Sara Cortinovis Closes the Season with Another Podium Finish

Lake Placid: A Fast and Fierce Battle

One of the highlights of the North American trip was Sara Cortinovis incredible fight for victory in Lake Placid’s Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race. The redesigned course — featuring high-speed sections, technical man-made obstacles, and plenty of flow — promised intense racing right from the start. Sara quickly found herself in a leading group of three riders and stayed in contention until the very end. On the final climb, the eventual winner managed to open a small gap, leaving Sara to take second place — her best World Cup result in three years! A well-deserved celebration for both her and the team.
Teammate Finja Lipp showed strong form as well, working her way up through the field to finish 13th.

Elite Women: Fighting Spirit All the Way

In the Elite Women’s race, Nicole Koller and Caroline Bohé showed determination and pace, even with Anne Terpstra still sidelined as she continues to recover from surgery earlier this year.
Nicole, starting from the front row, battled for a Top 8 position before a small mistake caused a rear puncture and cost her several places — she finished 13th, with Caroline in 20th. Both were motivated to push even harder for the season finale in Canada.

Mont-Sainte-Anne: Technical, Demanding, and Rewarding

Heading into the final round at Mont-Sainte-Anne, the team faced one of the toughest and most technical courses on the circuit. Unfortunately, Finja suffered a crash in the last training session, showing mild concussion symptoms and was forced to miss the race.

Sara once again rose to the challenge. Despite a difficult start lap that saw her drop outside the Top 30, she never gave up — charging through the field to claim an incredible 6th place finish in her final U23 World Cup race. What a way to end an outstanding season!

The Elite Women embraced the challenge, too. Nicole rode consistently inside the Top 10, ultimately finishing 10th:

“I had a small crash in final practice and lacked a bit of confidence today. But looking back, I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved this season,” said Nicole.

Caroline also delivered a strong performance, fighting her way from 28th after the start lap to 16th at the finish line:

“It may not sound spectacular, but I’m super happy to finish the season on a high note. It’s been a tough year, and I finally feel like myself again. Can’t wait for 2026!”

Looking Ahead

The GHOST Factory Racing Team closes the 2025 World Cup season proud and motivated. Sara’s podiums, Nicole’s consistency, and Caroline’s strong comeback show the incredible spirit within the team.

A big thank you to all our partners, supporters, and fans who cheered us on throughout the season — we’re already looking forward to an exciting 2026!