Downhill Action Gets Underway as the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała Host Gravity Weekend

Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) and Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) will start last in tomorrow’s UCI Downhill World Cup finals after mastering the difficult downhill course in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta. Šimun Juras topped Men’s Junior qualification for the first time, while Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) is a familiar name at the top of the Women’s Junior leaderboard.The LTHell - La Thuile Hell downhill course was created especially for the UCI Downhill World Cup last year by track manager Enrico Martello and Swiss specialists Trailworks (whose work includes Bike Kingdom, Lenzerheide, Switzerland) and was tweaked slightly for the second edition.The longest course of the 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup season is a steep, technical challenge that puts riders’ skills to the test from start to finish. Stretching 2.3 kilometres and plunging 641 metres in elevation with an average gradient of -27%, the track descends into the high-altitude alpine resort town of La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta, framed by some of the most breathtaking scenery on the circuit.WILLIAMS GOES QUICKEST IN SEARCH OF LONG-AWAITED WINJordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) secured the fastest time for the second time this season on the formidable LTHell – La Thuile Hell track. Having already led qualifying in Loudenvielle–Peyragudes (France) earlier this year before claiming third place in the final, the Briton stopped the clock at 3:30.765, a mark that remained untouched throughout the remainder of the session. Remarkably, Williams believed he had left time on the mountain, underlining both his confidence and pace on one of the toughest tracks of the year. He will be searching for the second UCI Downhill World Cup victory of his career in tomorrow’s finals – his last coming on his elite debut at Lenzerheide in 2023.Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) stood on the top step 12 months ago in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta and hoped to be back on form this weekend. The UCI Downhill World Champion felt more himself and comfortable on the bike as he sailed through Q1 in third position.Surprise of the session came from privateer Angel Suárez Alonso who was a second quicker than Williams through the second sector. The 30-year-old lost time in the bottom sector to finish second in Q1, just two hundredths of a second behind Williams.Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) is bidding for a third consecutive UCI Downhill World Cup victory at La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta. However, the Canadian will have a long wait in finals after edging through Q1 in 17th position.Overall series contenders Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) and Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) also have time to find in finals after progressing through Q1 in fifth and 13th position respectively.Michael Delesalle (Frameworks Racing/TRP) won Q2 in 3:31.614, ahead of Tyler Waite (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) and Bode Burke (Crestline Speed Shop).Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) also had to take the long route to the finals, booking his place through Q2 after failing to progress at the first attempt. The Frenchman was one of the high-profile riders caught up in a fiercely contested qualifying session, but others were less fortunate. Dylan Maples (Pivot Factory Racing), Oliver Davis (Trek – Unbroken DH) and Aaron Gwin (Frameworks Racing / TRP) were among the notable names to miss out on a place in tomorrow’s finals.HÖLL CONQUERS QUALIFYING AS RIVALS FAULTERValentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orress) won qualifying for the second time this season and will start last for tomorrow’s finals. The Austrian suffered a small crash two weeks ago in Lenzerheide resulting in a 10th place finish, putting to an end her perfect start to the season.Despite leaving some time on the top section of the course, Höll flew down the steep wooded section and pulled over a second out on her rivals. The UCI Downhill World Champion had time to be cautious in the bottom section as she posted the fastest time in Q1 of 4:03.270.It was a great Women’s Elite Q1 session for Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres as Swiss rider Lisa Baumann pushed her team-mate close for top spot. She finished a career-best runner-up two weeks ago in Lenzerheide and will be dreaming of her first UCI Downhill World Cup win tomorrow after finishing just six tenths of a second behind her teammate.Last year’s La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta winner Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) finished third fastest in Q1 but could have more to give in tomorrow’s finals.After failing to make finals two weeks ago, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco X adidas Race Division) made no mistake on the difficult course and placed fourth in qualification. Gloria Scarsi (MS Racing) continued her consistent season by placing sixth, while Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) was also amongst the Q1 qualifiers.Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP), who claimed her maiden UCI World Cup victory in Lenzerheide two weeks ago, will not feature in tomorrow’s finals after a disappointing qualifying day. The American failed to finish her Q1 run and was unable to recover in Q2, where she finished outside the top five required to progress. Newkirk was not the only high-profile casualty, with Phoebe Gale (Orbea FMD Racing) and Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) also missing out on a place in the finals after falling short in Q2.Meanwhile, Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing) was missing from the course in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta after announcing that she is taking time to recover from the injuries which have impacted her season so far.JURAS AND OSTGAARD MASTER COURSE IN JUNIOR QUALIFICATIONŠimun Juras showed his technical ability on the steep lower slopes of La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta to qualify fastest during an intense Men’s Junior qualifying session. The Croatian rider has yet to finish inside the top 10 during his debut season in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. However, he flew down the rutted slopes of LTHell - La Thuile Hell in a time of 3:39.436 to qualify quickest.Sacha Gabriel Brizin (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) was quickest of the overall contenders and qualified second fastest just two tenths of a second behind. Meanwhile, Thomas Bruno (MS-Racing) will have Italian hopes on his shoulders after placing third – just one second behind.After winning the opening four UCI Downhill World Cup rounds this season Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) struggled on the testing course but squeezed through qualification in 17th. His overall rival Felix Griffiths (Santa Cruz Syndicate) was not so fortunate and his 27th position was not good enough to make finals.Meanwhile, overall Women’s Junior leader Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) was fastest in qualification with an impressive time of 4:08.888. Rival Lina Frener (Norco x adidas Race Division) was three seconds back in second and Cassandre Peizerat finished third.Rosa Marie Jensen (Specialized Gravity) will also be amongst the Women Junior favourites in tomorrow’s finals after qualifying fourth.The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues at La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta tomorrow (Saturday) when gravity riders are in action with the UCI Downhill World Cup finals and the UCI Enduro World Cup culminating in a unique final night time stage.

After three out of six consecutive weekends of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, all formats return in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy) for the second quadruple header of 2026.The Italian Alps venue made its UCI World Cup debut in 2025 when it welcomed Downhill and Enduro, but this year the Endurance formats (Cross-country Olympic and Short Track) are joining the action for the series' second new venue of 2026.We look at everything you need to know about the La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including when the UCI Cross-country, UCI Enduro and UCI Downhill World Cup events are scheduled to take place, who is racing, and how to watch.WHEN? The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, Italy starts with the Women’s U23 UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup at 10:35 (UTC+2) on Friday, July 3 and concludes with the Men’s Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup at 15:30 (UTC+2) on Sunday, July 5.Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST):Friday, July 310:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U2311:25 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U2317:30 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite18:20 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite14:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior14:20 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior15:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men EliteSaturday July 411:30 – UCI Enduro World Cup11:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite14:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men EliteSunday, July 59:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U2311:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U2313:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite15:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men EliteWHERE CAN I WATCH?For the UCI Enduro World Cup, coverage will feature a course preview presented by UCI World Champion Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), who will guide fans through the route and its key sections. Practice and race-day highlights will be published on the official YouTube channel, while key moments from the action will be shared across social media. Live timing will be available via the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website and app, alongside the new live blogging feed. A highlights programme will also be broadcast on Eurosport and TNT Sports next week, before becoming available on demand on HBO Max.For the UCI Downhill and the UCI Cross-country World Cups, there will be several ways to watch the action unfold. Both the men’s and women’s UCI Downhill World Cup Junior races will be broadcast live on HBO Max (in all available territories) and MTWBS TV via subscription. The UCI Downhill World Cup qualification day meanwhile can be followed on live timing, across social media and on the official app, with the new live blogging feed.The Elite XCO, XCC and Downhill finals will be shown on one of the below channels or streaming services:Europe:Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / EurosportBelgium – RTL (only selected races)Czechia - HBO Max, Eurosport and CT SportFrance – HBO Max, Eurosport and L’Équipe / La Chaîne L’Équipe (only Elite DH and XCO races)Ireland – TNT SportsItaly - HBO Max, Eurosport, Rai Sport/Rai Play and La Gazzetta (only XCO Elite XCO races)Switzerland, Liechtenstein - HBO Max, Eurosport and SRG/RSI (Only Elite XCC & XCO 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 and MTBWS TVSouth & Central America: MTBWS TVAfrica: MTBWS TVAll other territories: MTBWS TVENDURO: PRIVATEERS WINNING IN DAVID VS GOLIATH BATTLEThe Enduro bikes will have only just been cleaned after a dramatic round in Val di Fassa, Trentino (Italy), and as riders head west to the Alps, there will be little time for reflection.Alex Rudeau’s consistency means the Frenchman has a narrow advantage over the Canadian Lief Rodgers as the series enters its second half. Although neither podiumed in the Dolomites, they are both favourites to be towards the top of the standings this weekend.Reigning champion Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) will be hoping to bounce back after a disappointing 11th-place finish in Val di Fassa, Trentino, but the Pole has a mountain to climb to regain his confidence and make it consecutive victories at La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta. Elsewhere, last weekend’s winner Tristan Botteram will be looking to back up his debut UCI World Cup win, while fellow podium finishers in Canazei Tommaso Francardo (Abetone Vittoria Nencini Sport Factory) and Tommaso Calonaci benefit from home advantage.Ella Conolly remains the rider to beat in the women’s contest and knows what it takes to win in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta having won in 2025. But the Brit has shown that she can be beaten twice already this season – Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) the latest to get the better of her as the Frenchwoman picked up her first UCI Enduro World Cup win in the Dolomites. Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria) winner Winnifred Goldsbury is another to keep an eye on – the New Zealander podiuming last weekend and within 90 points of Conolly in the standings – while there’s more to come from Raphaela Richter and reigning UCI Enduro World Champion Elly Hoskin.DOWNHILL: ILES AND HÖLL EARLY LEADERS OF THE PACKThe downhill contingent had a week off from racing, and will arrive in Italy slightly more refreshed since they competed in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) two weeks ago.Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) will hope the break won’t have impacted his momentum – the Canadian winning back-to-back rounds in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland and Lenzerheide. The in-form rider of 2026 is picking up where compatriot Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) left off at the end of last season, although there’s still more to come from the reigning overall title holder, who won in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta in 2025.It’s also been a North American lock-out at the top of the men’s podium in 2026, with Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) and Luca Shaw (Canyon DH Racing) keeping the Europeans and Antipodean’s at bay in the series’ first four rounds. Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) has come closest to breaking the trend, and the Frenchman’s 13 career wins and return to form also makes him the most likely.In the women’s contest, Valentina Höll’s (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) chances of completing a perfect season were dashed in Lenzerheide as the Austrian finished down in 10th. Regardless, she will start as the favourite in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta.Anna Newkirk’s (Frameworks Racing / TRP) debut UCI Downhill World Cup win in Switzerland means she has emerged as Höll’s most-likely competitor for the series, while Gloria Scarsi (MS-Racing) could be the surprise package, the Italian finishing second, third and fourth in her three starts in 2026.CROSS-COUNTRY: MARTIN AND RISSVEDS IN RED-HOT FORMLuca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) leads the way in the men’s XCO standings with four podium finishes in the first four rounds, including the win in Lenzerheide. While he has already built a 268-point lead in the series, there’s still a long way to go yet, and with Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), he’s up against someone who looks to be improving every week. Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) is another rider who is on the up, while Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) will have had another two weeks to build on his return to racing after injuring himself at the first round of the year in MONA YongPyong (South Korea). Adding further intrigue to the battle at the front, Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC) is set to make his WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut of the 2026 campaign.Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) has been just as dominant as Martin in the women’s field, recording her second consecutive win in Lenzerheide. The Swede is being hunted down by Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) and Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) in the overall, but neither have shown the same consistency as the reigning UCI XCO World Champion so far in 2026. Other riders on the rise are Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) and Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing).One important thing to note is that, since 2018, no rider has ever won at multiple new venues on the venue’s debut. That means we could see a surprise victor as riders tackle the La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta course for the first time.ALL TO PLAY FOR IN SHORT TRACKMathis Azzaro’s (Origine Racing Division) early season dominance is keeping the Frenchman firmly at the top of the XCC standings, but both Martin and Boichis are in red-hot form in the shorter format.Sina Frei meanwhile has a 220-point lead in the women’s contest, but the Swiss rider isn’t nailed on for top spot in the Italian Alps. Evie Richards (Trek - Unbroken XC) is always a threat and the Brit’s return will be feared by her main rivals, while Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) and Rissveds are all winless so far in 2026 and will feel like they’re due a strong performance.Racing gets underway on Friday, July 3 in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta.  Full schedule and event details are available here. You can find where to watch all of the racing action live here.

The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike Series approaches its midway point this weekend, and all four of the formats’ overall titles are still wide open with plenty to play for. The racing in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy) will therefore be pivotal in setting the tone for the latter stages of the season, providing momentum in a frantic run of back-to-back race weekends that continue with Pal Arinsal (Andorra) for the downhill and cross-country athletes next weekend and Aletsch Arena-Bellwald, Valais (Switzerland) for enduro the following.The Italian Alps venue returns after a successful debut in 2025, where both the UCI Enduro and UCI Downhill World Cups produced some memorable and incredibly close action. This weekend sees the UCI Cross-country World Cup join the fray, making it the second four-way WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stop of the season.THE FORMING OF AN ITALIAN ICONLa Thuile - Valle d’Aosta is a high alpine ski town in the northwest of Italy that’s nestled in the Alps on the Italy-France border. A stone’s throw from Chamonix (France) and Mont Blanc, the town’s 1,450m elevation guarantees amazing views of the surrounding mountain range and down into the valley below.Its trail area is home to 170km of routes, featuring some challenging, black-diamond trails packed with long, steep descents. Above the treeline, riders are treated to mellow, meadow fields, but on dropping into the woods, the lines become rocky, rooty, and natural, creating a demanding test for both rider and bike.The UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup course is new for 2026 on the UCI World Cup circuit and combines natural, long open climbs with a mix of flowing bike park descents and technical, raw cross-country drops on its 3.42km loop. The 714m UCI Cross-country Short-Track (XCC) World Cup course meanwhile features the same tight start corner and punchy initial climb before descending back down with a couple of tight, hairpin bends thrown in what could cause havoc at the front of the race.The LTHell - La Thuile Hell downhill course was created especially for the UCI Downhill World Cup by track manager Enrico Martello and Swiss specialists Trailworks (whose work includes Bike Kingdom, Lenzerheide, Switzerland). The technical, steep and fast 2.3km course has an average gradient of -27% as it drops 641m in elevation. A mix of 40% machined and 60% natural terrain, it represents La Thuile’s character as it passes through dense alpine forests before opening up into a fast, flowing white-knuckle ride down towards the finish line.The venue’s Enduro stages meanwhile take in the best trails of the Aosta Valley. The UCI Enduro World Cup will see athletes take on four stages as part of a 28.4km course featuring 2,696m of descent. Stages one and three are drawn out affairs – the opening 4.42km with 874m descent Touraisse the longest of the lot – while the venue is pulling out all the stops again for the final stage, Nightfall.After a successful debut in 2025, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ only after-dark stage returns; riders dropping in from 20.30 CET and navigating the 600m-long stage lit by 23 floodlights that utilise the same technology as those used in Formula 1’s night races to ensure there are no shadows.WILDCARD TEAMSThe following wildcard teams have been confirmed to compete in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta:UCI Downhill World Cup: Crestline Speed Shop, Outlaw Intense Racing, Pivot Factory Racing, Team High Country, The Alliance, Stoic Racing, YT RD.UCI Cross-country World Cup: Bike Team Solothurn, KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Massi, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros - Youngstars, UNNO Factory Racing.It’s the first appearance for YT RD, a development squad run by YT whose previous riders include Oisin O’Callaghan (Trek - Unbroken DH).PRIVATEERS LEAD THE WAY IN ENDUROAlex Rudeau and Ella Conolly might not have the backing of a factory set-up, but both riders make the privateer life work for them as they lead the UCI Enduro World Cup.The 2024 UCI Enduro World Champion, Rudeau minimised losses in a dramatic and weather-impacted round in Val di Fassa, Trentino (Italy), last weekend to finish fifth, while his most likely challenger for the overall series Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) could only manage 11th place. With such a short turnaround between rounds, it will be interesting to see whether the support of a team plays to Lukasik’s advantage during Saturday’s UCI Enduro World Cup.Conolly meanwhile continued her impressive consistency – the last time the Brit finished outside the top two was at the UCI Enduro World Championships in September 2024. She opened her 2026 account with victory in Loudenvielle, and although Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) got the better of her in the Dolomites last week, a return to La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, where she triumphed 12 months ago, could provide the perfect stage for another success.DOWNHILL: ILES EYES A HISTORIC HAT-TRICK WHILE HÖLL TARGETS A RETURN TO WINNING WAYSThings are finally falling into place for Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity). The Canadian overcame his 1,407 days without a win in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria) and then followed it up seven days later with a second victory at the next time of asking. With team-mate Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) out, Iles has big boots to fill as the team’s leader, but he’s doing it in style, and will fancy his chances in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, even though he failed to make it out of qualifying last year.Another Canadian, Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate), stood on the top step 12 months ago, and while the reigning overall champion is without a podium in 2026, he’s getting closer, finishing fourth in Lenzerheide (Switzerland).Elsewhere, Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) is showing the consistency that has been lacking in his riding since his last overall title from 2022, and Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) looks to be near his race-winning best.Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orress) had an off day by her incredibly high standards – her 10th place her worst result since Mont-Sainte-Anne in October 2025. The Austrian will hope that Lenzerheide was just a blip and will look to go one better than her result in the Italian Alps from last year, where she finished second.Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) appears the most likely to capitalise on any mistakes from Höll. The American is fresh from recording her first-ever UCI World Cup victory two weeks ago, an achievement that earned her the right to choose a career number, with Newkirk opting for 14.Others knocking on the door include Gloria Scarsi (MS Racing), last year’s La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta winner Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and we’re yet to see the form that took Gracey Hemstreet (Norco X Adidas Race Division) to second place in the overall in 2025.CROSS-COUNTRY: MARTIN AND RISSVEDS ON THE MARCHLuca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) currently sits in first place of the UCI rankings and it’s easy to see why. The Frenchman is having a stellar second season in the elite class, adding another win to his collection in the UCI XCO World Cup last time out. He hasn’t finished off the podium in the Olympic distance all year, and it’s this sort of consistency that will make him a firm favourite for the title.He won’t have it plain sailing in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta though. Multi-discipline riders Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) and UCI XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Race Team - XC) can both keep Martin off the top spot, and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) might be closer to full race fitness than he was when he made his return from injury two weeks ago in Lenzerheide.Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) is also riding a wave of success with the Swede finishing in the top three of the UCI XCO World Cup for more than a calendar year, including back-to-back wins in the last two rounds. Another victory in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta would be the Rio 2016 Olympic champions’ 10th of her career and move her within one win of eighth-place Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing) in the all-time list.Only the Specialized Factory Racing pair of Sina Frei and Laura Stigger have had the edge on Rissveds in the UCI XCO World Cup this season, but Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) are on the rise, while Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) are always a threat.RICHARDS AND KORETZKY RETURN IN SHORT TRACKThe UCI XCC World Cup has been missing two of its biggest stars for large portions of this season – women’s reigning overall winner Evie Richards (Trek - Unbroken XC) out for the last two rounds with concussion, while men’s UCI XCC World Champion Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) has been injured all year with a broken arm. Both are set to return in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta and will be keen to make up for lost time.Richards’ return will give series leader Frei an extra challenge alongside the likes of Rissveds, Blunk and Pieterse, while Koretzky could shake up a men’s contest that has so far been dominated by three other Frenchmen – Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), Boichis and Martin.MORE THAN RACINGSet against an outstanding backdrop and with a wide range of activities on offer, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stop in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta promises to deliver everything fans and riders need for an unforgettable weekend.With all four formats reunited, the on-track action is guaranteed, while off track, fans can immerse themselves in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series experience through the partner passport challenge, a fun initiative that invites them to explore the Event Village. Visitors will receive a booklet and are encouraged to stop by each partner stand to collect stickers. Once completed, the passport can be redeemed for a prize at the official merchandise store.The initiative is designed to encourage fans to discover the full Event Village, increase engagement with partners, and celebrate the launch of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series official store. Now present at all major European events and available online worldwide, the store offers exclusive merchandise ranging from apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, long-sleeve tees) and accessories (water bottles, hats, key rings, mugs) to race-day essentials such as branded ponchos and sun hats. Explore the full collection here.