Overview

• Defending champion Alan Hatherly controlled the elite men’s cross‑country race, stretching his lead lap after lap to claim gold in Switzerland.
• Simone Avondetto finished second, with Victor Koretzky taking bronze after regrouping late in the chase group.
• Starting from the fifth row due to limited MTB points, Mathieu van der Poel surged to fourth by lap two before fading to 29th at the finish.
• Leaders rotated early before Hatherly seized the front decisively, growing gaps of 45 seconds by lap three and more than a minute by lap five.
• The technical, steep, root‑laden Crans‑Montana course rewarded seasoned specialists; Koretzky had signaled form by winning the short‑track earlier in the week.