The opening round of the 2026 UCI Enduro World Cup is almost upon us, with fans and riders alike set to make the pilgrimage to the Pyrenees for the series curtain raiser in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France).
A staple of the UCI Enduro World Cup since 2021 (and previously part of the Enduro World Series), the French venue has typically featured towards the latter part of the season. This year, however, a shift in the calendar sees it kick things off.
An earlier race weekend will mean different conditions on the trail (with recent years memorable for the mud baths endured by riders on course), and there will be plenty of top-tier riding for the Elite and Open categories to sink their teeth into.
Riders will cover a total of 49.8km, including some demanding liaisons with 1,262m of climbing (and 1,300m of lifts) to navigate between the five stages.
The course combines classic Pyrenean trails with a fresh addition.
It begins with a repeat of the 2025 opener: Nabias (3.69km with -730m descent) sets a high-intensity tone from the outset, with the potential to create early time gaps. Privilege (2.4km with 83m gain and 443m descent) returns as the second stage, although riders should have had a chance to get their thoughts together on the lift up to the start line.
Six pack (0.9km with 160m) makes it three from three in the re-running of the 2025 edition and is the shortest stage of the day. Stage four is where riders and fans will get to experience something new – Coumaou (1.37km with 13m gain and 324m descent) coming off the back of a lengthy liaison.
Finally, Tourteres (2.54km with 7m gain and 493m descent) returns as a fitting finale, mirroring the final stage of the 2024 UCI Enduro World Cup. Martin Maes (Orbea/FMD Racing) and Morgane Charre came out on top that day, but with Maes lining up in the Downhill format in 2026, who will be celebrating crossing the finish line in the men’s competition?
