Keller secures strong starting position
At the final Short Track World Cup of the 2026 season in Lake Placid, USA, Alessandra Keller secures a strong starting position for tomorrow’s XCO race. On the fast course and in muddy conditions, she finishes sixth. After a strong start to the race, Mathias Flückiger takes a solid 17th place.
The Elite women’s XCC race gets off to a very fast start. On a course made more challenging by the muddy conditions, the riders fiercely defend their positions. Alessandra Keller is among the leading riders from the outset and finishes the approximately 20-minute race in sixth place. This earns her a starting position on the front row for tomorrow’s Olympic-distance race.
Keller starts from the front row
“The race was fast from the very beginning and every rider fought for her position. I didn’t manage it perfectly today. Nevertheless, I can start tomorrow from the front row,” says Keller at the finish.
Martina Berta (ITA) takes the win ahead of Jenny Rissveds (SWE) and Sina Frei (SUI).
Mathias Flückiger makes a good start in the men’s race and initially holds a position towards the front of the field. However, the Swiss rider repeatedly struggles in the rock garden and has to close the gaps that open up afterwards. These efforts begin to take their toll towards the end of the race.
Flückiger loses touch in the closing stages
“The intermediate sprints probably cost me a few too many reserves, which is why I couldn’t quite keep up with the leading riders in the final two laps,” Flückiger explains after the race. He finishes the XCC race in 17th place and will start tomorrow’s XCO race from the third row.
Lars Forster also has a difficult race. He has to dismount three times, losing valuable time in the process. He eventually finishes 23rd. Vital Albin fights for positions throughout the race, but has little racing luck and finishes 28th. Flückiger and Forster will therefore start from the third row, while Albin will start one row further back.
Vidaurre Kossmann (CHI) takes the win ahead of Schwarzbauer (GER) and Colombo (SUI).
Last U23 race for Monique Halter
Monique Halter has a difficult day in her final XCC race in the U23 category. “I didn’t ride a good race. Things just didn’t come together today and my legs didn’t work the way I had hoped,” says the young Swiss rider. She finishes 16th and secures a starting position on the second row for her final U23 XCO race on Saturday.
Jackson (GBR) wins the U23 race ahead of Carrier (CAN) and Kellerman (USA).