Jolanda Neff to join Alpecin-Premier Tech / Fenix-Premier Tech

The 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup season marked the arrival of a new star at the top of the men's field, while a familiar face reasserted her dominance in the women's field.Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) delivered one of the most remarkable debut Elite campaigns in UCI Downhill World Cup history, overcoming established names and fellow title contenders to claim the men’s overall crown. His breakthrough season came amid a shifting competitive landscape, with reigning UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner and UCI World Champion Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) unable to replicate the consistency that had made him such a dominant force in 2025, while Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) was sidelined for much of the season.In the women’s competition, Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) delivered another season of remarkable dominance. Despite adapting to a new team and bike setup, the Austrian quickly re-established herself as the benchmark in women’s downhill. Six victories from nine rounds, coupled with another rainbow jersey, powered Höll to a fifth UCI Downhill World Cup overall title and further cemented her place among the sport’s all-time greats.VERMETTE MAKES HISTORY IN BREAKTHROUGH ELITE CAMPAIGNThe rivalry between Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) and Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) defined the Junior category in 2025, with the pair regularly posting times that would have challenged the Elite field. Their long-awaited move into the Elite category was one of the biggest storylines heading into 2026, but few could have predicted the impact they would make against some of downhill’s most established stars.After missing out on the Junior overall title by just 12 points the previous season, Vermette arrived in the Elite ranks with a point to prove. The American announced himself immediately, winning his first-ever Elite UCI Downhill World Cup race in MONA YongPyong (South Korea) by a commanding 1.5 seconds.That breakthrough victory was followed by a turbulent spell. Vermette was disqualified in Loudenvielle – Peyragudes (France) and could only manage 30th in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria), briefly stalling the momentum generated by his dream start. However, the 19-year-old quickly regrouped, returning to the podium with third place in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) before finishing runner-up in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta (Italy).While Vermette was rebuilding his challenge, the Specialized Gravity duo of Jordan Williams and Finn Iles took advantage. With  Loïc Bruni sidelined and Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) unable to find his best form, Williams and Iles shared four victories between them and pushed Vermette down to third in the overall standings heading into the summer break.The title picture became even more complicated when former rival Alran stole the headlines in Les Gets – Haute-Savoie (France), claiming his maiden Elite UCI World Cup victory in front of a home crowd while Vermette finished sixth. But the American responded in style at Whistler Mountain Bike Park, British Columbia (Canada), winning the venue's first-ever UCI World Cup downhill race to move back into the overall lead and set up a three-way battle with Williams and Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction).Vermette arrived at the season finale at the Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA) knowing the title was within reach, although Williams still had a mathematical chance of overturning the deficit. In front of a home crowd, the American delivered when it mattered most. An eighth-place finish proved enough to secure the Men’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup overall title, making him just the second American rider to win the crown. In doing so, Vermette also 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 and completing one of the most remarkable rookie campaigns the sport has ever seen.SIX WINS AND A FIFTH CROWN FOR HÖLLA winter move to a new team and bike setup raised questions over how quickly Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) would adapt in 2026. Yet after a 2025 season that yielded just a single UCI World Cup victory, the reigning UCI World Champion returned to the kind of dominant form that has defined much of her career.The Austrian made an emphatic start to the campaign, winning the opening three rounds of the season in succession. Among those victories was a memorable triumph in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria), where the women’s race served as the grand finale of a UCI Downhill World Cup round for the first time. In front of a home crowd, Höll delivered one of the most commanding performances of the season, setting the fastest time in every split and winning by a considerable margin.The only significant setback in her campaign came in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), where she finished tenth as Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) claimed her maiden UCI Downhill World Cup victory. Any hopes that Höll’s dominance might be fading were quickly extinguished. The Austrian immediately bounced back with victory in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta (Italy) before winning again in Pal Arinsal, securing her fifth victory in just six rounds.By the time the series arrived in Les Gets, Höll’s advantage was already overwhelming. A third-place finish proved enough to mathematically secure her fifth Elite Women overall title with two rounds still remaining, effectively turning the closing stages of the campaign into a celebration of another remarkable season.Far from easing off after sealing the overall crown, Höll continued to add to her legacy. One week later she successfully defended her UCI World Championship title, claiming the rainbow jersey for a fifth time before crossing the Atlantic and returning to the top step of the podium at Whistler Mountain Bike Park.Höll rounded out her season with a second-place finish at the finale in Lake Placid. It left her just one victory short of equalling the all-time record of seven wins in a single Women’s Elite season, currently shared by Anne-Caroline Chausson and Rachel Atherton. Even without that final milestone, seven podiums and six victories underlined a season of near-total dominance as Höll claimed yet another overall title.OSTGAARD AND WILLIAMSON DOMINATE THE JUNIOR RANKSTwo riders stood head and shoulders above the rest of the Junior field in 2026, producing commanding campaigns that left little doubt over who would leave the season with the overall titles.In the Junior Women category, Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) delivered a remarkably consistent season, standing on the podium at every UCI Downhill World Cup round. The American claimed victories in MONA YongPyong, La Thuile, Pal Arinsal, Les Gets and Whistler, while never finishing lower than third throughout the campaign. That consistency proved impossible for her rivals to match, with Ostgaard ultimately securing the overall title by 175 points and underlining her readiness for the step up to the Elite ranks next season, having posted times faster than some of this year’s Elite winners.The Junior Men category was similarly dominated by Jonty Williamson (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), who enjoyed one of the most impressive seasons of any rider in the downhill field. The New Zealander claimed an outstanding six UCI Downhill World Cup victories, establishing a commanding lead in the standings early in the year. His only significant setback came in La Thuile, where he could finish no higher than 17th. Despite suffering a wrist injury at the UCI World Championships that ruled him out of the final two rounds in Whistler and Lake Placid, Williamson's advantage was already so substantial that his rivals were unable to close the gap. Even without racing the final events of the season, he comfortably secured the Junior Men overall title, capping a campaign defined by speed, consistency and outright dominance.The 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup ultimately delivered a season of both breakthrough and dominance. Vermette’s remarkable rise showed just how quickly a new generation can reshape the Elite field, while Höll’s commanding campaign once again demonstrated the consistency required to remain at the very top. With Ostgaard and Williamson setting an equally impressive benchmark in the Junior ranks, the season closed with established champions adding to their legacies and emerging talents proving they are ready to shape the next chapter of downhill racing.

The 2026 UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup titles were decided by season-long battles, with neither champion able to establish a comfortable grip on the overall until the closing rounds.Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) went toe-to-toe with Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) throughout the campaign, while Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) faced sustained challenges from fellow Frenchmen Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) and Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division). Momentum shifted repeatedly, leaving both title fights finely poised as the season approached its conclusion.The struggles of defending champions Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) and Evie Richards (Trek – Unbroken XC), who missed rounds through injury and were unable to maintain their usual form, created an opportunity for new names to rise. But Frei and Martin still had to fight every step of the way before emerging as first-time UCI XCC World Cup overall winners.MARTIN TURNS CONSISTENCY INTO MAIDEN XCC OVERALL TITLE Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) ended 2025 in flying form, winning the final UCI XCC World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne (Québec, Canada) to finish runner-up in the overall standings. The Frenchman carried that momentum into 2026, producing the consistent campaign needed to go one better and claim his first UCI XCC World Cup overall title.His season did not begin as planned. A mid-race flat tyre forced Martin to record a DNF at the opening XCC race in MONA YongPyong (South Korea), before a sixth-place finish in Nové Město na Moravě (Czechia) offered the first signs that his challenge was gathering pace.Martin found his rhythm in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria), recovering from a crash on a descent to charge back through the field and secure third place. He followed that result with second in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), finishing behind compatriot Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) as Boichis celebrated his first UCI XCC World Cup victory. The same result followed in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta (Italy), where Martin was once again runner-up to his fellow Frenchman.A fourth-place finish at the high-altitude round in Pal Arinsal – Andorra left Martin narrowly outside the podium and allowed Boichis to take control of the overall standings heading into the six-week summer break, with Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) sitting second.When racing resumed in Les Gets – Haute-Savoie (France), Martin returned in strong form but once again had to settle for second behind Boichis, who strengthened his grip on the overall lead. With only two rounds remaining, Martin’s chances of taking the title appeared to be fading.However, Boichis’ decision not to contest the final North American leg blew the battle wide open. Martin immediately capitalised, taking another second place in Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA) to move into the overall lead and set up a final-round showdown with Azzaro.Martin arrived at the Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA) with a 96-point advantage, meaning Azzaro needed to win while Martin finished outside the podium places to overturn the deficit. The suspense ended before racing began when Azzaro withdrew from the weekend, but Martin still closed out his campaign with fourth place, securing his first UCI XCC World Cup overall title and completing his rise from 2025 runner-up to 2026 champion. Martin completed the double by also securing the UCI XCO World Cup overall title that weekend. It capped a landmark season for the Frenchman, who also secured the UCI XCO World Cup overall title to complete an impressive double.With both titles secured, Martin will begin a new chapter in 2027, joining Decathlon Ford Racing Team and racing aboard VAN RYSEL’s debut mountain bike, the RCR-XC, with the cycling brand serving as the team’s official bike and apparel supplier.FREI EDGES RISSVEDS AFTER SEASON-LONG FIGHT FOR THE TITLE Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) ended the 2024 season in impressive form with two XCC victories but endured a difficult 2025 campaign without recording a single podium finish. She returned in 2026 with a point to prove and made the perfect start, winning the opening round in MONA YongPyong to claim her first victory in the format since the 2024 season finale in Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada).After finishing fifth in Nové Město na Moravě, Frei quickly returned to winning ways in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland, taking her second victory from the opening three rounds and strengthening her early grip on the overall standings.However, finishes of sixth in Lenzerheide, second in La Thuile and eighth in Pal Arinsal saw her advantage begin to narrow. Frei’s closest challenger, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing), won the latter two rounds to cut the gap at the top of the standings to just 30 points and set up a compelling title fight heading into the six-week summer break.Frei regained the momentum when racing resumed in Les Gets, taking her third victory of the season as Rissveds had to settle for second. The Swiss rider then finished third in Soldier Hollow, while Rissveds could only manage fifth, giving Frei a valuable advantage ahead of the final round.At the Lake Placid Olympic Sites, Rissveds once again crossed the line in second, but Frei remained close behind in third. That result was enough for the Swiss rider to prevail in their season-long battle and secure the UCI XCC World Cup overall title by just 60 points.CORVI AND SCHEHL CROWNED U23 WINNERSIn the U23 field, two riders dominated proceedings with an impressive string of UCI World Cup wins between them.In the women’s Under 23 category, Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) opened her season with podium finishes in South Korea and Czechia. After missing the podium in Austria, the Italian hit an outstanding run of form, claiming runner-up in Lenzerheide followed by three consecutive XCC victories from La Thuile to Les Gets.That commanding mid-season streak gave Corvi enough of a cushion to finish outside the podium places at the final two rounds and still secure the overall title by more than 100 points.In the men’s Under 23 category, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) was almost unstoppable from the outset, making his final U23 season one to remember before his move to the Elite ranks in 2027. After opening his campaign with third place in South Korea, the German produced an incredible run of five back-to-back XCC victories from Nové Město na Moravě to Pal Arinsal. A runner-up finish in Les Gets and two results outside the podium places in North America did little to threaten his commanding advantage, as Schehl secured the overall title by more than 200 points ahead of Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon XC Racing).The 2026 UCI XCC World Cup ultimately proved a test of consistency, resilience and speed, with the battle for points playing out across a demanding season. With four overall winners crowned across the Elite and U23 categories, the campaign once again demonstrated the depth of talent and fiercely competitive nature of short track racing, one of the most explosive showcases of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.

VAN RYSEL will enter the mountain bike world in 2027 with the RCR-XC, its first bike developed to compete at the highest level of cross-country racing.The new bike will make its WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut with Decathlon Ford Racing Team, with VAN RYSEL becoming the team’s official bike and apparel supplier from the 2027 season. It will be raced by a world-class roster that includes 2026 UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup overall winner Luca Martin, 2025 UCI XCO World Cup overall winner Samara Maxwell, UCI World Cup winner Savilia Blunk and 2026 UCI World Championships bronze medallist Cole Punchard.The launch marks the next chapter for the French brand, based in Lille, which has spent several months building a dedicated mountain bike operation. This includes recruiting established talent from across the discipline and forming a research and development team based in the French Alps.Behind the scenes, VAN RYSEL’s engineers and product managers have been developing an entirely new range of products, applying the expertise gained through the brand’s road programme to the demands of modern cross-country racing, with the objective of creating a bike capable of winning the sport’s biggest races.Beginning with an in-depth review of data collected since the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the development team examined the demands of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series circuit before focusing on three key areas: speed, power and time. These findings shaped the foundations of VAN RYSEL’s first mountain bike.Its partnership with Decathlon Ford Racing Team will provide the ultimate test, placing the RCR-XC on the start line at the highest level of the sport throughout the 2027 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season. With some of the world’s leading cross-country riders putting the bike through its paces on the sport’s most demanding courses, every race will offer an opportunity to validate, refine and push the project forward.For VAN RYSEL, the move into mountain biking is more than the launch of a new bike. It represents the start of a new chapter for the brand and an ambitious commitment to cross-country racing, with the RCR-XC ready to make its mark on the world stage from its very first season.