Just hours after Rafaelle Carrier put Canada on the podium at the Pal Arinsal World Cup, Bjorn Riley gave the U.S. a World Cup win in Andorra. It’s the Scott-SRAM racers first World Cup win, coming in the short-format XCC event.
The men’s XCC World Cup podium in Andorra. Michael Cerveny / Whoop UCI Mountain Bike World Series
Riley riding high in 2026
Riley win Friday is the new high point of a very strong 2026 season for the young North American and U.S. national champion. After squeezing onto a podium via a controversial DSQ earlier in the season, Riley’s gone on to land several more top-three finishes. Frday, though, is his first win.
“Every race feels like the fulfilment of a dream. Winning is something you dream about your whole life, so actually doing it feels surreal. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet. Maybe later tonight, when I’m trying to sleep, it’ll hit me and I’ll end up lying awake thinking about it. Right now, it just feels incredible,” Riley enthused after the race.
“So many people had been telling me they wanted to see me win. It’s amazing that people believe in me like that. Sometimes I still feel like the same kid who just loves riding his bike,” Riley said, adding that it’s making him feel more at home on the Scott-SRAM roster along side names like Schurter and Frischknecht. “I absolutely love being part of this team, but it’s a squad filled with champions. To feel like you truly belong, you have to perform at a high level. Little by little, I’m starting to feel like I’ve earned my place here.”
Riley led a podium that included to Specialized riders and two U.S. racers. Adrien Boichis (Specialized) couldn’t quite land another win, but does move into the XCC overall lead with his second place finish. A resurgent Christopher Blevins, finding speed after a season of injuries, finishes third for both the U.S.A. and Specialized.
“We all know each other’s strengths, and heading into the final climb I knew Boichis has an explosive kick. I could tell he didn’t quite have it on the climb today, and that’s something I’d been thinking about over the last couple of days,” Riley explained, of how he got the W. “Normally, I don’t take big risks on the final lap because I’m already happy with a podium but today felt different. I did get a bit nervous because when I looked back on the finishing straight, he was right there behind me. I’m not used to having to sprint for the win, so that was a little scary.”
Woods leads Canadians in Andorra
Carter Woods (Giant Factory Off-Road Team) was the top Canadian in the men’s race. The Giant rider continues to work his way back up the standings, posting an impressive 10th in Andorra. Cole Puchard (Cannondale Factory Racing) followed in 32nd and Tyler Orschel (KMC Nukeproof), nursing an injury after a freak feedzone crash last weekend, 38th.
Emilly Johnston (Scott-SRAM) was the only Canuck in the women’s race, placing 28th.
Michael Cerveny / Whoop UCI Mountain Bike World Series
Rissveds keeps win streak rolling
In the women’s race, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon Factory Racing) added another win to her steller 2026 campaign. The Swedish rider lives and trains nearby in Andorra and admitted racing at her home-away-from-home was nice.
“It feels really good. I’ve never really had a good short track here before. Even though I live here, I struggle with the altitude. No matter how much you adapt, and how much you try, it’s always hard to be at altitude. Today was just good. I think the rain before the start really helped because it was so dusty here, so there were good conditions on the course and as always I love when the organisation let us ride on a natural course like this. Riding trails is super cool.”
Rissveds takes the win in Pal Arinsal over Laura Stigger (Specialized) and Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing). Like most races this year, Friday’s XCC was a fight from the first lap all theway to the finish line. Rissved’s welcomes what she sees as a shift in how the women’s field is racing.
“The racing has changed since last year. It’s tighter. It used to be that at start/finish, we’d sit up and we recover, but this year, it’s full gas the whole lap every race, which is really cool. I think we learned a little bit from the boys.”
Racing in Andorra continues all weekend with downhill finals and Olympic cross country events.