After a six-week summer break, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns with its first finale of the 2025 season. And while both the men’s and women’s UCI Enduro World Cup overall titles were wrapped up at the last round in La Thuile – Valle D’Aosta (Italy), there’s still plenty on the line in Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France).
The French venue is not only a new addition to the UCI Enduro World Cup, but with only Enduro on the cards, riders and fans will get to enjoy two back-to-back days of racing.
NEW TESTS AND OLD FAVOURITES
While Haute-Savoie in the east of France has been a staple of Cross-country and Downhill for decades, the town of Morillon presents a new test for the stars of Enduro.
The French Alps spot unveiled a brand new Enduro Bike Park last year, and the world’s best riders will now be put through their paces on the venue’s pine-lined trails. Home to challenging trails, natural features, fast flows and plenty of roots, and with the mountains of the Grand Massif as a backdrop, it’s already a classic in the making.
For the UCI Enduro World Cup, athletes will take on nine stages during an 81.6km course featuring 4,778m of descent and 4,871m of pedal ascent.
The first four stages take place on day one, and are all downhill-only affairs with the opener Reverse River (3.0km with 530m descent) sure to create some big splits in the field from the off.
The second day, meanwhile, includes another five favourites from the region, with the penultimate stage Grand Cret (3.8km with 660m descent) the longest of the whole race. Riders will be familiar with the final stage though, with Paddock Express (2.6km with 410m descent) concluding both days’ racing.
ALL EYES ON BATTLE FOR SECOND
The 2025 UCI Enduro World Cup has been dominated by two riders – Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Brit Ella Conolly – and the pair built unassailable leads in the overall series to clinch the first titles in La Thuile – Valle D’Aosta (Italy).
Łukasik will be on the start line in Morillon, Haute-Savoie using the final round as a springboard into the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Enduro event in Aletsch Arena/Bellwald, Valais (Switzerland) on September 1, where he’ll chase a rare UCI World Cup–UCI World Championships double. Conolly, opting to sit out the final round, is expected to be focusing fully on her preparations for the rainbow jersey race, taking the time to rest and recover as she also eyes the opportunity to complete the prestigious double. With form and momentum on the line, expect Łukasik to keep the intensity high in Morillon.
While the titles might have been decided, there’s still all to play for to finish best of the rest in both the men’s and women’s series.
In the men’s field, five riders can still mathematically clinch second spot, although the most likely are Kiwi Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity) and Canadian Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) – Murray leading Melamed by just 20 points.
The contest is set to come down to the wire with the Canadian needing to beat the New Zealander to be in with a chance of leapfrogging him – something he has managed at four of the five races he’s started in 2025.
Elsewhere, two-time UCI Enduro World Cup round winner Daniel Booker, William Brodie and Greg Callaghan have outside shots at second-place, but require a lot of different permutations to go their way to fly up the overall standings.
In the women’s field, there are three riders in contention to finish runner up to Conolly, but Simona Kuchyňková (Cube Action Team) is firmly in the driving seat. If the Slovakian slips, Nadine Ellecosta (Abetone Ancillotti Vittoria Factory Team) is waiting in the wings to pounce, although needs to win and for Kuchyňková to finish eighth to steal second spot. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) will no longer be able to challenge due to injury.
HOW TO WATCH
Race content will be available across the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ official platforms, including the YouTube channel, website, and social media profiles. Fans can catch up with the action from Morillon, Haute-Savoie with:
- A course preview featuring the route and its key sections
- Practice day and race day video highlights
- Key race moments on social media
- Real-time race updates via live timing on the official website
There are dedicated viewing areas for spectators, along with entertainment and evening events open to everyone. The top 10 men’s and women’s riders will be officially presented on Friday at 5:30 pm, setting the tone for an exciting weekend of racing.
Racing gets underway in Morillon, Haute-Savoie on Saturday – full schedule and event details are available here.
