La Thuile – Valle D’Aosta: When is It? Who is Riding? How and Where to Watch?

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.

The third round of the UCI Enduro World Cup marked the season’s first two-day race. However, wet weather and stormy conditions in the Dolomites forced the cancellation of two physically demanding tests scheduled for day two, setting the stage for some unexpected results.Experienced rider Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) delivered a technical masterclass to overturn a 16-second deficit and claim her maiden UCI Enduro World Cup victory. In the men’s race, Tristan Botteram pushed to the limit on the final stage to edge out Tommaso Calonaci by less than a second in a thrilling finish.The Junior categories were equally dramatic: Harper Nelmes stormed to victory in the Men’s Junior race with a decisive final stage performance, while Nežka Libnik enjoyed a flawless weekend to take top honours in the Women’s Junior event.In the team standings, Speed Project secured their third consecutive round win, further extending their overall lead.BOTTERAM PRODUCES PERFECT RUN TO CLINCH SLENDER VICTORYComing into the second race day Italian rider Tommaso Calonaci was a surprise leader by three seconds in the Men’s Elite event, as he looked to secure a first UCI Enduro World Cup podium of his career. UCI Enduro World Champion, Alex Rudeau, was just three seconds behind and Tristan Botteram also in contention five seconds back. Last year’s UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) was also well placed for charge at victory just seven seconds from the lead.A storm before the day’s first stage resulted in stages four, five and six being cancelled for the Men’s Elite riders. Riders were left to battle for victory over the final 1.32-kilomete long Ciasates “EDR”.The short and powerful stage following the earlier storm resulted in some difficult conditions for riders. Botteram produced the ride of his career to win the stage by just eight tenths of a second from Lief Rogers, with Vojtech Bláha in third. Importantly Botteram’s time was 6.5 seconds faster than Calonaci to clinch the overall victory from the Italian by just six tenths of a second.After winning Saturday’s first stage Tommaso Francardo (Abetone Vittoria Nencini Sport Factory Team) did enough to place third overall. Meanwhile, Rudeau was pushed down to fifth, while Łukasik had issues on the final stage and placed 11th. After three rounds Rudeau keeps the lead in the overall standings ahead of Rodgers in second and Francardo.Speaking following his first UCI Enduro World Cup victory, Botteram said: “It was a special day for sure. With a lot of stages being cancelled and having to re-group and then put everything into one run, it was very difficult to regain all the time to win. To deliver under the pressure when I knew that I could win the race was really good.“It was big build-up to this race for me since November. I worked really hard and it’s been a long journey to get here. This is my first World Cup win and podium at the first time.”PUGIN PRODUCES TECHNICAL MASTERCLASS TO OVERTURN RIVALSMélanie Pugin (Speed Project) started the second day in sixth overall, having lost 13 seconds on the opening day, most of it on the demanding Tutti Frutti physical test. However, the French rider turned things around in emphatic style, mastering the steep and highly technical 2.51km Titans stage.Rain during the stage added another layer of difficulty, making the wooded and rocky terrain, capped by a challenging rock garden, particularly treacherous. Pugin handled the conditions to perfection, setting a benchmark time an impressive 12 seconds clear of her nearest rival.Winnifred Goldsbury, who claimed her maiden UCI Enduro World Cup victory in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland, also had ground to make up, starting the day in third overall, 12 seconds off the lead. The 19-year-old New Zealander delivered under pressure, finishing second on Titans, just seven seconds behind Pugin.Overnight leader Ella Conolly opted for a more measured approach on the opening stage, anticipating the physical tests later in the day. She placed third on Titans, conceding 27 seconds to Pugin but remaining firmly in contention, just 10 seconds behind the new race leader.The demanding conditions took their toll, with several riders losing ground, including UCI Enduro World Champion Elly Hoskins, who finished 52 seconds down on the stage, effectively ending her challenge for overall victory. Shortly after, worsening weather forced the cancellation of stages five and six, leaving only the final Ciasates “EDR” stage to decide the race.The 1.3km test combined high-speed sections, a short climb and a technical wooded descent, setting up a decisive finale. Pugin once again excelled in the technical terrain, winning the stage to secure overall victory.Hoskins bounced back to finish second on the stage, less than two seconds behind, while Conolly came home over six seconds adrift. In the final standings, Pugin sealed a commanding overall win by 17 seconds ahead of Conolly, with Goldsbury continuing her strong form in third.Reflecting on her victory, Pugin said: “I’m so proud of myself and my team. It’s been five years since my last win, so it feels incredible to be back on top. I had a difficult start to the weekend after a crash before training, so I took it easy at first, and yesterday I struggled to find my rhythm on the physical stages. With the weather today, we didn’t know how many stages we would even get. I gave everything on that first stage, and it paid off. I love this place. I think it’s the most beautiful place in Europe to ride a bike.”After three rounds, Conolly retains the overall series lead, holding a 30-point advantage over Pugin, with Goldsbury in third.NELMES AND LIBNIK TAKE JUNIOR HONOURSOvernight, Hugo Marti Montessinos led the Men’s Junior race by 11 seconds after breaking clear on the opening two stages. However, a crash in the Titans rock garden cost the youngster valuable time, dropping eight seconds on the stage. Fellow French rider Jules Janniaud kept his composure to take the stage win, while Harper Nelmes finished a close runner-up, just four tenths of a second back, moving to within three seconds of the lead heading into the final stage.On the decisive 1.7km finale, Tommy Bougon laid down the fastest time of the day, going four seconds quicker than his rivals to secure fourth overall. Behind him, Nelmes delivered when it mattered most, finishing third on the stage to overturn the deficit and claim the overall victory, as Marti Montessinos conceded five crucial seconds.Reflecting on his win, Nelmes said: “That was probably one of the toughest races I’ve ever competed in. It was a great weekend battling with Hugo [Marti Montessinos] and some of the Italian guys. They were fast and right there all weekend. Kudos to them.”After three rounds, Marti Montessinos still leads the overall standings, holding a 60-point advantage over Nelmes.In the Women’s Junior race, Nežka Libnik completed a flawless weekend, winning all five stages. The Slovenian rider continued her dominance on Titans, extending her advantage by a further 40 seconds.Elena Frei once again proved her closest challenger in second, while Romy Williams (Speed Project) strengthened her grip on third overall. Libnik then capped off a perfect performance by claiming victory on the final Ciasates “EDR” stage, sealing the overall by an emphatic margin of 2 minutes and 20 seconds ahead of Frei, with Williams in third.After back-to-back dominant rounds, Libnik leads the overall standings, ahead of Williams. Speaking after her victory, she said: “It was a very tough and physical weekend. The stages were great, technical and a bit slippery, but I managed to stay upright and put down some good times”.There is no let-up for the world’s best riders, as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads to La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta next weekend for a blockbuster quadruple-header. The event will feature Downhill and Enduro alongside the addition of the UCI Cross-country World Cup for 2026.The action gets underway on Friday (July 3) with UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup racing and UCI Downhill World Cup qualifications. Saturday (July 4) brings the Downhill finals and UCI Enduro World Cup, including a special night stage, before the weekend concludes on Sunday (July 5) with the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup.

Three adrenaline fuelled stages greeted riders on the opening day of enduro racing as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series arrived in the spectacular setting of the Dolomites.Italian home favourite Tommaso Calonaci showed his consistency in the Men’s Elite category with top three stage placings to lead overall overnight. Meanwhile, Ella Conolly was locked in battle with UCI Enduro World Champion Elly Hoskin throughout the day in the Women’s Elite event and also has a slender lead heading into Sunday.Val di Fassa, Trentino is the first two-day race format of the season, with a 59.6-kilometre course featuring 2,633m of descent across two days.With four stages ahead of them tomorrow both Calonaci and Conolly lead their respective events by just three seconds overall.In the Junior categories Hugo Marti Montessinos leads the Men’s event by 11 seconds overall and Nežka Libnik has an advantage of over one minute in the Women’s.CALONACI HAS STELLAR DAY TO LEAD MEN’S ELITE BATTLETommaso Calonaci is on course to secure the best UCI Enduro World Cup result of his career, provided he can hold off a stacked Men’s Elite field across Sunday’s four decisive stages. The 23-year-old Italian emerged as the standout performer in Val di Fassa, Trentino, taking an unexpected overnight lead.Fellow Italian Tommaso Francardo (Abetone Vittoria Nencini Sport Factory Team) laid down the benchmark time in the iconic Tutti Frutti. Calonaci followed closely, just three tenths adrift. Overall series leader and defending champion Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) stayed firmly in contention, only 1.4 seconds back, with round one winner and reigning UCI World Champion Alex Rudeau hovering just 3.5 seconds off the lead.There was early drama for Canadian Elliot Jamieson, whose return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series was compromised by a mechanical issue that cost him 12 seconds.Stage two, a 1.85km mix of technical and high-speed descending on 9.90, reshuffled the order slightly. Rudeau capitalised on the terrain, edging out Canada’s Evan Wall by a tenth of a second in a tightly contested run to move back into contention. Calonaci remained consistent at 1.8 seconds back, while Łukasik dropped a further three seconds and Francardo conceded four.The short but punchy final stage, Ciasates “EWS” (1.25km), demanded an all-out effort ahead of Sunday’s racing. Dutch rider Tristan Botteram set the pace, narrowly beating Calonaci by a tenth, with Rudeau another second behind. Łukasik, however, slipped to ninth on the stage, losing 4.9 seconds.With just four stages remaining, the Men’s Elite race is finely poised. Calonaci leads by three seconds over Rudeau, while Botteram sits third at 5.8 seconds. Łukasik remains within striking distance, just 7.1 seconds off the lead heading into the final day.CONOLLY AND HOSKINS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN DOLOMITES BATTLEAfter winning the opening round and finishing runner-up in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland, Ella Conolly arrived in Val di Fassa, Trentino as the overall UCI Enduro World Cup leader. The British rider, who also triumphed at this picturesque venue last year, wasted no time asserting herself on the opening stage.Despite its reduced length of just 2.2km and an uphill start, Tutti Frutti played to Conolly’s strengths, allowing her to put her power to good use and take the stage win.Reigning UCI Enduro World Champion Elly Hoskins is still searching for her first podium of the season and immediately applied pressure, finishing just 3.6 seconds behind. Fresh from her maiden UCI Enduro World Cup victory last weekend, Winnifred Goldsbury also stayed firmly in contention, placing third a further second back.Tutti Frutti claimed an early victim, as Simona Kuchyňková (Cube Action Team) dropped 20 seconds, while Italy’s Nadine Ellecosta (Abetone Vittoria Nencini Sport Factory Team) conceded eight seconds after suffering a rear wheel puncture. Determined to bounce back in front of a home crowd, Ellecosta responded strongly on stage two, the 1.85km technical test of 9.90. The reworked stage combined a demanding opening section with faster, flowing terrain, setting up a tight battle that Ellecosta edged by just eight tenths of a second over Conolly, with Hoskins 1.9 seconds further back.Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) also recovered well after losing 11 seconds on the opening stage, finishing just 2.5 seconds off the fastest time on 9.90.The short but intense final stage of the day, Ciasates “EWS” (1.25km), delivered a physical test featuring a rapid opening descent followed by a punchy uphill section. Hoskins seized the opportunity to claw back time ahead of Sunday’s finale, beating Conolly by 1.4 seconds, while Goldsbury remained in touch just two tenths further adrift.Heading into the final day, the fight for overall victory remains wide open. Conolly leads Hoskins by just three seconds, with Goldsbury in third, 12 seconds off the pace.MONTESSINOS AND LIBNIK COMMAND JUNIOR CATEGORIESHugo Marti Montessinos is firmly on course to make it three wins from three in the Men’s Junior category. The Frenchman edged a tightly contested opening stage on Tutti Frutti, beating Šimon Lehký by just three tenths of a second.Lehký’s challenge unravelled on stage two, where a problem cost him 31 seconds and effectively ended his bid for victory. Montessinos capitalised immediately, dominating the 9.90 stage with a commanding five-second margin over Italian Lorenzo Noferini, while Australia’s Harper Nelmes completed the top three.The third and final stage of the day offered a glimmer of hope for his rivals. Canadian Nolan Weiss took the stage win, finishing 1.4 seconds ahead of Nelmes, with France’s Tommy Bougon in third.Despite placing fifth on the final stage, Marti Montessinos remains firmly in control, carrying an 11-second advantage into Sunday’s four remaining stages. Behind him, the fight for the podium is intensifying, with Nelmes and Weiss separated by just one tenth of a second.In the Women’s Junior category, Nežka Libnik delivered a flawless opening day. Fresh from her victory in the previous round, the Slovakian rider swept all three stages and holds a commanding lead of over one minute heading into the final day.Elena Frei secured second place on the opening two stages and has established a clear gap in the runner-up position, while a tightly contested battle for third is unfolding between Bélinda Baudet, Ella Mårtensson and Romy Williams (Speed Project).The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues in Val di Fassa, Trentino on Sunday, with four decisive stages set to determine the UCI Enduro World Cup outcome. Click here for information on how to follow the final day of action.