The inaugural Golden Arrow Awards brought together the mountain bike community to celebrate excellence across the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.Athletes, teams, organisers, media and industry leaders came together at the Olympic Centre in Lake Placid, New York (USA), on Sunday 4 October, following the final round of the season.The ceremony celebrated outstanding achievements both on and off the racecourse, recognising members of the mountain bike community who made a defining contribution to the 2026 season.Awards were presented across four categories: Event of the Year, Rookie of the Year (cross-country and downhill), Legacy Award and Best Professional Photograph.The winners of the 2026 Golden Arrows Awards are:Legacy Award: Pal Arinsal, AndorraThe Legacy Award recognises teams and LOCs that create a lasting positive impact beyond competition through sustainability, community engagement, inclusion, youth development, trail stewardship and wider social responsibility.Selected by an expert panel, Pal Arinsal receives the award in recognition of its comprehensive, long-term sustainability strategy, which spans renewable energy, trail and biodiversity protection, waste reduction, sustainable transport, accessibility and community partnerships.Built on more than 20 years of commitment, sustainability is embedded not only in the event itself but across the destination’s year-round operations. Its exemplary operational management, measurable data tracking and lasting infrastructure improvements strongly embody the Leave No Trace, Leave a Legacy mandate.Rookie of the year - Cross-country: Maxime L'Homme (Bike Team Solothurn)Voted for by his fellow riders, Maxime L'Homme earned recognition for a standout debut Elite campaign that showcased both his talent and determination. Fellow competitors highlighted his ability to deliver strong results against the sport's established stars, proving he belongs at the highest level. Combined with his fighting spirit, professionalism and popularity within the paddock, L'Homme's breakthrough season made him a worthy recipient of the peer-voted award.Rookie of the year - Downhill: Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction)Max Alran was recognised for producing one of the season’s defining moments with his UCI World Cup victory in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France). His fellow riders highlighted the significance of winning on home soil at one of mountain biking’s most iconic venues during his first season as an Elite competitor. At just 19 years old, his composure, skill, riding style and the excitement generated by his breakthrough performance left a lasting impression on the paddock.Event of the Year: Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France)Voted for by the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series teams, Les Gets was recognised as Event of the Year for delivering the most outstanding all-round experience of the 2026 season. With more than 100,000 spectators in attendance, the French venue once again demonstrated why it holds such a special place in mountain biking, pairing huge, passionate crowds with an atmosphere that few venues can rival. From the energy lining the downhill and cross-country iconic courses to the vibrant event village and celebrations throughout the weekend, Les Gets created a true festival of mountain biking and an unforgettable experience for riders, teams and fans alike.Best Professional Photograph: Rory Stock with "Almost there!" featuring Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France)The Best Professional Photograph award honours the single image that best captures the drama, emotion and spirit of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.Following a shortlist selected by an expert panel and a public vote to determine the winner, New Zealand photographer Rory Stock claimed the award with a powerful image of Max Alran, captured just minutes before he secured his maiden UCI World Cup victory in front of an roaring home crowd.ONE FINAL CELEBRATION OF AN UNFORGETTABLE 2026 SEASONThe Golden Arrows ceremony also featured the presentation of The Summit, the new UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Team Trophy which was awarded to Specialized Factory Racing (UCI Cross-country World Cup) and COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction (UCI Downhill World Cup). The Globe was presented to all UCI Downhill, Cross-country Short Track and Cross-country Olympic World Cup overall winners.Alongside the Golden Arrows awards, the evening also celebrated four figures whose influence has helped shape mountain biking as we know it today, with Max Commencal, Stan Day, Tracy Moseley and Greg Minnaar inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.From pioneering bike and component innovation to redefining what is possible at the highest level of competition, the four inductees represent different chapters in the evolution of the discipline and a collective legacy spanning decades.The ceremony carried additional significance as the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame joined forces with the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to celebrate its 2026 class during the season finale in Lake Placid, bringing the induction ceremony outside California for the first time since 2015.The curtain now falls on the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, bringing to a close an unforgettable season of UCI Mountain Bike World Cup racing. New faces emerged, new rivalries took shape, breakthrough victories were celebrated and remarkable careers reached their final chapter.From defining performances to unexpected storylines, 2026 delivered moments that will live long in the memory, while setting the stage for the stories still to come. As the riders, teams and fans turn the page on another spectacular year, attention now shifts to what lies ahead. Further details on the 2027 calendar will be announced soon.
Lisa Bouladou (Santa Cruz Burgtec By Goodman) and Luke Meier-Smith (Giant Factory Off-Road Team DH) went all-in to claim victory in the UCI Downhill World Cup season finale at Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA), while Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) and Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) secured the coveted overall titles.At just 19 years old, rookie Vermette delighted the home crowd by becoming only the second American to claim the Men’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup overall, following a dramatic final weekend of racing.Whiteface Mountain provided a spectacular autumnal backdrop as the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series reached its conclusion. The two-kilometer, machine-built downhill course evolved throughout the weekend, with wet conditions earlier in the week giving way to a progressively drier and faster track. Technical wooded sections combined with high-speed open terrain to deliver a demanding test of skill, precision and nerve.Bouladou produced a fearless run to claim her maiden Women’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup victory, denying Höll a historic seventh win of the season. In the men’s race, Meier-Smith repeated his triumph at the same venue 12 months earlier to secure the second UCI Downhill World Cup victory of his career.There were maiden winners in the Junior categories too, as Ryder Wilson (Team High Country) and Tilly Boadle (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) celebrated their first UCI World Cup victories. The overall titles had already been secured by Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) and Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing).The Team standings went down to the wire in the final round, with Canyon DH Racing taking the Lake Placid victory on 73 points after finishing level on points with COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction. Across the season, however, COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction proved the most consistent, securing the overall Team title.VERMETTE MAKES HISTORY AS MEIER-SMITH DOUBLES UP IN LAKE PLACIDLuke Meier-Smith (Giant Factory Off-Road Team DH) made it back-to-back victories at Lake Placid, winning the Men’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup for a second consecutive season. Meanwhile, rookie Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) became only the second rider in history to claim the Men’s Elite overall title in his debut season, following in the footsteps of French legend Nicolas Vouilloz.Vermette was made to work for the crown, holding off a final-round challenge from Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) after a dramatic conclusion to the season.Heading into the weekend, the overall title was a three-way battle between Vermette, Williams and Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction). The pressure showed during qualifying, with Pierron crashing twice and failing to progress to the final, ending his hopes of the overall title, while Vermette was forced to battle his way through Q2.UCI Downhill World Champion Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) was another big name left watching the final from the sidelines after also going out in Q2. With Pierron eliminated, all eyes were on Vermette as the 19-year-old looked to lay down a benchmark time and put himself in position to secure the overall crown.Despite struggling through the opening technical section, the American fought back strongly and recorded the fastest speed of the day, clocking 72km/h through the speed trap. Vermette’s time was eventually good enough for eighth place and, with title rival Williams finishing sixth, the Frameworks Racing/TRP rider had done enough to be crowned overall winner.Meier-Smith had hoped his maiden UCI Downhill World Cup victory at Lake Placid 12 months earlier would prove a breakthrough moment. However, the Australian endured a challenging 2026 campaign, arriving at the final round with just one top 10 finish to his name. Back on a Whiteface Mountain course that clearly plays to his strengths, Meier-Smith rediscovered his best form, powering to victory in 3:08.38.Andreas Kolb (Santa Cruz Syndicate) mastered the second half of the course to repeat his runner-up finish from Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), earlier in the season, finishing 1.3 seconds behind Meier-Smith.Ryan Pinkerton (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) had qualified fastest the previous day but was unable to start after crashing during the morning practice session. In his absence, Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek – Unbroken DH) was the final rider out of the start gate and produced a strong closing section to snatch third place.Following his victory, Meier-Smith said: “It’s crazy. It hasn’t really been the season I had been hoping for. To turn it around at the end and get another win here is just insane. I was getting a little bit of doubt in my head, not sure if I could do it again. But I just gave it my all. I didn’t have anything left at the bottom. I think that made the difference.“For me, it’s the best track. Coming from Australia, we have a lot of tracks that are pretty flat and physical. You’ve got to carry your own speed and not just manage it. That’s sort of my strength, and I think this track has that pretty well. I think that’s what makes the difference for me here.”Vermette finished the season at the top of the overall standings with 1,442 points, 66 ahead of Williams in second, with Pierron completing the top three.Reflecting on his achievement, Vermette said: “It’s insane. I dreamed of it at the beginning of the season, so for it to happen is crazy. It has been a crazy season, with ups and downs. I don’t really have any words.”On the nerves before his final run, Vermette added: “My head was spinning. Before I dropped in, I was just like, ‘Just ride your bike.’ It was so hard to lock in with all those nerves. I was riding tight, but I was glad it was good enough to get down.”BOULADOU DENIES HÖLL HISTORY WITH MAIDEN LAKE PLACID VICTORYLisa Bouladou (Santa Cruz Burgtec By Goodman) saved her best for last, producing a fearless run in the season finale to claim her maiden Women’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup victory. The 21-year-old had already shown her form one week earlier at Whistler Mountain Bike Park (British Columbia, Canada), where she qualified fastest before securing a career-best third place.The French rider again topped qualifying in Lake Placid before going one better when it mattered most, setting a winning time of 3:36.03. Her victory denied UCI Downhill World Champion Valentina Höll the chance to make history in the final round. A seventh victory of the season would have seen Höll equal the record held by Anne-Caroline Chausson and Rachel Atherton for the most wins in a single season.Starting second from last, the Austrian looked in formidable form as she flew through the technical sections of the Whiteface Mountain course. However, a strong headwind over the final jumps visibly disrupted her momentum, costing the overall winner valuable speed and time as she ultimately settled for second.Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing) missed the early part of the season after suffering an elbow injury at the opening round, but the British rider had shown increasing consistency in recent races, including two seventh-place finishes. Seagrave drew on all her experience and power on the demanding Lake Placid course to take a close third, finishing just six tenths of a second behind Bouladou.It was also a day for experience to shine, with Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) lining up for the 100th UCI Downhill World Cup race of her illustrious career. The French rider had amassed 66 UCI World Cup podiums but has been searching for another victory since 2024. She narrowly missed out on the podium on this occasion, finishing fourth, with Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) completing the top five.Away from the fight for the race victory, the battle for second place in the overall standings provided another layer of drama. Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing) arrived in Lake Placid holding second but, after being forced through Q2 the previous day, could only manage 11th in the final. That opened the door for Harriet Harnden (AON Racing), whose sixth-place finish was enough to secure second overall. Canada’s Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division) completed the overall podium after finishing seventh, pushing Scarsi down to fourth in the final standings.Following her breakthrough victory, Bouladou said: “It was just crazy. At the start gate, I was like, ‘It’s my last run of the year, so I need to give it my all,’ and that’s what I did. My goal this season was to finish with as many top 10s as possible. And last week, being on the podium was already crazy. But winning a World Cup, I can rest in peace this winter.”Höll, meanwhile, wrapped up the overall title with a commanding 1,085-point advantage. She said: “That was quite hard. I was trying to chase history and messed it up today. I was quite stoked with my run until the open section. There was so much headwind. Unfortunately, it’s an outdoor sport and it’s part of the game. I’m happy with my season. It’s pretty insane to get these results.”BOADLE ENDS SEASON ON A HIGH WITH MAIDEN UCI WORLD CUP VICTORYTilly Boadle celebrated a breakthrough first Women’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup victory for Australia, capping a strong end to the season. The Junior UCI Downhill World Champion had hit form in recent weeks, finishing third at Whistler Mountain Bike Park just seven days earlier. On the rough and demanding Lake Placid course, Boadle pulled out all the stops and showed no fear on her way to a winning time of 3:40.3.New Zealand’s Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) also ended her season on a high, claiming her maiden UCI Downhill World Cup podium with second place, just 2.3 seconds behind Boadle.All eyes were on fastest qualifier and overall winner Aletha Ostgaard as the American went in search of a home victory and a sixth Women’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup win of the season. Ostgaard lost time through the technical wooded section at the top of the course before regaining speed through the middle. However, a slip on the loose terrain cost her valuable momentum, and she eventually finished third, 4.3 seconds behind the winner.Following her victory, Boadle said: “I honestly can’t believe it. I had such a near-miss up there. My brain just clicked, I went full on and knew I had to push. I really wanted it this week. To do it wearing the [rainbow] stripes just doesn’t feel real. I dislocated my shoulder and every race has been hard since then. I took the risk of not having surgery in the middle of the season and just had to keep going, no matter what. I’ve got an incredible physio and it has all worked out. I’m going to have surgery next week.”Ostgaard had already secured the overall title heading into the final round and ended the season with a 175-point winning margin. She said: “That was not the run that I’d hoped for at all. I came out of the start gate, hit my shoulder really hard and I felt like I couldn’t recover. I tried to push harder and ended up nearly crashing really big again. I was like, ‘Keep it consistent and make it to the bottom and hope for a podium.’ That sums up my season. Even during runs that I’ve not been super-proud of, I put down a time and get on the podium. I wanted to show the US what I could do on home soil, but that’s racing and everyone is super-competitive.”WILSON BOWS OUT OF JUNIOR RANKS WITH FIRST UCI WORLD CUP WINRyder Wilson (Team High Country) signed off from the Men’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup in perfect fashion, claiming his maiden victory in his final race before stepping up to the Elite ranks next season. The Canadian had found his best form during the final two North American rounds, finishing fourth at Whistler Mountain Bike Park the previous week.After qualifying second fastest on Saturday, Wilson carried impressive speed through the lower sections of the demanding Lake Placid course aboard his belt-driven bike, stopping the clock at 3:15.9 to secure a breakthrough victory.Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) delivered another consistent performance to finish runner-up, two seconds behind Wilson, while fastest qualifier Noé Forlin completed the podium in third.Overall winner Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) missed the North American rounds after fracturing his wrist at the UCI Downhill World Championships. However, seven victories earlier in the season had already put the New Zealander in a commanding position, and he ultimately secured the overall title by 64 points.Following his victory, Wilson said: “I was just feeling the flow out there. From the first corner, I was like, ‘Okay, settle into it, get the top good, and then hammer on the pedals.’ I think it worked pretty well. I honestly can’t believe it. I’ve been working at this for so many years. I’ve been so close in so many races, but I’ve struggled with over-riding a fair bit. These last two races have been the best ones yet. I’m hoping to carry that momentum through the off-season and into next year, because it’ll be my first year in Elite, racing the big dogs.”Reflecting on his overall victory, Williamson said: “It’s just unreal, to be honest. I didn’t really think I’d win that many races coming into this season. I’m just so stoked with what I’ve achieved and hopefully I can carry that momentum into the off-season and get some good training in for next year. My recovery is going well. I’m back on the trail bike at the moment, and hopefully in another couple of weeks I’ll be back riding downhill. For now, the plan is just to chill out for a bit with my mates at home, then head down to Queenstown for the summer and get some training done there.”GOLDEN ARROW AWARDS SET TO CELEBRATE A SPECTACULAR 2026 SEASONLake Placid Olympic Sites brings the curtain down on a spectacular 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, with riders now set to take a well-earned break before turning their attention to winter training and preparations for the 2027 season.Before then, the mountain bike community will come together tonight at the Olympic Centre in Lake Placid for the inaugural Golden Arrow Awards. In a more glamorous setting away from the race tape, the overall winners and top teams will lift their trophies, while awards will also be presented for Best Event, Best Rookie and Best Professional Photography of the Year.The evening will also see the Legacy Award recognise the project that best embodies the values of the the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ CSR roadmap, Leave No Trace, Leave a Legacy, while four new inductees will be welcomed into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.More information on the Golden Arrow Awards ceremony is available here.
Ryan Pinkerton (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) and Lisa Bouladou (Santa Cruz Burgtec By Goodman) will be the final riders out of the start gate in their respective categories as the UCI Downhill World Cup season reaches its conclusion at the Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA), on Sunday.The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series finale is shaping up to be a classic, with Whiteface Mountain providing a stern test from top to bottom. The demanding two-kilometre course opens with a technical wooded section that will test riders’ nerve and precision before speeds build rapidly on the steep lower slopes.Wet weather ahead of Saturday’s practice made conditions particularly challenging, with the course proving increasingly unpredictable. However, sunshine later in the day helped the track dry out and conditions improve in time for qualifying.Pinkerton will be chasing his first Men’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup victory on Sunday after topping qualifying by more than a second on home soil.The battle for the Men’s Elite overall title also took another twist, with Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) the only title contender to progress directly through Q1. Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) secured his place in the final through Q2 but will start further up the order, while Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) saw his title hopes come to an end after crashing in both qualifying sessions.The final Women’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup of 2026 is also poised to deliver plenty of drama, with Bouladou topping qualifying ahead of Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) to earn the final start position on Sunday.There will be plenty for the home crowd to cheer in the Junior categories too. Women’s Junior overall UCI Downhill World Cup winner Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) was once again fastest in qualifying, while Noé Forlin set the pace among the Junior Men. In a change to the usual schedule, the Junior Men will get racing underway before the Junior Women, allowing Ostgaard to cap her title-winning season in style.PINKERTON SETS THE PACE AS OVERALL BATTLE NARROWS TO TWORyan Pinkerton produced a smooth run on mud tyres to top Men’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying by more than a second.Last year’s Whiteface Mountain winner Luke Meier-Smith (Giant Factory Off-Road Team DH) laid down an early benchmark with a committed run that would ultimately earn him third place. Pinkerton, however, was fastest through every sector, stopping the clock at 3:19.1 on the two-kilometre course to secure the final starting position for Sunday’s final. New Zealand’s Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek – Unbroken DH) was the only rider to finish within two seconds of the American, qualifying second fastest.The Men’s Elite overall title remained finely poised heading into the season finale, with Asa Vermette holding a 96-point advantage over Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity), while Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) retained an outside chance of claiming a third overall crown.Vermette arrived in Lake Placid as the in-form rider after the 19-year-old rookie claimed top spot at Whistler Mountain Bike Park last weekend. But both he and Pierron fell victim to the challenging Whiteface Mountain course, with crashes sending the two title contenders into Q2.Williams also made a mistake in the opening wooded section but managed to stay upright and squeeze through Q1 in 16th place.That left a stacked Q2 field that also featured UCI Downhill World Champion Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate). Pierron’s title challenge came to an end after another crash early in his Q2 run, while Goldstone also failed to secure a place in the final.Ethan Craik (Scott Downhill Factory) went fastest in Q2, finishing 2.4 seconds ahead of Vermette, while fellow Briton Danny Hart (Norco x adidas Race Division) took third.With Pierron eliminated from Sunday’s final, the Men’s Elite overall title will now come down to a two-way battle between Vermette and Williams.BOULADOU EDGES HÖLL TO TOP WOMEN’S ELITE QUALIFYING Lisa Bouladou produced a strong qualifying run to edge Valentina Höll and go fastest in the Women’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup. The 21-year-old French rider has hit form in the closing rounds of the season, finishing third at Whistler Mountain Bike Park last weekend.Höll arrived in Lake Placid fresh from her sixth win of the season and once again showed her pace, finishing just three-hundredths of a second behind Bouladou to take second.American Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) gave the home crowd another reason to cheer, qualifying third fastest and putting herself firmly in contention ahead of Sunday’s final. British pair Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing) and Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) completed the top five and will also be well placed to challenge for the podium.It was also a historic day for Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction), who is celebrating her 100th UCI Downhill World Cup appearance this weekend, becoming the first woman to reach the milestone. The French rider comfortably secured her place in the final by qualifying ninth.Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division), runner-up on home soil in Whistler last weekend, arrived in Lake Placid in contention for second place in the overall standings. However, the Canadian lost valuable time in the upper section of the course and finished 14th, sending her into Q2 alongside fellow overall podium contender Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing).Sacha Earnest (Trek – Unbroken DH) mastered the Whiteface Mountain course in Q2, setting a time of 3:49.4 to finish more than three seconds clear of the field. Scarsi and Hemstreet took second and third respectively to secure their places in the final, although both will be among the earlier starters in Sunday’s season finale.FORLIN FASTEST AS OSTGAARD CONTINUES JUNIOR DOMINANCENoé Forlin will be chasing his maiden Men’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup victory on Sunday after setting the fastest qualifying time by more than two seconds. The multi-discipline rider, who has already won a UCI Enduro World Cup in the Junior category, has also recorded two top-10 finishes in downhill this season.Forlin stopped the clock at 3:29.3, finishing more than two seconds clear of Ryder Wilson (Team High Country) in second, with Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) qualifying third fastest.Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) had already wrapped up the Men’s Junior overall title after winning each of the opening seven rounds of the season. The New Zealander has missed the North American rounds after fracturing his wrist at the UCI Downhill World Championships.His absence opened the door for Camden Rutherford (Nukeproof Axess Racing) to take victory at Whistler Mountain Bike Park last weekend. Rutherford finished 13th in qualifying, seven seconds off the pace, and will therefore be among the earlier starters in Sunday’s final.In the Women’s Junior category, overall winner Aletha Ostgaard continued her impressive form. The American caught the attention of the Elite field in Whistler last weekend after recording a time faster than any of the Women’s Elite riders and will now chase a sixth UCI Downhill World Cup victory of the season on home soil.Ostgaard once again set the pace in qualifying, stopping the clock at 3:57.8 to finish two seconds clear of Tilly Boadle (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres). France’s Cassandre Peizerat was third fastest.The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series concludes at the Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA), on Sunday, with the downhill finals bringing the season to a close. Racing gets underway at 11:30 local time. Click here to check the full schedule and find out where and how to follow all the action live.
The final endurance race of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series brought riders to the spectacular Lake Placid Olympic Sites, with the action centred around Mt Van Hoevenberg. A fast, punchy course packed with rock gardens and breathtaking descents, set against the golden light and autumn colours of the Adirondacks, delivered tight group racing and thrilling finishes across the categories.After a gruelling season, the final round provided one last physical test for tired bodies and a stern challenge for equipment, with punctures derailing the hopes of several riders.Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) held their nerve to claim sprint victories in the concluding round of this year’s UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup. Meanwhile, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) and Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) were rewarded for their consistency across the season with the overall titles.The Under-23 races brought fresh faces to the top step of the podium, as Naël Rouffiac (Origine Racing Division) and Fiona Schibler (Bike Team Solothurn) celebrated maiden UCI World Cup victories. Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) and Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team), meanwhile, capped off impressive seasons by securing the overall titles.Cannondale Factory Racing rounded out a stellar weekend with third place in the Team standings, while Specialized Factory Racing secured the overall team title, lifting The Summit, the first-ever UCI Mountain Bike World Cup team trophy, after winning every round of the season bar the finale.ALDRIDGE AND MARTIN DELIVER A DREAM FAREWELL FOR CANNONDALECharlie Aldridge held his nerve in a thrilling sprint finish to edge out Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) and claim victory in the Men’s Elite UCI XCO World Cup season finale.With Cannondale Factory Racing set to disband at the end of the season, its riders rose to the occasion in their final outing. Aldridge claimed his second UCI XCO World Cup victory, 12 months after taking his maiden win at the 2025 season finale in Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada). Team-mate Luca Martin completed a memorable farewell for the team by securing the overall titles in both XCC and XCO.Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) missed both North American rounds due to road racing commitments but retained second place in the overall standings. Third place, however, was still up for grabs heading into the finale, with the battle going all the way to the last lap.The rough terrain took its toll on riders and equipment throughout an incident-packed race. Bjorn Riley (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) saw his hopes of securing third overall come to an end after a difficult race that he was unable to finish. With Boichis absent, Martín Vidaurre Kossmann carried Specialized Factory Racing’s hopes in a leading group that gradually whittled down as the decisive final lap approached.Aldridge was determined to control proceedings from the front as the leaders charged up the Mt Van Hoevenberg hillside, but Colombo had other ideas. The Swiss rider squeezed through the smallest of gaps before powering through the rock garden to take the initiative.Aldridge, however, had one final move. Taking an alternative line, the Cannondale Factory Racing rider regained the lead heading into the final section before launching a long sprint for the line. Colombo drew alongside him on the asphalt finishing straight, but Aldridge dug deep to hold on for victory, with Colombo second and Kossmann completing the podium in third.Following his victory, Aldridge said: “I finally won a sprint! I’ve gone too early, I’ve gone too late, and this time it was perfect. What a way to finish the year. It’s the last race for Cannondale Factory Racing, so it feels great to end on a high.”Meanwhile, Martin wrapped up the overall title with a 380-point advantage over Boichis in second, with Kossmann taking third overall. Martin said: “It’s so good to be on the podium, and taking the overall is really special. It’s the last day for this team, and we finished on such a high. Having three riders in the top five shows what a great day it was for us. It was pretty tough for me, but I’m really happy with the way it ended.”FREI EDGES BERTA IN THRILLER AS RISSVEDS SECURES AN HISTORIC TITLESina Frei held on by the narrowest of margins to edge Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) in a thrilling sprint finish, while Jenny Rissveds did enough to secure the overall title.Berta arrived at the season finale as the rider in form, having completed the XCO-XCC double in Soldier Hollow, Utah (USA) two weeks earlier. Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), meanwhile, continued her return to form after missing the start of the season. Despite being held up and forced to dismount through the rock garden on the opening lap, Maxwell fought her way back into the leading group.The technical Lake Placid Olympic Sites course proved unforgiving for both riders and equipment. Rebecca Henderson (Orbea FOX Factory Team), competing in her final UCI XCO World Cup, suffered a mechanical, with Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing) also seeing her race hampered by mechanical trouble. Ronja Blöchlinger (LIV Factory Racing), meanwhile, saw her hopes ended by a crash in the rock garden.Overall leader Rissveds was unable to reproduce the form that had taken her to three UCI XCO World Cup victories this season and gradually slipped back through the field but remained on course to secure the overall crown.At the front, Frei took control as the race entered its decisive final lap. When Berta became tangled with Maxwell, the Specialized Factory Racing rider appeared to have opened the gap she needed. But Berta refused to let the victory slip away, charging back on the descent and putting herself within striking distance for the sprint to the line.Berta launched one final charge, but Frei had just enough left to hold her off and claim her third UCI XCO World Cup victory of the season.Following her victory, Frei said: “Starting the season with a win and finishing it with a win is incredible. I was sprinting full gas and I could see Martina’s wheel coming. I just pushed the bike towards the line, and I’m so happy it worked. Winning in the World Champion’s jersey is incredible. My first World Cup win came in the team jersey, the second in the European Champion’s jersey, and now the third in the World Champion’s jersey. I just knew I had to push over the top of the climbs, then let the brakes go and try to close the gaps on the descents.”Meanwhile, an 11th place finish was enough for Rissveds to secure the overall title, becoming the first Swedish athlete to win the UCI XCO World Cup. After securing the overall title, Rissveds said: “It’s really nice. The level is incredibly high at the moment, and compared to last year it’s much faster. The racing is a lot tighter. The other teams have done their homework over the winter, and that’s what we have to do to keep up with them in the coming years.”SCHIBLER STORMS TO FIRST UCI WORLD CUP WIN AS CORVI TAKES THE CROWN Fiona Schibler (Bike Team Solothurn) delivered a composed performance beyond her years to claim her maiden Women’s Under-23 UCI XCO World Cup victory.Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) arrived at the season finale with an unassailable lead in the overall standings, having won seven of the eight UCI XCO World Cup rounds. However, a heavy crash in the previous day’s UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup ruled the Italian out of the final race of the season. Her absence opened the door for a new winner, with Katrin Embacher (KTM Factory MTB Team) the only other rider in the category to have claimed a UCI XCO World Cup victory this season.Schibler endured a difficult start, losing 15 seconds on the opening lap, but kept her composure and steadily worked her way back into contention. By the second lap, the Swiss rider had bridged across to compatriots Monique Halter (Thömus maxon) and Anina Hutter at the front of the race. Lisa Kristine Jorde and Canadian Rafaelle Carrier (Trinity Racing) were also part of the early leading group as an intriguing battle began to unfold.Schibler made her decisive move midway through the race, lifting the pace and quickly opening a gap that her rivals were unable to close. Behind, the battle for the remaining podium places went down to the final lap, with Jorde finishing strongly to secure second, just four seconds ahead of Hutter in third.Despite missing the race, Corvi’s commanding advantage was enough to secure the overall title by 433 points. Schibler’s victory elevated her to second in the final standings, with Jorde completing the overall podium in third.Speaking after her maiden UCI XCO World Cup victory, Schibler said: “It means a lot to me. To win the last race of the season is so special. I had a really bad start and was far behind, so I had to give it everything. Lap after lap, I found my rhythm and flow, and it was so cool to ride here. I knew today was really important for the overall because it was so tight behind Valentina [Corvi]. I knew I just had to go for it.”Overall winner Corvi added: “It was strange to be out today. It was the best choice considering how I felt this morning. I’m happy to win the overall. It wasn’t the way I wanted to close out the season, but sometimes it’s like this.”ROUFFIAC CLAIMS MAIDEN WIN AS SCHEHL CELEBRATES OVERALL TITLENaël Rouffiac (Origine Racing Division) clinched his maiden Men’s Under-23 UCI XCO World Cup victory, after overcoming Benjamin Krüger in a sprint finish. The UCI XCO World Champion in the age category finished runner-up two weeks ago in Soldier Hollow.He was joined in a four-rider leading group with overall series winner Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team), Krüger and Alix André Gallis (Decathlon Ford Racing Team). Disaster struck for Schehl at the midway point when a crash resulted in a broken wheel and a change dropping him down the order.The penultimate lap saw Rouffiac and Krüger pull clear of Gallis as they battled out for victory. It was the Origine Racing Division rider who prevailed, while Krüger was edged into second and Gallis third.Speaking following his win Rouffiac said: “I’m so happy. To finish the season like this with the jersey is incredible. I felt good today and managed to stay at the front with the strong riders. Benjamin [Krüger] was really strong and we pushed hard on the last lap. I’m not a big sprinter, but I was on his wheel and managed to take the win in the sprint”.Meanwhile, Schehl battled back to finish 33rd and won the overall title, ahead of Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon CX Racing) in second and Nicholas Halter (Thömus Akros-Youngstars) third.Schehl said: “I crashed and broke some spokes, so I had to change wheels. I didn’t want to give up, so I kept going at my own pace. I felt really strong today, but I made a mistake and it wasn’t the way I wanted to end the season. Still, looking back, I’m really happy with what I achieved this year.”The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series concludes at Whiteface Mountain on Sunday with downhill riders bringing a close to the season. Ryan Pinkerton (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) and Lisa Bouladou (Santa Cruz Burgtec By Goodman) will be the last riders out of the gate, as Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) and Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) prepare for a decisive Men’s Elite overall title showdown. Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) and Noé Forlin lead the Junior charge. Read the qualifhing teport here.
Martina Berta (Origine Factory Racing) and Martín Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) conquered the damp and muddy conditions at Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA) to bring a memorable UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup season to a close in style.Berta made it back-to-back XCC victories, underlining her status as one of the breakthrough riders of 2026 and securing third place in the overall standings. Vidaurre, meanwhile, carried his late-season form into Lake Placid following his his XCO victory at Soldier Hollow, Utah (USA). His win also marked a third consecutive Men Elite XCC victory at Lake Placid Olympic Sites for Specialized Factory Racing, following Victor Koretzky in 2024 and Christopher Blevins in 2025.The racing also brought a nail-biting Women Elite UCI XCC World Cup overall battle to a close, with Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) edging Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) after a season-long fight for the title.Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing), meanwhile, was confirmed as the Men Elite UCI XCC World Cup overall winner shortly before racing got underway. His closest rival, and the only rider still mathematically able to overtake him, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Factory Racing), withdrew from the event due to a lack of form.Earlier in the day, the U23 XCC races delivered maiden UCI World Cup victories for Bethany-Ann Jackson and Alix André Gallis (Decathlon Ford Racing Team).BERTA BRAVES THE MUD AS FREI SEALS UCI XCC WORLD CUP OVERALL CROWNIn the build-up to the Women Elite XCC race, all eyes were on Sina Frei and Jenny Rissveds, with the pair battling not only for victory on the day but also for the overall title. Frei’s advantage in the standings meant the Swiss rider only needed a top three finish to seal the crown, while Rissveds had to win and hope Frei finished off the podium.The pair set the pace from the gun, with Berta and Evie Richards (Trek-Unbroken XC) also part of the leading group. The conditions added an element of chaos with the rain leaving the corners greasy, the rock garden slippery and riders struggling for traction.By lap three, a lead group of eight had broken clear, with Rissveds setting a fierce tempo at the front. The pace proved too much for Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing), who lost contact with the group.Two laps later, the group had swelled from eight to 11 as three riders, including Sammie Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing), rejoined the fight following a lull in the attacks. At the front, however, Rissveds, Frei and an energised Berta continued to set the tone.The race soon settled into a familiar pattern, with Frei upping the pace at the end of the start/finish straight to lead into the technical section, before Rissveds clawed back the advantage on the course’s bobsleigh-inspired descent.That pattern continued until the penultimate lap, when Berta finally showed her hand. The Italian moved up to second before attacking as the leaders took the bell for the final lap, setting a pace that only Rissveds could follow.The Origine Racing Division rider maintained her advantage through the rock garden and remained composed despite having Rissveds, the most successful Women Elite XCC rider of all time, right on her wheel. Berta entered the final corner with a bike-length advantage and refused to relent in the drag race to the line, holding off Rissveds to claim her second UCI XCC World Cup victory in North America.Rissveds was forced to settle for second, while Frei crossed the line in third, enough for the Swiss rider to come out on top in their season-long battle and secure the overall title by just 60 points.Speaking after the race, Martina Berta said: “It’s insane. I think I still have to process what happened two weeks ago. To do it again today is just amazing. I’m so happy. Not only because of the results themselves, but being here and winning three World Cups means I’ve taken a really big step forward. Most of all, I’m so happy and grateful to everyone who has worked with me, not only on days like today, but also through the hard days. They’re the reason why I’m here.”Speaking after the race, Sina Frei said: “It’s really amazing. I don’t know what to say, but it’s insane that I managed to keep it together from the first straight to the last. I can be really proud, and it was fun to race here. I tried not to think about [the title], but it was always somewhere in my mind. In conditions like today, the equipment is even more important. One little slip can cost you the overall. I had to push as hard as I could, stay at the front, avoid mistakes, stay out of trouble and give it everything I had.”VIDAURRE POWERS TO FIRST XCC WIN AS MARTIN WRAPS UP OVERALL Like the Women Elite competition, the Men Elite overall title was still up for grabs heading into the final round, with Martin and Azzaro locked in a two-way battle for the crown. The suspense ended before the racing even began, however, after Azzaro withdrew from the weekend, explaining that his body “is not fit to race at World Cup level.”But Vidaurre and Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon XC Racing) had plenty of drama of their own in store, producing a thrilling battle in the wet and slippery conditions.It was Schwarzbauer who lit the touchpaper, with the German XCC champion setting the pace from the start. Martin, meanwhile, sat back in 12th position, while Bjorn Riley (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) was also among the contenders.Two laps later, Vidaurre and Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) had joined Schwarzbauer at the head of the race, glued to the German’s back wheel. By the halfway point, European champion Aldridge took the initiative, leading through the rock garden and stretching the seven-rider front group. But the Brit’s WHOOP live data suggested he was already deep in the red and, with four laps still remaining, the question was whether he had made his move too soon.The decisive attack came a lap later. Schwarzbauer accelerated into the final corner, with Vidaurre the only rider able to follow. The Chilean then launched a move of his own as they crossed the start/finish line, and the pair quickly opened a gap over a chasing trio led by David List (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing).Six seconds soon became double figures, making it increasingly clear that victory would come down to Schwarzbauer or Vidaurre. And when Specialized Factory Racing’s rider surged again at the start of the final lap, the elastic finally snapped. Vidaurre powered through the final Short Track lap of the season, opening a comfortable advantage that allowed him to negotiate the churned-up course cleanly. He crossed the line to claim his maiden UCI XCC World Cup victory, celebrating in style.Schwarzbauer followed shortly behind and immediately congratulated his rival on his breakthrough Short Track win, while Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) timed his race well to secure the final place on the podium.Martin crossed the line in fourth, sealing the UCI XCC World Cup overall title without winning a single round during the season.Speaking after the race, Vidaurre said: “Before this, I used to hate Short Track, but when you’re in good shape and you’re at the front with a good guy like Luca [Schwarzbauer], it makes the race so special. More than winning, for me, being out front with him with three laps to go made it such a special way to win. I was thinking, if I don’t win, I don’t care. It was so good. I’m so happy to get my first win like that. It was so special.”Overall winner Luca Martin said: “It’s cool. There was a lot of pressure before this race because it would have been a nice battle with Mathis [Azzaro]. In the end, he wasn’t here, but we stayed focused and tried to push hard in the race. It wasn’t the race I expected today. There were a lot of crashes at the front, but I’m still happy with the overall.”JACKSON TAKES FIRST XCC WIN AS CORVI CLOSES OUT TITLE-WINNING SEASON The opening race of the day saw the Women U23 field take on the New York course for a fast and frantic Short Track showdown. Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) had already secured the overall title, but the Italian was looking to cap a podium-packed season with a fourth victory.It wasn’t to be for Corvi, however. She crashed out of the lead group on lap five and was forced to retire, leaving her title-winning tally at 776 points. Her exit only intensified the five-way battle for second in the overall standings, which had been led by Lisa Kristine Jorde.Heading into the final lap, Jorde sat second wheel behind Anina Hutter in a nine-rider lead group, but the decisive move came from further back. Bethany-Ann Jackson launched a powerful attack, with only Rafaelle Carrier (Trinity Racing), Makena Kellerman and Bloeme Kalis (KMC Nukeproof MTB Racing Team) able to respond.Jackson did enough to hold off the chase and claim her maiden Women U23 UCI XCC World Cup victory. Carrier crossed the line second, a result that propelled the Canadian from fifth to second in the overall standings, while home favourite Kellerman completed the podium and secured third overall.Bethany-Ann Jackson said: “It’s incredible. One of my goals this year was to get a podium. I made the podium at Worlds, and now I’ve done it in the World Cup too. I couldn’t be happier. I don’t know what changed [during the off-season], but I couldn’t be happier. I’m so excited [about tomorrow’s Women U23 UCI XCO World Cup]. The course is wicked and, if there’s a bit of mud, that only helps me.”Overall winner Valentina Corvi said: “Not exactly what I was hoping for, but every race is different. Today I crashed after making contact with another rider. It was a big impact, so I couldn’t finish the race. I’m happy I took the overall. I would have liked to finish the season in a better way, but that’s racing. I’m not going to race tomorrow because it’s better to focus on staying healthy. This season, I’ve already achieved some big goals, so I’m super happy. Next season will be another challenge.”ANDRÉ GALLIS ENDS XCC SEASON ON A HIGH AS SCHEHL CLAIMS OVERALLThe Men U23 UCI XCC World Cup overall had also been decided before a pedal was turned in Lake Placid, with Paul Schehl’s (Lexware Mountainbike Team) five consecutive victories earlier in the season proving decisive.With the pressure off, the German was looking to bounce back from fifth place in Soldier Hollow, Utah (USA), and end his title-winning season on a high.Schehl was immediately prominent at the front in the damp and muddy conditions, but he wouldn’t have things all his own way. After leading deep into lap five, he slipped back to fifth on the following lap and was unable to return to the head of the race.Instead, it was Alix André Gallis (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) who seized the initiative. Outside the lead group after three laps, the Frenchman steadily worked his way back into contention before launching the decisive move from a nine-rider group on the final lap.André Gallis held firm to claim his maiden Men U23 UCI XCC World Cup victory, while Benjamin Krüger won the sprint for second, edging Naël Rouffiac (Origine Racing Division) at the line to complete the podium.André Gallis said: “I’m so happy. This morning, for the last one, I just wanted to have fun. I didn’t expect this at all. I missed my pedal at the start and thought I wouldn’t be able to make it back into the top 10. Over the last few laps, a few opportunities made things easier for me, and on the final lap I just gave it everything I had. It worked. XCO is a different race, but my weekend is already good. Tomorrow is just a bonus.”Overall winner Paul Schehl said: “It was super tough. The pace was super high from the beginning. I had planned a mid-race attack, but I didn’t have the chance because everyone was attacking from the start. It was super hard. On the last lap, there was a crash in front of me that cost me a bit of momentum. In the end, I could sprint for fourth, but I didn’t have the power anymore. With the overall, Worlds, my XCC results this season and P5 here, I’ll take that.”MORE TITLES ON THE LINE AS LAKE PLACID RACING CONTINUESIn a change from the standard double-header schedule, the Endurance riders will be back between the race tape tomorrow for the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup, while the Downhill field will also return to action as riders battle to qualify for Sunday’s UCI Downhill World Cup finals.In the Women Elite XCO, the tables are turned, with Jenny Rissveds and challenger Sina Frei set to go bar-to-bar once again in the fight for the overall crown. In the Men Elite race, Luca Martin heads into the season finale on the verge of completing an impressive XCO-XCC overall double, a feat that will further establish him as one of cross-country mountain biking’s leading young riders.
Voting for the Best Professional Photograph of the Year is now open!The competition celebrates the professional photographs that best capture the essence, emotion and spectacle of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, showcasing the very best of mountain bike photography.Our expert panel of judges has selected the standout images from this year’s submissions. Entries were judged on technical quality, storytelling and impact, creativity and originality, representation of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, and overall aesthetic excellence.Now it’s over to you to choose your favourite.Meet the finalists and cast your vote:Andy Vathis"Eyes on the Prize" - Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) racing at Saalfelden Leogang SalzburgerLand (Austria)Riley McLay"What could have been…" - Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Unbroken DH) racing in Whistler Mountain Bike Park, British Columbia (Canada)Rory Stock"Almost there!" - Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France)Fanny Reyer"The Hands That Hold You" - featuring Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction)VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE NOW! Voting closes at midnight (ET) on 3 October 2026.
Read on for everything you need to know about the Lake Placid Olympic Sites round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series races, including when the cross-county short track (XCC), cross-country Olympic (XCO) and downhill events are scheduled to take place, who is racing, and how to watch.WHEN?The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA) starts with the Women U23 UCI XCC World Cup at 09:20 (UTC-4) on Friday, October 2 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup at 14:10 (UTC-4) on Sunday, October 4.Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-4 (EDT/BST-5/CEST-6):Friday, October 209:20 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U2310:10 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U2311:45 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite12:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men EliteSaturday, October 312:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite14:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior14:40 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior15:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men Elite09:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U2311:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U2314:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite16:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men EliteSunday, October 411:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior12:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite14:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men EliteWHERE CAN I WATCH?There will be several ways to follow the action as the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series reaches its final stop.Fans can keep up with UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying through live timing and dedicated coverage across the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series social media channels, official website and app.The UCI Downhill World Cup Junior finals, for both men and women, will be broadcast live on HBO Max (in all available territories) and MTBWS TV for subscribers. As another Women in MTB initiative, this year’s Women Junior Final will take place after the Men Junior Final, giving Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) the opportunity to celebrate the overall title on home soil, in front of her home crowd, in a schedule position that reflects the significance of the moment.All the Elite finals will be available live via the channels and streaming platforms listed below:Europe:Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / EurosportBelgium - HBO Max, Eurosport and VRT (only selected races live)Czechia – HBO Max, Eurosport and CT Sport +France - HBO Max, Eurosport and L’Equipe LiveIreland – TNT SportsSwitzerland - HBO Max, Eurosport and SRF/RSI/RTS (only selected races live)United Kingdom – HBO Max and TNT SportsAsia:Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand – Eurosport World Oceania:Australia – Stan SportNew Zealand – MTBWS TVSamoa – Eurosport WorldNorth America:Canada – FloSportsUSA – HBO Max / MTBWS TVSouth & Central America: MTBWS TV and DSPORTS Africa: MTBWS TVAll other territories: MTBWS TV RIDERS TO WATCHValentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) has had a season to remember by her own high standards, but the five-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner and five-time UCI Downhill World Champion could make it one for the record books this Sunday by securing a seventh UCI Downhill World Cup win of 2026. Only Anne-Caroline Chausson and Rachel Atherton have managed this feat in the history of Women’s Downhill, and victory would put Höll on par with the sport’s all-time greats.She arrives at Lake Placid Olympic Sites with a perfect record at the venue, having won its inaugural UCI Downhill World Cup in 2025, her only victory last season. That will make ominous reading for her rivals, but behind Höll, the battle for second overall is wide open. Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing) holds a slender advantage over Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) winner Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) and Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division). It is Hemstreet, however, who carries the most momentum into the finale after finishing second on home soil at Whistler Mountain Bike Park (Canada) last weekend, where she was the only rider to come within a second of Höll’s winning time.The Men Elite overall meanwhile hangs finely in the balance with three riders still in contention. Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) holds a solid 96-point advantage over Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity), while Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) remains in play mathematically but requires other results to go his way to clinch a third title.Vermette’s win in Whistler gives the 19-year-old rookie the edge, but in a topsy-turvy season where no one rider has put together a consistent string of results, nothing is guaranteed.Other riders to look out for include fellow rookie Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction), who followed up his debut UCI Downhill World Cup win in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie with second place last weekend, while Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) will be hoping to return to winning ways after missing out on finals at his home course’s UCI World Cup debut in Whistler.Before the Downhill action is Friday’s XCC and Saturday’s XCO, with three out of four series still to be decided.Sina Frei (Specialized Gravity) and Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) lead their respective XCC UCI World Cup tandings, and a top three finish would be enough to clinch them the title. But their closest rivals are unlikely to go down without a fight.For Frei, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) is the woman in the hunt. The Swede’s 10 wins make her the most successful Women Elite XCC rider of all time, and if chasing a first XCC title wasn’t enough, she has added incentive of superior point differences adding to her lead in the XCO overall.Martin meanwhile can only get caught by Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division). The season’s early form setter needs to win and for Martin to finish fourth or below to leapfrog his compatriot, and the pair have history when it comes to close, elbow’s out racing. Expect fireworks.Less than 24 hours after the XCC, the cross-country athletes will line up again for the final XCO race of the season. Rissveds could have already mathematically secured the overall title if Friday’s XCC goes her way, but if the fight remains alive, Frei will need a significant points swing to overturn the deficit. As the reigning UCI XCO World Champion, however, the Swiss rider can be expected to fight all the way to the final lap.Before a single pedal stroke in Lake Placid, Adrien Boichis’ (Specialized Factory Racing) absence is set to hand Martin his first XCO overall crown and puts him one step closer to a historic XCO-XCC double. There is still plenty at stake, however, with the battle for third overall among the storylines still to be settled. Bjorn Riley (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Race Team) currently leads the way and will be looking to finish the season on a high in front of a home crowd, while Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA) winner Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) could yet deny him a place on the overall podium. Racing gets underway on Friday, October 2 in Lake Placid Olympic Sites. Full schedule and event details are available HERE. You can find where to watch all the action live HERE.
If the penultimate UCI Cross-country and UCI Downhill World Cups are any indication, a nail-biting finish awaits at Lake Placid Olympic Sites this weekend, with the UCI Downhill World Cup joining the Endurance formats at the New York State venue for the second consecutive season.It could also be a positive omen for its home riders. In 2025, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) confirmed his UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup and UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup overall titles at the venue. Could Elite Men UCI Downhill World Cup series leader Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) do the same this weekend?A FITTING SERIES FINALELocated 285 miles north of downtown Manhattan and a stone’s throw from the Canadian border, Lake Placid might be best known for winter sports, but the site has a growing network of off-road trails perfect for mountain biking, centred around Mt Van Hoevenberg and Whiteface Mountain.The former is the location of the cross-country course, which is littered with rock gardens, a slalom course and a section that mimics the venue’s Olympic bobsled run.Whiteface Mountain, meanwhile, is the setting of the downhill track. Roughly 2km in length, the machined course is packed full of steep, technical terrain and requires precise bike handling and fearless determination to come out on top.RISSVEDS IN CONTROL, BUT THE XCO TITLE FIGHT ISN’T OVERThe Women Elite UCI XCO World Cup overall title is Jenny Rissveds’ (Canyon XC Racing) to lose this weekend – the Swede having a 220-point lead over closest competitor Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) with only 330 points left on the table. The 2016 Olympic champion could claim hers and her country’s first overall title as early as Friday’s XCC – she just needs to score 30 points more than Frei to build an unassailable lead.But if the last round of the UCI Cross-country World Cup that took place in Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA) proved anything, it’s not a foregone conclusion. There, Rissveds finished behind Frei in both the XCO and XCC. If the Canyon XC Racing rider has a poor short track race, then it will all come down to the final race of the season. She will have history on her side though – Rissveds acheived the XCO-XCC double in 2025 at Lake Placid.Also, although Frei is the only rider who can mathematically catch Rissveds in the title race, her own place in second spot isn’t guaranteed – XCO-XCC winner from Soldier Hollow Martin Berta (Origine Racing Division) is within 200 points of the Swiss rider.MARTIN OUT OF REACH, RILEY LEADING RACE FOR THIRDLuca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) is set to win his first UCI XCO World Cup overall title confirmed courtesy of Adrien Boichis’ (Specialized Factory Racing) switch to road cycling for the end of the season. But there will be nothing fortuitous about the Frenchman’s success. Martin has consistently been one the best riders at each of this season’s UCI XCO World Cups, including a run of five consecutive podium finishes that featured two wins.There’s still plenty to play for though in Sunday’s curtain closer, with Bjorn Riley (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Race Team) leading the race for the final podium spot in the overall title. While the American is unable to better Boichis’ second-place total, his third position isn’t secure with nine riders still mathematically in the mix. A strong home performance would make the bronze position his, but with Solider Hollow’s UCI XCO World Cup winner Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) only 62 points in arrears and Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) 101 points back there’s still plenty to do for Riley.FREI THE FIRM FAVOURITE, AZZARO ONLY RIDER WHO CAN RIVAL MARTINIn the Women Elite UCI XCC World Cup standings, the roles are reversed with Frei the rider in control and Rissveds in the hunt. The 100-point gap means that Frei just needs to finish on the podium to win the title, while Rissveds’ best shot at overhauling Frei is to win and for Frei to finish fourth or worse. Frei leads Rissveds three wins to two this year in the XCC, but Rissveds is the most successful Women Elite XCC rider of all time with 10 UCI XCC World Cup wins.The Men Elite field is even closer with 96 points separating series leader Martin from his closest rival competing this weekend, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division). Like the Women Elite, it’s the same equation – Martin needing to finish in the top three to confirm the overall, Azzaro needing to win and Martin to finish off the podium to leapfrog his compatriot. The dynamic is different though in the Men Elite title race; Martin hasn’t won all season but has recorded five podiums, including consecutive second-place finishes in the last two rounds; Azzaro started with back-to-back wins but has struggled with bad luck and has only recently shown some of his early season form, coming fourth two weeks ago. One thing’s for sure though – you can expect fireworks between the pair and bar-to-bar racing from the start.HÖLL OUT TO EQUAL THE GREATSValentina Höll’s (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) win in Whistler Mountain Bike Park (Canada) was the Austrian’s sixth of the season. The 24-year-old had already sewn up the UCI Downhill World Cup overall title before taking to the start hut, but her desire to win even when it’s only for personal honours shows why she is already being talked about as one of the greats. A seventh win of the season in Lake Placid Olympic Sites would see her equal Anne-Caroline Chausson (1999) and Rachel Atherton’s (2026) record for number of wins in one season. It would also take Höll to third outright in the table for all-time women race winners – her 17th Elite career victory in Canada taking her level with Sabrina Jonnier.It’s not just the Höll show though, and the fact that she is able to do what she is doing with the level of competition in the Women Elite field makes her dominance even more impressive. This strength in depth is highlighted by how it’s a six-way battle for second-place in the overall. Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing) currently leads the chasing pack, but AON Racing’s Harriet Harnden and Norco X adidas Race Division’s Gracey Hemstreet are breathing down the Italian’s neck, while Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) down in seventh is still mathematically in with a shot. While there are a variety of permutations, whoever comes out top out of Scarsi, Harnden and Hemstreet on Saturday is likely to be crowned the 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup overall runner-up.ADVANTAGE VERMETTE IN THREE-WAY TITLE TUSTLEWith no qualifying points on offer at the season finale and 250 points for the winner of Sunday's final in Lake Placid Olympic Sites, it becomes a straight shootout between Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP), Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) and Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) on Saturday.Vermette’s victory in Whistler saw the American rookie leapfrog Williams, and with 96 points separating the pair, the 19-year-old can afford to finish as low as fourth regardless of Williams’ result. To be in with his best shot at taking the title in dramatic circumstances, Williams will need to claim a third win of the season and for Vermette to finish fifth or below.Pierron meanwhile is a truly outside bet, but the two-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner has experience on his side. To add a third title to his collection, the Frenchman needs to win for the first time this year and for Williams to finish fourth or lower and Vermette 10th or lower. One thing’s for sure – you wouldn’t want to write him off yet.WILDCARDS CONTINUE TO IMPRESSA host of wildcard teams will line up in Lake Placid, looking to build on a string of standout performances across both Cross-country and Downhill in recent rounds.Cross-country: Bike Team Solothurn, KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, MASSI, SUNN Factory Racing, Thomus Akros Youngstars and UNNO Factory Racing.Downhill: Outlaw INTENSE Racing, Crestline Speedshop, Team High Country, Pivot Factory Racing, The Alliance Racing and Stoic Racing.Wildcard entrants have recorded a number of impressive results across the Endurance and Gravity formats in recent weeks. In Soldier Hollow, Nicholas Halter (Thömus Akros - Youngstars) won the Men U23 UCI XCC World Cup, while Mathis Guay (KTM Factory Racing) finished 13th in the Men Elite UCI XCC World Cup. There was success in the Olympic format too – Fiona Schibler (Bike Team Solothurn) coming fourth and Giada Specia (KTM Factory Racing) 15th in the Women U23 and Women Elite respectively.In Downhill in Whistler, Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory Racing) made it three Women Elite Finals appearances in a row, finishing 13th. Bode Burke (Crestline Speedshop), Alden Pate (Crestline Speedshop) and Jackson Connelly (The Alliance) meanwhile made 10% of the Men Elite finals field wildcard entrants, with the trio coming 22nd, 24th and 28th respectively.Racing gets underway in Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York on Friday 2 October with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and event details are available here.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ first visit to the spiritual home of downhill racing didn’t disappoint, delivering drama, disqualifications, surprises and unforgettable performances in front of a feverish crowd that roared riders through every pedal stroke.Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) emerged from the chaos with both the victory and the Elite Men’s overall lead. The last man down the hill produced a blistering run to put four seconds into an already rapid Max Alran (COMMENCAL / MUC OFF by Riding Addiction), the rider who beat Vermette to the Junior Men’s UCI Downhill World Cup overall title only last season.While the battle for the men’s crown remains wide open, Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) showed why her grip on the women’s is stronger than ever. The Austrian fulfilled a lifelong dream by triumphing in Whistler and, in the process, became the joint-third most successful rider in Women’s UCI Downhill World Cup history.Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) became the first rider to claim a UCI Downhill World Cup victory in Whistler, sealing the Junior Women’s overall title in trademark dominant fashion. She was more than nine seconds clear of the field, setting a time that would also have been fast enough to win the Elite Women’s final.Camden Rutherford (Nukeproof Axess Racing) claimed his maiden Junior Men’s UCI Downhill World Cup victory with a barnstorming run, continuing New Zealand’s dominance of the category despite the absence of injured overall champion Jonty Williamson (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team).VERMETTE SEIZES CONTROL AS TITLE FIGHT GOES TO THE WIRE After qualifying had served up plenty of shocks, there was no obvious candidate to take control of the hotseat early on. So it was hardly a surprise when Continental Atherton’s Luke Wayman went green as the ninth rider out of the start gate, after Jackson Connelly (The Alliance) had opened the Elite Men’s final with a crash just seconds into his run.What nobody could have predicted was just how long Wayman would stay there. For around 90 minutes, barring a brief interruption from Lachie Stevens-McNab (Trek-Unbroken DH), his time remained unbeaten. Even more remarkably, he finished eight seconds ahead of UCI Downhill World Cup overall leader Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity), who kept his run upright but struggled to find his usual speed and eventually crossed the line in 21st.Stevens-McNab had briefly appeared to have produced one of the rides of the day, setting a time that would ultimately have been good enough for second. But his run was later disqualified after replays showed he had briefly gone off course.That put Wayman back in the hotseat, with Canadian outsider Jacob Jewett (Giant Factory Off-Road Team – DH) incredibly holding onto second alongside him until Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL / MUC OFF by Riding Addiction), the fourth-fastest qualifier, finally edged ahead by less than a second.Henri Kieffer (Canyon DH Racing) then looked poised to take over, only for disaster to strike at the final jump. He unclipped just before take-off and was already halfway off the bike before touching down, crashing heavily but thankfully walking away from the incident.Instead, it was Max Alran who raised the bar, dethroning his teammate Pierron with a blistering run and leaving just one rider at the top of the mountain: Asa Vermette.The American delivered when it mattered most. Vermette turned the final three time checks green before storming across the line four seconds clear of Alran, sealing the victory and taking control of the Elite Men’s overall standings with a sensational run that came within seven tenths of the fastest possible combined splits.“Like I dreamed of it, first in qualifying, dropping last, I was like ‘let’s just put it down for the fans’, they were insane,” Vermette said. “I’m just so stoked, I did the run that I wanted to. [My team] told me that Jordan [Williams] didn’t have the best run, so I was just like ‘let’s put a good one down’ and we got it. [Lake Placid] is not very close to home but it’s in America so I’m stoked to lay it down.”The result turns next week’s finale at Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York, United States into a three-rider showdown for the title. Vermette heads there with a 96-point advantage over Williams, while Pierron remains in contention, 174 points back, with 250 still available.HÖLL HOLDS OFF HEMSTREET TO CLAIM DREAM WHISTLER WINTahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing) needed a Q2 run just to make the final, but she made that extra track time count, setting the early benchmark in Whistler. Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL / MUC OFF by Riding Addiction) and Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) were unable to dislodge her before Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing) eventually edged ahead by just half a second.But Höll blew the contest wide open moments later, going seven seconds faster to lay down the first truly formidable benchmark of the day. Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) couldn’t put herself in contention for back-to-back wins, but Gracey Hemstreet (Norco X adidas Race Division) soon had the home crowd dreaming.Almost three seconds down on Höll at the penultimate intermediate time check, the Canadian found another gear in the closing section. She clawed back time all the way to the finish, launching off the final jump and scorching across the line to come within an agonising three tenths of a dream home victory. Höll remained in the hotseat, but only just.After recording the best qualifying result of her career, Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) initially looked capable of going even faster, turning the first time check green and remaining within touching distance of Höll at the second. Her challenge came undone, however, in a treacherous muddy root section just above the Ride Wrap Rock Garden.That left Lisa Bouladou (Santa Cruz Burgtec by Goodman) as the final rider out of the start gate. The Frenchwoman could only manage third, confirming Höll’s sixth UCI Downhill World Cup victory of the season and making her only the fourth woman to achieve that feat in a single campaign.“I came to Whistler for the first time when I was 14, it was always my biggest dream growing up,” Höll said. “And now to be racing the World Cups here is pretty insane. I can feel the legacy of all the BC racers, it’s an honour to be here.“Also big up to Gracey [Hemstreet]. I know how hard it is to do your home race, it’s not easy but the crowd is really insane and yeah, win number six this season feels unreal. I don’t know why it keeps happening but obviously I’ll take it.”Hemstreet’s disappointment at falling just short was clear, but second place still brought a special moment on home soil. She received a cedar trophy honouring the legacy of local legend Stevie Smith, featuring Indigenous artwork by Levi Nelson of the Lil'wat Nation in British Columbia.“This whole week was pretty unreal to be honest, even practice felt like I was racing with everyone, the whole crowd there. Everyone cheering my name was the most insane feeling. I’m stoked but a little bummed at the same time,” Hemstreet said.THE FUTURE IS FAST: OSTGAARD AND RUTHERFORD CONQUER WHISTLERYet remarkably, Höll wasn’t the fastest woman in Whistler. Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) went more than four seconds quicker than the UCI World Champion’s winning time on her way to a dominant Junior Women’s victory, prompting Höll to pay tribute to the youngster at the finish.“Today I got absolutely junior-ed, big up to Aletha,” Höll said. “She smoked me properly and I can’t wait to race with her next year. She’s a massive motivation.”Before Ostgaard took centre stage, Tayte Proulx-Royds had given the home crowd plenty to cheer about by setting the early benchmark. Her delight was clear in the finish area, where she celebrated with fellow Canadian Piper Graaten and described the experience simply as “unbelievable”.Cassandre Peizerat (COMMENCAL / MUC OFF by Riding Addiction) then raised the bar dramatically, going 12 seconds faster, before Ostgaard rounded out the final in emphatic fashion. The American was already assured of the overall crown after second-placed Lina Frener (Norco x adidas Race Division) crashed following an audacious whip off the final jump: “It feels so good, even though I’m not Canadian this crowd is just as supportive as if they were American.”The Junior Men’s final produced another breakthrough performance, with Camden Rutherford (Nukeproof Axess Racing) claiming his maiden victory.Lois Eller, only the second rider out of the start gate, laid down an impressive benchmark that would be beaten just once. Seppy Binsbergen and Canada’s Ryder Wilson (Team High Country) both looked capable of challenging it before coming unstuck in the same section that had caught out Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) during qualifying, with the expectant home crowd groaning as Wilson hit the deck within sight of the finish.Rutherford was the rider who finally made it stick. The New Zealander stormed home almost six seconds faster than Eller, who headed over to congratulate him personally in the finish area.“I’m so stoked, it’s crazy to me. I was so nervous all day because I knew I could do something good here. I was really wanting a podium but always had the win in the back of my mind. I messed up the top, like three mistakes in the first 50 metres and then just tried to lock in. It felt smooth, pretty sketchy in some bits but I just tried to keep riding. The rock garden was insane, just like 50 train horns all of a sudden.”Rutherford’s victory also helped Nukeproof Axess Racing edge closer to the 100-point mark in the Team Standings, although the biggest gains came from COMMENCAL / MUC OFF by Riding Addiction. Alran and Pierron’s podium finishes helped the team more than double its advantage over Canyon DH Racing at the top of the standings.And there’s little time to catch a breath. The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series now heads to Lake Placid for a blockbuster final weekend, with UCI World Cup titles still on the line across all three disciplines.The UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup kicks off the final weekend at Mt Van Hoevenberg on Friday, 2 October, followed by the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup on Saturday, 3 October. Attention then shifts to Whiteface Mountain on Sunday, 4 October, where the UCI Downhill World Cup will bring the curtain down on the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season.
Youth took centre stage as the UCI Downhill World Cup made its highly anticipated debut at Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia, Canada, with Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) and Lisa Bouladou (Santa Cruz Burgtech by Goodman) topping the timesheets on a dramatic day of qualifying in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.With a combined age of just 40, the pair upstaged newly crowned UCI World Champions Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) and home favourite Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate). Goldstone endured a particularly tough day on home soil, crashing on his opening qualifying run before falling short in Q2 and agonisingly missing out on Sunday’s final.Höll likewise hit the deck at Whistler, but had already done enough to secure automatic qualification for the final. Meanwhile, Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) saw his lead in the Elite Men’s UCI Downhill World Cup overall standings reduced by Vermette, setting up another high-pressure showdown on Sunday.In the junior ranks, the absence of injured Junior Men’s UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner Jonty Williamson (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) opened the door for Whistler local Jack McCredie (Frameworks Racing / TRP), who made full use of his home-track knowledge to go fastest. Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) led the Junior Women’s field, putting herself in the perfect position on a weekend that could see her crowned UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner.VERMETTE TURNS UP THE PRESSURE ON WILLIAMSIf Williams listened carefully above the roar of the British Columbia crowds, he might just have heard Vermette breathing down his neck, with the battle for the Elite Men’s UCI Downhill World Cup overall title threatening to go all the way to the wire.Even before Pivot Factory Racing’s Dylan Maples became the first man to roll down the start ramp, Whistler had already lost one of its biggest names. Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) confirmed that he would not compete as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury.Henri Kieffer (Canyon DH Racing) set the first serious benchmark of the day with a 3:39.683, and the German held firm as a string of bigger names crossed the line. Till Alran (COMMENCAL / MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction), Luca Shaw (Canyon DH Racing) and Andreas Kolb (Santa Cruz Syndicate) all failed to dislodge him, with Kolb admitting he was “absolutely gassed” at the finish after describing the 1199 track simply as “so hard”.Max Alran (COMMENCAL / MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) soon went one better than his brother, finding three-quarters of a second on Kieffer to move into the hot seat. Then came the most dramatic moment of the afternoon.Goldstone was not on course to challenge Alran’s time, but looked comfortably set for a top-10 finish until the penultimate corner, where a mistimed landing sent him skidding across the track, drawing groans from the packed finish-area crowd.With the finish line just metres away, Goldstone spent agonising minutes trying to fix his front wheel before eventually completing his run. He even found time to stop and cheer on compatriot Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) from beside the final jump before finally crossing the line himself.Iles also finished well down the order, capping a disappointing qualifying session for the home favourites, with no Canadian Elite Men securing direct qualification for Sunday’s final.Williams had arrived in Whistler with a slim chance of wrapping up the Elite Men’s UCI Downhill World Cup overall title before the final round, but that prospect now appears increasingly remote after he could only manage 10th in qualifying.The Brit conceded 35 points to Vermette, who remains his only realistic challenger for the overall title. Max Alran and Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL / MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) also gained ground as they fight to remain mathematically in contention heading into the final round, while Troy Brosnan (Canyon DH Racing), Benoît Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory) and Goldstone saw their title hopes officially come to an end after failing to reach the final.There will still be plenty of maple leaves at the start gate on Sunday, however, with Jonathan Helly and Giant Factory Off-Road Team brothers Dane and Jakob Jewett flying the flag for Canada.Oisin O’Callaghan (Trek - Unbroken DH) and mud specialist Charlie Hatton (Continental Atherton) also booked their places in their third and fourth finals of the season respectively.BOULADOU STEALS THE SHOW IN WHISTLERIn a sign of just how treacherous conditions were, Saturday’s first starter, Valentina Roa Sánchez (MS-Racing), failed to make it to the finish, leaving Sacha Earnest to set the first ever Elite UCI Downhill World Cup time at the spiritual home of downhill racing.The Kiwi stopped the clock at 4:46.702, an early indication of just how difficult it was to find speed on the muddy 1199 trail. Moments later, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco X adidas Race Division) gave the home crowd something to cheer about, going 7.5 seconds faster than Earnest to set the first truly competitive benchmark of the day.Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) admitted to making plenty of mistakes on her run, but still did enough to slot into second behind Hemstreet. She held that position when Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) crossed the line in provisional third, remarkably keeping her run alive despite the UCI World Champion sliding out earlier on the course.Several riders threatened Hemstreet’s advantage, going faster through the opening two time checks only to lose time or crash further down the mountain. Lisa Bouladou finally pieced it all together, carrying her advantage all the way to the finish to take over the hot seat by more than three seconds.A number of big names followed the Frenchwoman, including Orbea FMD Racing duo Tahnée Seagrave and Phoebe Gale, but only Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) managed to get within a second of Bouladou, who topped an Elite UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying session for the first time.Hulsebosch also recorded the best qualifying result of her career, meaning the final two riders down the ramp on Sunday will both find themselves in unfamiliar territory. They will know, however, that qualifying is only half the battle. Höll had been almost four seconds faster than anyone else at the final time check before losing time later in her run, a clear warning of the pace the UCI World Champion could bring to the final.Elite Women’s Q2 proved considerably less dramatic than the men’s, with all of the biggest names safely progressing to Sunday’s final, led by Seagrave.OSTGAARD EYES THE CROWN AS MCCREDIE SHINES AT HOMEAletha Ostgaard will be crowned Junior Women’s UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner on Sunday unless Lina Frener (Norco x adidas Race Division) can reduce her 85-point deficit to within 60 points of the American.Ostgaard made the perfect start to the weekend in Whistler, topping qualifying by 1.6 seconds from Tilly Boadle (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres). Frener could only manage ninth, while the only other rider still in mathematical contention, Rosa Jensen (Specialized Gravity), was absent with a thumb injury.Also missing from qualifying was Jonty Williamson (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), who has already secured the Junior Men’s overall title but is sidelined after fracturing his wrist at the UCI World Championships. His absence opened the door for Whistler local Jack McCredie (Frameworks Racing / TRP), who used his home-track knowledge to full effect in a fiercely contested session.McCredie edged Levin Klausmann by just a quarter of a second, despite the German leading at three of the four intermediate splits, while Noé Forlin finished only half a second off the pace.There will be little time to celebrate for Bouladou, Vermette, McCredie and Ostgaard, however, with all four back in action on Sunday for the penultimate UCI Downhill World Cup finals of the season.The Junior Women get an action-packed day underway at 11:30 local time, before the Elite Men bring the weekend to a close at 14:10 (local time).For full broadcast details and start times, click here.
Read on for everything you need to know about this weekend’s racing, including the schedule, the riders to watch and how to tune in live.WHEN?The UCI Downhill World Cup in Whistler starts with the Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup Q1 at 12:30 (UTC-7) on Saturday, September 26 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup Final at 14:10 (UTC-7) on Sunday, September 27.Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-7 (EST-2/BST-8/CEST-9):Saturday, September 26 12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Elite Q113:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Elite Q114:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Junior Qualifying14:20 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Junior Qualifying15:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Elite Q215:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Elite Q2Sunday, September 2711:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Junior Final12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Junior Final13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Elite Final14:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Elite FinalWHERE CAN I WATCH?Fans will have multiple ways to follow round eight of the UCI Downhill World Cup. Qualification day coverage will be available through live timing and live blog updates on the official app and via social media. The Men Junior and Women Junior Finals will be streamed live on HBO Max (where available) and MTBWS TV with a subscription, while the Elite Finals will be broadcast live on the following channels and streaming platforms:Europe:Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / EurosportCzechia – HBO Max, Eurosport and CT Sport +France - HBO Max, Eurosport and L’Equipe LiveIreland – TNT SportsUnited Kingdom – HBO Max and TNT SportsAsia:Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand – Eurosport WorldOceania:Australia – Stan SportNew Zealand – MTBWS TVSamoa – Eurosport WorldNorth America:Canada – FloSports and TSN+USA – HBO Max / MTBWS TVSouth & Central America: MTBWS TV and DSPORTS 2 Africa: MTBWS TVAll other territories: MTBWS TVRIDERS TO WATCHSince racing resumed after the summer break, the UCI Downhill World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), and the UCI Downhill World Championships in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy), have produced a different winner in every category, underlining the extraordinary depth of talent currently on display across the format.Despite the fiercely competitive landscape, a few riders arrive in Whistler with the spotlight firmly on them. None more so than Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres). The Austrian further cemented her status as one of downhill’s all-time greats by claiming a fifth UCI World Championship title in Val di Sole. With the overall UCI Downhill World Cup crown already secured, Höll now has the freedom to focus solely on adding to her growing list of records.Should the reigning champion show any sign of easing off, Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) and Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/TRP) have already demonstrated that they have the speed to challenge her, both securing their maiden UCI World Cup victories this season. Another rider eager to join that club is Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), who once again finished runner-up to her teammate in Italy and continues her search for a breakthrough win at the highest level. The Men Elite category is far more finely poised, with the overall title fight still hanging in the balance. Every position will matter on the Whistler Mountain Bike Park 1199 course, where a third victory of the season could all but seal a first overall UCI Downhill World Cup title for Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity). However, wins for Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) or the returning Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) would keep the battle alive heading into the season finale. Then there is Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate). Like Iles, the Canadian will enjoy a true home advantage in Whistler. Having grown up just an hour away, the venue is as familiar as any on the calendar. The reigning overall UCI Downhill World Cup winner arrives fresh from defending his rainbow jersey in Val di Sole, and few storylines would capture the imagination more than Goldstone claiming his first UCI World Cup victory of the season on home soil. Racing gets underway on Saturday, September 26 in Whistler, British Columbia (Canada). Full schedule and event details are available HERE.You can find where to watch all of the racing action HERE.
Motul is synonymous with racing. The French motor oil and lubricant manufacturer has a storied history in motorsport and has been an official supplier across the likes of MotoGP, World Rally Championship and Formula 1 for decades.Its history also includes cycling – the brand present at the Tour de France in the 1960s – but in recent years, the pedal-powered two-wheel sport hasn’t been a part of its performance-focused portfolio.That changed in 2022 with the creation of a dedicated Bike Care division, with Motul keen to bring its innovation and performance DNA to the world of cycling.Its new Racing Chain Lube is one of the first results of this investment in R&D, testing and production for the cycling world, and like everything Motul does, its intention is to help users gain a competitive edge.Motul is able to make some bold, lab-validated claims too. The Racing Chain Lube was found to have 17% less chain friction and 8% less wear than the five best competitor lubricants tested against and added ‘shield’ protection for the drivetrain. When translated to a Tour de France stage, the lubrication alone could give a rider a theoretical advantage of 22 seconds over a 220km course.But its benefits aren’t limited to road cycling, and the extreme conditions faced in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series have been an integral part of its development.Motul’s Head of Bike Segment, Robin Danneels, shares how the the brand’s partnership with the series has been crucial in the Racing Chain Lube’s development.A NEW ENVIRONMENTThe Racing Chain Lube has Motul’s ESTER technology at its heart – a synthetic-based oil innovation developed for the motorcycle sector.“There are numerous interesting properties with the ESTER, such as the very low friction, wear protection, and high- and low-pressure resistance,” says Danneels. “We’ve used it for decades, specifically in racing lubricants, and we decided to transfer this technology to the cycling world.”While the shift from motorsports “hasn’t been that difficult”, Danneels admits that cycling, and mountain biking in particular, is a “totally different environment”. “An engine is quite a closed environment with higher heat, which is not the case with a bike chain. But at the opposite end, there is a higher level of contamination – dust, rain, dirt – and this is what we have tried to fight against by combining different ESTERS and mixing with additives during the technology’s transfer.”He adds that one of ESTER’s inherent benefits is its polarity. “It’s able to stick to ferrous [iron] parts and create what we call shield protection. You can try to wash it off, and the lubricant will remain on the chain.” This comes into its own in challenging environments, where the drivetrain remains shielded from wet or dusty conditions, keeping friction low and wear-resistance high.CRUCIAL CO-DEVELOPMENTDeveloping and testing a product in a lab is only part of the Racing Chain Lube story, and Motul partnered with Swiss bike manufacturer BMC and its elite-level teams – Tudor Pro Cycling Team and BMC Factory Racing – to further refine the lubricant.“BMC Factory Racing are involved at the highest level in mountain biking, and there is no better place to test and develop high-end and performance product than the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series because the conditions are extreme – the environment is super demanding, and there is a variability of tracks and races that helps to test the product in any kinds of conditions,” says Danneels.“We started with the formulation and then made sure we reached a certain level of performance thanks to extensive tribological testing, assessing friction, wear and viscosity under laboratory conditions.“Once this step was passed, we sent the products to the pro teams to make sure that [the benefits] transferred in real-world conditions. At each training camp and race, we collected feedback – it could be pictures, chains, and comments – and thanks to this, we knew where we were achieving our aims and where we could improve.”EXTREME ENVIRONMENTThe Racing Chain Lube has been in development for two years, and Danneels singles out two WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series events where the product faced stern tests.“Val di Sole in 2025 was extremely dry and dusty, while South Korea this year presented the opposite challenge with wet and muddy conditions. These contrasting environments are invaluable for product development. Through our partnership with BMC Factory Racing, we can test the Racing Chain Lube in real-world race situations and validate its performance under extreme conditions. In South Korea, it ensured smooth and dependable shifting throughout the race, helping Jordan [Sarrou] climb from 51st on the start list to an impressive fourth-place finish.”He adds that while the seconds saved during a UCI World Cup race might not be comparable with a Tour de France stage, that low friction is just as important.“We claim three main metrics, which are low friction, wear resistance, and low contamination, and all these three metrics are linked. If you are facing contamination, it will impact the friction and create wear. In mountain biking, the environment is quite harsh, so having a chain full of dust directly impacts the performance of the product.”ELITE DEVELOPMENT, AMATEUR ADVANTAGEWhile Motul has developed the Racing Chain Lube with the partnership of elite-level riders and the extreme conditions that they face, Danneels’ stresses that the benefits aren’t limited to the pinnacle of cycling.“We succeeded in developing this product for racing, but it's also a technology available for bike enthusiasts in general who want a performance product.”From the dust of Val di Sole to the mud of South Korea, the Racing Chain Lube has been tested in some of the toughest conditions mountain biking can offer. For Motul, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series has provided the ultimate proving ground, helping transform decades of motorsport expertise into a product designed for cyclists. Whether chasing UCI World Cup podiums or simply looking to get the most from every ride, riders can now benefit from technology refined at the highest level of competition.Visit the Official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Store to discover the full range of Motul products available for mountain biking, or head to Motul’s official website to learn more about the Racing Chain Lube.
Widely regarded as the spiritual home of downhill mountain biking, Whistler has helped shape generations of the sport’s biggest stars, from legends such as Stevie Smith to current UCI World Cup contenders Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity), Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division).Yet despite British Columbia’s place in downhill history, having previously hosted a UCI Downhill World Cup at SilverStar in 1994, the world-famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park had to wait until 2026 to finally make its long-awaited debut on the UCI World Cup calendar.And what a debut it promises to be. With the Men Elite and Women Junior overall titles still hanging in the balance and the newly crowned UCI World Champions set to race in their rainbow jerseys for the first time, Whistler is perfectly placed to deliver a WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round worthy of its iconic status.DOWNHILL’S SPIRITUAL HOMEWhile mountain biking’s origin story started on the other side of the US-Canadian border, Whistler has grown to become the Gravity side of the sport’s spiritual home since the 1980s.The Whistler Mountain Bike Park first opened its doors in 1996 and has expanded over three decades to become the world’s premier gravity mountain bike destination and today features approximately 140km of trails that all make use of the 1,500m-plus of vertical descent on offer.Although the venue will be making its UCI World Cup debut this weekend, it has hosted numerous world-class events during its history.The bike park’s 1199 trail – named in honour of Stevie Smith’s 1,199 points earned during his 2013 UCI World Cup overall title win – will be used this weekend and riders and fans can expect some typical West Coast loam in pine forests, interspersed with larger-than-life rock slabs and plenty of technical, steep terrain during the 2.4km trail.HÖLL LEADS THE WAY AS THE BATTLE BEHIND HEATS UPValentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) arrived in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy) having already secured a fifth consecutive UCI Downhill World Cup overall title in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), and underlined her dominance by adding a fifth UCI Downhill World Championship crown to her growing list of achievements.Her victory in Val di Sole saw the Austrian draw level with Rachel Atherton (Continental Atherton Racing) on five UCI World Championship titles, with only Anne-Caroline Chausson ahead on the all-time list with nine. By successfully defending her overall UCI World Cup crown, Höll also moved within one title of Atherton’s record of six overall series victories.At just 24 years of age, Höll is already building a legacy that places her firmly in the conversation for G.O.A.T status. With two rounds of the 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup still remaining, her focus now shifts from titles to records.A sixth victory of the season would represent a new personal best and move her level with Sabrina Jonnier on 17 career UCI World Cup wins, making her the joint third-most successful female downhill rider in history. While Chausson (41 wins) and Atherton (40) remain some way ahead, few would bet against Höll continuing her climb toward the top.The Women Elite category, however, is far from a one-rider show, as demonstrated in Les Gets. Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) claimed her maiden UCI Downhill World Cup victory, adding another impressive chapter to a career that already includes wins in Enduro and U23 cross-country. The result propelled the versatile Briton onto the podium of the overall standings.Several riders remain in contention for the runner-up spot in the final standings. Among the standout challengers are Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) and Harnden, alongside two riders who have enjoyed breakthrough campaigns in 2026: Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/TRP) and newly crowned European champion Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing). Baumann will be determined to secure a one-two finish in the overall standings for Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres, Newkirk is chasing a second victory of the season, while Scarsi has her sights set on a maiden UCI World Cup triumph to cap one of the most consistent years of her career.Another rider to watch is Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division). Racing on home soil in Canada, the young talent will be eager to bounce back after a disappointing DNF in Mont-Sainte-Anne last year and deliver a memorable result in front of her home crowd.A DEFINING WEEKEND IN THE MEN ELITE TITLE RACEThere is still everything to play for in the Men Elite overall standings, with more than 10 riders mathematically capable of lifting the 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup title ahead of next week’s finale at Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA).However, Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) remains firmly in control. The Brit carries a 146-point advantage over Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP), a significant cushion in one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory. In a campaign defined by consistency rather than outright dominance, overturning that deficit with only two rounds remaining will be a daunting task.Vermette will be hoping to keep the title fight alive heading into Lake Placid. With next week’s finale taking place on home soil in the United States, a strong result in Whistler would set up a thrilling conclusion to the season. The young American has fond memories of the venue too, having finished second there last year, albeit in the Men Junior category.Just 62 points behind Vermette sits Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity). The Canadian’s title challenge was dealt a major blow by the ankle fracture that forced him to miss both Les Gets and the UCI Downhill World Championships, but he has confirmed his return for this weekend on home soil. Should Iles claim a third UCI World Cup victory of the season in front of his home crowd, Whistler could provide one of the defining moments of the year.While established stars such as Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) or Les Gets winner Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) remain obvious contenders, few riders arrive in hotter form than Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate). The reigning UCI Downhill World Champion backed up his UCI World title defence in Val di Sole with another statement performance. Defending his UCI Downhill World Cup overall title may now be a long shot, but racing less than an hour from his hometown of Squamish, Goldstone will undoubtedly be among the overwhelming favourites for victory in Whistler.WILDCARD TEAMS READY FOR WHISTLERThe following wildcard teams have been confirmed for Whistler: Outlaw INTENSE Racing, Crestline Speedshop, Team High Country, Pivot Factory Racing, The Alliance Racing and Stoic Racing.Among the wildcard entrants, Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) arrives with the strongest credentials. The New Zealander currently sits fifth in the Women Junior overall standings and heads to Whistler fresh from a bronze-medal performance at the UCI Downhill World Championships.Development-focused teams Outlaw INTENSE Racing and Team High Country also have plenty to be excited about. Both Ryder Wilson (Team High Country) and Luke Mallen (Outlaw INTENSE Racing) are on course for top 10 finishes in the Men Junior standings after consistently challenging for top five results throughout the season.Elsewhere, Bode Burke (Crestline Speedshop) delivered one of the standout wildcard performances of the year with his remarkable second place in Men Elite Qualifying at Pal Arinsal (Andorra), while Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory Racing) will be aiming to reach a third consecutive Women Elite Final and build on the impressive fifth place finish she secured in Andorra.Racing gets underway in Whistler Mountain Bike Park, British Columbia (Canada) with Qualifying on Saturday 26 September, before the Finals begin on Sunday with the Women Junior UCI Downhill World Cup race. Full event information and the competition schedule can be found here.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports has revealed the shortlist for the Legacy Award at The Golden Arrows, recognising four WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Local Organising Committees (LOCs) and one team for their impact beyond the race tape.The Golden Arrows, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ inaugural annual awards ceremony, will take place on Sunday 4 October at the Olympic Centre in Lake Placid, New York, following the final round of the 2026 season. The event will bring together athletes, teams, organisers, media and industry leaders to honour achievements both on and off the racecourse.Among the categories to be honoured on the night, the Legacy Award celebrates teams and LOCs that have created a lasting positive impact beyond competition through initiatives linked to sustainability, community engagement, inclusion, youth development, trail stewardship and wider social responsibility.The award is rooted in the series’ Corporate Social Responsibility roadmap and its “Leave No Trace, Leave a Legacy” ethos, recognising initiatives that drive meaningful change beyond race day. Through the award, the series aims to inspire the wider mountain bike community and showcase what responsible, sustainable mountain biking can look like at the highest level of the discipline.The finalists for the 2026 Legacy Award are as follows:1. Pal Arinsal, Andorra: Leave No Trace, Leave A Legacy in The PyreneesVallnord Bike Park Pal Arinsal, Andorra has integrated sustainability across its operations, building on more than 20 years of commitment to responsible mountain development. Its approach brings together renewable energy sourcing and certification, carbon footprint measurement and emissions reduction, water refill stations to reduce single-use plastics, waste sorting and post-event clean-ups, accessibility initiatives for fans and visitors, and sustainable mobility options including public transport, shuttles and bike parking. Together, these initiatives save an estimated 310 tonnes of CO2 each year, with 33% of the venue’s energy coming from renewable sources.2. Saalfelden Leogang - SalzburgerLand: Climate-Friendly Travel Made EasySaalfelden Leogang – SalzburgerLand (Austria) used the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series as a platform to make sustainable mobility easier and more attractive for visitors. Through a dedicated shuttle network linking train stations, park-and-ride sites and the venue; free regional public transport with event tickets; secure bicycle parking and rewards for visitors travelling by train or bus, the LOC carried 3,600 shuttle passengers and supported 12% of fans to travel by public transport. It also demonstrated strong community engagement through 350 local volunteers and youth-focused initiatives.3. Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ: A UCI World Cup That Gets a Whole Community RidingNové Město na Moravě (Czechia) placed community engagement at the centre of its WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round, using the event to promote youth participation, education and inclusion. Its programme reached 3,000 young people through the Schools Cycling Festival and delivered five community cycling initiatives, including Women in Cycling workshops and rides, youth engagement through the Junior Series, cycling road safety and awareness programmes, and a charity activation with the ČEZ Foundation.4. Les Gets, Haute-Savoie: Protecting Biodiversity along the Downhill CourseDuring its WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round, Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) further strengthened its environmental commitments through a new biodiversity protection programme along the Mont Chéry Downhill course. The initiative included an independent ecological assessment prior to any course modifications, the scheduling of operations outside sensitive breeding periods, habitat protection measures and dedicated pathways designed to minimise degradation. Beyond the course itself, the event also delivered 25 tonnes of waste management, 10 waste stations, continuous litter collection by volunteer teams, 98% local suppliers and shuttle services that carried 4,723 passengers.5. AON Racing: In Action, Powered By The SunAON Racing has embedded sustainability into its day-to-day race operations, using solar power, travel emissions compensation and fan-led clean-ups to reduce its impact across the season. The team produced 272.44 kWh of renewable electricity through its solar-powered race trailer, generating more power than it consumed across six venues and returning a surplus of 70.7 kWh to the grid. It also compensated 84.3 tonnes of CO2 in 2026 through renewable energy certificates and offset travel emissions via a Swiss Private Cloud 360-panel solar plant, while partnering with Trash Free Trails to deliver “Trash Free Racing” clean-ups with fans at four venues.The award will be judged by the following panel of experts, whose collective experience spans elite sport, cycling advocacy, event delivery and mountain bike heritage:Katerina Nash, UCI Vice-President and President of the UCI Mountain Bike Commission. A five-time Olympian across both cross-country skiing and mountain bike, Nash combines elite sporting experience with extensive leadership within international cycling governance.Otis Guy, Director of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. One of the discipline’s original pioneers, Guy remains one of mountain bike's most respected historians and advocates.Ravi Rajcoomar, Vice President of the Business Network at PeopleForBikes. An award-winning sports marketing and events specialist whose career has included leadership roles across Red Bull, ESPN, Specialized, Cannondale, Clif Bar and Olympic projects.Ties Van Dijk, Advocacy and Strategy Specialist at Shimano Europe, leading research and initiatives aimed at removing barriers to cycling and supporting sustainable trail development across Europe.Alongside the Legacy Award, The Golden Arrows will celebrate excellence across the categories of Event of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Best Professional Photograph, recognising some of the most outstanding achievements from across the global mountain bike community.More information on the Golden Arrows award categories, eligibility requirements, and judging criteria is available here.The ceremony will also feature the presentation of The Summit, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Team Trophy, and The Globe, awarded to the season’s overall UCI World Cup winners.Completing the evening’s celebrations, the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame will welcome four new inductees in recognition of their enduring contributions to the sport and its rich history.Before the season reaches its conclusion in Lake Placid, Olympic Sites, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads to Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia, Canada, this weekend for the penultimate round of the UCI Downhill World Cup.
The final day of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Soldier Hollow presented by SCOTT Sports delivered another chapter of mountain bike history as Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) cemented her status as the rider of the weekend with victory in the Women’s Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup, while Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) ignited celebrations in Midway, Utah, after storming from 25th on the grid to claim a remarkable Elite Men’s win.Less than 24 hours after becoming the first Italian rider to win a UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup round, Berta completed a memorable double, becoming only the 11th elite woman to achieve the feat in a single weekend.The Italian controlled proceedings from the opening lap before distancing home favourite Gwendalyn Gibson (Trek - Unbroken XC) on the final circuit. Gibson held on for second place ahead of Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing), whose podium finish helped her close the gap to overall leader Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) after a challenging day for the Swede.The Elite Men’s race unfolded very differently, with victory remaining undecided until the closing moments of a brutally demanding and highly tactical contest. Having worked his way through the field from a lowly starting position, Vidaurre timed his attack to perfection on the final descent to secure one of the most impressive victories of his career.Meanwhile, Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) strengthened his grip on the overall standings, extending his advantage over absent Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), the only rider still mathematically capable of denying him the title.In the Women’s U23 category, Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) showed no signs of easing off despite having already secured both the overall U23 XCC title and the U23 XCO crown earlier in the season. The Italian delivered another commanding display to take victory in Soldier Hollow.Germany also had plenty to celebrate in the Men’s U23 race, where Benjamin Krüger claimed the round win and Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) sealed the overall UCI XCO World Cup title to complete a memorable day for the German contingent.As for the Teams Standings, Specialized Factory Racing continued to underline their dominance, with Vidaurre’s victory alongside strong performances from Sina Frei and Haley Batten helping the team extend its advantage over Decathlon Ford Racing Team to 797 points.PATIENCE PAYS OFF AS VIDAURRE STRIKES LATE IN SOLDIER HOLLOWChris Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) thrilled the home crowd by leading onto the opening climb of the Elite Men’s race and setting a relentless pace from the gun. The brutal opening lap immediately put pressure on several favourites, including teammate Martín Vidaurre, Riley Amos (Trek - Unbroken XC) and Cole Punchard (Cannondale Factory Racing), who were all forced to work their way through the field after being disadvantaged by an incident in Saturday’s XCC race. Yet the pace proved unsustainable even for Blevins himself. The American crashed while exiting a berm and became the first of several high-profile riders to see their hopes disrupted.His fall did little to slow the action at the front, however. Riders including Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Luca Martin and Charlie Aldridge of Cannondale Factory Racing continued to drive the pace, with Aldridge briefly opening a small gap on lap five.The attrition continued as Luca Schätti (Bixs Race Team) crashed in a rock garden before Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) suffered a puncture moments after bridging across to the lead group. Aldridge then provided one of the most dramatic moments of the race. Misjudging a landing on the penultimate lap, the reigning UEC European Champion was launched over a berm and into the crowd netting in a spectacular crash. Fortunately, he landed on his wheels before being thrown clear and later admitted to TNT Sports that he was “thanking his lucky stars”.Although Aldridge quickly remounted, damage to his bike ended his challenge. Up front, Punchard and Martin kept the pressure on as the lead group repeatedly tested one another but struggled to make a decisive move stick.The race finally exploded in the closing stages when Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) was forced to unclip on a technical slab section, creating a small split among the six-rider lead group. Sensing his opportunity, Vidaurre launched his attack moments later, opening a decisive gap and holding off Punchard all the way to the finish.The Chilean’s perfectly timed move secured a memorable first UCI XCO World Cup victory of the season, while Punchard was rewarded with the first UCI World Cup podium of his elite career. He was joined on the rostrum by another breakthrough performer, Mathis Guay (KTM Factory MTB Team), who capped a remarkable weekend as the only other rider to finish within 10 seconds of the winner.“It’s so good. I’ve been looking for this all year,” said Vidaurre. “I worked like a dog, my team has been incredible all season, and my teammates have been winning all year. It was finally my turn. I didn’t expect it today. Yesterday I had really bad luck, but man, it feels so good.”Elsewhere, Martin strengthened his position in the battle for the overall title and could be crowned the 2026 UCI XCO World Cup champion before the final race in Lake Placid, depending on the plans of absent Adrien Boichis, the only rider still mathematically capable of denying him the crown.BERTA COMPLETES A DREAM WEEKEND WITH HISTORIC DOUBLEMartina Berta was undoubtedly the rider to beat at Soldier Hollow, backing up her breakthrough UCI XCC World Cup victory with an emphatic solo win in the Women’s Elite UCI XCO World Cup less than 24 hours later.The Italian wasted no time taking control of the race, leading from the opening lap alongside overall leader Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing). However, Rissveds’ early aggression proved short-lived, as the Swede was dropped around the midway point, leaving a select lead group featuring Berta, Sina Frei, Gwendalyn Gibson and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon).Local favourite Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing), who grew up less than 20 miles from Soldier Hollow, delighted the home crowd with an impressive solo effort to bridge across to the leaders. But Berta was in no mood to share the spotlight and launched a decisive acceleration on lap four that immediately shattered the group.Only Gibson was able to match the Italian’s pace as the pair steadily pulled clear of their rivals. Lap after lap, Berta applied relentless pressure on the climbs, helping the duo establish a lead of around 30 seconds over the chasing riders.Gibson made her move on the final ascent, attempting to catch Berta off guard, but the WHOOP Heart Rate Monitor suggested the American had spent more energy throughout the race. Moments later, Berta responded with a counterattack eerily similar to the one that had first reduced the lead group, cresting the climb with a small but crucial advantage that she carried all the way to the finish line.“It’s insane, I can’t believe it,” said Berta. “After yesterday, I knew I had good legs, but to do the double is amazing. There are a lot of emotions right now. I’m just so happy.”Gibson held on for second place and was able to savour the first UCI XCO World Cup podium of her career, while Frei secured an important third place after outsprinting Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) in the battle for the final podium spot.Further back, Evie Richards (Trek - Unbroken XC) also gained ground on Rissveds in the closing stages, costing the Swede valuable points in the overall standings. Nevertheless, Rissveds remains firmly in control of the title race heading into the Lake Placid finale, carrying a 220-point advantage with a maximum of 330 points still available.Frei, however, has no intention of giving up the chase: “My mindset is just fighting until the finish line,” she said. “There is still one race left, and I’m really looking forward to it.”JOY FOR CORVI, KRÜGER AND SCHEHL IN U23SValentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) continued her remarkable season in style, marking her first race in the rainbow jersey with another commanding display in the Women’s U23 UCI XCO World Cup. The newly crowned UCI World Champion crossed the line 32 seconds clear of Rafaelle Carrier and Makena Kellerman, who fought hard to challenge the Italian.Corvi wasted little time taking control of the race. Exploding off the front from the opening laps, she initially went clear on her own before Carrier and Kellerman managed to bridge across. Behind them, only Maruša Tereza Šerkezi (Cube Factory Racing), Bloeme Kalis (KMC Nukeproof MTB Racing Team) and Lisa Kristin Jordø were able to limit the damage as the race split apart.For two laps, Carrier and Kellerman matched the relentless pace of the UCI World Champion, but Corvi had another level in reserve. The Italian launched a decisive acceleration on the penultimate lap and quickly established a gap that neither rival could close. In the battle for second, Carrier eventually distanced Kellerman in the closing stages despite strong support from the home crowd.“Today has been even more special with the jersey,” said Corvi. “I wanted to honour it. It definitely gives me energy. I was feeling really good in the final laps and just tried to do my best. I worked super hard this season, I wanted to achieve big goals, and I think I've done quite well.”The Men’s U23 race provided another memorable chapter for Germany. While Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) described the race as a “pain cave”, sixth place was enough to secure the overall U23 UCI XCO World Cup title, just 24 hours after clinching the U23 UCI XCC World Cup crown.There was no stopping fellow German Benjamin Krüger, however. Krüger launched a devastating attack on the second lap and immediately broke clear of the field. Riding with supreme confidence, he extended his advantage throughout the race to claim victory by 49 seconds, with only Naël Rouffiac (Origine Racing Division) finishing within one minute of the winner.“It's absolutely amazing, in front of this crowd,” said Krüger. “I can't believe it. I'm out of words. I attacked on the long climb on the second lap. I think riding solo on this course is actually a good strategy because you don't end up towing the entire field. I just rode my own race and managed to finish it off. Hopefully we'll celebrate with some good food.”The action now moves to another iconic destination as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads to Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia, Canada, for the penultimate UCI Downhill World Cup round of the season.Fresh from claiming the rainbow stripes, Valentina Höll (COMMENCAL SCHWALBE by Les Orres) will look to continue her outstanding run of form, while the battle for the Elite Men’s overall title remains wide open, with 13 riders still mathematically in contention heading into the Canadian stop.Qualifying at the spiritual home of Downhill takes place on Saturday, 26 September, before the finals on Sunday, 27 September.
Showing 1 to 15 of 705 results
