The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series has never been afraid to break new ground, and with just three rounds remaining in the 2026 season, two new venues are set to make their UCI World Cup debuts, including Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah (USA).
Soldier Hollow will welcome the Endurance athletes for the penultimate rounds of the UCI Cross-country World Cup, presented by SCOTT Sports. With both the Men Elite and Women Elite overall titles still hanging in the balance across the cross-country Olympic (XCO) and cross-country short track (XCC) formats, riders and fans can expect two days of all-out racing and an unforgettable UCI World Cup debut for Utah's iconic venue.
While Soldier Hollow is new to the UCI World Cup circuit, it is no stranger to elite-level competition. The venue hosted biathlon and cross-country skiing events during the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games and will once again play its part on the world stage when it hosts competitions at the 2034 Olympic Winter Games.
Beyond its Olympic pedigree, Soldier Hollow has established itself as a premier summer destination for mountain biking and outdoor recreation. It sits at the heart of a state deeply woven into the fabric of the sport, with Utah's legendary riding destinations, including Moab and Zion, helping to shape mountain bike's global identity.
Located approximately 50 miles southeast of Salt Lake City within Wasatch Mountain State Park, the venue's sandy terrain and exposed landscape will provide a distinctive challenge in this year's series. The course is built on Utah's characteristic red soil, which becomes extremely hard-packed and fast in dry conditions but can quickly turn sticky and slippery when wet, adding an extra layer of unpredictability for riders.
Both courses have been purpose-built to deliver fast, flowing racing while maximizing the spectator experience. Thanks to the openness of the venue, fans can follow almost 90% of the action from a single vantage point. Riders, however, will face a sterner test, with the renowned Hard Line rock garden demanding precision, commitment and exceptional bike-handling skills.
The XCO course measures 4.2km and features 178m of elevation gain, while the XCC course measures 1.2km with 34m of elevation gain.
RISSVEDS AND FREI LEAD THE CHARGE AS BATTEN EYES HOME GLORY
Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) had a near-perfect year as the 2025 UCI XCO World Champion. The Swede has finished outside the podium just once all season, placing fourth in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy), while claiming five UCI XCO World Cup victories, three of them in 2026. However, after finishing seventh at the 2026 UCI XCO World Championships, Rissveds knows there is still work to do if she is to finally secure the overall title.
Standing in her way is a rider whose momentum continues to build race after race. Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) followed up her dominant UCI XCO-XCC World Cup double in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), with victory at the UCI XCO World Championships, adding the rainbow jersey to an already stellar season. As Rissveds’ closest challenger in the standings, the Swiss rider will arrive in Utah determined to keep the title fight alive.
Rissveds currently leads Frei by 282 points and needs to leave Soldier Hollow with a 330-point advantage to clinch both her first overall UCI XCO World Cup title and the first for Sweden. With every position carrying valuable points at this stage of the season, expect the pair to be locked in battle across both days of racing in Utah.
While the overall title appears destined to be decided between Rissveds and Frei, there will be no shortage of contenders for victory in Soldier Hollow. Local hero and Olympic silver medallist Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) will be eager to deliver a standout performance on home trails, while fellow American Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) will also be looking to shine in front of a home crowd.
Meanwhile, Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) continues to be a consistent force at the sharp end of the field, and the resurgent Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) arrives with growing momentum after a strong return to form, making her a genuine threat heading into the penultimate round of the season.
ALL EYES ON MARTIN, BUT THE BATTLE IS FAR FROM OVER
Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) arrives in Soldier Hollow with one hand firmly on the Men Elite overall title. The Frenchman can now only be caught mathematically by Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), Bjorn Riley (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team), Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC). However, with Boichis turning his focus to road racing for the remainder of the season and the other three trailing by more than 550 points, Martin is firmly in the driving seat heading into the penultimate round.
That does not mean the racing will lack intrigue. A victory in Utah would be the fourth UCI XCO World Cup win of Martin’s career, drawing him level with mountain biking legend Bart Brentjens on the all-time winners list.
The home crowd, meanwhile, will be hoping for a different outcome. American stars Bjorn Riley and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) headline a strong contingent looking to deliver a statement performance on home soil, while a host of riders will see Soldier Hollow’s unique terrain as an opportunity to upset the established order and fight for victory.
THE XCC BATTLES REACH BOILING POINT
Both UCI XCC World Cup overall titles remain very much up for grabs with two rounds still to race.
In the Women Elite category, the battle once again comes down to Sina Frei and Jenny Rissveds. Frei currently holds an 80-point advantage and could secure the overall crown before the season finale, but only with a near-perfect result in Soldier Hollow and an unusually subdued performance from Rissveds. Given the form both riders have shown throughout the year, another intense head-to-head showdown looks likely.
The Men Elite title race has become equally compelling following the absence of newly crowned UCI XCC World Champion Adrien Boichis, whose switch to road racing has left the fight for the overall wide open. As a result, a captivating duel has emerged between Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), with just 46 points separating the two Frenchmen.
Martin has an opportunity to wrap up the overall title in Utah, but the permutations remain complex and far from straightforward. More realistically, Soldier Hollow is shaping up to be a crucial chapter in a battle that appears destined to go down to the wire. With every point carrying added significance, expect Martin and Azzaro to be bar-to-bar throughout the Short Track race as they look to seize the initiative heading into the final round of the season.
WILDCARD TEAMS READY TO MAKE THEIR MARK IN SOLDIER HOLLOW
The following wildcard teams have been confirmed to compete in the UCI Cross-country World Cup in Soldier Hollow: KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Massi, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros - Youngstars, UNNO Factory Racing, Bike Team Solothurn and Pivot Cycles OTE.
Among the wildcard entries, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) is one of the names to watch. The German could leave Soldier Hollow as the overall winner of both the U23 UCI XCO and XCC World Cups if results fall his way this weekend.
Schehl is far from the only wildcard rider making an impact this season. Katrin Embacher (KTM Factory Team) strengthened her grip on second place in the Women U23 XCO overall standings with a podium finish in Les Gets, while Tom Perrin (SUNN Factory Racing) is closing in on a maiden top 10 overall finish in the Men U23 category. Thömus Akros - Youngstars siblings Monique and Nicolas Halter will line up in their respective U23 XCC races wearing the coveted rainbow jersey as reigning UCI World Champions. Meanwhile, Fiona Schibler (Bike Team Solothurn) sits fourth in the Women U23 XCO standings with second place still within reach, and Ian Ackert (Pivot Cycles OTE) arrives in Utah after a season highlighted by a string of top five finishes in the Men U23 ranks.
Racing at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Soldier Hollow, presented by SCOTT Sports, gets underway on Saturday 19 September with the UCI XCC World Cup. Full schedule and event information are available here.
