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 seven of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland (Austria) on June 5-8.
While all eight teams that applied for a Downhill spot secured a wildcard, only eight Cross-country teams were selected from 18 applicants.
Most of the teams qualified via the new wildcard system will be making their second or third appearance in the series for their respective formats, but there will be a first appearance for Future Frameworks Team in the UCI Downhill World Cup.
The newly formed sister squad to WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team Frameworks Racing/5Dev, is focused on up-and-coming talent and made up of first-year Juniors Jack McCredie and Zanna Logar, and second-year Junior Benny De Vall.
Elsewhere, in Cross-country, KTM Factory MTB Team and Lexware Mountainbike Team continue their 100% attendance record so far in the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, while Goodman Santacruz, Rogue Racing – SR Suntour, Team High Country and Kenda NS Bikes UR Team do the same in downhill.
One rider who has qualified via the wildcard system worth keeping an eye on is Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing). The American legend has four UCI World Cup victories at the Austrian venue during his storied career, including an iconic finals run from 2015 where his bike’s chain snapped when coming out of the start hut and he still somehow went on to win.
The 16 wildcard teams for round 7 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland are:
UCI Cross-country World Cup:
- KTM Factory MTB Team
- BIXS Performance Race Team
- Lexware Mountainbike Team
- Massi
- Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret
- Trek Future Racing
- Cabtech Racing Team
- Trinity Racing
UCI Downhill World Cup:
- Goodman Santacruz
- Gwin Racing
- Rogue Racing – SR Suntour
- Team High Country
- Kenda NS Bikes UR Team
- YT Racing Development
- The Alliance
- Future Frameworks
In addition to hosting round 4 of the UCI Cross-country World Cup and round 3 of the UCI Downhill World Cup, Austria’s largest bike region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn will also stage round 4 of the UCI Enduro World Cup, one week after a trip to Loudenvielle-Peyragudes in France.
