The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships delivered a weekend packed with surprises, drama and world-class racing as the sport’s biggest stars battled for the rainbow jerseys in Val di Sole – Trentino (Italy).
The action got underway with the Cross-country Short Track (XCC) races, where both titles were decided in thrilling sprint finishes. The excitement continued on the legendary Black Snake course, as the world’s best downhill riders took on one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar in their quest for UCI World Championship glory.
The weekend concluded with the Cross-country Olympic (XCO) events, a true showcase of endurance, technical skill and tactical racing, featuring punishing climbs and rocky descents that pushed riders to their limits.
© Michele Mondini / Val di Sole Bike Land
PIDCOCK PRODUCES A CHAMPION’S RIDE TO WIN UCI XCO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD
Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) produced a masterclass to claim his second UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Championship title, charging from a fifth-row start to dominate the Men's Elite race in Val di Sole – Trentino.
With several of the pre-race favourites caught in traffic early on, Adrien Boichis (France) took advantage by setting a fierce pace from the gun, helping establish a seven-man lead group. Yet the course’s long, demanding climbs played into Pidcock’s hands, allowing the Briton to steadily carve his way through the field despite conceding 16 seconds during the opening laps.
Fellow Briton Charlie Aldridge also wasted no time moving through the pack. Combining strength on the climbs with impressive technical skills, he helped stretch the race at the front. By the halfway mark, Pidcock had bridged across to a select group featuring Boichis, Cole Punchard (Canada), Aldridge and Martín Vidaurre Kossmann (Chile).
© Giacomo Podetti / Val di Sole Bike Land
Once among the leaders, Pidcock took control. A series of relentless attacks on the climbs gradually shattered the front group, with Boichis and Punchard unable to match his pace. The decisive move came on the penultimate lap, when Pidcock accelerated on the course’s signature climb and finally distanced Aldridge.
Behind them, Vidaurre Kossmann’s hopes of a maiden UCI World Championship medal came to a heartbreaking end after a puncture forced him out of contention, handing third place to Punchard.
Pidcock crossed the line 17 seconds clear of Aldridge to secure a memorable British one-two, while Punchard finished a further 14 seconds back to claim bronze.
Meanwhile, Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) was unable to replicate the form that earned him runner-up honours in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), the previous weekend. The Dutchman eventually finished 30th, 4:40 adrift of his long-time rival.
© Michele Mondini / Val di Sole Bike Land
FREI REIGNS SUPREME TO CLAIM MAIDEN XCO RAINBOW JERSEY
Sina Frei (Switzerland) delivered a commanding performance to claim her first UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Championship title, mastering the demanding climbs of Val di Sole – Trentino to solo her way to rainbow jersey glory.
The race began with an early setback for fellow Swiss rider Alessandra Keller, whose hopes of contention were severely compromised by a first-lap mechanical issue that dropped her outside the top 20.
Fresh from their thrilling duel at the UCI XCO World Cup in Les Gets, Frei and reigning UCI World Champion Jenny Rissveds (Sweden) once again found themselves at the front of the race. However, the Swiss rider soon turned the contest into a one-woman show, using her climbing prowess to repeatedly apply pressure on the field and gradually distance her rivals.
Only Martina Berta (Italy) was initially able to respond, matching Frei’s pace during the second lap as the pair opened a gap on the rest of the field. Yet Frei’s relentless tempo eventually proved too much, and by the halfway point she had broken clear to establish a solo lead.
© Alice Russolo / Val di Sole Bike Land
Behind her, Nicole Koller (Switzerland) bridged across to Berta, setting up an intense battle for the remaining podium positions alongside Puck Pieterse (Netherlands). While Frei continued to extend her advantage at the front, the fight for silver and bronze remained finely balanced until the closing laps.
Frei crossed the line more than a minute clear to secure the biggest victory of her career. Berta edged out Koller in a sprint finish to claim the silver medal, while Pieterse finished just 18 seconds short of a podium place.
In the Under-23 categories, Valentina Corvi delighted the home crowd with a dominant victory in the Women's race. Just one week after securing the UCI XCO World Cup title, the Italian rider produced another emphatic display, pulling clear to beat Swiss riders Anina Hutter and Monique Halter, who finished second and third respectively.
© Alice Russolo / Val di Sole Bike Land
The Men’s Under-23 race provided a thrilling conclusion to the weekend, with France securing a one-two finish. Naël Rouffiac held off compatriot Alix André-Gallis by just nine seconds after a fiercely contested battle, while Nicholas Halter (Switzerland) completed the podium in third place.
UNSTOPPABLE HÖLL CLAIMS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE UCI DOWNHILL WORLD CHAMPION TITLE
Valentina Höll (Austria) further cemented her place among the sport’s greats by claiming a fifth consecutive Women’s Elite UCI Downhill World Championship title. The 24-year-old has made the rainbow jersey her own since 2022 and once again proved untouchable.
After qualifying third fastest, Höll delivered a near-flawless race run, attacking the upper sections of the demanding Val di Sole – Trentino course with trademark precision and confidence. Already crowned the 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner thanks to five victories this season, the Austrian will continue to wear cycling’s most coveted bands for at least another year.
© Michele Mondini / Val di Sole Bike Land
Her closest challenger was Lisa Baumann (Switzerland), who arrived full of confidence after finishing runner-up to her Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres teammate at two UCI Downhill World Cup rounds this season. Baumann laid down the benchmark time and occupied the hot seat as the final rider dropped into the course, but Höll quickly found her rhythm through the technical sections and maintained her advantage all the way to the finish, securing victory by 1.7 seconds.
The battle for bronze went to Harriet Harnden (Great Britain), who continued her breakthrough season by claiming her first UCI Downhill World Championship medal. Fresh from securing her maiden UCI Downhill World Cup victory in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, just a week earlier, Harnden produced another standout performance to finish only two seconds behind Baumann and complete the podium.
© Michele Mondini / Val di Sole Bike Land
RAINBOW REDEMPTION: GOLDSTONE RISES TO DEFEND UCI DOWNHILL WORLD CROWN
Jackson Goldstone (Canada) silenced any doubts about his form with a stunning title defence, producing a flawless run to retain his Men’s Elite UCI Downhill World Championship crown in Val di Sole – Trentino.
The 22-year-old arrived at the UCI World Championships having endured a challenging UCI Downhill World Cup campaign, still searching for a first victory of the season. Yet under the pressure of being the final rider on course, Goldstone delivered when it mattered most. Riding with exceptional speed, commitment and precision across the Black Snake’s unforgiving roots and rough terrain, the Canadian laid down a benchmark none of his rivals could match.
Lachlan Stevens-McNab (New Zealand) came closest to denying Goldstone after topping qualifying and producing another outstanding run in the final. However, he was edged into second place by just six-tenths of a second. Jordan Williams (Great Britain) completed the podium, capping a strong showing from the sport’s emerging generation on one of downhill’s most demanding tracks.
© Michele Mondini / Val di Sole Bike Land
The Junior races, meanwhile, produced a series of surprises as pre-race favourites struggled to tame the fast and punishing Val di Sole course.
In the Men’s Junior category, Jonty Williamson (New Zealand) arrived as the overwhelming favourite after winning six of the seven UCI Downhill World Cup rounds contested this season and setting the fastest qualifying time. But the Black Snake proved unforgiving, and a training crash ended his hopes of adding a rainbow jersey to his dominant campaign.
Instead, the UCI World Championship title went to Raol Schneeberger (Switzerland), who delivered a composed and clinical ride to take victory by four-tenths of a second over Felix Griffiths (Great Britain). Home favourite Filippo Gilardino (Italy) delighted the local crowd by securing bronze, just over a second off the winning pace.
A similarly unexpected storyline unfolded in the Women’s Junior race. All eyes were on overall UCI World Cup leader Aletha Ostgaard (USA), who arrived in Val di Sole on the back of three consecutive victories. However, the American struggled to find her rhythm on the technical Italian track and could only qualify 11th.
© Giacomo Podetti / Val di Sole Bike Land
That opened the door for Tilly Broadley (Australia), who seized her opportunity in emphatic fashion. The Australian delivered a superb run to claim the coveted rainbow jersey by a commanding seven-second margin. Ostgaard secured the silver medal, while Indy Deavoll (New Zealand) completed the podium in third.
BOICHIS CAPS BREAKTHROUGH SEASON WITH UCI XCC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY
Adrien Boichis (France) delivered a perfectly timed performance to claim the Men’s Elite UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Championship title at the first attempt.
The Frenchman arrived in Val di Sole – Trentino in outstanding form. After winning the Men’s Under-23 UCI World title a year earlier, Boichis has enjoyed a breakthrough season on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including victories in three of his last four UCI XCC World Cup appearances.
© Daniele Molineris / Val di Sole Bike Land
As expected, the race remained tightly contested throughout, with a large lead group entering the final lap together on the fast and punchy Val di Sole course. Charlie Aldridge (Great Britain) launched a decisive attack in an attempt to break the field, but only Boichis was able to respond.
The pair quickly distanced the rest of the contenders and set up a thrilling duel for the rainbow jersey. Aldridge led into the closing stages, but Boichis showed exceptional composure and tactical awareness, producing a perfectly judged sprint on the finishing straight to surge past the Briton and secure the biggest victory of his Elite career.
© Giacomo Podetti / Val di Sole Bike Land
Aldridge crossed the line to take the silver medal, while Luca Martin (France) completed a strong day for the French team by claiming bronze.
STIGGER SNATCHES UCI XCC WORLD TITLE IN PHOTO FINISH THRILLER
Laura Stigger (Austria) edged one of the closest finishes of the UCI World Championships to secure her maiden Women’s Elite UCI XCC World Championship title, defeating Evie Richards (Great Britain) by the narrowest of margins on the line.
The race was packed with drama from the outset. Swiss teammates Ronja Blöchlinger and Alessandra Keller saw their medal hopes disappear after a collision in the lead group, taking both riders out of contention.
At the front, Jenny Rissveds (Sweden) looked strong throughout as she chased a first UCI World Championship title in the XCC format. However, the race remained tightly contested, with five riders still in the hunt for the rainbow jersey heading into the final lap.
© Daniele Molineris / Val di Sole Bike Land
As the pace intensified, Sina Frei (Switzerland) challenged Rissveds for control of the race, while Richards launched a bold long-range sprint that appeared set to carry her to victory. The Briton held the lead until the final metres, but Stigger produced a perfectly timed surge and bike throw on the finish line to snatch the title by mere millimetres. Richards was forced to settle for silver, while Frei secured the bronze medal.
The Under-23 races also delivered memorable moments, with Swiss siblings Monique and Nicolas Halter producing impressive performances to claim a historic family double.
© Daniele Molineris / Val di Sole Bike Land
Monique Halter struck first in the Women's Under-23 race, attacking on the final lap to overcome Bethany-Ann Jackson (Great Britain) and secure the rainbow jersey. Makena Kellerman (United States) completed the podium in third.
Not to be outdone, Nicolas Halter followed his sister’s lead in the Men’s Under-23 race. The Swiss rider launched a decisive move on the final lap to deny pre-race favourite Paul Schehl (Germany) the UCI World title, while Rens Teunissen van Manen (Netherlands) claimed bronze to round out the podium.
