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 round 11 of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Pal Arinsal (Andorra) on July 10-13.
While all eight teams that applied for a downhill spot secured a wildcard, it was a lot more competitive in the cross-country, with only half of the 16 applicants selected.
The majority of qualifying teams have already featured in the 2025 series, but there will be a first appearance for Swiss Endurance outfit Bike Team Solothurn.
The nine-strong Cross-country team has a strong UCI World Cup history and blends a mixture of experience and youth. Some of its riders have already lit up this year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series too, having qualified based on their UCI ranking points. Fabio Püntener is Bike Team Solothurn’s highest profile rider, recording a podium in the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup round in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria) after finishing fifth in the previous round, while Fiona Schibler has been the in-form U23 XCO rider of rounds three and four, following up second place in Nové Mesto Na Moravě (Czechia) with the win in Austria.
Elsewhere, Lexware Mountainbike Team is the only Endurance team to continue its 100% wildcard qualification record, while Goodman Santacruz, Rogue Racing - SR Suntour, Team High Country and Kenda NS Bikes UR Team do the same in downhill.
The podiums keep coming for wildcard entrants too, with top three spots in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland for BIXS Performance Race Team’s Ramona Forchini (3rd in Women Elite XCO), Lexware Mountainbike Team’s Elina Benoit (1st in Women U23 Cross-country Short Track (XCC) ; 3rd in Women U23 XCO) and Paul Schehl (3rd in Men U23 XCC; 2nd in Men Under 23 XCO), and Trinity Racing’s Vida Lopez de San Roman (2nd in Women U23 XCC).
The 16 wildcard teams for round 11 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Pal Arinsal, Andorra are:
UCI Cross-country World Cup:
1. BIXS Performance Race Team
2. Lexware Mountainbike Team
3. Bike Team Solothurn
4. Massi
5. Cabtech Racing Team
6. Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret
7. Trek Future Racing
8. Trinity Racing
UCI Downhill World Cup:
1. Gwin Racing
2. Rogue Racing - SR Suntour
3. Goodman Santacruz
4. Team High Country
5. Kenda NS Bike UR Team
6. YT Racing Development
7. The Alliance
8. Future Frameworks
