The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike Series approaches its midway point this weekend, and all four of the formats’ overall titles are still wide open with plenty to play for. The racing in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy) will therefore be pivotal in setting the tone for the latter stages of the season, providing momentum in a frantic run of back-to-back race weekends that continue with Pal Arinsal (Andorra) for the downhill and cross-country athletes next weekend and Aletsch Arena-Bellwald, Valais (Switzerland) for enduro the following.

The Italian Alps venue returns after a successful debut in 2025, where both the UCI Enduro and UCI Downhill World Cups produced some memorable and incredibly close action. This weekend sees the UCI Cross-country World Cup join the fray, making it the second four-way WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stop of the season.

THE FORMING OF AN ITALIAN ICON

La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta is a high alpine ski town in the northwest of Italy that’s nestled in the Alps on the Italy-France border. A stone’s throw from Chamonix (France) and Mont Blanc, the town’s 1,450m elevation guarantees amazing views of the surrounding mountain range and down into the valley below.

Its trail area is home to 170km of routes, featuring some challenging, black-diamond trails packed with long, steep descents. Above the treeline, riders are treated to mellow, meadow fields, but on dropping into the woods, the lines become rocky, rooty, and natural, creating a demanding test for both rider and bike.

The UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup course is new for 2026 on the UCI World Cup circuit and combines natural, long open climbs with a mix of flowing bike park descents and technical, raw cross-country drops on its 3.42km loop. The 714m UCI Cross-country Short-Track (XCC) World Cup course meanwhile features the same tight start corner and punchy initial climb before descending back down with a couple of tight, hairpin bends thrown in what could cause havoc at the front of the race.

The LTHell - La Thuile Hell downhill course was created especially for the UCI Downhill World Cup by track manager Enrico Martello and Swiss specialists Trailworks (whose work includes Bike Kingdom, Lenzerheide, Switzerland). The technical, steep and fast 2.3km course has an average gradient of -27% as it drops 641m in elevation. A mix of 40% machined and 60% natural terrain, it represents La Thuile’s character as it passes through dense alpine forests before opening up into a fast, flowing white-knuckle ride down towards the finish line.

The venue’s Enduro stages meanwhile take in the best trails of the Aosta Valley. The UCI Enduro World Cup will see athletes take on four stages as part of a 28.4km course featuring 2,696m of descent. Stages one and three are drawn out affairs – the opening 4.42km with 874m descent Touraisse the longest of the lot – while the venue is pulling out all the stops again for the final stage, Nightfall.

After a successful debut in 2025, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ only after-dark stage returns; riders dropping in from 20.30 CET and navigating the 600m-long stage lit by 23 floodlights that utilise the same technology as those used in Formula 1’s night races to ensure there are no shadows.

WILDCARD TEAMS

The following wildcard teams have been confirmed to compete in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta:

UCI Downhill World Cup: Crestline Speed Shop, Outlaw Intense Racing, Pivot Factory Racing, Team High Country, The Alliance, Stoic Racing, YT RD.
UCI Cross-country World Cup: Bike Team Solothurn, KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Massi, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros - Youngstars, UNNO Factory Racing.

It’s the first appearance for YT RD, a development squad run by YT whose previous riders include Oisin O’Callaghan (Trek - Unbroken DH).

PRIVATEERS LEAD THE WAY IN ENDURO

Alex Rudeau and Ella Conolly might not have the backing of a factory set-up, but both riders make the privateer life work for them as they lead the UCI Enduro World Cup.

The 2024 UCI Enduro World Champion, Rudeau minimised losses in a dramatic and weather-impacted round in Val di Fassa, Trentino (Italy), last weekend to finish fifth, while his most likely challenger for the overall series Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) could only manage 11th place. With such a short turnaround between rounds, it will be interesting to see whether the support of a team plays to Lukasik’s advantage during Saturday’s UCI Enduro World Cup.

Conolly meanwhile continued her impressive consistency – the last time the Brit finished outside the top two was at the UCI Enduro World Championships in September 2024. She opened her 2026 account with victory in Loudenvielle, and although Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) got the better of her in the Dolomites last week, a return to La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, where she triumphed 12 months ago, could provide the perfect stage for another success.

DOWNHILL: ILES EYES A HISTORIC HAT-TRICK WHILE HÖLL TARGETS A RETURN TO WINNING WAYS

Things are finally falling into place for Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity). The Canadian overcame his 1,407 days without a win in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria) and then followed it up seven days later with a second victory at the next time of asking. With team-mate Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) out, Iles has big boots to fill as the team’s leader, but he’s doing it in style, and will fancy his chances in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, even though he failed to make it out of qualifying last year.

Another Canadian, Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate), stood on the top step 12 months ago, and while the reigning overall champion is without a podium in 2026, he’s getting closer, finishing fourth in Lenzerheide (Switzerland).

Elsewhere, Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) is showing the consistency that has been lacking in his riding since his last overall title from 2022, and Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) looks to be near his race-winning best.

Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orress) had an off day by her incredibly high standards – her 10th place her worst result since Mont-Sainte-Anne in October 2025. The Austrian will hope that Lenzerheide was just a blip and will look to go one better than her result in the Italian Alps from last year, where she finished second.

Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) appears the most likely to capitalise on any mistakes from Höll. The American is fresh from recording her first-ever UCI World Cup victory two weeks ago, an achievement that earned her the right to choose a career number, with Newkirk opting for 14.

Others knocking on the door include Gloria Scarsi (MS Racing), last year’s La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta winner Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and we’re yet to see the form that took Gracey Hemstreet (Norco X Adidas Race Division) to second place in the overall in 2025.

CROSS-COUNTRY: MARTIN AND RISSVEDS ON THE MARCH

Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) currently sits in first place of the UCI rankings and it’s easy to see why. The Frenchman is having a stellar second season in the elite class, adding another win to his collection in the UCI XCO World Cup last time out. He hasn’t finished off the podium in the Olympic distance all year, and it’s this sort of consistency that will make him a firm favourite for the title.

He won’t have it plain sailing in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta though. Multi-discipline riders Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) and UCI XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Race Team - XC) can both keep Martin off the top spot, and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) might be closer to full race fitness than he was when he made his return from injury two weeks ago in Lenzerheide.

Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) is also riding a wave of success with the Swede finishing in the top three of the UCI XCO World Cup for more than a calendar year, including back-to-back wins in the last two rounds. Another victory in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta would be the Rio 2016 Olympic champions’ 10th of her career and move her within one win of eighth-place Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing) in the all-time list.

Only the Specialized Factory Racing pair of Sina Frei and Laura Stigger have had the edge on Rissveds in the UCI XCO World Cup this season, but Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) are on the rise, while Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) are always a threat.

RICHARDS AND KORETZKY RETURN IN SHORT TRACK

The UCI XCC World Cup has been missing two of its biggest stars for large portions of this season – women’s reigning overall winner Evie Richards (Trek - Unbroken XC) out for the last two rounds with concussion, while men’s UCI XCC World Champion Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) has been injured all year with a broken arm. Both are set to return in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta and will be keen to make up for lost time.

Richards’ return will give series leader Frei an extra challenge alongside the likes of Rissveds, Blunk and Pieterse, while Koretzky could shake up a men’s contest that has so far been dominated by three other Frenchmen – Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), Boichis and Martin.

MORE THAN RACING

Set against an outstanding backdrop and with a wide range of activities on offer, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stop in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta promises to deliver everything fans and riders need for an unforgettable weekend.

With all four formats reunited, the on-track action is guaranteed, while off track, fans can immerse themselves in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series experience through the partner passport challenge, a fun initiative that invites them to explore the Event Village. Visitors will receive a booklet and are encouraged to stop by each partner stand to collect stickers. Once completed, the passport can be redeemed for a prize at the official merchandise store.

The initiative is designed to encourage fans to discover the full Event Village, increase engagement with partners, and celebrate the launch of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series official store. Now present at all major European events and available online worldwide, the store offers exclusive merchandise ranging from apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, long-sleeve tees) and accessories (water bottles, hats, key rings, mugs) to race-day essentials such as branded ponchos and sun hats. Explore the full collection here.

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