sports
”I have beautiful memories here," Boichis continued. "I just wanted to execute my plan of having a conservative start and then build through the race. I really believed in myself.
"When I was hurting. I was thinking that the others were hurting more. On the last kicker, I went all out to the top.”
The final podium underwent a late adjustment after Azzaro, who had initially crossed the line in second place, was disqualified for an infringement in the technical zone. Martin was subsequently elevated to runner-up, while Avondetto completed the podium.
The result means Boichis moves up to fourth in the world rankings while Martin leads the overall standings after a third straight second-placed finish.
Rissveds' 'bravery' behind statement win
If Boichis' triumph signalled the arrival of a new contender, Jenny Rissveds' victory in the women's race served as a powerful reminder of the class and conviction that have defined her career.
The Canyon CLLCTV XCO rider delivered a performance built on aggression and courage, attacking early and refusing to look back as she powered to a dominant solo victory.
Savilia Blunk surged to the front on the opening climb, but her momentum was abruptly halted after an early collision with Rissveds resulted in a crash that dropped the American from first place to the back of the field.
At the front, only Puck Pieterse was initially able to match the Swede's pace as the pair distanced the rest of the field.
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Highlights: Rissveds claims victory in Leogang after opening lap collision with Blunk
Video credit: TNT Sports
As the treacherous conditions and technical demands of the course began to take their toll, Sina Frei briefly forced her way into contention before a succession of crashes brought her challenge to an end.
Meanwhile, Swiss duo Nicole Koller and Alessandra Keller steadily worked their way forward, capitalising on the attritional nature of the race to join the pursuit.
But none of it troubled Rissveds, as by the final lap she had established a lead approaching a minute and appeared completely untouchable.
Behind her, Pieterse secured second place after edging clear of Keller, while Blunk's remarkable recovery ride saw her climb back through the field to finish fifth despite her opening-lap setback.
At the finish, Rissveds held a commanding winning margin of 56 seconds, a reflection of both her strength and her control throughout the race.
"I wanted to be brave today and leave here with no disappointment," Rissveds said. "I went for it and it worked.
"We have three overall leaders in the team at the moment, Thibaut [Francois Baudry], Valentina [Corvi] and myself, which is really cool.”
The victory extends her advantage at the top of the overall standings after three rounds - 80 points ahead of Frei.
Meanwhile, Paul Schehl of the Lexware Mountainbike Team and Valentina Corvi of Canyon XC Racing claimed victory in the Under-23 UCI XCO World Cup races in their respective categories.
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