Valero and Weinbeer Win XCM World Cup in Andorra; Valero Claims Series Lead

David Valero of Spain and Anna Weinbeer triumphed in the men's and women's Cross-Country Marathon (XCM) World Cup races on Sunday at Naturland in Sant Julià de Lòria, with Valero also taking the overall series lead.

The second edition of the Andorran event attracted elite international riders to a challenging three-lap course, including extended technical descents and a punishing final ascent that proved decisive. Good weather aided the competition.

In the men's race, Norway's Eskil Evensen-Lie took an early lead with a strong pace but was reeled in by a pursuit group featuring Valero, Colombia's Leonardo Páez—last year's winner—Andorra's Marc Stutzmann Porro or Samuele Porro, Britain's Casey South or Samuel South, Switzerland's Fabian Fanger or Martin Fanger, and Mexico's Gerardo Ulloa. The front group narrowed over the laps, allowing Valero and Páez to break clear on the second circuit. The pair collaborated to extend their advantage before Valero attacked in the closing stretch to finish solo ahead of Páez in second. Ulloa, who won Saturday's Shimano Super Cup Massi, claimed third. Local riders Xavi Jové and Oriol Pi finished 52nd and 54th respectively.

The women's race saw Weinbeer—described in some reports as Swiss, though competing for Germany—edge out a tight contest with Germany's Natalia Fischer, Italy's Claudia Peretti, and Poland's Paula Gorycka, who had won Saturday's event. The leading quartet distanced the field amid several lead changes, but Weinbeer surged ahead in the final kilometers for a solo victory. Fischer took second, Peretti third, and Gorycka fourth. Andorran rider Lorelei Torres placed 17th.

Naturland also hosted the second SCOTT Marathon round, where Ferran Puiggermanal won the long XCM distance and Joel Cruz the short XCP category.