News

The first UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup since the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships produced fast and furious action at altitude in Bike Kingdom-Lenzerheide (Switzerland), as riders showed off their new jerseys for the first time since the dust settled in Zermatt and Crans-Montana, Valais (Switzerland). The wins went to UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Champion Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) and the UCI XCC World Champion Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing), with both riders showing that they’re hitting form just at the right time as the season nears its conclusion. Rissveds showed that she is the in-form rider of the series, battling it out with UCI XCC World Cup overall leader Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) throughout the race before going clear on the penultimate lap and never looking back. The win was the 2016 Olympic gold medalist’s second consecutive in the shorter format this series after her win in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), and puts her in contention to do the first-ever Women Elite XCC-XCO double at Bike Kingdom-Lenzerheide. The victory was the reigning UCI XCO World Champion’s second in the shorter format this series and the fifth of her career. In the men’s Elite, Koretzky proved that class is permanent, throwing down the gauntlet on the final lap with no one able to hold the rainbow jersey’s wheel. Teammate and U23 UCI XCC World Champion Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) was the only rider able to handle the Frenchman’s pace, while Simon Andreassen (Orbea/Fox Factory) secured his first podium of the season. Elsewhere, it wasn’t to be for overall series leader Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing), who could have wrapped up the title with two rounds still to go. His 26th-place finish means that the contest will continue until the next round in Lake Placid Olympic Region, New York (USA). Before the Elites, it was the turn of the U23s on Bike Kingdom-Lenzerheide’s tight and technical course, and it witnessed the fifth-consecutive win for home favourite Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) and a first win of the season for Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO). RISSVEDS GOES BACK-TO-BACK Jenny Rissveds is in the form of her life. The 31-year-old has had a solid season so far, but has turned things up a gear since the last UCI World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), winning three out of four races entered, including the UCI XCO World Championships, and finishing second in the other – the UCI XCC World Championships. Going into Bike Kingdom-Lenzerheide’s UCI XCC World Cup, her 260-point deficit to series leader Richards probably ruled her out of mounting a late challenge in the overall, but she was a clear favourite to take the win. She wasn’t the only rider looking to make a statement in Switzerland, though, with Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) showing off her new rainbow bands in front of a partisan home crowd. After a combative start lap, the racing settled down with Rissveds setting the early pace. Richards was never far behind, though, and with a big crash in the woods that held up Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing), it clearly a good tactic to be at the front of the pack. By lap two, Keller had joined the leading pair, while other Swiss riders Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing) also had their time in the lead. At the halfway point, though, there was a leading group of four – Rissveds, Richards, Keller and Blöchlinger – with the first two starting to gap their Swiss rivals. On lap six, the leading pair had a gap of five seconds on Keller, and worked together to build their advantage. It was cat and mouse at the front though, with both putting in efforts to test the other’s weaknesses. It was Richards who looked to launch an attack first, cranking up her efforts on lap 7, but the series leader in the red jersey for the first time since losing her rainbow bands couldn’t shake the Swede. Halfway through the final lap, Rissveds went full gas on the gravel climb, risking it all through the technical wood section to build a two-second gap as they crossed the finish line for the penultimate time. The Canyon CLLCTV XCO rider attacked again, and despite Richards emptying the tank, she couldn’t catch the Swede’s unstoppable rise, as she claimed her second consecutive UCI XCC World Cup and fifth of her career. Richards would have to settle for second, with Blöchlinger third and Keller back in sixth. Speaking at the end of the race, Jenny Rissveds said: “I would say I’ve done pretty good results-wise lately. [Evie Richards and I] managed to stretch the field pretty early in the race. I tried to keep the speed high and it seems like Evie also preferred that. We didn’t really work together, but we were alternating between who was on the front and who was in the wheel. “We’ll see [about Sunday’s XCO race]. I’m pretty tired after last weekend and the week that followed. I guess we’re all pretty flat after Worlds. It’s a long preparation. For us, it’s 10 months prior to Worlds. Someone succeeds, and some are disappointed. It’s exhausting. I’m looking forward to Sunday’s race, but we’ll see what happens.” KORETZKY CLINCHES NINTH SHORT TRACK WIN Victor Koretzky did the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships-UCI World Cup overall double in short track last year, but things haven’t aligned for the Frenchman in 2025. Forced to play second fiddle to teammate and series leader Christopher Blevins, he hadn’t hit the same highs on the short track course while wearing the rainbow jersey. This all changed at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Zermatt, Valais (Switzerland) – the 31-year-old getting the better of Blevins on the line to defend his rainbow jersey. And his performance in the shadows of the Matterhorn appears to have kick-started his season with three rounds to go. It was the previous UCI XCC World Cup winner at the venue, Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) who set the initial pace – the German happy to lead as a large pack of riders tussled for position behind him. One of those not in contention from the start was Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Divion)– the Frenchman having a nightmare start and going from the front row to dead last. Schwarzbauer had Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) for company – the French national champion looking to make amends after illness forced him to miss the World Championships– while Koretkzy and series-leader Blevins were never far from the front. Lap three saw an incident after the lead pack, Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team – XC) forced to unclip on a technical wooded section and causing a gap from about 10th place back, while at the front Andreassen rode into first place, continuing his good form where he has recorded back-to-back fourth-places in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie and at World Championships. Schwarzbauer continued to look comfortable, while a mistake from Blevins saw him start to drift back and out of contention of a top eight finish – the result required to secure the overall title. Koretzky was joined by teammate Boichis in the lead group, and it was evident that Specialized might try some team tactics. On the penultimate lap, Martin attacked at the midway point, throwing all his cards on the table a long way from home. He couldn’t shake Koretzky though, and the rainbow jersey was glued firmly to his wheel. Taking the bell to signal the last lap, Schwarzbauer again came through, but it was Koretzky who would launch, rocketing up the tech zone’s gravel climb, leaving his rivals in his dust. Only Boichis could follow, but it was enough to be the winning move. Koretzky crossed the line arms aloft to take his first UCI XCC World Cup win of the season, and ninth of his career – moving him one behind current record holder Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Boichis would take second, while Andreassen claimed third – securing another podium finish to go with his partner Jenny Rissveds win. Speaking after the race, Victor Koretzky said: “This year, I haven’t had the chance to win with [the rainbow] jersey. It’s always nice to win a race with this amazing jersey and even more here. I love this place and it’s such a nice course here. And I’m pretty happy. To share this podium with Adrien [Boichis] is pretty amazing. “I think it was nice to be together at the front because we take care of each other for the positioning. It’s always better to be strong as a team here. It was difficult to overtake and it was better to be at the front today. We managed it really well and in the end we finished first and second.” CORVI CLAIMS DEBUT WIN WHILE TREUDLER MAKE IT FIVE IN A ROW IN U23 Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) recorded her debut win in the U23 UCI XCC World Cup in a hard-fought race. Overall U23 UCI XCO World Cup series leader Corvi had led proceedings from the off, and would take the start/finish line in first or second throughout the race, but the lead group would remain five-strong deep into the penultimate lap. It was Corvi and Vida Lopez de San Roman who went clear on the final lap, with the Italian having the edge over the American to win by one second. Women U23 UCI XCC World Cup overall leader Katharina Sadnik (KTM Factory MTB Team) finished four-seconds back in third to retain a 31-point lead over Corvi with two races to go. Speaking after the race, Valentina Corvi said: “This season has gone super good and I’m really happy. Today, I tried to manage the race and in the end it was quite tactical. I tried to push and I took some meters and I’m happy to win my first short track race ever.” The men’s U23 race wasn’t as close as the women’s with Finn Treudler happy to sit in the lead pack before launching an attack on the penultimate lap that would see him home for his fifth consecutive U23 UCI XCC World Cup win. The newly crowned U23 UCI XCO World Champion has dominated both series this year, and the result was never really in doubt. A group of three made up of Paul Schel (Lexware Mountainbike Team), Heby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and Rens Teunissen van Manen (KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team) did their best to close him down but couldn’t match the Swiss rider’s pace. In the end, Schel would edge Pedersen for second, with Teunissen van Manen fading to sixth. Speaking at the end of the race, Finn Treudler said: “My shape is still here. I really like the course here and also the short track one is quite physical so it suits me well and I’m happy to take the win today. “I really wanted to win today to be able to be called up last in the world champs jersey [on Sunday]. It’s going to be an exciting final. “When I went out this morning, I was really in the right headspace for a race day. I’m happy I could have a race today and focus on something else other than the media attention.” The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action continues in Switzerland tomorrow as the Downhill riders take to Bike Kingdom-Lenzerheide track for the eighth UCI Downhill World Cup of the season.

The UCI Downhill World Cup’s final European round is upon us in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide (Switzerland), and with only three races between now and the season finale in Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada), every point counts in the race for the overall title. Conditions were dry and sunny in Lenzerheide’s Bike Kingdom resort, with riders sampling another Swiss descent two weeks on from the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Champéry, and looking to lay down a fast time to make it through to tomorrow’s finals. It was also the first chance for athletes to show their form as the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series nears its conclusion, and whether they’re still on a high from Champéry, have managed to put a disappointing rainbow run behind them, or are on a downward trajectory and ready for the off-season. HÖLL BACKS UP RAINBOW WIN  Valentina Höll (YT Mob) still hasn’t won a UCI Downhill World Cup this season, but finds herself at the top of the overall standings – narrowly having the edge over Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division). The Austrian made it four UCI Downhill World Championships in a row in Champéry, and looks like she’s hitting top form just at the right time, going fastest in Q1 in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide. The 23-year-old was fastest in three out of four intermediate splits, and had more than a two-second advantage over second-place qualifier, Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate). It could have all been so different, though, with Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) the fastest in the first split and on for a top-three finish before a crash in the final sector saw her cross the line 52 seconds back. The French icon decided not to start Q2. Hemstreet, meanwhile, recovered from a slow start but qualified eighth and will have a nervous wait in tomorrow’s finals to see if she will finish ahead of her title rival and close the gap even more with two rounds to go. Q2 was stacked with big hitters who had missed out first time round – Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/5 Dev), Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing) and Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) all needing a second stab at the course to qualify. In the women’s Junior category, Denmark’s Rosa Marie Jensen narrowly edged out overall leader Rosa Zierl (CUBE Factory Racing) by less than a second to be last off the ramp in tomorrow’s finals. BRUNI SHOWS HE’S FULLY FOCUSED ON CHASING DOWN GOLDSTONE Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) had a disappointing UCI World Championships in Champéry. The five-time UCI Downhill World Champion finished down in 49th after a crash on course, missing out on the chance to add a sixth elite rainbow jersey to his collection. The 31-year-old showed that he’s put that behind him, though, and is fully focused on overthrowing Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) in the overall, going fastest in every intermediate split to record a 2:47.654. Also, Bruni remains the only rider this season to have qualified for finals at the first time of asking. Luca Shaw (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) will be confident going into tomorrow’s finals, though – the American was just 0.111 seconds behind Bruni, and the only rider to get within a second of the flying Frenchman.  Newly crowned UCI Downhill World Champion Goldstone started slowly in his first qualifying run whilst wearing the rainbow jersey, recording the 10th fastest time in intermediate split 1, before rallying to qualify fourth, 1.323 seconds back on Bruni. While the rest of the top 20 was made up of UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team riders, there was also wild card in the mix – Jackson Connelly (The Alliance) qualifying 12th and making it through to his first UCI Downhill World Cup finals of the 2025 series. Riders forced to take a second bite of the cherry and make it to finals via Q2 included Andreas Kolb (YT Mob), two-time winner in Lenzerheide Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction), Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) winner Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH), Benoit Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory) and Laurie Greenland (Santa Cruz Syndicate).  For Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) and Richard Rude Jr (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), however, the weekend is over, with the North American pair missing out in both qualifying rounds and now forced to wait until Lake Placid Olympic Region, New York (USA) before they get to go between the race tape once more. Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / 5DEV) and Tyler Waite (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) secured first and second respectively in the men’s Junior qualifying, with overall series leader Max Alan (Commencal/Muc-off by Riding Addiction) having to settle for eighth. Racing continues tomorrow (Saturday, September 20) in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide from 11:30 CEST with the women’s Junior Finals. Find out how to watch here.

Staying in Switzerland after the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais, the UCI Cross-country and Downhill World Cups travel east to the canton of Graubünden and the trails of Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide. We look at everything you need to know about the Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide (Switzerland) round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, presented by Le Gruyère, including when the Cross-country Olympic (XCO), Cross-county Short Track (XCC)and Downhill events are scheduled to take place, who is racing, and how to watch.  WHEN? The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide starts with the Women Under 23 Cross-country Short Track at 10:45 (UTC+2) on Friday, September 19 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup at 15:30 (UTC+2) on Sunday, September 21.  Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST): Friday, September 19 12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite 14:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior 14:20 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior 15:05 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite 15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men Elite 10:45 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U23 11:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U23 17:30 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite 18:10 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite Saturday, September 20 11:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior 12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite 14:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite Sunday, September 21 09:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U23 11:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U23 13:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite 15:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? There will be several ways to watch the action unfold at Switzerland’s only Cross-country and Downhill UCI World Cups of the 2025 season. The UCI Downhill World Cup Qualification day can be followed on live timing and across social media. For the eighth UCI Cross-country Olympic, UCI Cross-country Short Track and UCI Downhill World Cups of the season, you can watch the finals live anywhere in the world. Both the men’s and women's UCI Downhill World Cup Junior races will be broadcast live on discovery+ (in front of paywall), HBO Max* (in front of the sports add-on) and MTBWS TV (included in subscription), while the Elite finals will be shown on one of the below channels or streaming services: North America Canada – Flosports USA – HBO Max South & Central America All Central and South American territories – MTBWS TV Asia Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – Eurosport China - Zhibo.TV (Only Elite Downhill races live) All other Asian territories – MTBWS TV Oceania Australia – Stan Sport New Zealand – MTBWS TV Africa Angola, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cape Verde, Cote d'lvoire, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial, Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger, Reunion, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini, São Tome and Principe, St Helena and Ascension, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Socotra, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Zambia - Supersport All African territories – MTBWS TV Europe Andorra – HBO Max, Eurosport Austria – discovery+, Eurosport Belgium – HBO Max, Eurosport, LN24 (only Men’s Elite XCO race live) Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max, Eurosport Bulgaria – HBO Max, Eurosport Croatia – HBO Max, Eurosport Czechia – HBO Max, Eurosport, CT Sport+ (only Elite XCO and XCC races live) Denmark – HBO Max, Eurosport Faroe Islands – HBO Max, Eurosport France – HBO Max, Eurosport, L’Equipe (only Elite Downhill and XCO races live) Germany – discovery+, Eurosport Hungary – HBO Max, Eurosport Ireland – TNT Sports Italy – discovery+, Eurosport Moldova – HBO Max, Eurosport Montenegro – HBO Max, Eurosport Netherlands – HBO Max, Eurosport North Macedonia – HBO Max, Eurosport Norway – HBO Max, Eurosport Poland – HBO Max, Eurosport Portugal – HBO Max, Eurosport Romania – HBO Max, Eurosport Serbia – HBO Max, Eurosport Slovakia – HBO Max, Eurosport Slovenia – HBO Max, Eurosport Spain – HBO Max, Eurosport Sweden – HBO Max, Eurosport Switzerland – MTBWS TV , SRF/RSI Türkiye – HBO Max, Eurosport United Kingdom – discovery+, TNT Sports All other European territories – MTBWS TV RIDERS TO WATCH In Downhill, the battle between Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) resumes after the pair had a very different UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Goldstone took the win in Champéry, Valais (Switzerland), adding an Elite rainbow jersey to his junior title from 2021. Five-time UCI World Champion Bruni, meanwhile, had a race to forget, finishing down in 49th. The Canadian holds a small, 25-point lead with three rounds to go, and every placing from here to Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada) crucial in the destination of the title. The women’s battle is almost as close, with Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) separated by 59 points. The Austrian finds herself on the top spot without a UCI World Cup win this season, although her fourth consecutive UCI Mountain Bike World Championships win in Champéry might just unlock some more race-winning form for the 23-year-old. Hemstreet might not have the consistency, but has shown she can win, clinching three UCI World Cup rounds this series, including the most recent in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France). With a series finale on the cards in Canada, expect the 20-year-old to try and take the title fight to the last round, where she will have the backing of a partisan home crowd. Either side of the Downhill action is the Friday’s XCC and Sunday’s XCO, with both series heating up with only three rounds to go. Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) lead the respective XCC series, but both riders are on different trajectories after mixed performances in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie and last weekend’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Blevins’ title is all but secured, the American able to build an unassailable lead over second-placed Charlie Alridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) before a pedal stroke in North America. He finished second to teammate Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) in the UCI World Championships, and will be aiming to add even more wins to the five consecutive victories earlier this season. Richards’ table-topping position is less certain. The 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Champion in XCC has a slender 40-point lead over the newly crowned rainbow jersey, Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon), and the Swiss rider appears to be in the ascendancy and hitting form just at the right time. Victory on Sunday would also effectively wrap up the title for Blevins in the XCO, but the American has been less consistent over the longer format in recent times. Here, Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) is the man to beat, having won in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie and finished second behind Thomas Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) in Pal Arinsal (Andorra). But the Frenchman might have left things too late to mount a serious title bid. All eyes, however, will be on Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team), with Lenzerheide the G.O.A.T’s final ever UCI World Cup appearance. In the women’s field, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) could also mathematically wrap things up if other results go her way, but the New Zealander can expect the new UCI XCO Mountain Bike World Champion Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) to push her all the way to Mont-Sainte-Anne. The Swedish rider is in a rich vein of form, and has won her last three XCO races, which also include the UCI World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie and the 2025 UEC European Continental Championships.  Racing gets underway on Friday, September 19 in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide. Full schedule and event details are available HERE.

There aren’t many riders who can be considered the greatest of all time. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is certainly one of the most dominant Cross-country riders of her generation, while Rachel Atherton and Greg Minnaar’s records in Downhill (DHI) are unlikely to be topped. But one man stands head and shoulders above the rest – Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). This weekend will mark his final appearance on the start grid as he bids farewell to a historic career at home, in front of his fans, at Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide (Switzerland), presented by Le Gruyère. The Swiss star has been an ever-present at the front of Cross-country mountain bike races for almost two decades, and has secured a long list of achievements that will probably stand the test of time – Olympic gold (2016), 10-time Cross-country Olympic (XCO) UCI World Champion, nine-time UCI XCO World Cup overall winner, winner of 36 UCI XCO World Cup rounds and starter at 131 UCI XCO World Cup races. Although he’s only managed one podium this season at Araxá – Minas Gerais, Brazil’s UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup, few would bet against Schurter signing off in style. The Swiss rider won at the venue when it last hosted a UCI World Cup in 2023, and has a total of four wins at Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide, including his 2018 rainbow jersey. Schurter bows out from the UCI World Cup circuit still at the top of the sport – his last win coming in Val di Sole (Italy) in 2024. THE BIKE KINGDOM BECKONS  This weekend isn’t just a farewell to Schurter, but also the final European round of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. While there’s been a three-week break since the last round in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), there has been plenty of racing for both the Cross-country and Downhill athletes with the two-week 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais (Switzerland) only wrapping up on September 14. Riders will now head east to Bike Kingdom in Lenzerheide. The venue first hosted a UCI XCO World Cup round in 1994 before a 21-year absence from the series. It returned in 2015 with XCO and DHI, and has been a staple ever since, with breaks only in 2018 (when it hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships), 2020 and 2024. Located in the shadow of the Lenzerhorn in the town of Lenzerheide, the bike region more than lives up to its Bike Kingdom moniker, connecting Arosa, Lenzerheide and Chur to form the largest bike area in Switzerland. The Downhill takes place on the venue’s Straightline UCI World Cup track – a 1.7km course that features 402m of descent and a monster big drop to navigate into the finish corral.  The Cross-country Olympic and Cross-country Short Track races, meanwhile, are duked out on densely packed woodland and expansive, exposed sections of mountain that lend themselves to close racing. CAN RISSVEDS RIVAL MAXWELL? Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) is in red-hot form. The 31-year-old has won her last three XCO races, which include the UCI XCO World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, and the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Few can cope with her race-winning tactics, where she builds a lead with an explosive start and stays out front until the finish, and at Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide, she will be a favourite for the win once more. Her current form could make things interesting in the race for the overall series, with Samara Maxwell’s (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) 435-point lead no longer looking unassailable. The one thing that the New Zealander has going for her, though, is her own performances. She clinched XCO silver at last weekend’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, and hasn’t finished off the podium all year – her third in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, her worst XCO performance of the season. Make a mistake in Lenzerheide, though, and things could get interesting for the final two rounds in North America.  BLEVINS CAN SEAL THE DEAL IN SWITZERLAND Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) might not have recreated his early-season XCO form in the last four rounds, but the American’s healthy lead in the overall series means it would be mathematically possible for him to clinch the title in Switzerland. The reality is that it will likely go to Lake Placid Olympic Region, New York (USA) at least, with team-mate Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) his closest rival, 361 points behind. Those likely to be contesting for the win this Sunday include the two-time (and reigning) XCO UCI World Champion Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team), Les Gets, Haute-Savoie winner Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and local favourite Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon). KELLER ON COURSE TO CATCH RICHARDS, BLEVINS ALL-BUT CONFIRMED The overall UCI XCC World Cups meanwhile are very contrasting. The women’s competition is currently separated by 40 points – Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) holding an advantage over the 2025 UCI World Champion Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon). The latter is showing the consistency that propelled her to last year’s XCO-XCC overall double, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her overthrow the Brit at the Bike Kingdom. Meanwhile, the men’s is effectively a foregone conclusion. Blevins leads the series by 645 points to Les Gets, Haute-Savoie winner Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing), and only needs to finish 8th or better to clinch the title in Switzerland.  HEMSTREET PROVIDING PROPER TEST FOR HÖLL Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) have put on a title race for the ages, with Höll on top despite no wins thanks to consistent podium performances while Hemstreet is 59 points behind courtesy of three UCI Downhill World Cup wins. Höll was back to her best at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, taking her fourth consecutive rainbow jersey in style. But she will have to do something she has never managed as an Elite to break her winless UCI World Cup run – win at Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide. Hemstreet, meanwhile, is on a hot streak of her own and will be looking to get back to winning ways after settling for fourth at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. One rider who can’t be overlooked in Lenzerheide is Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction). Although the Frenchwoman hasn’t been her best this season, she has three wins at the venue so knows what it takes to tame the Straightline. TITLE ON A KNIFE EDGE BETWEEN BRUNI AND GOLDSTONE The men’s overall series is even tighter, with just 25 points separating Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity). While Bruni closed the gap slightly after a better performance in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, Goldstone will be buoyed by his UCI Mountain Bike World Championships win, and will be hoping his new rainbow jersey leads to even more success in 2025. The Canadian’s best performance at Lenzerheide in Elite was sixth place back in 2023, while Bruni has only won once at the venue – during the 2018 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Both will be aware that any slip now could have huge consequences in the overall series, so expect cagey, tight racing from the pair. Others in contention in Saturday’s final include Les Gets, Haute-Savoie winner Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH), two-time winner Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction), and 2023 victor Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity). Racing gets underway in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and event details are available here.

First up was the fast and furious Cross-country Short Track (XCC) race, which has awarded its own rainbow bands since 2021 and favours the riders blessed with buckets of fast-twitch muscle fibres. This was then followed by the traditional Cross-country Olympic (XCO) race, which would be crowning its 36th world champion since the inaugural event in 1990 in Durango, USA. KELLER WINS HER FIRST RAINBOW JERSEY Alessandra Keller (Switzerland) has been one of the most consistent riders of the last few seasons, clinching both the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series titles for XCC and XCO in 2024. The rainbow jersey has always eluded the Swiss star, though, who appears to excel at placing well even when she doesn’t win across a whole season rather than dominating one-off events. Credit: SWpix She came into her home UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in XCC in good form, having won in Pal Arinsal (Andorra) and finished second in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) last time out. In Crans-Montana, she would resume her rivalry from Les Gets with Jenny Rissveds (Sweden), but would reverse the last Elite UCI XCC World Cup’s result to win by four seconds in front of a passionate home crowd. Canada’s Jennifer Jackson completed the Elite podium to win bronze whilst fellow countrywoman Isabella Holmgren took Under 23 world title. KORETZKY GOES BACK-TO-BACK  Victor Koretzky (France) has yet to hit the form that saw him crowned the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Champion in XCC, and the rainbow jersey has had to settle for second best behind Specialized Factory Racing teammate Christopher Blevins (USA) this season – the American winning the series’ first five rounds. Credit: SWpix The Frenchman even skipped his home race in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie to keep his powder dry for defending his title, and it was a tactic that appeared to work. Koretzky’s stars aligned and he outsprinted 2021 winner Blevins to claim a narrow, one-second victory. Compatriot Mathis Azzaro (France) finished just behind the Specialized pair to become the final rider on the Elite podium. Adrien Boichis (France) meanwhile took the Under 23 gold. RISSVEDS PROVES THAT CLASS IS PERMANENT After narrowly missing out on the UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in XCC, Rissveds brushed herself down to clinch the rainbow jersey in the main XCO event. Nine years on since the Swede’s first major victory at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, the result in Crans-Montana and the recent XCC-XCO double at the UCI World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie proves that she’s still at the top of her game. Credit: SWpix She almost didn’t have it her own way though. The 31-year-old went solo on the first lap and appeared content to rely on her early lead as the race progressed through its seven laps. This year’s UCI XCO World Cup overall leader Samara Maxwell (New Zealand) and Keller kept Rissveds’ lead in check though and seemed the most likely to mount a threat.  Keller faded in the final lap to add bronze to her XCC win, while Maxwell could only reduce the gap to 18 seconds to take silver. Isabella Holmgren (Canada) did the double by securing the Under 23 crown. HATHERLY WINS CONSECUTIVE CROWNS WHILE VAN DER POEL’S TITLE TILT FADES  Coming into the final race of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, all eyes were on the multi-discipline master, Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands). The Dutchman has already clinched rainbow jerseys in road, gravel and cyclocross, and was looking to become the first male rider to complete the an unprecedented quartet. But it was to be another dual-discipline rider who would come away with the spoils – Alan Hatherly (South Africa) defending his UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in XCO despite spending a large proportion of this season on the road.  Credit: SWpix The South African resumed his 2024 season-long battle with Koretkzy from the off before surging into an unassailable lead on lap two. Van der Poel meanwhile overcame his five-row starting place before ultimately fading to 29th. Simone Avondetto’s (Italy) last lap break was enough to secure the 2024 European Champion a silver medal, while Koretzky recovered to overtake home favourites Luca Schatti (Switzerland) and Mathias Flückiger on the line to clinch bronze. Men U23 UCI XCO World Cup leader Finn Treudler (Switzerland) took the Under 23 gold in front of his home crowd.

The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships are well underway in Valais, Switzerland, and it was the Gravity formats that were getting in on the action first. For the second-ever UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Enduro, Aletsch Arena/Bellwald was chosen as the venue, with racing split over two days – three stages on day one, and three stages on day two. The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Downhill, meanwhile, returned to the canton’s iconic Champéry track – scene of the Downhill 2011 UCI World Championship and Danny Hart’s (Great Britain) wet and wild ride. RUDE AND LUKASIK GO TO THE WIRE Richard Rude Jr (USA) might be a legend of Enduro riding, but his impressive collection of honours lacked a rainbow jersey after he missed out on the debut UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Enduro to Alex Rudeau (France) last year.  While the American might have switched his focus this to Downhill season, the 30-year-old wasn’t going to let the opportunity to right the wrongs of last year pass him by, and lined up in Aletsch Arena/Bellwald, Valais with a point to prove. There was one man who would attempt to stand in his way, though –Yeti/Fox Factory Racing Team teammate Sławomir Łukasik (Poland). The Pole had already clinched this year’s overall series, which included his first three UCI Enduro World Cup wins, and had his own goal to become the first ride to win the overall UCI World Cup and UCI World Championship in the same year. Initially, the advantage went to Lukasik, who led after the first day’s three stages, even with a 25th place finish in stage three. Rude was his consistent self, though, remaining within the top four on the first three stages to sit second. After stage four, Łukasik extended his advantage, but Rude had other ideas. The American smoked the field, using all of his race-winning experience to claw back five seconds on Łukasik on stage five, before edging him in the final stage to win by 2.5 seconds. Image: SWpix Stage one winner Elliot Jamieson (Canada) would round out the podium, recording his best Elite Enduro result to date. 2025 UCI Enduro World Cup winner Melvin Almueis (France) also took the men’s Junior UCI World Championship title. HOSKIN OVERCOMES CONOLLY IN FINAL STAGE SHOWDOWN The battle was almost as tight in the women’s field, albeit with four riders within 10 seconds of the winning time. Elly Hoskins (Canada) set the early pace, winning stage one and stage three. But it was Ella Conolly (Great Britain), who led at the halfway point – the UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner fastest on stage two and still showing strong form despite skipping the final UCI Enduro World Cup round of the season in Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France). Image: SWpix Stage four saw last year’s overall winner, Harriet Harnden (Great Britain), come to the fore, but it was too little too late for the Brit, who like Rude, has also been focusing on Downhill this year. Stage five witnessed a big swing in the lead, Hoskin taking 20 seconds from Conolly. And it would ultimately set up the win for the Canadian, who took another nine seconds from the Brit on the final stage to win by 4.53 seconds. Mélanie Pugin (France) would take the final podium spot, pipping Harnden in the final stage. Nežka Libnik (Slovenia) claimed the women’s Junior top spot. GOLDSTONE BLITZES THE FIELD Jackson Goldstone (Canada) is making up for lost time. After sitting out last season with injury, the 21-year-old has been the in-form rider of 2025, equaling Aaron Gwin’s record by winning four consecutive UCI Downhill World Cups, and finds himself at the top of the UCI Downhill World Cup rankings. A firm favourite ahead of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, it was interesting to see how the Canadian reacted after a disappointing result last time out in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) the week before. It didn’t seem to phase him, and he piloted his Santa Cruz V10 down the bone dry course in his signature smooth style. He led from the first intermediate split and didn’t look back, piecing together an insanely fast run that no one could get close to. Henri Kiefer (Germany) was the surprise package and had a long wait in the hot seat until Goldstone finally shaved almost two seconds off of his 2:56.099 time. Ronan Dunne (Ireland) meanwhile continued his strong form, adding a bronze medal to his second UCI Downhill World Cup win in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie. Frenchman and five-time World Champion Loïc Bruni was the last rider down the hill but crashed out before posting a time, handing the rainbow jersey to the Canadian and adding another dramatic chapter to their season-long battle in the UCI Downhill World Cup. Frances’s Max Alran took the Men Junior UCI World Championship title. HÖLL EDGES NICOLE TO WIN HER FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TITLE Valentina Höll (Austria) hasn’t won a bike race since the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Andorra last August. The 23-year-old has been close to the top spot since, and even leads the UCI Downhill World Cup rankings thanks to her consistency, but a win has seemingly alluded her at every turn. When it comes to the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, though, she can raise her game to another level – as shown in her three consecutive rainbow jerseys coming into Champéry. Image: SWpix After the first split, it was looking like it might be the end of her winning streak – Tahnée Seagrave (Great Britain) recording the fastest first section. But Höll was just getting into her groove, and set about dominating the rest of the mountain. By split two, she was in the green, and she gradually started to increase her lead thanks to her consistent and calculated way of riding. The last rider other than Höll to wear the rainbow jersey – Myriam Nicole (France) – was the only athlete within a second of the Austrian’s time, stopping the clock 0.667 seconds down. Marine Cabirou (France) made it a French 2-3. In the junior category, Rosa Zierl (Austria) took the win.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that 16 wildcard teams – eight cross-country and eight downhill – have been selected for rounds 15 and 16 of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Lake Placid Olympic Region, New York (USA) on October 3-5 and Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada) on October 9-12. While all eight teams that applied for a downhill spot secured a wildcard, it was another competitive selection process in cross-country, with only eight of the 13 applicants selected. The majority of qualifying teams have already featured in the 2025 series, but there will be a first appearance for Canadian outfit Forbidden Dunbar Racing Team. The eight-strong Downhill and Enduro team is supported by British Columbia-based manufacturer Forbidden Bike Co. and bike shop Dunbar Cycles, and is predominantly a Canadian-focused team with Australian Connor Fearon and Brit Alex Storr also part of the ranks. While the majority of its racing has taken place in North America this year, including Ryder Wilson’s win in the Crankworx Silver Star Canada Cup and Emmy Lan’s back-to-back second places at Crankworx Silver Star and Crankworx Whistler, the pair have also featured once in the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series at the UCI Downhill World Cup in La Thuile – Valle D’Aosta (Italy). Elsewhere, Lexware Mountainbike Team will be the only Endurance team to have a 100% wildcard qualification record for the whole of 2025, while Goodman Santacruz, Rogue Racing - SR Suntour, Team High Country and Kenda NS Bikes UR will manage the same in downhill. Finally, the return of Gwin Racing to the wildcard fold gives Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) the chance to become the joint-most successful downhill athlete at Mont-Sainte-Anne in the venue’s 27th UCI Downhill World Cup. The legendary American rider has three wins (2011, 2012 and 2017) at the iconic Canadian spot, and needs one more to equal Steve Peat’s record. The 16 wildcard teams for rounds 15 and 16 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Lake Placid Olympic Region, New York and Mont-Sainte-Anne are: UCI Cross-country World Cup: BIXS Performance Race Team Bike Team Solothurn Lexware Mountainbike Team KTM Factory MTB Team Thömus Akros - Youngstars Cabtech Racing Team Trinity Racing Massi  UCI Downhill World Cup: Kenda NS Bikes UR Team Rogue Racing - SR Suntour Goodman Santacruz Team High Country Future Frameworks The Alliance Forbidden Dunbar Gwin Racing

Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) delivered a victory for his home crowd, while Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) completed her first-ever Cross-country Short Track (XCC) – Cross-country Olympic (XCO) double with a dominant performance in a thrilling UCI XCO World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France). Riders faced hot, sunny conditions on a track left slick and punishing by the previous day’s rain. Martin and Rissveds adapted best, with Martin becoming the eighth Frenchman to claim an Elite UCI XCO World Cup win and only the fourth to do it on home soil, in a tense, hard fought race. In contrast, Rissveds proved untouchable, securing her first XCC-XCO double after an emphatic victory on Saturday. Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) took his fourth XCO win this season in the men’s U23 category, while Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) continued her dominance in the women’s U23 field. RISSVEDS MAKES IT A FIRST-EVER XCC-XCO DOUBLE Rissveds delivered a masterclass, claiming a commanding UCI XCO World Cup victory. After ending a 26-month drought on Saturday, the Swede confirmed her return to top form with another stellar performance. Rissveds adapted quickest to the conditions, bursting out of the gates and taking the lead immediately, steadily extending her advantage over the technical terrain. By the end of the opening lap, she was 12 seconds clear. A brief excursion off course in the second lap - possibly due to a technical issue - did little to slow her, and she kept her rivals at bay. Her lead was further boosted when Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon), who had been leading the chase group, stumbled on the third lap, triggering a chain reaction among the other contenders. Behind her, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Keller battled fiercely for second, with Keller ultimately prevailing in a dramatic last-lap effort. Meanwhile, Rissveds made the merciless course look effortless, crossing the finish line in 1:12:01 - 1 minute and 12 seconds ahead of the rest. Maxwell retains her hold on first place in the overall standings, though Rissveds has reduced the deficit to 435 points. “I didn’t have an attack planned for today,” said Rissveds. “I had just planned to do my own race, and I think that’s the key to cross-country racing, and don’t think about the others so much.” “I thought I had a rear flat,” Rissveds said, explaining her wobble mid-race. “It felt soft, but I don’t know. It was just tricky conditions today with the rain over the past few days. “There was so much back and forth regarding tyre choices and material. I ended up finding a good option. I’m happy with the material for the day.” MARTIN DELIVERS JOY TO HOME CROWD WITH FIRST UCI XCO WORLD CUP WIN Home favourite Martin thrilled the crowd with a landmark win on home soil, adding to his UCI XCC World Cup victory at the most recent Cross-country round in Pal Arinsal (Andorra) in July. The national champion struck on one of the steepest climbs to overhaul Luca Braidot (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) before crossing the line with a wheelie, 12 seconds ahead of the Italian. It was a fitting climax to an unforgettable race, fiercely contested from start to finish. Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon), Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team) and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) rounded out the top five, while Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) fought back to sixth after starting 33rd on the grid left him 45 seconds adrift of the leaders. Braidot attacked at the start of the final lap, but Martin timed his move to perfection, sealing his first UCI XCO World Cup victory in 1:22:03. “It’s just incredible. I don’t understand how [I did it], said Braidot. It’s crazy on the track, like some people are on fire, and some people say my name. It’s very special. “I think I win because I take some pleasure on the bike. I just ride my bike. “I stay focused and I put the last one [an attack] at the top of the second climb and the last climb.” Martin is third in the standings, 396 points behind leader Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing). TREUDLER AND CORVI ASSERT DOMINANCE IN U23 EVENTS The men’s U23 event was won by overall leader Finn Treudler in a rapid time of 1:16:54. Germany’s Benjamin Krüger and Swiss rider Treudler established an early gap over the rest of the competition on the opening lap, but Kruger was no match for his rival. Treudler finished 45 seconds ahead of the runner-up, with France’s Alix Andre Gallis (Sunn Factory Racing) in third. “I felt really strong,” Treudler said. “I had the race under control. At the beginning I tried to do too much so I could see where the other guys were and their shape after the break. I made the gap and kept it to the finish.” It marked a fourth straight victory for Treudler and extends his lead to 375 points over his nearest competitor, Rens Teunissen Van Manen (KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team). Meanwhile, European champion Valentina Corvi asserted her dominance and stretched her overall lead with victory in the women’s U23 race. “I felt strong today. I am proud and happy, especially about my shape one week before the Worlds,” she said. The Italian underlined her superiority on the day with an emphatic win, finishing 56 seconds ahead of her closest rival Vida Lopez de San Roman and one minute 17 seconds ahead of third-placed Isabella Holmgren. “I tried to manage my energy in the climbs. I took a little bit of a gap from the beginning and I just pushed on,” Corvi added. The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads next to Bike Kingdom – Lenzerheide (Switzerland) for cross-country and downhill rounds from 18-21 September.

Filthy conditions greeted the riders, alongside one of the biggest crowds of the season, and Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) responded in the women’s Elite race with a morale-boosting run to the hotseat. However, on a course where every corner offered the chance to gain or lose seconds, the contest came down to the familiar battle between Hemstreet and Valentina Höll (YT MOB). Meanwhile, Dunne celebrated his return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in the best way possible while Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) gained on overall leader Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) but failed to land a knockout blow following the Canadian’s crash. And facing the worst conditions of the day, Max Alran (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) and Rosa Zierl (CUBE Factory Racing) won the men’s and women’s Junior races to boost their UCI Downhill World Cup leads.   DUNNE CLAIMS COMEBACK WIN FOR THE AGES IN LES GETS Goldstone felt the total crushing pressure of a UCI World Cup title fight for the first time in France after a tough Friday where he was forced to reach the final through Q2 after hitting the deck in his opening run, and his crash in exactly the same place in the final meaning he fell to sixteenth overall.    Loris Revelli the first down the ramp and attacked the course aggressively, taking both feet off the pedals to steady himself at one stage, but it was Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) who set the first real benchmark, celebrating a century of UCI Downhill World Cup appearances. Wearing a bold all-white outfit, Brosnan needed a big performance to offset the wrath of the team kit manager and he produced one - beating the best time by nine seconds to go straight into the hot seat. Several riders crashed attempting to beat Brosnan’s time including Goldstone, who hopped over the root that brought him down in Q1 but caught another one as he landed and was on the floor before he could react, looking animated in his debrief with mud still caking his face. Andreas Kolb (YT MOB) was the first serious challenge to the centurion and made it count, flying down the opening section then holding that advantage all the way to the line to put well over a second into Brosnan and spark tearful celebrations from team staff.  It looked like that joy would be short-lived when Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off By Riding Addiction) made a rapid start to his run but he was undone in a somersault crash, and it wasn’t until Martin Maes (Orbea/FMD Racing) rolled off the ramp with only five more riders to go that the Austrian was beaten. Over 1.5 seconds back at the last intermediate split, Maes produced the best finish of the day to stun Kolb by a tenth of a second, and Bruni had no answer to the Belgian.  Dunne did though, lighting up the timing screens from the very first split as he scorched his way to a second UCI World Cup win - the first time an Irishman has achieved that feat.  “Words can’t describe how this feels, it’s been such a rough season and all I’ve been thinking about for the past weeks has been doing well at this race and showing everyone I can still win a race,” Dunne said. “I go by the motto ‘helicopter or win’, or ‘helicopter or podium’ and I lived up to the name in La Thuile, and here we took a win.”  Meanwhile Bruni’s fifth-place finish means he’s slashed 112 points from Goldstone now but failed to wrestle the leader’s jersey from the Canadian. “That was the toughest race I’ve ever done for sure,” Goldstone said. “It was rowdy the whole way down and I couldn’t even stay on the bike. “Somehow still clinged onto the green jersey which is pretty cool so the fact I’m in it with a crash and two bad races is really positive. We’ve just got to go full beans from here and try and beat Loïc.” HEMSTREET HOLDS NERVE TO DOWN HӦLL ONCE AGAIN Cabirou needed the repechage to qualify for the Finals in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie but made it count, maximising the conditions she received as one of the first women’s Elite riders off the ramp before the run had been churned up by subsequent competitors. Despite the sun slowly pushing its way up the valley, that drying was offset by riders beating through the mud every minute and only Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) came seriously close to challenging the Frenchwoman before the final runs. In similar conditions to the Bielsko-Biała (Poland) 2025 season opener won by Seagrave, the Brit pushed hard through the early section and was three seconds ahead with just one intermediate split to go. However, Seagrave was riding through treacle once she left the forest behind and lost almost five seconds from there to the line. Jess Blewitt (CUBE Factory Racing) went down within a couple of corners, while Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Nina Hoffmann hit the deck on the very next run and crossed the line 18 seconds down yet still finished provisionally fifth with only four riders to go - illustrating the massive gaps created by the muddy conditions. Both riders had better luck than Sacha Earnest (Trek Factory Racing) though, the New Zealander crashed in training ahead of the final and suffered a separated AC joint. Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing) brought green fleetingly back to the timing screen but as has been the case so often this season, Hemstreet and Höll took centre stage on the final two runs. Like Seagrave, Höll was up all the way through the trees, not as aggressive as her rival but carrying more speed on corner exit and she looked set to finally break her 2025 UCI World Cup drought. But the UCI World Champion looked in disbelief as she slid to a stop after the finish line, having gone behind by tenths of a second at the final split, then slipping to third behind Cabirou and Hemstreet who takes her fourth win of the season. “I don’t even know, I can’t believe that,” Hemstreet said. “I’m actually not a mud rider. I felt super slow up top so I thought ‘I’d rather just crash’ and go in as hot as I can rather than bring it back a bit. It was really tough.” Hemstreet now sits just 59 points behind Höll at the top of the UCI World Cup standings and the overall leader was downbeat afterwards.  JUNIORS LEADERS TAKE VICTORY IN CONTRASTING STYLES Zierl pulled off a nail-biting victory in a women’s Junior race that took a host of casualties, most importantly Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) on the penultimate run. Zierl had gone fastest by 22 seconds, but Ostgaard looked set to immediately knock her off that perch, going fastest at every intermediate split. But her three-second evaporated when she took a wrong turn navigating the final jumps, skewing to the left of a gate meaning the American needed to dismount to get herself back on course and dropped to second. And with fastest qualifier Cassandre Peizerat unable to match Zierl, that 20-point swing means the Austrian now holds a 65-point lead in the standings. “I don’t know how I came down here, that was probably the wildest run of my life! I nearly crashed five times or even more,” Zierl said. “Unfortunately, most of the other girls crashed, I just rode down. I stayed in the ruts, tried to go as slowly as possible.” Max Alran didn’t have anything like those issues as he extended his lead in the men’s Junior standings with a run faster than Dunne’s winning time. The last rider off the ramp immediately went green in his home race and finished the run four seconds ahead of Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/5Dev) having been first at every split. Almost as impressive as the last run of the final was the first though. Tyler Waite (Yeti/FOX Factory Race Team) had a disappointing qualifying and this looked like it could be the round that derailed the Kiwi’s overall ambitions as he trailed home 20th at 23 seconds back. Yet he set the tone on a drying course and only Vermette and Alran would beat him, meaning Waite leaves France only 29 points behind the UCI World Cup leader. “It feels insane, I’m cooked right because it was super super physical”, Alran said. “Just battling to the end, I made it to the bottom without too many mistakes and had a good run, just super happy. "My friends are here, my parents are here, to win here is just incredible. We have an insane crowd.” The action continues in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie with the UCI Cross-county Olympic World Cup rounding out the weekend’s action on Sunday. Hemstreet, Zierl, Alran and the rest of the downhill pack will next feature in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Switzerland’s Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide in three weeks’ time, after the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais.

The UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup served up two gripping races and a pair of fairytale victors in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) as Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) claimed his first elite WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series triumph on a thrilling final lap and Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) ended a 26-month drought with a swashbuckling performance. Rissveds claimed her first UCI XCC World Cup round since June 2023 years by decisively splintering the field with two laps to go and outkicking Alessandra Keller (Thӧmus Maxon) on the brutally iconic Les Gets climb while the runner-up made major gains on overall leader Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli). And with all the men’s Elite pre-race focus on Christopher Blevins’ chance to claim the UCI XCC World Cup for Specialized Factory Racing with three rounds to go, Aldridge outduelled teammate Luca Martin and Luca Braidot (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) to take a famous win. Meanwhile there were contrasting victors in the Under 23 ranks - Finn Treudler (CUBE Factory Racing) won his fourth consecutive round to put him on the verge of clinching the overall title while Vida Lopez de San Roman joined Aldridge in taking her first ever win. RISSVEDS STARS IN LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO CENTRE STAGE With all eyes on the tight top four of Keller, Richards, Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Decuninck), Rissveds stole the show looking resplendent on her first WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series outing in the UEC European Champion’s jersey. Yet it was UCI Cross-country World Champion Richards who set the tone early on, after catching COVID-19 following Rissved’s victory in Portugal she seemed keen to banish any questions over her fitness and went clear with Rissveds and Keller on the opening lap before sitting up and letting the five-second lead go. Richards was first across the line on four out of the nine laps while Pieterse, after her road racing exploits this summer including completing the Tour de France Femmes, immediately dropped out of the top 10 and eventually finished 11th after a long recovery ride. Despite leading the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) is yet to taste XCC victory and appeared determined to change that when she pushed the pace on lap five reducing the pack to only Richards, Keller, Rissveds, Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) and Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing). Richards was consistently the strongest downhill rider, though not the smoothest she attacked the descent with more aggression than anyone else on the slick surface but eventually those early exertions caught up with her and she was dropped with two laps to go as Rissveds and Keller were the only riders who could live with Maxwell. That meant it all came down to the final climb and it was Rissveds who took the initiative, kicking clear early and holding off the indomitable Keller to the line. “I felt quite cool, calm and collected,” Rissveds said. “It was a really good race, I was calm and I tried to play it smart. I keep on learning things every race which is super cool since I’m pretty old in the game now and I feel like I still have a lot to work on and many things I can improve, it’s really nice to learn every time and I’m happy it paid off today.” Though she missed out on the win, Keller had the consolation of a 60-point gain on Richards in the overall standings meaning she now trails by just 40 but Pieterse and Koller both finishing outside the top 10 means more breathing room from the top two to the rest of the pack. CANNONDALE IN DREAMLAND AFTER NAIL-BITING 1-2 Blevins arrived in France knowing victory would assure him of the UCI XCC World Cup title and he asserted himself early alongside new German national champion Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO), before his challenge was halted by a dropped chain. But, with the American’s record of surging to victory on the final lap this season, the pack focused on sapping his legs on the tough climb to start the lap with Simon Andreassen (Orbea FOX Factory Racing), Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) and Martin pushed the pace on early. It looked like the race had opened up for the Cannondale Factory Racing pair on lap seven when Thomas Litscher (Cabtech Racing Team) misjudged a steep uphill hairpin and held up the rest of the pack allowing them to build a nine-second lead across the line, but they couldn’t hold it and the bloated lead group re-formed and stuck together entering the final lap. It was there that Braidot made his move, dive-bombing Aldridge and Martin on the ascent only for the Brit to repay the favour turning to the top of the climb and the short descent to the finishing straight meant the home favourite had to bide his time for the sprint. Exiting the final corner, Martin was closing on Aldridge all the way to the line in the final sprint and got alongside his teammate but couldn’t nudge his wheel in front, finishing on the same time as the British national champion who celebrated a milestone win in his career. “I’m absolutely buzzing, crazy race it went so fast I was at the front with Luca [Martin] and the last lap was a bit of a battle,” Aldridge said. “I wasn’t sure if Luca was going to be faster or me but you kind of work together in these races and 1-2 is a really good way to end. “Had a little battle on the last few corners which made the heart rate go even higher than it was already but I’m over the moon. You’re so focused on trying to pull it off [on the final lap] then something like that comes, Luca [Braidot] flying down my inside and I went ‘I’m going to get him in the next corner’.” A rare off-day for Blevins saw the overall leader finish 17th as Aldridge jumps up to second in the standings due to Victor Koretzky’s absence for Specialized Factory Racing, but the American must only pick up 105 points next time out to guarantee UCI World Cup victory next time out. “When you’re a bit off, short track’s a different kind of pain,” Blevins said. “I was suffering, you go all out on the last climb and you get to the top and you can barely hold onto the bars. “But first effort in Europe sometimes can go either way, I didn’t really get a good ‘open up’ day this week on the bike so I think my body really needed that to open up after such a long break from racing, it’s like shaking off the cobwebs and jetlag and everything and hopefully Sunday I’m opened up now.” TREUDLER CONSISTENCY CONTRASTS WITH U23 WOMEN SURPRISE Vida Lopez de San Roman was unshakable on the way to her maiden victory. Having missed the first part of the season the American had finished 13th and 15th in her last two rounds but was a constant presence at the front of the first race of the day and outkicked Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) who closed to within 100 points of absent overall leader Katharina Sadnik (KTM Factory MTB Team) alongside Ella McPhee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and Sara Cortinovis (Ghost Factory Racing). “I’m definitely in a lot of shock and disbelief,”  Lopez de San Roman said. “I don’t think it’s fully processed yet but it definitely means a lot, especially being a first year and spending the whole season getting a lot of experience and learning from every race, I’m in a lot of disbelief but really excited and definitely a big confidence booster one week out from Worlds.” Treudler could seal the Men U23 UCI XCC World Cup overall title next time out in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide (Switzerland) after holding off Benjamin Krüger to win yet another WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round. Treudler hit the front when he countered Nicolas Halter’s move on the climb and produced a controlled performance from there to extend his overall lead to 234 points. “It was a pretty smart move [from Halter] to come from behind and pass us with speed, I had to kick to keep up and then went over the top, saw the gap and continued to the finish,” Treudler said. “I had a super good training period sleeping at high altitude, and I think I saw that today. It’s a really good season so far and I’m really looking forward to the World Championships in two weeks.” The action is only just getting started in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie with the UCI Downhill World Cup Finals coming up on Saturday before the Cross-country riders take centre stage again on Sunday with the cross-country Olympic (XCO) races.

Valentina Höll (YT MOB) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) kicked off the final stretches of their WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series title defences in fine style in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) as the UCI Downhill World Cup returned from a seven-week holiday with a bang in Qualifications.  The top two riders in the women’s Elite standings will be the last pair off the ramp in the Les Gets, Haute-Savoie Finals as Höll and Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) were a class above the rest of the field, with the Canadian trailing by two seconds and no other riders within 10 seconds of the UCI World Champion. Rémi Thirion (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - DH) was the surprise face delighting home fans as the fastest elite male qualifier ahead of Mondraker Factory Racing DH’s Ronan Dunne, but third-placed Bruni could be happier than either of them. With overall leader Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) 30th on his first run, over 10 seconds behind his main rival in Q1, Bruni closed his gap to just 107 points ahead of the main event tomorrow. But it could’ve been much worse for the Canadian. GOLDSTONE LIVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY WITH WORK TO DO Goldstone had a nightmare first run and was forced to ride again in Q2 to reach the Les Gets Finals, as the UCI Downhill World Cup leader returned from the summer break looking a shadow of the rider who lit up the first half of the season. On a run of four victories and a second place in his last five rounds, Goldstone did at least survive Q2 but was almost seven seconds behind CUBE Factory Racing’s pacesetter Max Harternstern, indicating improvement is needed if he’s to head to Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide (Switzerland) next time out as still the man to beat. While Thirion was comfortably ahead of Dunne who enjoyed a similar advantage to Bruni, the field was impossibly tight behind that with the entire top 20 in Q1 separated by a meagre eight seconds. DAUNTLESS HӦLL REMAINS IN CONTROL  Höll was fastest through three of the four immediate time checks as only Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) could interrupt her dominances - the 24-year-old crashed further down the course but came through Q2. Meanwhile Hemstreet started sluggishly but got faster and faster as she surged down the mountainside to clinch second and now trails Höll by 129 points, while Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing) was best of the rest in third. Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea / FMD Racing), the only other elite woman on four figures overall, had a more difficult afternoon. Without any major incidents, Seagrave crossed the finish line 21 seconds behind Höll and saw her deficit in the standings stretch to 230 points.   Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) will also take to the startline on Saturday after the home favourite survived a Q2 scare. She was third in the repecharge, finishing with an almost identical time to Höll while Sacha Earnest (Trek Factory Racing DH) was seven seconds quicker on her second run. JUNIOR FAVOURITES TUMBLE DOWN ORDER The men’s Junior picture is as it were last time out in Pal Arinsal - Andorra, with Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction’s Max Alran leading the pack ahead of Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/5Dev). On home trails, Alran was almost five seconds ahead of the American while his main title rival had a nightmare.   Tyler Waite was down in 20th for Yeti/FOX Factory Race Team, while women’s Junior overall leader didn’t have a smooth qualifying either - Rosa Zierl (CUBE Factory Racing) finished fourth but was 10 seconds behind Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), her main rival. However, it was France’s Cassandre Peizerat who qualified in first. The final French round of the season continues tomorrow with the UCI Downhill World Cup Finals, as the junior action kicks off at 10:50 CEST and the elite racing gets underway just after midday.

After an Enduro series finale in Morillon, Haute-Savoie, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stays in the French Alps with the UCI Cross-country and Downhill World Cups taking to the nearby trails of Les Gets, Haute-Savoie. We look at everything you need to know about the Les Gets, Haute-Savoie round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including when the Cross-county Short Track (XCC), Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Downhill events are scheduled to take place, who is racing, and how to watch. WHEN? The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) starts with the Women Under 23 Cross-country Short Track at 09:45 (UTC+2) on Friday, August 29 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup at 15:00 (UTC+2) on Sunday, August 31. Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST): Friday, August 29 09:45 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U23 10:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U23 18:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite 18:40 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite 12:45 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite 13:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite 14:25 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior 14:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior 15:45 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite 16:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men Elite Saturday, August 30 10:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior 11:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior 12:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite 13:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite        Sunday, August 31 09:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U23 11:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U23 13:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite 15:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? There will be several ways to watch the action unfold at the last French rounds of the 2025 season.   The UCI Downhill World Cup Qualification day can be followed on live timing and across social media. For the seventh UCI Cross-country Olympic, Cross-country Short Track and Downhill World Cups of the season, you can watch the finals live anywhere in the world. Both the Men Junior and Women Junior UCI Downhill World Cup races will be broadcast live on discovery+ (in front of paywall), HBO Max* (in front of the sports add-on) and MTBWS TV (included in subscription), while the Elite finals will be shown on one of the below channels or streaming services: North America Canada – Flosports USA – HBO Max South & Central America All Central and South American territories – MTBWS TV Caribbean – Rushsports Asia Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – Eurosport China - Zhibo.TV (Only Elite Downhill races live) All other Asian territories – MTBWS TV Oceania Australia – Stan Sport New Zealand – MTBWS TV Africa All African territories – MTBWS TV Europe Andorra – HBO Max, Eurosport, ATV Austria – discovery+, Eurosport Belgium – HBO Max, Eurosport, LN24 (Only Elite XCO races live) Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max, Eurosport Bulgaria – HBO Max, Eurosport Croatia – HBO Max, Eurosport Czechia – HBO Max, Eurosport, CT Sport+ (only Elite XCO and XCC races live) Denmark – HBO Max, Eurosport Faroe Islands – HBO Max, Eurosport France – HBO Max, Eurosport and La Chaine L’Equipe (only Elite XCC and XCO races live) Germany – discovery+, Eurosport Hungary – HBO Max, Eurosport Ireland – TNT Sports Italy – discovery+, Eurosport Moldova – HBO Max, Eurosport Montenegro – HBO Max, Eurosport Netherlands – HBO Max, Eurosport North Macedonia – HBO Max, Eurosport Norway – HBO Max, Eurosport Poland – HBO Max, Eurosport Portugal – HBO Max, Eurosport Romania – HBO Max, Eurosport Serbia – HBO Max, Eurosport Slovakia – HBO Max, Eurosport Slovenia – HBO Max, Eurosport Spain – HBO Max, Eurosport Sweden – HBO Max, Eurosport Switzerland – MTBWS TV , SRF/RSI (only Elite XCO and XCC races live online) Türkiye – HBO Max, Eurosport United Kingdom – discovery+, TNT Sports All other European territories – MTBWS TV RIDERS TO WATCH In Downhill, all eyes are on the battle between Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity). The pair have shared the spoils so far this season – Goldstone leading Bruni four wins to two – but the Frenchman’s victory in Pal Arinsal (Andorra) last time out brought an end to the Canadian’s record winning streak. With four rounds remaining in the series, every point and place takes on even greater importance in the title race. Whatever happens, it’s likely to be an all-French affair with the last non-native to win at Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, Steve Peat back in 2002. Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction), Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing - SR Suntour), Bruni and Benoît Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory) have all won at the venue since it rejoined the UCI Downhill World Cup circuit in 2019, and are all in with a shot during Saturday’s finale. While the home riders haven’t been as dominant in the women’s field, expect Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) and Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) to give the partisan crowd something to cheer about. Elsewhere, series leader Valentina Höll’s (YT Mob) search for a win continues but with four second-places this year it’s only a matter of time for the Austrian, while Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) and Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) look the most likely to challenge the reigning UCI Downhill World Champion for top spot. Either side of the Downhill action is the Friday’s XCC and Sunday’s XCO, with both series getting interesting as they near their conclusion. Previously, it was hard to look beyond Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in the XCC, but both riders’ winning streaks came to an end at altitude in Pal Arinsal. While the pair will be aiming to bounce back, they’ve shown that they’re not infallible. In the men’s field, Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) became the only rider to get the better of Blevins all year, and he’ll be fired up to repeat the feat in front of a home crowd. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) meanwhile showed that she shouldn’t be overlooked in the overall series, and will be aiming to catch series leader Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) on a course where she won in 2024. On Sunday, Martin and Blevins will once again be in contention, while the American’s teammate Martin Vidaurre Kossman (Specialized Factory Racing) will be targeting a return to the XCO podium. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is another likely to be contesting the win as the Dutchman switches to mountain bike ahead of his tilt at next weekend’s XCO race at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. The race will also be Nino Schurter’s (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) penultimate UCI XCO World Cup – the Swiss G.O.A.T announcing that he plans to retire at the next round in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide (Switzerland). The 39-year-old has won at Les Gets, Haute-Savoie twice in his storied career, including at the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, and few would bet against him making it a fairytale ending with a third this year. In the women’s field, attention falls to a rider at the other end of her career – Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team). The New Zealander is enjoying her breakthrough year with two wins and four second places so far and appears to be unassailable in the overall series. A result in France would make the title a foregone conclusion. The rider with the best shot at stopping her is Pieterse. The Dutchwoman returns to mountain biking after a quiet Tour de France Femmes by her own standards, and will be hoping to get back to winning ways after a disappointing weekend in Pal Arinsal.  Racing gets underway on Friday, August 29 in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie. Full schedule and event details are available HERE.  

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports confirm the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar for the 2026 season. The fourth year of the revamped format for mountain bike’s different UCI World Cups - launched in 2023 to unite almost all of mountain bike’s major formats under a single brand for the first time - will visit three continents and nine countries across 14 events between May and October and will feature the best athletes in the sport’s Endurance (Cross-country Olympic, XCO and Cross-country Short Track, XCC) and Gravity (Downhill, DHI and Enduro, EDR) formats.The series kicks off with a landmark weekend of Cross-country and Downhill racing at the Race of South Korea in MONA YongPyong – the first-ever Asian UCI XCO and XCC World Cup rounds and first UCI Downhill World Cup round on the continent in 25 years. After this, the action moves to Europe for the summer, with Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia) welcoming the Endurance formats and Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) welcoming the Gravity formats – the UCI Enduro World Cup starting outside of Italy for the first time since 2023.The following weekend sees the first of two XCO/XCC/DHI/EDR quadruple-headers at long-term partner venue Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria), before riders get a week’s break leading into the start of five back-to-back WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series race weekends.Lenzerheide (Switzerland) and Pal Arinsal (Andorra) welcome both the Cross-country and Downhill contingent, while Val di Fassa - Trentino (Italy) and the 2025 UCI Enduro World Championships venue Aletsch Arena-Bellwald, Valais (Switzerland) are the proving grounds for Enduro. In the middle of the five-week run is La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta (Italy), which hosts the second quadruple header of the series. Cross-country has also been added to the schedule following a successful debut for the venue in 2025 which saw the steepest Downhill track in the series’ history as well as the world’s first Enduro night stage.After a summer break, the European leg of the season concludes with back-to-back race weekends in Haute-Savoie (France) – one Cross-country and Downhill, the other the Enduro finale – before the Series jets off to North America for three rounds and two new venues. The first will see Cross-country contested on the trails of Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA) – a venue hosted by the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, home to the USA Olympic biathlon team training centre and a regular on the IBU Biathlon World Cup circuit. With the region preparing to co-host the Olympic Winter Games in 2034, Soldier Hollow brings Olympic pedigree and world-class credentials to the closing stages of the season.Downhill will then take to its spiritual home in Whistler Mountain Bike Park, British Columbia (Canada), delivering on decades of anticipation with a stage set for unforgettable racing. The iconic venue, which hosted the Olympic Winter Games 15 years ago, will welcome the world’s best downhill riders for a UCI World Cup for the first time. The final weekend will see both the UCI Cross-country and Downhill World Cups decided in Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA).Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: “The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series was always going to be about bedding in the major reforms that we introduced at the start of this year, and the competitiveness and excitement of each format shows that the changes are working. For 2026, we’re doubling down on our successes and pushing the sport even further into new territories. “The 2026 calendar will witness 14 gripping events that take in the world’s best destinations, including four proven Olympic venues, with half returning under multi-year agreements reflecting our sustained investment in the sport’s growth. Every venue we've introduced since 2023 has quickly become a favourite among athletes, highlighting WBD’s commitment to pushing the limits of performance while prioritising safety and expanding a world-class, global calendar. We’re continuing to expand the reach of the sport by bringing Cross-country Olympic racing to Asia for the first time, growing our footprint in the USA, and will fulfil a long-term wish from fans, teams and athletes alike by adding Whistler – one of the world’s most iconic mountain bike destinations - to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar from next year.” UCI President David Lappartient said: “Bringing together three different UCI World Cups, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will see many stories unfold in 2026 as the weekends of competition progress. The succession of races throughout the season means athletes must strive for consistency, and logically there will be ups and downs along the way. The experience of seasoned riders and the sheer audacity of younger athletes always makes for thrilling competition across the different rounds."In 2026, the UCI World Cups for cross-country Olympic, cross-country short track, downhill and enduro will span 14 weekends in the space of six months with exciting new hosts joining some of the series’ favourite venues. I am particularly pleased that the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will expand into Asia in 2026, adding a new dimension to the series and providing a prestigious opening to the season.”WHOOP UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD SERIES 2026 CALENDAR:Round 1 / May 1-3: Race of South Korea, South Korea (UCI Cross-country and Downhill World Cups)Round 2 / May 22-24: Nové Město Na Moravě, Czechia (UCI Cross-country World Cup)Round 3 / May 28-31: Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, France (UCI Downhill and UCI Enduro World Cups)Round 4 / June 11-14: Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland, Austria (UCI Cross-country, UCI Downhill and UCI Enduro World Cups)Round 5 / June 19-21: Lenzerheide, Switzerland (UCI Cross-country and Downhill World Cups)Round 6 / June 26-28: Val di Fassa - Trentino, Italy (UCI Enduro World Cup)Round 7 / July 3-5: La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta, Italy (UCI Cross-country, UCI Downhill and UCI Enduro World Cups)Round 8 / July 8-12: Pal Arinsal, Andorra (UCI Cross-country and Downhill World Cups)Round 9 / July 17-19: Aletsch Arena - Bellwald, Valais, Switzerland (UCI Enduro World Cup)Round 10 / August 14-16: Haute-Savoie, France (UCI Enduro World Cup)Round 11 / August 21-23: Haute-Savoie, France (UCI Cross-country and UCI Downhill World Cups)Round 12 / September 19-20: Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah, USA (UCI Cross-country World Cup)Round 13 / September 25-27: Whistler Mountain Bike Park, British Columbia, Canada (UCI Downhill World Cup)Round 14 / October 2-4: Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York, USA (UCI Cross-country and UCI Downhill World Cups)

After a seven-week summer break since Pal Arinsal (Andorra), the Cross-country and Downhill athletes of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series are heading back between the race tape in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) and the start of the season’s second half.  The Alpine venue is a legendary location and has been welcoming the Gravity format on and off since 1996. A staple of the UCI World Cups for both cross-country and downhill since 2019, and host of the 20024 and 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, it is renowned for its passionate, partisan French crowd. Located in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, close to the Swiss border, Les Gets bike park will host action for both formats. The park has 128km of trails across 23 different tracks and three ski lifts to help riders experience everything the park has to offer.  The Downhill takes place on the venue’s Mont-Chéry UCI World Cup track – a 2.2km course that features 571m of descent and a maximum gradient of 43.8 %. The Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Cross-country Short Track (XCC) races, meanwhile, take on a custom trail that has its start/finish straight at the resort’s main hub. The XCO course is 3.55km long (140m elevation gain), while the XCC course is 1km long (43m elevation gain). CAN ANYONE CATCH MAXWELL? Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) is having the season of her young life. The 23-year-old New Zealander has been incredibly consistent in the first six rounds of the UCI XCO World Cup, and hasn’t finished outside the top two all year. Her win in Pal Arinsal in July showed that her victory in the opening round in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) wasn’t a fluke, and she has built a seemingly unassailable lead in the overall series with Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) second and 445 points behind. Although Koller sits second, it’s fifth-placed Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who is the most likely challenger to Maxwell’s crown. The Dutchwoman was in searing form, winning five out of six races (including XCC) entered in 2025, although she came unstuck at altitude with 10th place in Pal Arinsal. A confirmed starter for Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, she will be targeting a return to the podium on a course where she won last year. IS BLEVINS’ XCO SEASON A BUST?Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) might lead the men’s series but his last three results (17th, 8th and 29th) suggest that the wheels might be falling off his bid for a first overall title. The American hasn’t raced since Pal Arinsal and will be hoping that the seven-week break can act as a reset for his season. Second and third spots in the overall are occupied by Blevins’ teammates Martin Vidaurre Kossmann and Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing). The Chilean looks most likely to challenge Blevins for the top spot, with Koretzky yet to reach the same highs as last season and skipping Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, to focus on the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Crans-Montana (Switzerland). Riders who look like they could break up the American factory team’s dominance include Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing), who finished second behind Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) in Pal Arinsal; fourth-placed Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) and the relative wild card Fabio Püntener (Bike Team Soloturn). Finally, multi-discipline master Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is always a favourite whenever he lines up off-road but the Dutchman will be hoping for a smoother ride than he had in his only other mountain bike race this year, where he DNFd and fractured his wrist in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia). PREPARE FOR A BOUNCE BACK AND THE RISE OF KELLER IN SHORT-TRACK The men’s and women’s XCC standings couldn’t be more different. In the men’s, Blevins has dominated all year, and his record-breaking five-strong winning streak was only halted by Martin in Pal Arinsal, with the American having to settle for second. His 578-point cushion over second-placed Koretzky in the rankings means he could wrap the series up as early as this weekend if other results go his way, and expect him to be targeting the podium top spot and get back to winning ways. The women’s field, meanwhile, is tightly poised with only 130 points separating the top four. Reigning UCI XCC World Champion Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) leads the way but Pieterse has the most wins (three) this series. While both will be in contention in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, it’s worth keeping tabs on Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon). The 2024 UCI XCC World Cup overall series winner has gone under the radar this season but has displayed her signature consistency – finishing inside the top seven all year – to find herself tied in second on 930 points. The Swiss rider won in Pal Arinsal and knows what it takes to win an overall title as the series nears its conclusion. WOMEN’S DOWNHILL CONTEST IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT The women’s downhill series has never been more competitive, with four different winners from the opening six rounds. Valentina Höll (YT Mob) still leads the series despite failing to record a win all year – her second place in Pal Arinsal her fourth of 2025 – but knows what it takes to win on the Les Gets, Haute-Savoie course, having won the UCI World Championships at the venue in 2022. Others in contention are Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division), the Canadian currently sitting in second and aiming to get back on the podium after a fifth in Pal Arinsal; Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing), who won in Pal Arinsal and is having her best season in recent memory; and home favourites Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) and Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction). BRUNI AND GOLDSTONE SET TO BATTLE IT OUTJackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) might have missed out on securing the overall winning streak record in Pal Arinsal, but the Canadian’s second place means he still leads the series as the most consistent winner. With four rounds remaining, including a season finale in Mont-Sainte-Anne in front of a home crowd, the 21-year-old will be targeting a few more wins to start in Quebec as the nailed-on favourite. The one rider who can realistically spoil the Canadian party is Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity). The reigning UCI Downhill World Cup overall series winner clinched his second UCI World Cup of the season in Pal Arinsal and will be confident he can make up the 137-point gap to Goldstone over four rounds – starting in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie. Like Höll, he has only won at the venue once, but it was when it mattered most: at the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Others in contention in Saturday’s final include 2024’s winner Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction), reigning rainbow band wearer Loris Vergier (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) and wild card entrant Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing - SR Suntour). Racing gets underway in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and event details are available here.

A leader in mountain bike suspension since 1989, RockShox confirmed as Official Suspension Partner Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe and RockShox are proud to announce a new long-term partnership, naming RockShox the Official Suspension Partner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. An innovative leader in mountain bike suspension since 1989, RockShox has been at the forefront of the sport for nearly four decades. From introducing the first production suspension fork to pioneering advanced technologies like Flight Attendant, RockShox continues to shape the future of racing and riding alike. Part of the SRAM family since 2002, RockShox empowers riders across all disciplines with suspension that responds seamlessly to changing conditions, enhances control, and inspires confidence on every ride. This new partnership builds on RockShox’s longstanding commitment to racing. A constant presence at Endurance and Gravity UCI World Cups since the sport’s formative years, RockShox and WBD Sports share a deep legacy within the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series—one rooted in performance, progression, and the relentless pursuit of pushing boundaries. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “RockShox is renowned in the world of mountain biking for being at the pinnacle of suspension technology, and its products have helped propel countless athletes to the top of the podium in cross-country, downhill and enduro. “This new five-year partnership builds on WBD Sports and RockShox’s solid foundations in mountain bike and will encourage even greater integration in the Series to come.” Sander Rigney, VP of RockShox, said: “UCI World Cup racing has shaped the DNA of RockShox from the beginning. It’s where we develop, test, and prove the innovations that drive the sport forward. Partnering with the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series reinforces our commitment to racing and to the next generation of riders – those who are defining the trajectory of the sport and culture for the future.” After 12 rounds of world-class racing, the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads next to Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) for Cross-country and Downhill from 28-31 August. One final European stop remains in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide (Switzerland) before the series crosses the Atlantic for the final two rounds in Lake Placid Olympic Region (USA) and Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada). Live and on-demand coverage of every race is available through WBD’s channels and platforms including Eurosport (Europe) and TNT Sports (UK & Ireland) with streaming on HBO Max and discovery+, as well as around the world through WBD’s broadcast partners.