Set high in the spectacular Alps on the Italy–France border, La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta provided the backdrop for one of the most physically demanding rounds of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Perched at 1,500 metres above sea level, the brand-new 3.2-kilometre UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup course combined relentless climbing with technical descents, pushing riders to their limits.
The challenge began almost immediately with a punishing 652-metre ascent from the start line, before competitors were tested further by rutted downhill sections and a steep rock garden that demanded unwavering focus and precision throughout.
The efforts of the La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta organisers were rewarded with a weekend of thrilling racing from the world’s best athletes. Racing in her Italian National Champion jersey, Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) delighted the home fans by securing her maiden Women’s Elite UCI XCO World Cup victory. In the Men’s Elite race, overall series leader Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) delivered a composed and clinical performance, capitalising on a rare error from his rivals before riding clear to victory.
In the Under-23 categories, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) and Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) completed a perfect weekend, backing up their UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup victories on Friday evening with equally dominant displays in Sunday’s XCO races.
Strong performances across the weekend saw Specialized Factory Racing extend their advantage at the top of the team standings. However, with just 76 points separating the next five teams, the battle behind remains fiercely contested as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads into the second half of the season.
A DREAM COME TRUE: BERTA CLAIMS FIRST UCI XCO WORLD CUP WIN ON HOME SOIL
Martina Berta delivered a dream performance in front of her home fans to claim her maiden Women’s Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup victory. Racing just a short distance from her hometown and wearing the Italian National Champion jersey, the 28-year-old rose to the occasion on one of the most demanding courses of the season. However, victory did not come easily, as she was forced to fend off a relentless late challenge from Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) before sparking scenes of celebration in La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta.
Fast starter Ronja Blöchlinger (LIV Factory Racing) set a fierce early pace, opening up a 10-second advantage on the opening lap. Behind her, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) led the chase before being joined by Berta and Blunk. Roared on by the home crowd, Berta steadily reeled in Blöchlinger before making her move at the front, with only Blunk able to match the Italian’s pace.
As the race unfolded, the altitude and relentless nature of the course began to take their toll. Blunk lost precious seconds through a series of small mistakes, while Blöchlinger also faded from contention and was eventually caught by a charging Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing).
Yet the battle for victory was far from over. Blunk mounted a determined comeback and steadily closed the gap to the leader. As the riders crossed the line to begin the final lap, Berta held a slender four-second advantage, while Stigger sat 36 seconds adrift in third. Sensing the pressure, the Italian dug deep and responded in emphatic style, producing her fastest lap of the race to finally shake off Blunk and secure a memorable victory on home soil.
Blunk was forced to settle for second place, finishing 12 seconds back as she continues her search for a first UCI XCO World Cup win, while Stigger completed the podium 55 seconds behind the winner.
Rissveds strengthened her overall series lead with a fourth-place finish, one spot ahead of fellow title contender Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon). Returning to competition after recovering from concussion, Evie Richards (Trek – Unbroken XC) impressed with a solid seventh-place finish.
In victory, Berta became the first Italian Elite woman to win a UCI XCO World Cup on home soil. Reflecting on her achievement, she said: “I’ve dreamed about this day since last year when the calendar came out. I saw La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta on the calendar and told my coach I wanted to win here, it was a dream. From dreaming it to actually doing it is a long journey. It’s just amazing. I’m so grateful for all the support. In the final part of the race I was really suffering because Savilia [Blunk] was coming back. I couldn’t disappoint all the people here. I still can’t believe what I did today, and it will probably take a few days to fully realise it.”
MARTIN MASTERS LA THUILE TO EXTEND UCI XCO WORLD CUP LEAD
Luca Martin delivered another statement performance as the Frenchman secured back-to-back UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup victories. After narrowly losing out to long-time rival Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) in Friday’s UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup, the Cannondale Factory Racing rider proved untouchable over the longer distance, capitalising on a key mistake from his rivals before powering clear to a dominant victory.
The start list was notably missing two major contenders. Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) remained sidelined after fracturing his fibula in a recent training accident, while Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) was unable to start after crashing during practice earlier in the weekend.
Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team), winner of the UCI XCC World Cup round in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland last month, set the early pace on La Thuile’s demanding opening climb. Riding high after team-mate Martina Berta’s victory in the Women’s Elite race, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) looked eager to animate the race and launched an early attack, with Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) joining him at the front.
Neither Boichis nor Martin showed any signs of fatigue from their XCC battle two days earlier and quickly responded to the move. The lead group was eventually reduced when Avondetto crashed on an off-camber section through the woods, bringing down Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) and causing both riders to lose contact with the leaders.
What followed was a fascinating tactical battle, with Martin, Boichis and Azzaro repeatedly testing one another across the punishing climbs and technical descents of the Alpine course. The decisive move came midway through the race when Martin sensed an opportunity on one of La Thuile’s technical downhill sections. A small error from Azzaro was all the overall series leader needed to launch his attack, opening a gap that neither Azzaro nor Boichis could close as the pair made further mistakes while trying to respond.
From there, Martin never looked back. The Frenchman steadily extended his advantage to take victory by more than a minute, while Azzaro dropped Boichis over the closing laps to secure second place.
Riley recovered strongly from his earlier setback to continue his impressive season in fourth, while United States National Champion Riley Amos (Trek – Unbroken XC) celebrated a career-best fifth-place finish.
Elsewhere, reigning UCI XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC) made his return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series following a spell racing on the UCI WorldTour road circuit, crossing the line in 16th place.
Martin’s victory extended his lead in the overall UCI XCO World Cup standings to 343 points after five rounds. Reflecting on his triumph, he said: “It is so special. I’m so happy to have raced here. This track was a real mountain bike track, with incredibly technical and dusty descents. When we reached around 45 minutes into the race, I felt it was the right moment to attack because I was feeling really good. I live in Nice and the terrain is quite similar, with the same type of dirt and descents, so I felt very comfortable riding this course.”
CORVI AND SCHEHL DOMINATE UNDER-23 RACING IN LA THUILE
Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) delivered the most commanding performance of the day in the Women’s Under-23 race. The Italian has established herself as the rider to beat in the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup this season and strengthened her grip on the overall standings with a fourth victory in five rounds.
In front of her home crowd, Corvi wasted no time asserting her dominance, opening up a 45-second advantage on the opening lap and steadily extending her lead throughout the race before crossing the line an emphatic 2 minutes and 42 seconds clear of her nearest challenger.
Monique Halter (Thömus Akros – Youngstars) rode a lonely race in second for much of the day, but a slower penultimate lap allowed the chasing riders to close the gap. Despite a determined final-lap effort from Ella Macphee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Racing), Halter held on to secure second place by just two seconds, with the Canadian completing the podium in third.
Corvi’s latest success extended her lead in the overall standings to an impressive 320 points after five rounds. Reflecting on her performance, she said: “I’m almost speechless. I knew my shape was good, so I just tried to race as well as I could. From the start, my goal was to enter the second part of the track in front because I felt that was the key section. Lap after lap I gained a few more seconds and managed my effort. It’s such a demanding course, with tough climbs and technical descents. To win both races here in Italy, in front of my home crowd, makes it even more special.”
In the Men’s Under-23 race, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) also completed a perfect double after backing up his UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup victory with a commanding XCO triumph. Much like Corvi earlier in the day, the German took control from the front on La Thuile’s gruelling course, distancing his rivals from the opening lap and quickly establishing a decisive lead.
Nicolas Halter (Thömus Akros–Youngstars) emerged as Schehl’s closest challenger but was unable to match the German’s pace, eventually finishing 1 minute and 32 seconds adrift in second place. Behind him, Lucas Teste (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) timed his race to perfection to secure third, while Friday’s XCC runner-up Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) finished fourth.
Three consecutive UCI XCO World Cup victories have helped Schehl extend his lead at the top of the overall standings to 68 points. Following his latest win, he said: “It’s unbelievable. I’m in the shape of my life at the moment and everything is coming together perfectly. I’m so happy. This track is amazing. I absolutely love it. We need more courses like this.”
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues at a relentless pace, with another iconic mountain destination awaiting next weekend. The series heads to Pal Arinsal – Andorra, where riders will once again face the challenges of high-altitude racing. Action begins on Friday with the UCI XCC World Cup and UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying, before the downhill finals take centre stage on Saturday and the UCI XCO World Cup concludes the weekend on Sunday.
