Haley Smith cracked the top 15 at XC Marathon world championships over the weekend, on a day that saw North American riders swarm the top ranks, but not the podiums, of the traditonally European-dominated event.
The stunning Dolomite peaks surrounding San Martino di Castrozza, in Trentino, hosted the event. With mountains on all sides, there was plenty of elevation gain, over 4,000m for the elite course of the Mythos Primiero Dolomiti XCM, hosing this year’s worlds, and very little flat ground.
Anna Weinbeer arrives at the finish with time to celebrate. Photo: Newspower.it
N.America crowds elite women’s top ranks, but no podiums
After the dominant showing of Kate Courtney and Keegan Swenson in 2025, the North American’s showed up in force for 2026 XCM worlds. But the Europeans were ready.
Switzerland’s Anna Weeinbeer escaped from the field to take the elite women’s world championship title. She was joined on the podium by Italy’s Claudia Peretti and Austria’s Mona Mitterwallner.
The U.S.A.’s Melissa Rollins and Savilia Blunk nearly upset that European dominance, finishing fourth and fifth in Trentino. Deanna Mayles and Hannah Otto of the U.S. follwed in 12th and 13th with Haley Smith putting Canada in 14th.
Seewald leads Keegan Swenson through the Dolomites. Photo: Newspower.it
Seewald holds off local pros (and the world) in elite men’s race
The elite men’s race proved to be a rare off-day for the defending champion, Keegan Swenson. After mixing it up on the front in the early kilometres, Swenson eventually faded back to seventh. Still impressive, but not what the U.S. racer, who rarely finishes off a podium in any race, was hoping for.
Instead, it was Germany’s Andreas Seewald, a veteran XCM pro, stealing the win from a pair of Italian racers intent on keeping the rainbow jersey on home turf. Gioele de Cosmo and Jakob Dorigoni finished second and third, with Italian racers taking up the entire top five after Seewald.
Very recently crowned Canadian XC Marathon champion Andrew L’Esperance was the top Canuck in the elite men’s race. With a quick turnaround from Sault Ste. Marie Canadian champs to the Dolomites, L’Esperance finished 47th in Italy. Timothy Carleton finished in 94th position, the final finisher before a solid list of DNF’s in Trentino.