La Thuile Opens Ticket Sales for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series

Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Alps, La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta welcomed the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to the Italy–France border for a gruelling test of endurance. Making its debut on the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup calendar, the venue challenged riders with a compact yet explosive 714-metre course, featuring two steep ascents at 1,500 metres above sea level. Dry, dusty conditions and technical descents further amplified the challenge, setting the stage for a thrilling day of racing across all categories.Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) took his second Men’s Elite UCI XCC World Cup win of the season after overcoming fellow Frenchman Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) in a last lap tussle.In similar fashion, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) charged clear of challenger Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) to win her first Women’s Elite UCI XCC World Cup race of the season.Meanwhile, there were familiar names at the top of the under-23 podiums as Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) and Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) increased their overall leads. BOICHIS OVERCOMES CANNONDALE CHALLENGE TO TAKE VICTORY Adrien Boichis rose to the occasion in a thrilling battle with Cannondale Factory Racing duo Luca Martin and Charlie Aldridge. The race turned on the penultimate lap when Aldridge clipped wheels with his teammate and crashed, leaving Martin as Boichis’ sole remaining rival. Sensing his opportunity, the Frenchman unleashed a decisive attack on the final lap, breaking clear to secure the win.There was notable absentees on the starting line with Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) out with a fractured fibula suffered during a training ride and Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) also failing to take the start after crashing in practice.The race exploded from the gun as the riders sprinted up the opening gravel climb determined to reach the first technical section in prime position. Aldridge won the dash to the front, forming part of a select group of seven riders that quickly opened a gap. Further back, overall series leader Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) saw his hopes dented when he crashed in the rock garden, conceding crucial seconds to the front group.Cannondale Factory Racing held the upper hand in the early stages, with Martin and Aldridge firmly established at the head of the race. The lead group swelled around the halfway mark as the chasing riders reeled them in, while Boichis and Aldridge exchanged blows in a thrilling contest for control. But La Thuile’s loose and unforgiving terrain continued to take its toll, with home hero Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) slipping out of contention after a costly mistake.The race’s defining moment came on the penultimate lap when Cannondale Factory Racing teammates tangled while attempting to contain Boichis’ relentless pressure, leaving Aldridge on the ground. With Martin now the sole Cannondale rider at the front, Boichis seized his opportunity, unleashing his final-lap attack. Aldridge fought back admirably to claim third, narrowly beating Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) to the final podium spot. Despite earlier crashes, both Azzaro and Avondetto recovered strongly to secure top-10 finishes and valuable points in the overall standings.Azzaro’s recovery to finish eighth ensured that he remains leader of the UCI XCC World Cup, just 55 points ahead of Boichis.Reflecting on his victory, the Frenchman said: “I don’t know why, but I just wanted to make it hard. It’s a beautiful place and a really nice track for Short Track. Luca [Martin] is in incredible form, and it was great to race against him. We’ve known each other for a long time, so to be up there battling together was something special.”RISSVEDS THRIVES ON NATURAL TRAILS WITH LATE CHARGEJenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) produced a perfectly timed late attack to deny Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) and claim her first UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup victory of the season.The steep climbs and technical descents of La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta created a demanding test that quickly separated the strongest riders from the rest of the field. It was Ronja Blöchlinger (LIV Factory Racing) who suffered the first setback of the race, unclipping on the opening lap and losing valuable positions. Meanwhile, the combination of a technical rock garden descent and a tight switchback climb immediately fractured the field, with six riders breaking clear on the opening lap.Fresh from her UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup victory in Lenzerheide, Rissveds set the pace at the front during the early stages. Behind her, Blöchlinger mounted an impressive recovery, using her climbing strength to fight her way back into contention.As the race intensified, Rissveds' relentless tempo and descending prowess began to take their toll. By the halfway point, the Swedish rider had reduced the lead group to just three riders, pulling clear alongside Frei and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon).Not to be denied a place in the fight for the podium, Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) gradually worked her way back to the leaders and rejoined the front group. On the penultimate lap, Rissveds launched a fierce acceleration on the climb, with only Frei able to match her pace.The leading pair started the final lap with a seven-second advantage over the chasers. Frei struck first, attacking on the steep climb above the start area as the two rivals raced wheel-to-wheel. But Rissveds had the final word, producing a decisive move on the course’s steep switchback ascent. The reigning UCI XCC European Champion opened a small gap and held it all the way to the finish, taking victory ahead of Frei, while Blunk secured third place. Although disappointed to miss out on the win, Frei strengthened her grip on the overall standings and now holds a commanding 170-point lead after five rounds of the UCI XCC World Cup.Reflecting on her victory, Rissveds said: “It feels great. I really love it here. The surroundings are incredible and the course is so good. I really appreciate the natural trails, it’s proper mountain biking and that’s really cool. It’s also been great to see Sina [Frei] step up this season. She’s racing at an incredibly high level and it’s exciting to battle against riders who are that strong.” The Women’s Elite race also marked the welcome return of reigning UCI XCC World Champion Evie Richards (Trek – Unbroken XC), who was back in action after recovering from concussion and enjoyed an encouraging comeback with a top-10 finish. CORVI AND SCHEHL TAKE UNDER-23 WINS Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) gave the home fans plenty to celebrate by becoming the first rider to win a UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup race at La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta.Having already claimed three UCI World Cup victories this season, all in the Olympic discipline, the Italian arrived in La Thuile in outstanding form. Fresh from a runner-up finish in the XCC at Lenzerheide, Corvi carried that confidence onto home soil and quickly asserted herself at the front of the race.Taking the lead after eight minutes of racing, the Canyon XC Racing rider used the course’s demanding climbs to steadily build an advantage over her rivals. Even a mid-race mechanical failed to derail her charge. Staying composed, Corvi quickly re-established her lead before cruising to the finish line with a commanding 18-second margin of victory.Bloeme Kalis (KMC Nukeproof MTB Racing Team) chased hard but had to settle for second place, while Monique Halter (Thömus Akros – Youngstars) completed the podium in third. After five rounds, Corvi now leads the overall UCI XCC World Cup standings by 54 points.Reflecting on her victory, she said: “It was really hard. The track is super steep on the climbs, very physical, and the pace was really high today. I tried to stick to my own rhythm and realised I was gaining time on both the climbs and the descents. When I had a mechanical issue in the middle of the race, I stayed calm, got going again and focused on my own race. I’m super happy with how I felt today.”Meanwhile, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) continued his dominance in the Men’s U23 category, securing a fourth consecutive UCI XCC World Cup victory with another commanding display.As has become a familiar storyline this season, Schehl was once again joined at the front by rival Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon XC Racing). The pair set the pace throughout the race before the German made his decisive move on the final lap. Showing his trademark power, Schehl opened a winning gap to take victory ahead of Baudry, while Nicolas Halter (Thömus Akros – Youngstars) rounded out the podium in third.The result further strengthened Schehl’s grip on the overall standings, extending his advantage to 115 points after five rounds.Following his victory, he said: “My plan was to stay at the front because of the dust, and I managed to do that from the start. I kept the pace high, but in a way that suited me. I felt strong throughout the race and started to increase the pace with three laps to go, hoping to catch everyone by surprise. I could see Thibaut [François Baudry] still on my wheel, so on the final lap I gave absolutely everything. It worked perfectly. I really enjoy racing against Thibaut and having that rivalry with him.”The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues at La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta on Saturday, when gravity riders take centre stage with the UCI Enduro World Cup and UCI Downhill World Cup. The endurance athletes return to action on Sunday for the venue’s first-ever UCI XCO World Cup. Discover the full schedule and where to watch here.

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.