The Italian venue will put on a WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut to remember with the UCI Enduro World Cup concluding with a first-ever golden hour final stage.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will be heading to La Thuile (Italy) for the first time this July, and the Valle d’Aosta venue is guaranteeing it will be a race weekend for the ages by putting on Gravity’s first-ever night stage.
The golden hour action will be part of the UCI Enduro World Cup, with La Thuile – Valle D’Aosta the setting for the penultimate round of the series. The area’s Bike Park isn’t new to the world of enduro – having hosted five rounds of the Enduro World Series between 2014 and 2021 – but this year marks its return to the top of the sport since it became part of the UCI in 2023.
While the race’s first three stages will kick off in the morning and be held in the daytime, the final stage – named “The Nightfall” - will be scheduled to commence at 8:30pm – the sun setting as the final riders drop in.
The stage itself will be lit by 23 floodlights, utilising the same technology as those used in Formula 1’s night race to ensure that there are no shadows on course. Tested for feasibility in 2016, the project is finally coming to fruition nine years on and is an exciting new concept to relaunch the pinnacle of enduro racing in the Italian Alps. The Official Sponsor of this exciting night race will be CVA SpA, the Valle d’Aosta-based company and leader in the renewable energy sector, always committed to promoting sport and supporting initiatives that enhance the local area.
Although the details of the trail are being kept under wraps until the release of the full course, the local organising committee have confirmed it will finish in the same finish area as the following day’s UCI Downhill World Cup, and the night stage will form part of a major three-day-long show.
The finish area, known as the Stadium, will be set up at the base of the lifts. Easily accessible, it will feature a large screen, an expo zone, food and drinks, a VIP lounge, and an awards stage.
Three types of tickets are available, sold online:
- Grandstand: raised seats in front of the finish line
- Grass area: access to the festive green zone next to the track
- Lift access: to reach scenic points along the trails and watch the riders up close
All information and tickets are available at www.lathuileworldcupmtb.com
