The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returned to Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ (Czechia) last weekend with the Endurance athletes descending on a fast and furious course in perfect conditions.
There was a second win in the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup for Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), while Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) clinched the seventh Short-Track victory of her career in her first mountain bike race of the season.
In the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup, it was another multi-discipline star who dominated the Men’s Elite race - Tom Pidcock continuing his 100% record in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ with his fifth XCO win from five starts. In the women’s, Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) continued her team’s perfect record in 2026, following up Sina Frei’s podium-topping performance in MONA YongPyong (South Korea).
It was the Specialized Factory Racing pair who sat down with presenter Ashleigh Wilmott for this week’s THE B LINE. From team tactics to season ambitions, here are some highlights from their chat.
TEAM TACTICS COME TO THE FORE
Specialized Factory Racing have had unrivalled success in recent seasons, particularly in Elite Men’s races where the team has several riders towards the front of proceedings. This numerical advantage has meant that the team have been able to deploy racing tactics, where riders work together to isolate the opposition and give the Specialized Factory Racing riders a better shot at winning.
The opening UCI XCC World Cup saw the tactics play out for the first time in the women’s field too – Stigger surging to the front, forcing her rivals to chase down her effort before Frei launched the race-winning move.
“The sport is developing, and I think having team tactics will for sure also be a profit,” says Stigger.
“If you’re racing as a group in the same jersey, it makes you stronger. If one rider is up front, she can go for the win while the other plays a backup role, ready to make a move if the race comes back together,” adds Frei.
OFF-SEASON IMPROVEMENTS
After a winless 2025 for Stigger and Frei, the pair’s victorious start to 2026 is evidence of a productive off-season. But it wasn’t completely smooth sailing, particularly for Frei.
“I had a quite difficult winter with two surgeries, but I also changed the coach,” she says. “My coach is now part of the Specialized team, and having that support on-site at every round has made a real difference for me. It works incredibly well and gives me confidence. Sometimes it’s the small things. For example, in Korea I had a tough lead-in and felt quite low, but a simple conversation there helped reset my mindset and turn things around. Sometimes it’s those little moments that make everything click.”
While Stigger’s was more straightforward than her team-mates, it gave her the confidence to start the season as strongly as she has.
“I really had a good preparation. It was the first time I came healthy through the winter, which was a really big goal of mine. This already gives a big boost in the mindset to have done everything I would say right, and that's also really nice to get into the season and confident, and that makes a big difference.”
SEASON GOALS
Frei currently finds herself top of the XCO and XCC standings, while Stigger is also second in both series. The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria) is next on 11-14 June, but the European race weekends come thick and fast, culminating in the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole (Italy) at the end of August. After such a strong start to the year, Frei is now targetting the sport’s ultimate prize.
“On every start line I stand, I want to win; otherwise I don't have to stand on the start line. There are so many factors, and if I can just be healthy there and give all that I had on that day, I will be happy.”
