Ahead of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) have revealed the official list of 40 teams, covering both Endurance (cross-country) and Gravity (downhill, enduro) formats, that are guaranteed to participate in every round of the series. The top 10 teams for each format will lock in an unprecedented two-year licence.
After a demanding 2025 season, New Zealand’s reigning Women Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup overall winner Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) has confirmed she will take a sabbatical from competition throughout the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar.
Wide-sweeping commitments to promote sustainability and enhance inclusivity at the pinnacle of mountain biking, as part of WBD Sports’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) roadmap.
The French tyre manufacturer is a key supplier for teams across Gravity and Endurance formats, and its partnership with Origine Racing Division saw it reach the steps of the podium during the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series delivered over 87 million cumulative views across WBD channels, attracted over 250,000 new followers on official social channels, and generated more than five million page views on its website.
A quarter of all year-long UCI World Series Teams spots go to wildcard entrants with a further eight spots per format up for grabs at each round.
The new qualifying process was introduced at the start of the 2025 series, with 40 teams across Endurance and Gravity guaranteed their place at every UCI World Cup round
Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Vali Höll (YT Mob) might have come away with all the spoils from the 2025 season, but the 10-round series was one of the most competitive in recent memory with one nail-biting conclusion that will live long in the memory.
The American and Brit dominated their respective series with consistency and race-winning performances that no-one else could handle.
The American and New Zealander got off to strong starts in the early rounds of the 2025 UCI XCO World Cup and didn’t look back as they cruised to their debut titles.
Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Ella Conolly both won three UCI Enduro World Cups each over the seven-round series to wrap up their first overall titles.
Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) produced the most dominant display in women’s Elite Cross-country Olympic (XCO) history in Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada), while Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) took the first Men Elite UCI XCO World Cup win of his career.
Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) clinched the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup overall title in the most dramatic of circumstances in his home country at Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada). Meanwhile, Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) took her 11th career UCI World Cup victory following an enthralling end to the women’s Elite category.
Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) made UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup history at Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada), while Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) sprinted to the men’s Elite victory.
Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) and Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) will start the final downhill of this season last off the ramp after qualifying quickest in Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada), presented by Events.com.
