The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that five wildcard teams have been selected for the first Downhill round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, that will take place in Bielsko-Biała, Poland on May 16-18.
All of the teams have a development focus and are made up of promising up-and-coming talent and those with a few years as Elite riders under the belts. But there are also a number of established names who will be lining up in a UCI Downhill World Cup start hut once more thanks to the new wildcard system.
Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing) is the highest profile rider to earn his spot in Poland – the Frenchman is a UCI Downhill World Cup round winner, having won in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, in 2023. Other well-known athletes to qualify via the new set-up include Thomas Estaque (Goodman - Santa Cruz), who finished fifth in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie last year; Kenda - NS Bikes’ 2019 Junior downhill UCI World Champion Kye A’Hern; and his sister, Australian National Champion Sian A’Hern (YT Racing Development).
In addition to Estaque, Goodman - Santa Cruz’s five-rider lineup includes French National Champion Lisa Bouladou and Nathan Pontvianne – a UCI Downhill World Cup finals qualifier in 2024. Meanwhile Rogue Racing’s Italian National Champion and top 10 UCI Downhill World Cup finisher Davide Palazzari will also get his shot at qualifying for finals in Bielsko-Biała.
YT Racing Development are a new introduction for 2025 and are a feeder team for WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team, YT Mob. High Country meanwhile are the final team to secure a spot, and feature three future stars of downhill from the southern hemisphere, with 16-year-old New Zealander Malik Boatwright making his WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut in Poland between 16-18 May.
The five wildcard teams for round 4 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Bielsko-Biała are:
- Kenda - NS Bikes
- YT Racing Development
- Goodman - Santa Cruz
- High Country
- Rogue Racing
