All Still to Play for at Soldier Hollow's UCI Cross-country World Cup Debut

With the final leg of the season fast approaching and the North American triple-header set to play a decisive role in the battle for the 2026 UCI World Cup titles, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports has unveiled further details of its inaugural annual awards ceremony, The Golden Arrows.Set to take place on Sunday 4 October at the Olympic Centre in Lake Placid, New York, following the final round of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, The Golden Arrows will bring together athletes, teams, organisers, media and industry leaders for a celebration of excellence across mountain bike.The annual awards programme will honour outstanding achievements both on and off the racecourse through four categories: Event of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Legacy Award and Best Professional Photograph. The ceremony will also see the presentation of The Summit, the new UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Team Trophy, alongside The Globe, the overall UCI World Cup trophy for the season’s leading riders.The prestigious Mountain Bike Hall of Fame will also form part of the evening, with four new inductees welcomed into one of the discipline’s highest honours in recognition of their lasting contributions to mountain biking.LEGACY AWARD: RECOGNISING IMPACT BEYOND THE RACE TAPEThe Legacy Award celebrates teams and Local Organising Committees (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 winner will be selected by a panel bringing together expertise from 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.Together, the panel reflects the broad impact the category seeks to recognise, rewarding initiatives that create meaningful benefits for riders, communities and the future of the discipline.BEST PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPH: CELEBRATING THE IMAGES THAT DEFINE A SEASONThe Best Professional Photograph award will honour the single image that best captures the drama, emotion and spirit of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.The award is open to accredited professional photographers who attended at least one 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series event. Images must be captured during the 2026 season, be original non-AI photography and be submitted by photographers attending the Lake Placid finale.Photographers can submit their selected image here. Entries will close on 28 September, after which the judging process will begin, followed by the announcement of a shortlist and a public vote to determine the winner.Entries will be judged on:Technical qualityStorytelling and impactCreativity and originalityRepresentation of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World SeriesOverall aesthetic excellenceThe judging panel includes:Chris Burkard, internationally acclaimed photographer, explorer and creative director whose work documenting adventure sports and wild landscapes has inspired millions around the world. Burkard's photography has featured in global campaigns, bestselling books and TED talks, earning him recognition as one of the most influential visual storytellers in outdoor sports.Michal Červený, one of the most respected photographers in mountain bike, with nearly two decades of experience documenting UCI Mountain Bike World Cups around the world. A familiar presence in the paddock and on the trails, Červený's images have helped shape the visual identity of the discipline while earning the trust and respect of athletes, teams, organisers, and fellow photographers alike.Bethan Fallon, Vice President, European Theatrical Marketing at Warner Bros. Discovery. With more than 20 years of experience leading theatrical marketing campaigns across Europe for some of the world's most successful film franchises, including Harry Potter, The Hobbit, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Barbie, Minecraft and Superman, Bethan brings a unique visual storytelling and entertainment perspective to the judging process.Paweł Kopczyński, Global Sports Editor at Reuters Pictures. With more than 30 years of experience covering the world's biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cups and UCI Cycling World Championships, Kopczyński has helped shape Reuters’ visual storytelling across multiple generations of global sport. A highly respected photo editor and former Reuters photographer, he brings exceptional expertise in sports imagery, storytelling and visual impact to the judging panel.ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: THE NEXT GENERATION MAKING ITS MARKThe Rookie of the Year award recognises the emerging athletes who have made the biggest impression during their first season at the highest level of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. From breakthrough victories and consistent results to resilience, professionalism and an ability to connect with fans, the nominees have demonstrated that they are not simply riders to watch in the future. They are already leaving their mark on the discipline.The nominees for the 2026 Rookie of the Year award are:UCI Cross-country World CupMaxime Lhomme has already broken into the top 50 of the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup standings. His best WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series result is 26th in Pal Arinsal (Andorra).Sina van Thiel, a privateer whose consistency, resilience and professionalism have stood out throughout the season. With two top 20 finishes and a 26th place in the UCI XCO World Cup standings at the time of nomination, Van Thiel has demonstrated an impressive ability to compete at the highest level without the support structure of a factory team.Sara Cortinovis (Unno Factory Racing), who has delivered consistent top 30 performances, including a season-best 22nd place in La Thuile. Cortinovis sits 29th in the UCI XCO World Cup standings.William Handley, one of the few rookies to have competed in every round at the time of nomination despite racing without a team. With top 50 XCO finishes, Handley has demonstrated determination and a clear commitment to his development, including relocating to Lillehammer to pursue his sporting education at the Norwegian College of Elite Sport.UCI Downhill World CupAsa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) has established himself as one of the standout performers of the season with victory in MONA YongPyong (South Korea), second place in La Thuile, Valle d’Aosta (Italy) and third in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). Currently sitting second in the overall standings, Vermette has combined elite-level race performances with a charismatic personality, a positive attitude and a natural ability to engage younger fans.Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF By Riding Addiction): winner in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) and fifth in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria). Currently seventh overall, he has already demonstrated his speed, style and ability to perform under immense pressure.Ellie Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) the highest-ranked female rookie, currently 15th in the overall standings. Her season has included ninth place in Lenzerheide and 11th in Les Gets. Alongside her continued progression on the track, her warmth, openness and genuine connection with younger fans have made her a distinctive and relatable presence within the discipline.Matilda Melton (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team), currently 19th in the overall standings and the second highest-ranked female rookie. She has qualified for three of the seven UCI Downhill World Cup finals contested at the time of nomination.One award will be presented in each format, with winners selected by elite riders competing on WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series teams.EVENT OF THE YEAR: RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE ON AND OFF THE RACECOURSEThe Event of the Year award celebrates the venue that delivered the most outstanding all-round experience during the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season.While thrilling racing remains at the heart of every round, the success of an event depends on much more than the action on track. From world-class operations and course preparation to athlete services, team facilities, hospitality, fan engagement and atmosphere, this award recognises the organisers and destinations that have gone above and beyond to create a truly exceptional UCI World Cup experience.Every venue that hosted a round of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is automatically eligible for the award. The winner will be selected by the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series teams, who are uniquely placed to assess the quality, professionalism and overall experience delivered by each host venue.The award aims to recognise not only operational excellence, but also the passion, innovation and commitment shown by local organisers in delivering unforgettable events for competitors, spectators and the global mountain bike community.MOUNTAIN BIKE HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES TO BE HONOURED IN LAKE PLACIDThe Mountain Bike Hall of Fame induction ceremony will form a key part of The Golden Arrows evening, marking the first time since 2015 that the inductions have been staged outside California.The 2026 inductee class includes four individuals whose contributions have helped shape mountain biking across competition, advocacy, innovation and culture for more than four decades:Max Commencal, founder of Sunn and Commencal Bicycles, whose influence has helped shape the evolution of downhill racing and modern mountain bike design.Stan Day, SRAM co-founder and one of the industry's leading innovators, whose work has helped transform drivetrain and component technology.Tracy Moseley, one of the most accomplished female athletes in mountain bike history and a trailblazer for future generations of riders.Greg Minnaar, widely regarded as one of the greatest downhill racers of all time, whose longevity and success have defined an era of the discipline.Further information about the 2026 inductees is available via the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame announcement here.More details on the Golden Arrow award categories, eligibility requirements, as well as the entry and judging criteria are available here.

Strong broadcast performances, growing digital engagement and more than 300,000 fans attending in person have defined the first two blocks of racing - in Asia and Europe - of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series*. With two-thirds of the 2026 calendar now complete, the series heads into its final stretch with a block of North American events still to come, including two new venues in Soldier Hollow (Midway, Utah - USA) and Whistler Mountain Bike Park (British Columbia, Canada).RECORD-BREAKING VIEWERSHIP ON HBO MAXWBD continues to air the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to a truly global audience thanks to its owned channels (HBO Max, Eurosport, TNT Sports and discovery+) complemented by agreements with over 20 broadcast partners, including a dedicated MTBWS TV platform.After 11 weekends of racing and 38 UCI World Cup races broadcast live, WBD’s flagship streaming platform, HBO Max, has delivered record viewership in 2026, surpassing previous benchmarks since its first mountain bike broadcast in May 2024. Average HBO Max views per round are up 45% compared with 2025, while total watch hours have also increased by 46%. Total HBO Max views this season are already close to last year’s full-season total, with three rounds of live and highlights coverage still to come. This growth has been supported by stronger digital and on-site promotion, alongside HBO Max’s global subscriber growth as the platform continues to expand into new markets.ALWAYS ON CONTENTWBD’s coverage extends beyond a race weekend’s on-site action and live broadcast with a 360-degree ecosystem that documents the twists and turns at every stage of the season.The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series social channels are posting more content to more fans than ever before, with total social reach surpassing 280 million in 2026. So far this year*, the channels have generated nearly 200 million video views, close to 10 million engagements and gained more than 130,000 new followers across TikTok, Instagram, Facebookand YouTube.YouTube has also delivered record audiences, with the channel nearing a quarter of a million subscribers. The Elite Men’s UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup highlights from Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ set a new video views record with more than 330,000 views, while highlight packages across all formats are attracting higher average audiences per race weekend than in 2025.This success has also been recognised by the industry, with the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series social media channels shortlisted for the SportsPro Awards 2026 alongside some of the biggest names in global sport.The official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website has also continued to play an integral role, providing news, updates and event information to users from across the world, with 3.5 million total page views since the start of the 2026 series, a significant increase compared to the same period in 2025.Alongside the official website, the brand-new WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fan App was also launched in May 2026, allowing fans to stay connected with the latest news and event updates wherever they are. Since launch, it has generated 13,000 downloads across iOS and Android users, creating another way for fans to access always-on content.STRONG ON-SITE ATTENDANCEAt the heart of it all are the UCI World Cup rounds themselves and the unparalleled race-day experience. From the opening round in MONA YongPyong (South Korea) to the final European stop in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), over 300,000 fans have lined the courses of iconic and new venues alike, creating a vibrant and electric atmosphere that’s been felt both trackside and by viewers around the world.They are extremely engaged with what they experience on-site too, with on site survey respondents finding that 98% would attend another WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series event again, while ranking the ‘quality of racing’ at 9.1/10.THE TEAMS AND BRANDS DRIVING SUCCESSBeyond the growth in audiences and fan engagement, the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season has showcased outstanding performances from the sport’s leading teams and bike brands.In cross-country, Specialized Factory Racing, Canyon XC Racing and Origine Racing Division have emerged as the most successful teams so far this season in terms of Elite UCI World Cup victories. Their success has been driven by some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Sina Frei, Laura Stigger and Adrien Boichis for Specialized Factory Racing, Jenny Rissveds for Canyon XC Racing, and Martina Berta and Mathis Azzaro for Origine Racing Division, all of whom have delivered standout performances throughout the campaign.In downhill, Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres, Specialized Gravity and Frameworks Racing / TRP have consistently produced winning performances across the opening two-thirds of the season. Five-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner Valentina Höll and her teammate Lisa Baumann have spearheaded the success of Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres. Meanwhile, victories from overall Elite Men leader Jordan Williams and teammate Finn Iles have helped establish Specialized Gravity among the most successful teams in the discipline this season. Rising stars Asa Vermette and Anna Newkirk have played a key role in Frameworks Racing / TRP’s strong results throughout the campaign.These results also underline the strength of the brands powering the sport’s top athletes, with Specialized, Canyon and Commencal standing out as the most successful bike manufacturers in Elite UCI World Cup competition so far in 2026.CREATING A LEGACYAs part of its commitment to growing mountain biking, WBD Sports is also focused on creating a lasting legacy through its corporate social responsibility work. Its CSR roadmap has been in development since 2023, with several initiatives launching this year to spotlight the activities of WBD and its partners.This year has seen historic change through the Women in Mountain Bike initiative – a central pillar of WBD Sports’ CSR roadmap – and the creation of a Women in MTB Working Group. Notable achievements include the first-ever rescheduling of the downhill running order at Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland (Austria) with the Women Elite stars closing the show, while there have been numerous Women in MTB Events that provide networking and social meetings to bring women at the forefront of the sport together.The first edition of the Legacy Award will also see the CSR actions of riders, teams and local organising committees rewarded and celebrated as part of the new Golden Arrow Awards ceremony on Sunday 4th of October, following the final WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round of the year in Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA).

As an Official Supplier of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Mavic has unveiled the new Crossmax Ultimate, its lightest-ever cross-country wheelset, developed in collaboration with UCI World Cup athletes and already competing on the sport’s biggest stage.Designed with one clear objective in mind, maximising speed without compromise, the new Crossmax Ultimate combines cutting-edge carbon construction, ultralight hubs and carbon spokes to deliver a wheelset weighing just 1080 grams per pair. According to Mavic, every element has been redesigned in pursuit of pure performance, resulting in significant weight savings across the rim, spokes and hub system.The French manufacturer says the wheelset was born from extensive collaboration with elite cross-country racers, drawing on athlete feedback, laboratory testing and real-world race validation. The result is a wheel designed to offer explosive acceleration, immediate engagement and exceptional handling precision on the demanding modern cross-country courses featured throughout the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.At the heart of the Crossmax Ultimate is Mavic’s Adaptive Layup carbon rim technology, which optimises carbon fibre placement to balance low weight, stiffness and vibration absorption. Complementing the rims are carbon spokes with titanium nipples and a new ultralight hub platform equipped with ceramic bearings and a 40-tooth ratchet system designed for rapid power transfer.The performance credentials of the Crossmax Ultimate have already been demonstrated during the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season with a victory for Katrin Embacher in the U23 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup in Nové Město Na Moravĕ, alongside several top-10 results from riders competing for the KTM XC Factory Racing and Mondraker XC Factory Racing teams.Nine months of field testing with professional athletes helped refine the final product before its launch, while every wheelset is hand-built and inspected at the company's Chavanod Test Laboratory in the French Alps.The new Mavic Crossmax Ultimate is available with a recommended retail price of €2,299. For more information about Mavic and its range of performance mountain bike products, visit the official Mavic website.