Lars Forster wins the Shimano Super Cup Massi Banyoles 2025.

The Swiss rider danced on a muddy course and executed an attack that no one could replicate. The initiative in the chasing group was combined between moves by Charles Aldridge, Victor Koretzky and Simon Andreassen, although none of them managed to break Forster who rode alone towards the finish line.

Lars Forster is crowned on the mud at the Shimano Super Cup Massi Banyoles 2025

The best riders in the world gathered today in the Catalan town of Banyoles to compete in the second race of the Shimano Super Cup Massi. The heavy rains that hit the circuit on Saturday afternoon made the track muddy and sticky. The more than 50 riders who had been called up to the start line were strictly punctual – after the notable withdrawals of Martín Vidaurre and David Campos were confirmed.

The start was only marred by a small funnel in the middle of the peloton, which blocked riders such as Adrien Boichis. The riders tested the terrain in the first metres, in a start lap led by Simon Andreassen. The Dane took the lead of the race and set the pace at the start.

The early stages were led by a large group that included most of the favourites. The mud soiled the bikes almost instantly. Andreassen remained in control of the race until he relinquished the baton at the finish on the circuit’s iconic climb. Lars Forster moved to the front and took the spurs. The move helped him forge a small gap on the others. The mud continued to make the race tougher and the riders had to put their feet down more often than usual.

Forster’s rule continued as behind him a chasing group formed of Victor Koretzky, Simon Andreassen and Charles Aldridge, who had earlier also ridden in the lead. The chasers tried and tried again, until Aldridge gave up and left his two chasing companions alone.

Koretzky’s onslaught, supported throughout by a hungry Andreassen, paid off and the gap to Forster was reduced to eight seconds. Even so, the Swiss rider was still able to dance through the mud better than anyone else, a combination of technique and endurance that was opening the doors of the MTB Cathedral wide open for him.

With no unexpected twists in the script, Forster rode solo to the finish line and claimed victory in the Shimano Super Cup Massi Banyoles 2025. Charles Aldridge attacked in the final part of the course and finished second, while Koretzky, Andreassen and Punchard completed the top five respectively.

The 2025 edition of the Shimano Super Cup Massi broke the all-time record for participation, with more than 1,000 riders from 35 different nationalities.