La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta Welcomes All Formats in Four-Way WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series

The six-week summer break did little to slow the world’s fastest downhill riders, who were immediately thrown in at the deep end during a wet and chilly UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying session on the iconic Mont Chéry track in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France).After a week of ever-changing weather, the course bore little resemblance to the dry and dusty track riders had learned during practice. Rain-soaked sections, evolving grip levels and increasingly muddy conditions demanded rapid adaptation, rewarding those able to adjust their lines on the fly and thrive in the slippery conditions.HÖLL, ONE STEP CLOSERIt is becoming increasingly difficult to find new ways to describe Valentina Höll’s dominance in 2026. The Austrian once again underlined her status as the overwhelming favourite for tomorrow’s Women Elite final, storming to the fastest qualifying time on the Mont Chéry track and becoming the only rider to break the 4:48 barrier with a blistering 4:47 run.The four-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner was not at her best through the opening sectors, but a devastating final split saw her overturn the deficit and put more than two seconds into nearest challenger Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing). The performance secured Höll’s fourth qualifying victory of the season and the perfect platform from which to chase a sixth race win of the year.Just as importantly, the result edges her another 50 points closer to a fifth overall series title. With only two rounds remaining after Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, Höll can now secure the 2026 crown this weekend even without victory. Depending on her rivals’ results, a finish as low as fifth place could be enough, while championship contender and teammate Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) faces a tougher challenge after qualifying ninth.Behind Höll, Cabirou once again demonstrated why Les Gets remains one of her strongest venues. The French rider, who boasts a win and two runner-up finishes at the venue, was the only competitor to finish within two seconds of the Austrian. Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) completed the top three, recording her strongest qualifying performance since topping the timesheets at the season opener in MONA YongPyong (South Korea).Further down the order, two of the three riders who stood on the podium last time out in Pal Arinsal-Andorra found themselves in an early battle for survival. Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division) and Sasha Earnest (Trek - Unbroken DH) both missed out on a direct route to the finals and were forced into Q2. Hemstreet successfully advanced at the second attempt, joined by Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate), Lisa Bouladou (Santa Cruz Burgtec by Goodman), Phoebe Gale (Orbea FMD Racing) and Matilda Melton (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team).Earnest, however, was unable to progress, bringing an early end to her weekend and ending any hopes of extending her recent run of podium form to three consecutive rounds.MAX ALRAN CLINCHES FIRST QUALIFYING VICTORYReigning Junior UCI Downhill World Champion Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) has spent much of his rookie Elite campaign playing catch-up with twin brother and teammate Till Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction), but on home soil the script was finally flipped. In front of a passionate French crowd, the 19-year-old delivered the ride of his young Elite career to claim his first-ever UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying victory on a damp and demanding day in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie.Max Alran came out of the gates flying, posting the fastest times through the opening two splits before surrendering some of his advantage in the latter stages of the run. When it mattered most, however, he found another gear, producing a superb final sector to stop the clock in 3:51.891 and secure a memorable breakthrough performance.Only Martin Maes (Orbea FMD Racing) came close to matching the Frenchman’s pace. Despite a cautious start, the Belgian steadily built momentum throughout the run and finished just 0.71 seconds adrift to take second place.Third went to Till Alran, who looked on course to beat his brother after leading deep into the final section. A costly mistake in the closing stages, however, saw him lose almost three seconds and surrender the top spot to Max.Overall leader Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) qualified fourth to keep his hopes of a third consecutive victory alive heading into tomorrow’s final. With Finn Iles and Loïc Bruni both sidelined through injury, Williams carries the hopes of extending Specialized Gravity’s remarkable streak to five straight Men Elite victories.Standing in his way will be a sizeable French contingent eager to deliver a home victory. Seven French riders booked places in tomorrow’s 30-rider final, with former Les Gets winner Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) looking the most likely challenger outside of the Alran brothers.Further down the order, another highly touted rookie, Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP), endured a nervy afternoon. The current third-place rider in the overall standings missed out on Q1 and was forced into Q2 before successfully securing his place in the final field.Joining him through the second qualifying session were Oisin O’Callaghan (Trek - Unbroken DH); reigning Les Gets winner Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) in his first UCI Downhill World Cup appearance of the season, and Benoît Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory), the 2023 Les Gets winner.SMITH AND OSTGAARD FASTEST IN JUNIORSPrivateer Elliot Smith delivered a breakthrough performance in only his second Men Junior UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying appearance, topping the timesheets and underlining that his failure to reach the finals in La Thuile-Valle d’Aosta (Italy) was far from a true reflection of his potential.The British national series champion was in a class of his own on the Mont Chéry track, posting a time 3.15 seconds faster than series leader Jonty Williamson, while Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) rounded out the top three more than five seconds adrift.In the Women Junior category, overall series leader Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) looks well placed to extend her winning streak to three races after storming to the fastest qualifying time in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie. The American set the pace through all but one sector and produced a stunning finish to overturn an almost three-second deficit at split four, ultimately crossing the line more than four seconds clear of the competition.Cassandre Peizerat (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction), making a guest appearance for the team, impressed with a strong second-place run and was the only rider able to finish within five seconds of Ostgaard. Rosa Marie Jensen (Specialized Gravity) completed the top three, although the Dane ended the session more than 15 seconds off the benchmark pace.UCI Downhill World Cup racing resumes in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie tomorrow (Saturday, August 22), with the Women Junior final opening the day’s action at 11:30 CEST. Find out how to watch here.

Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) has been one of the standout performers of the year. The reigning UCI XCO World Champion has carried her late-2025 momentum into this season, leading the UCI XCO World Cup standings while sitting just 30 points behind Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) in the UCI XCC World Cup rankings.Yet the Swede can afford no room for error. A formidable chasing pack, led by riders enjoying the strongest campaigns of their careers, remains firmly in contention. Frei, teammate Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) and Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) have all emerged as title contenders and are ready to capitalise on any opportunity.With three UCI World Cup rounds remaining, as well as next week’s 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy), the battle for supremacy is set to intensify. Expect Rissveds, Frei, Stigger and Berta to be at the heart of the action every time the start gun fires.LAURA STIGGER: “YOU CAN’T UNDERESTIMATE ANYONE”Laura Stigger is enjoying the most consistent season of her career in 2026. The Austrian has finished outside the top 10 just once in the UCI XCO World Cup this year, in Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland, and secured a breakthrough victory at round two in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia).During the summer break, Stigger has taken the opportunity to recharge both physically and mentally, spending time with friends and family while reflecting on a season that has firmly established her among the leading contenders. Her last outing in Pal Arinsal-Andorra produced another strong showing, with second place in the XCC and fifth in the XCO.“It was good to remember after Nové Město and then having Leogang as a really tough race,” she said. “It made me appreciate that victory even more. Starting that four-race block with a difficult race and then gradually building momentum gave me a lot of confidence.”Although Jenny Rissveds remains the benchmark, Stigger believes the depth of competition at the top of women’s cross-country racing is stronger than ever: “There are so many riders you have to keep an eye on, and you can’t underestimate anyone,” she explained. “At the World Championships especially, everybody wants to be at their very best. We can only focus on ourselves and make sure we deliver our best performance.”The upcoming UCI Mountain Bike World Championships are one of the major targets of her season, but Stigger is equally excited about what lies beyond Val di Sole: “I’m super excited for the new venue in Utah, in Haley Batten’s backyard,” she said. “I can’t wait to see the course and experience a completely new destination on the World Cup calendar.”SINA FREI: “EVERY SIGNLE POINT COUNTS”Sina Frei is also enjoying a career-best campaign. During the summer break, the Swiss rider added the European XCO and XCC titles to an already outstanding season that sees her sitting second in the UCI XCO World Cup overall standings while leading the race for the UCI XCC World Cup crown.Frei credits much of her success to a change in mindset, learning to appreciate achievements along the way rather than immediately looking ahead to the next challenge: “What I learned is to really enjoy every little success as much as possible. In the past, I didn't do that as well,” she explained.The six-week block of racing also provided a valuable lesson. Rather than worrying about limited training opportunities between events, Frei embraced the fact that every rider faced the same challenge and focused on making the most of each race weekend.“When there are so many races close together, it's not easy to keep your focus and belief in yourself. Sometimes you start thinking your fitness is gone,” she said. “But I kept telling myself that the others couldn't train either, that we were all in the same situation. Realising that was a turning point for me. In the past, I would panic too much about not being able to train. Now I'm much more relaxed, and I think that's made the biggest difference.”Although her eighth-place finish in the XCC at Pal Arinsal reduced her advantage at the top of the standings to 30 points, Frei took pride in the way she fought for every position and every point.“That race didn't go as planned, but with two laps to go I told myself: ‘I have to give absolutely everything until the finish because every single point counts.’”That determination has been a defining feature of Frei’s season so far, and with the UCI World Championships looming and three UCI World Cup rounds still to come, she remains firmly in the driving seat in the battle for the UCI XCC World Cup title.MARTINA BERTA: “THERE’S NOT MUCH LEFT TO DO BUT RACE, ENJOY AND NOT THINK TOO MUCH”Another rider enjoying a breakthrough campaign is reigning Italian champion Martina Berta. The 28-year-old has grown in confidence and consistency throughout the season, culminating in a memorable maiden UCI XCO World Cup victory on home soil in La Thuile, Valle d’Aosta. She carried that momentum into Pal Arinsal-Andorra, where a second-place finish elevated her to fourth in the overall UCI XCO World Cup standings.The demanding July race block delivered some of the biggest highs of her career, but it also highlighted the mental challenge of staying focused after emotional peaks.“The July block of racing was amazing,” said Berta. “It required a lot of energy, and I was happy to have a proper break after the National Championships because I was quite tired, maybe more mentally than physically. When you have those highs in La Thuile and Pal Arinsal, there’s naturally a bit of a low afterwards, and it can be difficult to stay focused.”Berta’s success has mirrored the rise of Origine Racing Division, a team that continues to challenge the sport’s biggest names despite being only in its second season. The Italian is quick to credit the collective effort behind their progress.“There are a lot of people working behind the scenes who don’t appear on screen but do an incredible job,” she explained. “Mathis [Azzaro] has also been really important for me. Last year he had a very strong first half of the season while I was struggling a bit more, so it was inspiring to see him performing at that level and to have that example within the team.”Now, Berta turns her attention to a pivotal final chapter of the season, with the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the closing UCI World Cup rounds presenting an opportunity to transform an already outstanding campaign into a truly memorable one.“I’m really happy with the season I’ve had so far, and it’s motivating to arrive at the World Championships feeling confident,” she said. “Italy is home, I know the venue, and I know so many people there. On a good day you enjoy it even more, but if things aren’t going your way, you still have the crowd behind you.”Looking beyond Val di Sole, Berta knows the final stretch will demand careful management as the series heads to North America.“From Les Gets to Lake Placid it’s going to be a long block. There are a few weeks between Worlds and the U.S. trip, but there won’t be much time for training. The focus will be on recovery and making the most of the work we’ve already done over the past month. By the time you arrive in Les Gets, there’s not much left to do other than race, enjoy it and not overthink things.”

The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series resumes after its summer break, with the world's best cross-country and downhill riders heading to Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France). Here's your complete guide to the race weekend, featuring UCI Cross-country and UCI Downhill World Cup.WHEN?The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Lets Gets, Haute-Savoie starts with the Women’s U23 Cross-country Short Track at 10:35 (UTC+2) on Friday, August 21 and concludes with the Men’s UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup at 15:00 (UTC+2) on Sunday, August 23.Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST):Friday, August 2112:30 – 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 Elite10:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U2311:25 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U2317:15 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite18:05 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men EliteSaturday, August 2211:30 – 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, August 2309:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U2311:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U2313:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite15:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men EliteWHERE CAN I WATCH?For the 11th stop of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, featuring the UCI Downhill, UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cups, fans will have multiple ways to follow the action as Europe hosts its final rounds of the 2026 season.The UCI Downhill World Cup Junior finals, for both men and women, will be broadcast live on HBO Max (in all available territories) and MTBWS TV for subscribers. Meanwhile, fans can follow the UCI Downhill World Cup qualification day through live timing and dedicated coverage across the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series social media channels.All the Elite finals will be available live via the channels and streaming platforms listed below:Europe:Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / EurosportBelgium – HBO Max, Eurosport, RTL (only selected races live) and VRT (only selected races live)Czechia – HBO Max, Eurosport and Czech TVFrance – HBO Max, Eurosport and L'Equipe Live (only selected races live on La Chaine l'Equipe)Ireland – TNT SportsSwitzerland, Liechtenstein – HBO Max, Eurosport and SRF/RSI/RTS (only selected races live)United Kingdom – HBO Max and TNT SportsAsia:Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand – Eurosport WorldOceania:Australia – Stan SportNew Zealand – MTBWS TVSamoa – Eurosport WorldNorth America:Canada – FloSportsUSA – HBO Max / MTBWS TVSouth & Central America: MTBWS TVAfrica: MTBWS TVAll other territories: MTBWS TVVAN DER POEL RETURNS WHILE WOMEN’S CONTEST ON A KNIFE EDGE IN XCCIn Friday’s XCC, the best-ever Short Track rider Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) returns to the format after a five-year absence. The multi-discipline master has focused his attention on the road in recent times, picking up iconic wins on the asphalt in some of road cycling’s biggest races, but will line-up in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie in preparation for his assault on the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy) next week.If the Dutchman wins, he’ll extend his lead in the history books to 11 UCI XCC World Cup victories, but he will face a fired-up start list who have eyes on the overall series. Another multi-discipline star, Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), currently leads the title race and has spent his summer break racing on the road at the Tour of Poland, while Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing), Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) and Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team) are the other in-form riders who can go tyre-to-tyre with Van der Poel.The women’s contest meanwhile is on a knife edge – Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) leading Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) by just 30 points. Both will be chasing their third wins of the series, and Rissveds’ back-to-back victories gives her the momentum, but the overall title will come down to who can be the most consistent over the three remaining races.A FRENCH FIGHT ON HOME SOIL, RISSVEDS HAS ONE HAND ON XCO TITLEOn Sunday, Mathieu Van der Poel is likely to ruffle feathers at the front of the race as the Dutchman puts in his final preparations ahead of a tilt at completing the rainbow jersey set in Val di Sole, Trentino – the 31-year-old already having won the UCI Road, Cyclocross and Gravel World Championships during his career.But while his first appearance in a 2026 UCI XCO World Cup race might draw additional interest, there’s a fierce French battle going on amongst the regulars in the overall title fight.Luca Martin currently leads the field, but a first finish of the season outside of the top two in Andorra has potentially opened the door for compatriot Adrien Boichis. The Specialized Factory Racing rider capitalised on Martin’s misfortune at the last round by winning in his adopted home – repeat the feat this weekend in front of a passionate home crowd and he could come close to leapfrogging Martin with just two rounds to go.The women’s field isn’t as tight with Jenny Rissveds running away with proceedings after her XCC-XCO double in Pal Arinsal - Andorra. The Swede could clinch the overall if other results go her way and her closest rival Sina Frei has a low scoring round, but the likelihood is that the overall will rumble on until the next round in Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA) at least.Away from the overall, this week’s round sees the return of Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Team) to the UCI XCO World Cup start list. Pieterse arrives after a successful summer on the road, where she won the Queen of the Mountains polka dot jersey earlier this month at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, while reigning UCI XCO World Cup overall winner Maxwell starts her first UCI World Cup in 10 months after taking a sabbatical from racing.WILLIAMS AND HÖLL OUT TO UPSET HOME CROWDIn between the cross-country action sits one of the most iconic scenes in downhill racing.In the men’s competition, overall leader Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) will hope to be the man sat in the hotseat as the Brit chases a third win in a row. With teammate Finn Iles sidelined through injury, Williams’ closest challengers are set to come from a stacked field hungry to make their mark in Les Gets.Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) is the most successful rider at the venue with two wins (2019 and 2024) and the local fans will be urging the 30-year-old to clinch an historic third to rocket his way up to leaderboard, while fellow French riders Loris Vergier (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) and Till Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) will look to step things up on home soil.In the women’s contest, a sixth win of the series would seal Valentina Höll’s (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) fifth UCI Downhill World Cup overall title with two rounds to go. The Austrian has been in spellbinding form even by her own high standards but will have to do something she has never achieved as an Elite and win in Les Gets to confirm her coronation. There are a number of permutations where she can finish off the top step and still walk away with the title, and all the 24-year-old needs to do is hold a 500-point lead at the end of Saturday. Teammate Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) is the most likely to put a dent in Höll’s winning record, while Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division) and Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) have all tasted success on this hallowed patch of Haute-Savoie soil.