Cutting-edge technology, a wealth of expert pundits, and new partners ensured the second season of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series saw record-breaking TV viewership and growth across nearly every metric. As we look back before the end of the year, we reflect on the season’s key figures, setting the stage for an even more exciting 2025 season. The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series was one for the books, with thrilling competition across all mountain bike formats crowning 44 UCI World Cup winners. Thanks to a ground-breaking long-term partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), in 2023 all major mountain bike formats were unified under a single brand for the first-time, creating the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. 2024 marked the second season of WBD Sports taking full control of the global broadcast, promotion and organisation of the Series, expanding its reach and delivering coverage to more fans than ever before. The 2024 season saw 15 race weekends from April to October, collectively visiting 16 venues in 10 countries across Europe and the Americas. It also introduced six exciting new locations, bringing the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to some of mountain bike’s most iconic spots. The world’s best athletes from 58 nations battled it out in the formats of Cross-country, Enduro and Downhill. Over seven months of competition, 134 UCI World Cup races took place, with a record-breaking 114 athletes reaching the podium. In total, 3,860km of racing took place across most of the UCI World Cup formats. As we look back before the end of the year, we reflect on the season’s key figures, setting the stage for an even more exciting 2025 season, filled with new challenges and continued growth. RECORD-BREAKING VIEWERSHIP The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series was broadcast live across the globe on WBD Sports’ network, including Max, Eurosport, discovery+ and TNT Sports for the first time ever, as well as a host of broadcast partners, broadening the series’ reach across the world. WBD’s channels saw a significant increase in cumulative views, with an average of half a million more views per round in 2024 vs. 2023. This season, WBD Sports also expanded its collaboration with more partner broadcasters to bring live racing to fans in 76 countries. Over 20 TV and streaming channels aired more than 2,100 hours of coverage, which were watched for a combined 29 million hours by fans worldwide. To ensure no winning move was missed, WBD Sports deployed more camera operators, drones, and staff to events, enhancing the experience for the millions of fans watching around the world. Graphics were also optimised to present race data in a clear and accessible format, making it easier for viewers to follow the action. WHOOP, a key partner in the Series, keeps developing its collaboration with WBD Sports year after year to take the cycling coverage one step further. By integrating WHOOP’s key performance data, including rider heartrate and strain in real time, fans and viewers were able to better connect with the athletes while understanding and witnessing the extraordinary level of elite performance. This innovative feature elevated the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series broadcast by providing premium insights that not only enhanced the viewing experience but also made the sport more understandable and immersive. Led by the experienced sports presenter, Kate Mason, pre- and post-race discussions helped set the scene before each UCI World Cup race and provided immediate analysis after the winners crossed the finish line. The coverage also featured expert insights from former riders, including Aaron Gwin, Myriam Nicole, Reece Wilson, and Oli Beckinsale, offering fans a deeper understanding of the races, and elevating the overall commentary. CONNECTING FANS GLOBALLY Along with the millions of viewers watching at home, 365,500 fans attended the events on-site. 98% of attending fans said they would return to another WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series event in the future and scored ‘quality of racing’ 9.1 out of 10 for satisfaction, one of the highest scoring metrics this season. Millions more engaged with the sport through other digital platforms with WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series social media accounts reaching fans in over 160 countries resulting in 230 million impressions, 23% more than last year. A total of 162 million video views were also achieved over the course of the season, up by a staggering 133% vs. 2023. This season delivered even more action and high-quality racing than the inaugural season in 2023, resulting in increased media attention from news outlets across the world with over 9,600 articles being published in over 40 countries. KEY DEVELOPMENTS FOR 2025 The 2025 season will bring key developments for the sport and the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series format, some of these being the biggest overhauls to the discipline since the inception of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 1991. The driving force for the changes is the desire to elevate the Series and ensure that each round is contested by the world’s best athletes and teams, reinforcing its position as the pinnacle of mountain bike. The new UCI Regulations include a major change in the UCI World Cups qualifying process, now focusing on top riders and teams to increase competition. Starting in 2025, UCI Mountain Bike World Series Teams will register under two categories: Gravity (downhill and enduro) and Endurance (cross-country and short track). Each category will feature up to 20 teams offering better visibility and engagement on the track side and TV across formats. The introduction of unique career numbers will also make it easier for new fans to follow and fall in love with the sport. This week, the UCI also unveiled additional details about the Continental Series, which will debut on the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike Calendar, offering riders from various continents with new opportunities to qualify for the UCI World Cups. The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will mark a bold step towards the future of mountain bike, fostering greater competitiveness and fan involvement. More information on the key changes set to take effect from 2025 is available here. . Reflecting on the success of the second season, UCI President David Lappartient said: "The launch of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series two years ago brought significant growth for the mountain bike discipline and helped it grow in popularity. This momentum has only continued and picked up over the past year, as shown by the great results shared today. The innovative spirit behind this progress will also be at work next season, and we are confident that mountain bike still has a lot of room to grow, both as a competitive discipline with different formats and as a popular outdoor activity." Chris Ball, VP – Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: “The second year of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series has been truly extraordinary. From thrilling new venues and innovative technology to heart-stopping racing, we've witnessed record-breaking TV viewership and impressive growth across nearly every metric. We look forward to the exciting changes to next season’s competition, as we continue to elevate the sport to new heights.” ISO CERTIFIED PROMOTER As the global promoter of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, WBD Sports has been recognised for its commitment to sustainable event management and been granted ISO20121 certification. The certification approves the structured framework that integrates sustainability into event management practices. Along with enhancing social inclusion and ensuring economic viability for all stakeholders, the framework includes setting long-term goals, implementing sustainable practices, measuring performance, and continually improving the internal and external processes and policies - all to reduce the environmental and social impact of the large-scale international events promoted while maintaining their economic viability.
It may be the off-season, but there’s still plenty of action happening behind the scenes across the mountain biking world, from the buzzing transfer market to new bikes in action. In big news, mountain bike star and Paris 2024 Olympic mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock has departed Ineos Grenadiers and will race for Q36.5 Pro Cycling next season. The multi-disciplinary sensation signed a three-year contract – but in a unique twist, he will ride on two different bike models during his spell with the team. Tom Pidcock will switch to riding Scott bikes on the road, as the brand has a partnership with Q36.5. But interestingly, he’ll have a different bike set-up for his off-road campaign. Continuing on from his time at Ineos, the Brit will ride Pinarello bikes off-road, having been instrumental in developing three different frames for the brand – including the Dogma XC which he rode en route to Olympic gold earlier this year. The Italian manufacturer has provided bikes for Ineos Grenadiers since the team’s inception as Team Sky in 2009, and Pidcock’s relationship with it will continue for the same duration as his Q36.5 contract. Tom Pidcock said: “Working with Fausto and the team at Pinarello over the past four years has been a privilege, and a really enjoyable experience. I am so happy I get to stay working with them on everything off-road moving forwards. “So far, we have developed three cyclo-cross and XC MTB frames together and all of them exceeded expectations from the moment I sat on them, I could not have asked for more. I felt so confident on them that I was able to race and win after the first couple of rides. “To me, our relationship feels more like a partnership than a sponsorship. I’m looking forward to the next three years of racing and developing more great bikes with Pinarello.” With the 25-year-old expected to carry on racing across all disciplines, it may not be long before we see him back in action on knobbly tyres. Elsewhere, the transfer market has been buzzing, and nowhere has been busier than over at Trek Factory Racing. Earlier this month it was announced that Reece Wilson, Bohdi Kuhn, and 2024 UCI Downhill World Champion Loris Vergier will leave the American squad, with no word yet on their next destinations. Trek Factory Racing said: “Today we say goodbye to Loris Vergier, Reece Wilson, and Bohdi Kuhn, who are embarking on new adventures after incredible highs and helping forever shape one of the rowdiest sports on Earth.” The team also shared highlights of the three riders’ spells with the team. “Over the course of four seasons with Trek, Loris [Vergier] solidified himself as one sport’s all-time greats. He won four UCI World Cups with Trek, and finished on the podium of the men’s UCI World Cup overall for three straight years. But of all his incredible feats, there was nothing like winning a UCI World Championship this past August. Loris laid down a perfect run in Andorra to sew up the rainbow jersey by a razor-thin margin. No one has ever been smoother on a session than Loris, nor humbler about his talents.” “Reece [Wilson] is a legend at Trek, flat out. He raced on a Trek as far back as 2015 and was a founding member of the brand new TFR DH program in 2019. On Oct. 11, 2020, he rocked the sport, winning a UCI World Championship as an underdog on a mud-caked course in Leogang. No one is more resilient than Reece, who repeatedly came back from setbacks and crashes to reassert himself at the top of the sport. (We may have teared up a little when he returned to the UCI World Cup podium in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes this year.) Riders don’t come more inspiring or entertaining than Reece Wilson, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings. “In two-plus years riding out of the TFR pits, Bodhi [Khun] proved himself to be one of the most consistent and steeliest riders in the field. As a junior, he was a Top 5 staple, and scored a breakout UCI World Cup win in Val di Sole in 2023. Then as a first-year elite in ‘24, he rose to the challenge by qualifying for finals in five straight UCI World Cups before injuries slowed him down. Bodhi will be a force in the men’s field for years to come," the team wrote. It’s all change on the Cross-country side of things at Trek too. Gunnar Holmgren – brother of terrific Canadian twins Ava and Isabella Holmgren, who have shone in all disciplines this year – will be the squad’s newest recruit. 25-year-old Gunnar will join his sisters, who ride for Lidl-Trek, under the Trek umbrella at the start of next year after a strong season which saw him earn a spot in Canada’s Olympic team. Going in the other direction are veterans Jolanda Neff (Switzerland) and Anton Cooper (New Zealand), who have ridden for Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli XC for a combined 14 seasons. Neither rider has yet confirmed where they will go next. The team paid tribute to both in a farewell post, writing: “Anton Cooper was a consummate competitor and teammate throughout his time with Trek, and one of the most well-respected riders in the field. He dominated the New Zealand and Oceania Championships, winning seven titles in each. No cyclist is more associated with the iconic silver fern kit, which he wore for most of his Trek tenure as he flew around UCI World Cup tracks. “Jolanda Neff needs no introduction. UCI World Champion. Olympic Champion. Thirteen-time XCO World Cup winner. Four-Time European Champion. And Three-time UCI World Cup overall champ. As Neff racked up titles, she also earned a reputation for being one of the friendliest and most recognizable riders in the sport, while also tearing up the cyclocross and road circuits from time to time. There may never be another rider quite like her.” Elsewhere, more riders are on the move. French star Loana Lecomte said farewell to Canyon CLLCTV, sharing the news on social media that she’ll be moving on in 2025, alongside a video of her achievements with the team. Loana Lecomte wrote: “Thank you very much for these 3 years! Thanks for believing in me to set up this big project in 2022, for supporting me through good times and bad, for always doing your utmost for the athletes and staff. It was 3 years with a lot of success, victories, hard times with rebounding and especially unbelievable moments.” And over at YT Mob, Kasper Woolley will stick with the team but switch from Enduro to Downhill racing next season. The 25-year-old finished 18th at his first UCI Downhill World Cup in 2024, in Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada), and he’s clearly caught the Downhill bug. In the upcoming year he’ll change focus entirely to the Downhill discipline and will race the full UCI World Cup calendar. Kasper Woolley said: “I have always been interested in racing downhill. When I first signed with the YT MOB, the possibility of shifting disciplines was a big reason for my decision. I am so excited that this opportunity came up and that I was in the right position to jump on it. Racing enduro has helped to develop my skills through riding a variety of different trails around the world, so I’m excited to apply my learnings to the world of downhill!” Over at Thömus Maxon, U23 rider Luke Wiedmann is departing for pastures new after four years with the team. The Swiss team will continue to be led by former U23 UCI World Champion Alessandra Keller, Tokyo 2021 Olympic silver medallist Mathias Flückiger, two-time European Champion Lars Forster, and Vital Albin, who have all extended their contracts. And Simone Avondetto will continue riding in Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team colours for at least another four seasons, as the team announced a contract extension until 2028. The talented rider from Piedmont joined in 2022 when he was still racing as an U23 rider and bagged the impressive set of Italian National Cross-Country Champion, European Champion, and UCI World Champion jerseys that year. As an Elite rider he’s won the Italian Cross-country Short Track title, finished on the podium at two UCI World Cup rounds, and won the European Cross-country title. Simone Avondetto said: “For me, Wilier-Vittoria is like a second family, the perfect place to continue growing step by step, just as I have so far. Since joining this amazing team, I’ve achieved some great results, but I’ve also faced tough moments, like the seemingly endless battle with mononucleosis in 2023. During that time, the team always stood by me and provided everything I needed, which made me realize I was truly in the right place. I can’t wait to repay that trust with strong performances on racecourses around the world.” With plenty of time until the start of the 2025 season, watch this space for more transfer news, team changes and rider updates as preparations begin for another brilliant year of racing at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is pleased to announce the launch of Continental Series in 2025, whose events will be included on the UCI Mountain Bike International Calendar. So far, these series will consist of twelve events in the Americas (seven Olympic cross-country and five downhill events), nine events in Europe (four Olympic cross-country, four downhill, and one combining both formats), and seven events in Oceania (two Olympic cross-country, four downhill, and one combining both formats). The introduction of these series was approved by the UCI Management Committee in September in Zurich (Switzerland), as part of the key developments for the mountain bike discipline presented by the UCI in collaboration with WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series promoter, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports. These changes, set to take effect from 2025, aim to ensure the continued development of the discipline. Developed in close collaboration with the Continental Confederations, the Continental Series will provide riders from the different continents with new opportunities to qualify for the UCI World Cups, which are part of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. A rider finishing in the top five of a Continental Series event will be eligible to participate in a round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, while the top five riders in the overall standings of the various Continental Series will have the right to participate in all rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in the following season. These additional opportunities will contribute to the global expansion of the discipline. The events in the "Continental Series" (CS) will be similar to the Hors Classe (HC) events in terms of points awarded by the UCI. This will provide riders around the world with another chance to earn valuable points for the UCI Individual Ranking. 2025 UCI Mountain Bike International Calendar
Hugely successful team SCOTT-SRAM MTB RACING will see new arrivals for the 2025 season as young talents Emilly Johnston (Canada) and US National Champion Bjorn Riley join the squad. The up-and-coming talents will join a team rich in experience, with three standout Swiss riders—10-time UCI World Champion Nino Schurter, Swiss National Champion Filippo Colombo, and Andri Frischknecht— all extending their contracts until 2026. Veteran Nino Schurter will continue leading the team after 20 years of UCI World Cup racing and 36 series wins, the latest coming in 2024 in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy). The Swiss legend will be hoping to carry some of his form from last season into a home UCI World Championships in Crans Montana and a UCI World Cup round on home roads in Lenzerheide. Nino Schurter said: “I'm incredibly proud to be entering my 23rd season with SCOTT-SRAM. This team is much more than just a team to me - it's a family. Together we have already celebrated many unforgettable experiences and I look forward to many more adventures with my teammates.” His fellow Swiss and current National Champion Filippo Colombo has also renewed his contract, as he targets a first-ever Elite UCI World Cup win following a strong and consistent year which saw him finish third overall. Filippo Colombo said: "I am super happy to continue my journey with the SCOTT-SRAM team. The past two years, the support and professionalism have been amazing. Deciding to stay with this incredible organization is an easy one. I am eager to give my all in the upcoming seasons and excited to welcome the new athletes. I am confident that we will create a winning formula.” The team will be bolstered even further in 2025 with the signings of young, up-and-coming talents Emilly Johnston and Bjorn Riley, both aged 22. The pair will undertake their first year of Elite racing after a successful spell at U23 level with Trek Future Racing Team, based in Austria, where both riders demonstrated their potential with some strong performances. SCOTT-SRAM Racing Team Director, Thomas Frischknecht said: "With Emilly and Bjorn we have two great talents as part of the team for the future. Both are very talented and ready to take the next step in their careers. The whole team is keen to support them in their further professional development in MTB racing.” Bjorn Riley, from Boulder (Colorado, USA), finished last season with two UCI U23 World Cup victories in Les Gets (Haute-Savoie, France) in both the Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Olympic (XCO) distance, as well as multiple podium finishes across the season. Even more impressively, he won US National titles in both XCO and XCC in July, beating Elite-level riders to claim the prestigious US jersey. In signing for SCOTT-SRAM Riley now takes a step up to competing among the Elite. Bjorn Riley said: "I’m excited to learn from my incredible new teammates, soak up their experience, and push myself to new limits. Competing at this level has always been a dream, and I can’t wait to see what I’m capable of achieving with such a supportive and inspiring team by my side.” Riley will be joined by fellow new recruit Emilly Johnston, from Canada, who also enjoyed a standout year in 2024. She won the U23 XCC UCI World Cup in Crans Montana (Switzerland) on one of the most physically and technically challenging courses, and earned nine podiums across the U23 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season to finish second overall. A bronze medal at the U23 UCI World Championships capped off an incredible year for the 22-year-old from Vancouver Island. Emilly Johnston said: “I'm beyond excited to be joining my dream team in my first year as an Elite. I have such an incredible opportunity to learn from the best riders and staff in the world and can't wait to make the most of every moment." From new arrivals to departures: Kate Courtney (USA) is leaving SCOTT-SRAM Racing after six years with the team. She won the UCI World Cup overall series at the end of her first season with SCOTT-SRAM and also took a silver medal in the team relay at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2021. The team paid tribute to the American’s “unforgettable spirit” and “positivity, determination, success and endless fun” in her long spell there. SCOTT-SRAM Racing Team Director Thomas Frischknecht said: "Six wonderful years together with Kate are coming to an end. With her great personality, she brought so much to the team and will always have a spot in the SCOTT-SRAM family. We will never forget the time we spend together as a team. Her positivity and outstanding results will stay in our very best memories. It's time to say goodbye and we wish you the very best for your new chapter in racing." As well as signing new athletes and extending contracts for its racing legends, the team has also renewed contracts with key partners SRAM and RockShox until 2026, alongside further long-term partners MAXXIS, Syncros and Cornercard, while SCOTT has further renewed its commitment to the squad. For more information on SCOTT-SRAM’s plans for the next year, click here.
Get ready for the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá, Minas Gerais, with exclusive Black Friday discounts! Cycling fans can purchase tickets at unbeatable prices for this highly anticipated event, which will feature the first two rounds of the UCI Cross-country World Cup. These thrilling competitions will take place over two weekends: April 3–6 and April 9–12, 2025. Individual weekend passes are available for just R$199.00 (plus taxes), but the best value comes from the full event package—covering both weekends—for R$299.00 (plus taxes). Additionally, half-price tickets are available for students, seniors, and people with disabilities. Please note that all tickets are personal and non-transferable, requiring a photo ID at the entrance to match the name on the ticket. If the name doesn’t match, entry will be denied, and a new ticket will need to be purchased on-site. This promotional ticket batch is limited and could sell out quickly, so we recommend purchasing early to secure your spot at the world’s premier mountain biking event in Brazil. Tickets are available HERE.
This year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series was jam-packed with incredible moments across all disciplines, with the UCI Downhill World Cup providing some of the most thrilling. We take a look back at the highlights of the Men’s UCI Downhill World Cup season, reliving the jaw-dropping runs and the defining moments of an unforgettable series. It was a year of incredibly fine margins, huge feats of ingenuity and skill, hair-rising corners, powerful jumps, and heart-in-your-mouth countdowns to the finish line. And with GoPro POVS merged into live broadcast footage, fans of the series can get up close and personal with the best of the action, feeling like they’re on the bike with the riders as they go through the highs and lows of the UCI Downhill World Cup. From Amaury Pierron’s (Commencal/Muc-Off) flawless performance to seal victory on home turf in Les Gets (Haute-Savoie, France), to Troy Brosnan’s (Canyon CLLCTV Factory) first win in three years at the season’s climax in Mont Sainte Anne (Canada), check the video below to revisit all the best moments of the Men’s Downhill UCI World Cup season.
With the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series now over, it’s time to look back at the jaw-dropping feats of athleticism and incredible performances which lit up our screens in 2024. And where better to start than with Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli XC, who animated every race the squad entered and enjoyed a magical UCI World Championships – all despite adversity and comebacks from injury. Riley Amos (USA) was one of the most dominant riders of the year, winning the U23 men’s UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Olympic (XCO) World Cup titles with nine wins across both disciplines. Evie Richards (Great Britain; 2nd in Elite women’s UCI XCC World Cup overall standings) and Madigan Munro (USA; 3rd in U23 women’s UCI XCC and XCO World Cup overall standings) also ended up on end-of-season podiums, Richards after making an impressive comeback from a concussion. But no race encompassed this team’s grit and talent like the UCI World Championships in Andorra. There, Trek athletes racked up six UCI World titles — Madigan Munro in the team relay, Albert Philipsen (Denmark) in the junior men’s XCO, Isabella Holmgren (Canada) in the U23 women’s XCC and XCO, and Riley Amos in the men’s U23 XCC. Most thrillingly of all, Richards won the elite women’s XCC with an incredible sprint to edge out Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (France). Words can only tell the story so much. In the team’s end of season video, you can see and feel the emotion of an unforgettable season as the riders reflect on the wild ride that was the 2024 series, and hear from riders like Gwendalyn Gibson (USA) on what it’s like to fight back from injuries in one of the most unforgiving sports in the world.
The 2024 UCI Cross-country (XCO) World Champion and UCI XCO World Cup overall series winner Alan Hatherly has joined the WorldTour road cycling team Jayco-AluLa for 2025. The 28-year-old South African has signed a two-year contract with the Australian outfit and will aim to compete across the road and off-road. As Giant is the official bike supplier of Jayco-AluLa, the UCI World Champion will ride for Giant Factory Racing when racing in the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. It caps a phenomenal year for Hatherly, who also secured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games alongside his victories in the UCI XCO World Championship, two UCI XCO World Cups (Les Gets, Haute-Savoie in France; Mont-Sainte- Anne, Canada), and a UCI XCC World Cup (also in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie). “I am incredibly excited for this new chapter in my cycling career and very grateful for the opportunity to ride for GreenEDGE Cycling for the next two seasons. I think now is the perfect moment for me to get out of the comfort zone and develop even further. Moving to a WorldTour road team is of course something totally new for me, it will be a steep learning curve, and I will be learning from the best. Combining road and MTB is new and refreshing and I am really looking forward to where this journey can go!” he said. While he has spent the majority of his time on two wheels off-road, road cycling isn’t completely new to Hatherly and he has shown he can translate his racing prowess to the tarmac – finishing second in the 2024 South African national time trial championships and winning the five-day Tour du Cap stage race. The move to a multi-discipline calendar makes Hatherly part of a growing group of riders who choose to juggle both the road and off-road disciplines, including double Olympic champion Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), 2023 UCI XCO World Cup overall series winner Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Hatherly’s transfer also brings to an end a four-year relationship with Cannondale Factory Racing – the team he made his breakthrough with on the world stage and won the 2022 UCI XCC World Cup overall title.
The 2024 UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Short Track (XCC) World Cup overall series winner Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) has undergone surgery on her right cruciate ligament. The 28-year-old Swiss rider had the operation in St. Gallen, Switzerland on October 22, two weeks after the season's final race in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. The procedure was planned and aims to fix a historic injury that the two-time UCI XCO World Cup overall winner has managed since 2018. The then-22-year-old fell during training at that year’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, tearing her right cruciate ligament. Just one day later, she was back on her bike and winning gold at the U23 UCI XCO World Championships with a taped knee. She has managed the rupture ever since and planned to analyse the situation after an Olympic year to find the best solution that would benefit her long-term health and work within the four-year Olympic cycle with an eye on Los Angeles 2028. “The recovery and rehabilitation phase is currently going well. I feel I am receiving the best possible physiotherapy and medical care and am making the most of the situation,” she said. The Swiss rider is no stranger to the surgery, having had an operation on her left knee’s cruciate ligament in 2021. She therefore understands the rehabilitation process and is already focused on returning for the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in April and next September’s UCI World Championships in Valais. “I have enough time and therefore no pressure,” she added. “I want to be back on my bike by the end of January 2025 and then really start my pre-season preparation in the heat. My big goal for 2025 is the home UCI World Championships in Valais. There’s still plenty of time until September.”
In April 2025, Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) will host the opening rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, drawing thousands of visitors to the city. The impact of hosting major sporting events often leaves lasting benefits for local communities, and Araxá is no exception. After more than 20 years of hosting the Copa Internacional de Mountain Bike, the city has now reached a new level of accommodation demand with the introduction of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The 2024 edition marked the city’s first-time hosting rounds of the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup, and 2025 will see an expanded calendar with two weekends of racing at the Grande Hotel Termas de Araxá. Back in 2023, there were only around ten houses available for rent in the entire city. However, with the influx of visitors expected in 2025, over 200 homes are now registered for rent, and that number continues to grow. Many local families are planning to temporarily relocate with relatives in order to rent out their homes, creating a new source of income and employment opportunities for Araxá residents. As the supply of rental properties increases, prices have also become more competitive. Whether you're an athlete, exhibitor, or a spectator, simply click here and fill out the form according to your needs, and you'll be matched with suitable accommodation. To further expand the pool of available rentals, the event organizers have teamed up with AXA Consultoria Imobiliária, a local real estate consultancy. AXA has been instrumental in connecting with other agencies and homeowners, ensuring that all properties meet quality standards and are suitable for visitors. Anyone interested in listing their property can contact AXA via WhatsApp at +55 34 3438-0444. The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will kick off from April 3 to 6, with the second round following from April 9 to 13 on a completely different track, offering new challenges for athletes and thrills for the audience. One week prior, from March 28 to 30, Araxá will host the opening round of the Copa Internacional de Mountain Bike (CiMTB), Latin America's premier mountain bike competition, serving as a high-level warm-up for the season ahead. THE LEGACY OF CiMTB Since its inception in 1996, CiMTB has continuously innovated and contributed to the growth of mountain biking and the cycling market in Brazil. As a UCI event since 2004, it has been a key qualifying event for the Olympic Games, from Beijing 2008 to Paris 2024. CiMTB solidified its global reputation in 2022 by hosting the opening round of the Mercedes-Benz Mountain Bike World Cup in Petrópolis, and in 2024, it organized the Araxá round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. CiMTB was also responsible for designing the celebrated mountain bike course at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, widely regarded as one of the best in the history of Olympic mountain biking since its debut in 1996.
Vera Looser and 2023 series winner Lejla Njemčević took the women’s UCI Mountain Bike Marathon (XCM) World Cup title to the last 5km of a nail-biting series, while Fabian Rabensteiner led the defense of his XCM crown with a round one win and didn’t look back. Cross-country Marathon is a different beast from its Olympic and Short-track cousins. Distances clock 100km, the terrain can be more rugged and wild than the groomed terrain found in the shorter formats, and riders must be self-sufficient for long stretches with significant distances between tech and feed zones. Staying consistent across a season requires experience, skill, near-endless reserves of energy, and a bit of luck – a mid-race mechanical likely to end a rider’s shot at victory. And with three XCM races in the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, there was not a lot of room for error. Two riders with all the necessary attributes in the 2024 series were Vera Looser and Fabian Rabensteiner. While Looser only made her UCI XCM World Cup debut in 2023, the Namibian has been a tour de force and is yet to finish outside the top three. Rabensteiner meanwhile entered the season as the defending champion and once again managed to be the most consistent rider from all three rounds. LOOSER OVERTHROWS NJEMČEVIĆ IN TIGHT TITLE BATTLE With a total of 750 points up for grabs over the whole season, riders needed to maximise any chance they could to score big. Looser did just that in the opening round in Nové Město na Moravě, breaking clear on the second lap of the Czech course to beat the reigning series winner Lejla Njemčević. The Namibian scored an early advantage to lead the standings by 50 points – a gap that would ultimately prove crucial. In Megève, Haute-Savoie (France), the Bosnian got her revenge – putting more than 13 minutes into second-placed Rae Hannah Otto, with Looser a further three minutes behind in third. The overall was tightly poised – Njemčević overtaking Looser to lead by 40 points with one round remaining. It would be a straight shoot-out in Mt Van Hoevenberg – Lake Placid, USA: if either won, they’d be guaranteed the title; if Looser beat Njemčević but someone else finished first, the marginal difference in points would decide it. In the end, the series went down to the last of three 33km loops at the New York State venue – the pair inseparable for the first three-plus hours. Njemčević was the first to falter, dropping from the lead group including Looser and Rosa Van Doorn (Buff Megamo Team). But Looser’s title wasn’t guaranteed yet; if the Namibian had finished second, she would have been tied on points with Njemčević. With more than the race on the line, the 31-year-old found an extra burst of speed to outsprint Van Doorn, claiming her second UCI World Cup win of the season and her first overall title. RABENSTEINER RALLIES TO BACK-TO-BACK SERIES WINS Like Looser, Fabian Rabensteiner got his title tilt off to the best possible start in Nové Město na Moravě, rallying from 11th at the end of the first lap to build a seven-second lead by the race’s conclusion – Alex Miller and Samuele Porro completing the podium. In Megève, Haute-Savoie, the Italian was unable to hold the pace of the veteran Colombian Héctor Leonardo Páez Leon, finishing more than seven minutes behind in fifth place. With Miller not racing in France, Rabensteiner’s lead in the standings was safe, but Páez Leon had emerged as his closest challenger – only 60 points separating them with one round remaining. While not as close as the women’s series, the Italian needed to finish ahead of Páez Leon to ensure a second title. And this wasn’t guaranteed until the final few metres. Entering the arena, a group of nine featuring Rabensteiner and Páez Leon were still battling it out for the podium spots. Simon Schneller (Team Bulls) had the edge after almost four hours of racing, while Rabensteiner clinched third. With Páez Leon settling for ninth, the Italian’s title was confirmed.
The South African and Swiss stars accrued big points at all eight rounds of the 2024 UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup series, building almost unassailable leads to be crowned champions in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec (Canada). Olympic years always throw up interesting seasons in the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup. The culmination of four years of preparation, the first few rounds see certain athletes peak to guarantee their spot in the gold medal race, while others have the luxury of focusing on the main summer event and gradually up the ante as the UCI XCO World Cup progresses. Some skip weekends to preserve their fitness, while others choose to take every opportunity to get between the race tape to stay sharp. For Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon), the latter of these two strategies appeared to work best, securing them both the overall XCO series titles and third and seventh respectively in Paris last summer. The pair were ever present at every WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round and were almost numerically nailed on for first place as the season reached its finale in Mont-Sainte-Anne. From a year of top-10 finishes to sealing the title in style, here’s how Hatherly and Keller did it. HATHERLY HITS RED-HOT STREAK AT RIGHT TIME Before the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Alan Hatherly had never won an XCO race on the biggest stage. The first five rounds looked like it was set to be more of the same from the 28-year-old South African, who had shown promise but never converted a strong performance into a statement victory – a second place in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy) equaling his previous best finish. Although he was still near the top of the standings, it would take some hard work to remain there – particularly after finishing 20th in Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland. But in the last UCI World Cup in Les Gets, Haute Savoie (France) before the Olympic Games, there was a marked difference to Hatherly. After bouncing back from a disappointing weekend less than seven days before to win the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup, he backed it up in the XCO to do the double, beating second-place veteran Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon) by more than a minute and a half. The win appeared to unlock a new gear and propelled him to the top of the individual standings. It was the start of a red-hot streak that no one could compete with. A bronze medal at Paris 2024 behind Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) and Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) was immediately followed by the XCO win at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, securing the South African his first set of rainbow bands. A month later, when the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series resumed in late September, Hatherly’s momentum hadn’t slowed. Outsprinted to the line by Koretzky on a fast and furious Mt Van Hoevenberg – Lake Placid course in the USA, Hatherly’s second place had all but confirmed his debut XCO series title. After missing out on the win in the Mont-Sainte-Anne’s final UCI XCC World Cup that would have secured him the top spot in the overall, Hatherly showed why he deserves to be regarded as the best XCO rider of the year two days later. Setting a ferocious pace from the off in the Olympic-distance race, only Mathis Azzaro (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) could get within striking distance before the rainbow bands dug again, sailing off into the distance to claim a second UCI XCO World Cup win and the overall in style. KELLER USES CONSISTENCY TO TAKE SECOND OVERALL WIN Alessandra Keller knows what it takes to win an overall series, having finished top of the UCI XCO standings in 2022. The Swiss star couldn’t repeat her feat in 2023, settling for fifth while Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) exploded onto the world stage. But come this season, the 28-year-old was ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone and was aided by a constantly changing field that often saw favourites such as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Ineos Grenadiers) and Pieterse absent because of other focuses. From the opening round in Mairiporã, Brazil, Keller was in the mix, and came away fourth in the individual standings – the lowest she’d rank all season. By round three in Nové Mesto Na Moravě (Czechia), she was up to second in the individual standings – her XCC win boosting her third position in the XCO – and even a relatively poor showing in Val di Sole, Trentino by her high standards (10th in the XCO, 5th in XCC) did little to diminish her status in the overall. While she fell agonisingly short in her home race at Crans-Montana, Valais, Loana Lecomte (Canyon CLLCTV) having the edge, her place was enough to take her to the top of the standings – a position she wouldn’t relinquish again. Another podium (third) in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie saw her build a commanding lead over Pieterse, and when it was announced that the multi-disciplined Dutch rider would focus on the UCI Road and Gravel World Championships instead of heading to North America for the final two rounds of the season, the overall was Keller’s to lose. She could afford to let the front of the race go, instead riding in a measured, controlled, and consistent manner where it was about finishing in one piece rather than pushing the envelope. Ninth place in Mt Van Hoevenberg – Lake Placid meant she could secure the XCO overall with a top-30 finish in the following week’s XCC, and given she’d just be crowned the overall XCC title winner, only a crash was going to stop her. Finishing eighth in Mont-Sainte-Anne’s UCI XCC World Cup, Keller had completed the XCC-XCO double with one race to spare. You wouldn’t have known it in the final race of the season though – the Swiss rider bossing her way to fifth and her fifth XCO podium of the year.
Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) completed a podium-filled series to secure his fourth title and overtake Sam Hill as the most successful Enduro rider of all time, while Harriet Harnden (Trek Factory Racing Gravity) narrowly edged Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) in a thrilling battle for the women’s crown. After the move from the Enduro World Series and a successful first-ever UCI Enduro World Cup in 2023, this year’s competition was shaping up to be the most exciting yet for riders and fans alike. The six-round series included some old favourites (Finale Outdoor Region, Italy; Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, France) and new additions like Bielsko-Biała (Poland), while both the men’s and women’s fields were packed full of riders capable of winning. Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) didn’t get that memo though. The three-time and reigning overall series winner showed consistency throughout when others faltered and only sacrificed his lead in the individual standings for one round. Harriet Harnden (Trek Factory Racing Gravity) meanwhile went toe-to-toe with one of the sport’s greats, overcoming Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) in what was the Frenchwoman’s final season as a full-time professional. RUDE REACHES G.O.A.T STATUS Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) has been a mainstay of enduro racing since he made the switch from downhill at the start of the 2014 season, and the 29-year-old went into his 11th season as the man to beat. He could also eclipse Sam Hill’s record of three series titles, securing his status as the greatest of all time. Rude kicked off his title defense the best way possible, winning three out of four rounds to claim 470 points in Finale Outdoor Region, Italy. The following weekend in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, saw his closest competitor Charles Murray (Specialized Enduro Team) leapfrog him on the day and overall, but Rude’s third place limited the deficit to just 12 points. The American appears to thrive under pressure and edged Alex Rudeau (Commencal Enduro Project) by seven seconds to win in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria), before claiming his third win of the season in Combloux, Haute Savoie (France) without winning a single stage. With two rounds remaining, Rude’s lead was almost 400 points over his nearest challenger – team-mate Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) – and the American could afford not to push himself on every stage to retain his title. In the penultimate UCI Enduro World Cup in Alestch Arena, Switzerland, his third place behind Jack Moir (YT Mob) and Lukasik was enough to retain a 342-point lead entering the season finale in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France), with Rude securing the overall midway through the racing en route to finishing second behind Martin Maes (Orbea Fox Enduro Team). HARNDEN WINS FIRST OVERALL IN DRAMATIC FASHION All eyes were on Isabeau Courdurier ahead of the 2024 UCI Enduro World Cup– the three-time series winner announcing that this would be her final full-time season ahead of the opening round. But the Frenchwoman wouldn’t have a free pass for all six UCI Enduro World Cups, with a strong contingent of challengers looking to prevent her from going out on a high. Harriet Harden showed that she would be pushing Courdurier from the very first round, finding just over eight seconds in Finale Outdoor Region to claim an early 50-point advantage in the overall. The pair could only be separated by two-tenths of a second in Bielsko-Biała – Courdurier’s win seeing her edge Harnden in the individual standings by two points – while a slightly bigger margin of victory for the Frenchwoman in Saalfelden-Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria), extended this to 73 points by the midway point of the season. Mistakes in Combloux, Haute-Savoie, saw Harden slip to fourth on the day – her first finish outside the top two – although the Brit managed to claim the only stage not won by Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) in difficult conditions. Courdurier’s second place stretched her lead to 151 points in the standings but with two rounds remaining, everything was still to play for. A masterclass from Harnden at the upcoming 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships venue in Aletsch Arena, Switzerland, saw her claim her second win of the season, while compatriot Ella Conolly managed to separate the Brit and Courdurier on the podium and help Harnden cut the individual standings’ deficit to just 63 points. Entering the final round in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, fans were set for a nail-biting conclusion, where it was likely to go down to the very final stage. Harnden set the tone, winning the first to take an early lead, and when Courdurier had a second stage to forget and found herself in 11th, the gap appeared insurmountable. The Trek Factory Racing Gravity rider couldn’t take anything for granted though and put in two more solid stages to finish fourth. Courdurier meanwhile had a resurgent stage three, but it was too little, too late – the Frenchwoman paying for earlier mistakes that ultimately cost her the title by just 21 points. GILCHRIST OVERCOMES BORGES AND ESPIÑEIRA HERREROS DOMINATES UCI E-ENDURO WORLD CUP Each of the six UCI Enduro World Cup rounds also saw E-enduro athletes take to an extended course on the following day to battle it out to win the UCI E-Enduro World Cup overall series title. In the men’s field, there was a Fabien Barel-shaped hole to fill – the reigning champion retiring ahead of the 2024 season – while Florencia Espiñeira Herreros (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) was the clear favourite to retain the women’s title. From the first round in Finale Outdoor Region, a tight contest emerged between Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Manuel Soares José Borges (Canyon Collective Factory Enduro Team) – the Australian getting the better of the Portuguese rider in Italy. The pair would remain the two most consistent riders throughout the season, swapping places at the top of the standings until the sixth and final round in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. While neither had races to remember in the Pyrenees – Gilchrist finishing 12th to Borges’ 17th – the 22-year-old Australian had done enough throughout the season to clinch his first title. The women’s series meanwhile was a one-horse race from the start. Espiñeira Herreros seized the early advantage in Finale Outdoor Region, and when her closest rival Tracy Moseley confirmed that she wasn’t going to be competing at every round, it was hard to see who could stand in the way of the Chilean and a second consecutive overall series. The Orbea Fox Enduro Team racked up wins in Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria) and Aletsch Arena - Bellwald, Valais (Switzerland), and finished second in the other two rounds – enduro athlete Estelle Charles (Specialized Enduro Team) opting to also race E-enduro on the two occasions that the series visited her homeland, France.
The men’s 2024 UCI Cross-country Short-Track (XCC) World Champion managed to miss two rounds and still ran away with the overall series by winning half of all races, while the Swiss rider didn’t finish outside the top eight all year to claim her second XCC overall in three seasons. While the Cross-country Short Track (XCC) format was once simply a qualifier for the grid positions of the Cross-country Olympic (XCO) race, since 2023 it has become its own tightly contested series and the competition is fierce. The racing favours riders who can sustain a hard pace for 20 minutes before finding extra reserves of power in an all-out sprint for the line, meaning it requires a different skill set to the longer, endurance focused XCO event. But then some athletes – like this season’s overall winners – manage both with panache. In the men’s field, Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) won four out of the six races he entered, finishing on the podium in the other two to add the XCC title to the 2024 UCI XCC World Championship that he claimed in Andorra in August. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) meanwhile seized the lead in the individual standings after round three in Nové Město na Moravě (Czechia) and didn’t look back. KORETZKY PRODUCES A NEAR-PERFECT SEASON Like several other riders who ply their trade in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Victor Koretzky has previously juggled other disciplines – most notably on the road for Bora-Hansgrohe. That changed for the 2024 season – the Frenchman focusing solely on mountain biking in the build-up to his home Olympic Games in Paris. This meant that fans were treated to his explosive racing from the very first round in Mairiporã, Brazil, where the Frenchman went toe-to-toe with 2023 UCI XCC World Champion Samuel Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck), reigning UCI XCC overall series holder Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) and team-mate Martín Vidaure Kossman (Specialized Factory Racing) in a four-up sprint. Although he came away with fourth, it was a sign of intent from Koretzky. A week later, there was no catching Koretzky, as he broke away from another team-mate, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) to win by three seconds – an age in Short Track. His victory propelled him to the top of the individual standings, and when he followed it with another win in Nové Město na Moravě, he had a 160-point lead over second-placed Schwarzbauer. By Val di Sole, Trentino, it looked like fans had a straight shoot-out between Koretzky and Gaze on their hands – the New Zealander recording his second XCC win of the season to make it two wins each. But when the Frenchman sat out the next two rounds in Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland, and Les Gets, Haute-Savoie because of recovering from Covid and preparation for the Olympics, momentum appeared to have shifted to Gaze who bumped Koretzky down to second in the individual standings. While the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series paused for the summer, the Frenchman didn’t, narrowly missing out on gold at Paris 2024 before storming to his first UCI XCC World Championship title in Pal Arinsal, Andorra. The rainbow bands can sometimes act as an extra weight on a rider’s shoulders, but it seemed to give Koretkzy an extra gear. In the penultimate round in Mt Van Hoevenberg – Lake Placid (USA), a last-lap surge was enough to secure his third win of the season, while a poor performance from Gaze meant Koretzky had a 154-point lead with one round to go. He would only need to finish eighth in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec (Canada) to add the overall series to his rainbow jersey but fired himself to his fourth first of the season, overtaking Mathieu van der Poel’s (Alpecin-Deceuninck) record (five) for most men’s XCC podiums in a season in the process. KELLER IN CRUISE CONTROL While not as dominant as Koretzky in terms of race wins, Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) took control of the women’s standings from round three and kept things consistent all year to seal her second UCI XCC World Cup overall title before the final race of the season. She got her XCC season off to a strong start in Brazil, finishing third and fourth in Mairiporã and Araxá respectively to find herself third behind Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing – Pirelli). When the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series entered its European phase, Keller ramped things up a gear, winning in Nové Město na Moravě (Czechia) to leapfrog Batten and lead the series by 30 points. In Val di Sole, Trentino, poor results from her closest competitors saw her stretch her lead even more, while a second and first in Crans-Montana, Valais and Les Gets, Haute-Savoie saw the Swiss rider land a one-two punch on her XCC rivals they ultimately couldn’t recover from. Entering the final two rounds of the season, Keller had a 310-point lead over second-place Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck), but with the Dutch rider opting not to compete in North America, her closest rival for the XCC crown was Rebecca Henderson (Primaflor Mondraker Racing Team) – the Australian 414 points behind with a maximum of 500 available. Essentially a foregone conclusion, Keller was able to take her foot off the gas in the XCC and save some in reserve for the XCO races, where she was also leading the series title. The Swiss rider couldn’t afford to completely relax though – the XCC acting as a qualifier for the XCO’s grid positioning. In Mt Van Hoevenberg – Lake Placid (USA), she rolled home in eighth to become mathematically uncatchable in the XCC, while the following weekend, another eighth place confirmed her XCO title two days before the final round of the season.
Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) and Valentina Höll’s (YT Mob) series wins might have lacked the dominance of previous seasons, but the pair secured their spot at the top of the individual standings in Fort William, Scotland (UK) and stayed there to the final round in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec (Canada). Downhill mountain biking is fast, furious, and extremely unpredictable. The courses on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series circuit are some of the most gnarly tracks on the planet, putting riders against technical terrain and terrifying jumps, while weather conditions can upend a finals run – wind and rain wreaking havoc on proceedings and ramping the difficulty up even more. Putting together solid runs across qualifying, semi-finals and the finals requires supreme skill. Staying consistent across the season is nigh-on impossible. But in Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) and Valentina Höll (YT Mob), the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series has two athletes who can defy reality. The pair were overall series winners in 2023, with Höll also the UCI Downhill World Champion, and entered this season as the runaway favourites. From strong starts in Fort William to fighting their way to podiums even on bad weekends, here’s how they retained their titles in 2024. BRUNI BATTLES TO FOURTH OVERALL SERIES Loïc Bruni only turned 30 this year, but the Frenchman has already been at the top of the sport for almost a decade, winning his first UCI Downhill World Championship in 2015 before adding another four rainbow jerseys and three overall series to his collection. The reigning title holder got his defense off to the best possible start, breaking his winless run in Fort William to build a 35-point lead in the overall standings on Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team). In Bielsko-Biała (Poland), his second place was enough to extend his lead over the closest chaser, race winner Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing), while his second victory of the season, in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria), saw Super Bruni build a seemingly unassailable lead of 320 points just three rounds into the series. Minor blips in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy) and Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) where he finished ninth and fifth respectively saw his lead eroded to 216 points by a resurgent Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction), who won both rounds. But fans’ hopes of a title battle reminiscent of the 2019 series were quashed by the series’ penultimate round in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes (France). Pierron couldn’t make it three in a row, finishing 10th to Bruni’s 4th, and the 2023 series winner had an uncatchable 311-point lead going into Mont-Sainte-Anne. When Pierron broke his metacarpal in training in Canada, the overall was guaranteed with no other rider within the maximum 400 points of Bruni. The Frenchman could take things easy on finals day, rolling home in 26th with nothing else on the line having already secured his fourth overall series. HÖLL SHOWS GRIT TO COMPLETE BACK-TO-BACK OVERALL AND UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE While Valentina Höll hasn’t been around as long as Bruni, the Austrian pinner has been just as dominant in the women’s field, winning two out of three overall series since 2021 and back-to-back UCI Downhill World Championships. Her 2023 was going to be a tough act to follow too – Höll only finishing off the podium once (in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie), and winning four out of eight rounds. Her supremacy didn’t appear to have diminished after her team move to YT Mob in the off-season – Höll storming to victory in Fort William where she had clinched the rainbow jersey the previous summer. But a crash in her finals run in Bielsko-Biała and sixth-place finish put a dent in her lead in the individual standings – the top five separated by just 70 points. Höll put her Polish disappointment behind her a few weeks later in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland, scoring the maximum 400 points by winning qualifying, semi-finals and finals at her home UCI World Cup to put herself back in control of the overall. While her lead was cut in Val di Sole, Trentino by race winner Tahnée Seagrave (Canyon CLLCTV FMD), she still had a 229-point cushion entering the second half of the season. The Brit got the better of the Austrian again in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, shaving another five points off Höll’s lead by finishing third to her fifth. But Seagrave’s title challenge faltered in difficult conditions in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. A slip in the second sector brought her race run crashing down, while Höll showed her steely consistency regardless of the weather to finish second behind Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) and clinch her third overall title with one round to go. Unlike Bruni, the newly crowned three-time UCI Downhill World Champion didn’t take things easy in Mont-Sainte-Anne either, fighting her way to third and a sixth podium of the season to finish with a 418-point margin over next-best Marine Cabirou (Scott Downhill Factory).
