Overall men’s series leader Alex Rudeau is out of the UCI Enduro World Cup round at Aletsch Arena-Bellwald on a bruising day one, alongside third and fourth-placed women Raphaela Richter and Winnifred Goldsbury.Rudeau broke his rear wheel navigating a rock garden at the end of stage 1 and was disqualified for unauthorised access of the Technical Assistance Zone, and unauthorised replacement of a marked component.That leaves Leif Rogers primed to take over the series lead with the Canadian sitting fourth overnight at 10.9 seconds behind Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), while Ella Conolly edges closer and closer to clinching back-to-back titles as she boasts a 26-second lead at the halfway stage.Richter and Goldsbury both dropped out of the event for medical reasons, with Elina Frei and Hugo Marti Montessinos setting the pace in the junior races.RUDEAU OPENS DOOR TO ROGERS AND DAILLYAt first glance, Rudeau finishing stage 1 in 11th at 14.5 seconds back appeared far from disastrous given he arrived in Switzerland boasting an 85-point lead at the top of the elite men’s standings. However, news of his disqualification sent shockwaves around the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and gave a huge carrot to all his rivals at the top of the standings.Fresh from his maiden elite UCI World Cup win in La Thuile-Valle d’Aosta, Raphaël Giambi was the early pacesetter but an issue on stage 2 cost him over half a minute and handed the initiative to Łukasik. The defending champion has endured a difficult season but he finished in the top five of every stage to eke out a 2.3-second lead over fellow Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team rider Ryan Gilchrist.Łukasik only topped the timesheets on one stage but with Giambi and Rogers both struggling with consistency, he will be the man to beat on day two.Adrien Dailly is the other man within 10 seconds of the Pole and he has an outside shot of leaving Switzerland with the overall lead if Rogers comes unstuck tomorrow, which features the tougher, steeper trails after longer energy-sapping rides on day one.CONOLLY ON THE BRINK AFTER DOMINANT DAY ONEWhile a big-name casualty shook up the elite men’s standings, DNFs for Richter and Goldbury helped Conolly tighten her grip in the elite women’s overall. However, the Brit deserves even more credit for a dominant performance in Aletsch Arena-Bellwald as she blew away her remaining rivals.With second-placed Simona Kuchyňková (Cube Action Team) also absent, Conolly immediately jumped out to a 15-second lead on Alpine Rodeo, the first of three long winding stages.UCI Enduro World Champion Elly Hoskin hit back on Blueberry Trail and Glaciara Trail but Conolly stayed in touch, then fired herself back to the front on the shortest stage of the day as Hoskin came unstuck, losing 13 seconds in just 1.5km.The Canadian remains Conolly’s closest challenger while Nadine Ellecosta is in line for a podium place in Switzerland, though the elongated gaps at the top of the women’s standings means neither rider is set to move up any positions.Kuchyňkova’s absence means Conolly is set to clinch the UCI Enduro World Cup with a round to go as long as she can stay on her bike tomorrow, though anything can happen on the technical trails of Aletsch Arena-Bellwald.The hardest stage of the weekend comes early on day two with Lord of the Rims (Extended Cut) featuring 725m of descent in just a 4.9km course, while the untested Into the Wild trail on the penultimate stage will be a fresh test for the exhausted riders.CONTRASTING FORTUNES FOR JUNIOR LEADERSThe gap at the top of the junior women’s standings is tightening after Nežka Libnik had a disastrous stage 3, losing 15 minutes to a puncture and opening the door to Romy Williams (Speed Project).Elina Frei leads by 2:38.950 on home trails as Williams was outclassed by the Swiss rider on every stage but looks set to finish ahead of Libnik as long as she finishes day two. However, Emily Skeie-Lebreux’s failure to finish stage two means Libnik is still on course to pick up 40 points and hold onto her overall lead.It was contrasting fortunes for the junior leaders as Hugo Marti Montessinos took a giant step towards clinching the overall title. Entering Aletsch Arena - Bellwald with an 80-point advantage at the top of the standings, a podium finish for the Frenchman would secure the junior men’s title ahead of the final round in August and Marti Montessinos is 12.9 seconds ahead after day one. His closest challenger Tommy Bougon is out too, so it looks like it would take a miracle to deny Marti Montessinos.The action reaches its climax tomorrow in Aletsch Arena–Bellwald with four more stages to close out the penultimate UCI Enduro World Cup round of the season. The final stage will be broadcast live on-site, with fans also able to follow the action on a delayed-live basis via subscription on MTBWS TV, in all markets where the streaming service is available.
As we approach the sharp end of the season, the UCI Enduro World Cup 2026 season is shaping up to be a classic with both the men’s and women’s overall titles finally poised.Ella Conolly and Alex Rudeau lead their respective categories, but both hold slim advantages over their closest competitors – Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) in the women’s field, and privateer Lief Rodgers in the men’s.The quartet joined UCI Enduro World Cup presenter Elliott Heap, along with La Thuile-Valle d’Aosta winner Raphaël Giambi (Speed Project) and German Enduro star Raphaela Richter ahead of the penultimate round of the series in Aletsch Arena - Bellwald (Switzerland) to share their thoughts on their seasons so far, and what we can expect in the final two rounds.CONOLLY LEADS THE CHARGE AS RIVALS CLOSE IN Ella Conolly is having another series to remember, as the reigning women’s overall series holder has picked up two wins and two second-places from the first four rounds to find herself in pole position.“I’ve had a solid, consistent season so far. I’ve been enjoying the racing,” she said. She starts in Switzerland after a week off and is targeting the top spot at a venue where she finished second in last year’s UCI Enduro World Championships. “I’m feeling refreshed and ready to go. We had some big stages today [in practice]. It’s so loose and dusty and rough. It’s pretty physical. But I’m feeling good this evening, which is good because we’ve got another three huge days coming up, so I’d be a bit worried if I was tired already.”Her closest competitor in the overall, Pugin, is also feeling confident heading into the two days of racing but is conscious that recovery is crucial when you factor in the two days of practice before the racing even starts.“It's a long weekend and I need to recover energy and also mechanic a little bit. So I need to manage more than just one day of racing, and I think maybe I rode a little bit slowly during practice to save some energy for the race.”The Speed Project rider believes that recovery between rounds could be key to challenging Conolly for the overall, as well as being in a good space mentally.Richter meanwhile finds herself third in the overall, but the German starts in Aletsch Arena - Bellwald still suffering the fatigue from her winning run at last weekend’s Megavalanche.“I’m actually not quite as rested as the others seem to be. I tried to take it easy today and have a good feeling on the bike and tick off some small goals. I just tried to take it really easy during practice. Will probably also try to take it easy tomorrow to conserve some energy for the races.”RUDEAU DEFENDS, RODGERS BELIEVES In the men’s field, Alex Rudeau started the season with the ambition of clinching the overall, and so far the 2024 UCI Enduro World Champion is on course to achieve his lofty goals. But he’s noticed the impact of competing at every round rather than cherry picking his races like 2025. “Last year, I did only three races and I was on the podium at each race. This year it's not the same, it's more managing and try to keep the lead.”Just 85 points behind him in the overall series is fellow privateer Lief Rodgers, and the Canadian says he’s “exceeding my expectations” in only his second full year in the elite class.“I guess one of my goals was a top 10 in the overall, and then just more podiums. I got my first ever podium last year at the last race of the season. I've only been on the podium once so far this year, but second in the overall as well, which is pretty insane.”He’s narrowly missed out on the podiums at the last two rounds, finishing fourth in both. “The last two rounds, I've been fourth and less than two seconds off the podium both times. I'm definitely happy to be consistent with my results, but yeah, it always stings a bit getting fourth place, especially when you're that close.”Like Pugin, Rodgers believes that the difference between finishing first and second in the overall will come down to his mental strength rather than on-bike ability. “Throughout this whole season, I've been learning that I need to trust my riding, trust my pace, and just try my hardest. For these last two rounds, it'll be more of that.”The pair won’t have it all their own way though, with La Thuile-Valle d’Aosta (Italy) winner Raphaël Giambi a fan of the Aletsch Arena - Bellwald terrain. “I feel good. I’m a bit tired because I did a lot of track work. But the stages are good, a bit physical, but technical too. I like it when it’s technical, it's good.”Racing gets underway in Aletsch Arena - Bellwald on Saturday – full schedule and event details are available here.
This weekend, Enduro riders will be tasked with tackling the trails of Aletsch Arena - Bellwald (Valais, Switzerland) – host of the 2025 UCI Enduro World Championships.While it might only be mid-July, we’re now entering the crucial phase of this year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. With only two UCI Enduro World Cups remaining, every stage, position or point could make all the difference and titles could be won or lost in the blink of an eye. Ella Conolly and Alex Rudeau lead their respective standings, but if this season has proved anything, it’s that there is a long line of riders ready to pounce when the opportunity arises.This is also the penultimate round of the Enduro Open, giving amateur riders the opportunity to take on the same course as the UCI Enduro World Cup stars across two intense days of racing.EPIC, DESCENT-HEAVY DAYS OUTAletsch Arena – Bellwald is back in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar after a year off in 2025 to host the rainbow jersey events.The UCI Enduro World Cup takes place on its extensive trail network. Situated in the alpine-forested foothills of the mesmerising Alestch Glacier – the largest in the Alps – riders and fans can expect amazing scenes around every berm and bend.Athletes will take on eight stages over two days of action that total 80.5km of riding and 5,974m of descent.Day one is the marginally longer of the two and features more pedal climbing during liaisons. Riders kick off with returning favourites Alpine Rodeo, Blueberry Trail and the longest stage of the day, Glaciara Trail – which features 637m descent over 3.9km. The final stage is a new inclusion for the UCI Enduro World Cup – the 1.5km Time Travel – which is followed by a chunky 12km ride back to the event village in Fiesch.Day two might be shorter on paper, but with the exploits of day one already in their arms and legs, riders will have literal and figurative mountains to climb on some of the region’s most iconic trails and new additions. After embarking on Cow Safari, riders face the prospect of Lord of the Rims (Extended Cut) – at 4.9km with 725m descent, the longest and toughest trail of the weekend. New inclusion Into the Wild adds an element of unknown to the penultimate stage, while the finale Back to the Roots sees athletes race to the race village finish line in what could be a tight conclusion to proceedings.CONOLLY AND RUDEAU IN CONTROL BUT NOT OUT OF TOUCHElla Conolly and Alex Rudeau are leading the overall standings and their consistency so far in 2026 means that the pair look to have a firm grip on their respective titles. They aren’t out of sight though, and the redistribution of points for the 2026 series means that both riders’ advantage is slimmer than what it might have been in previous years.Reigning champion Conolly’s 920 points from two wins and two second places solidifies her as the favourite to retain her title. But the Brit only holds a 70-point advantage over second-place Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project), who herself won UCI Enduro World Cup in Val di Fassa - Trentino (Italy) – the only other two-day round that athletes have faced so far this year.While Conolly’s form suggests she will be on the podium as a minimum – the privateer hasn’t finished outside of the top three at a UCI Enduro World Cup since Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland (Austria) in June 2024 – if Pugin can finish above her in Switzerland, it would leave the title finely balanced ahead of the season finale in Morillon, Haute Savoie (France) in August.Other than Conolly and Pugin, Winnifred Goldsbury is another rider to watch – the New Zealander and winner in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland looking to bounce back after crashing in practice in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy) and missing the round. Reigning UCI Enduro World Champion Elly Hoskin also has previous history at the venue, having won her rainbow stripes here last year.The men’s field is just as tight, with 2024 UCI Enduro World Champion Alex Rudeau only holding an 85-point lead over fellow privateer Lief Rodgers, while La Thuile-Valle d’Aosta winner Raphaël Giambi (Speed Project) is only 104 points off the top spot in third.Rudeau’s consistency is what has kept him at the top of the standings since the first round, which he won in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France). He finished fourth in Alestch Arena - Bellwald during last year’s UCI Enduro World Championships and will be hoping to equal or improve on that to go into the short summer break with a lead in the overall title.Canadian Rodgers is yet to win a UCI Enduro World Cup but is on the cusp of his debut victory, while Giambi could leapfrog Rodgers in the standings if he finishes above him again.One rider yet to match his previous form is reigning UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing), but if he can propel himself to the top of the podium for a second time this season and other results go his way, he would still be in with a shot of retaining his title.HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION Race content will be available across the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ official platforms, including:A detailed course preview highlighting the route and its key sections and video highlights from both practice and race days on the official YouTube channel.Key moments shared on social media (@uci_mtbworldseries)Live timing on the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website and via the official app, which will also feature live blogging with key updates throughout the event.A highlights programme will be broadcast on Eurosport and TNT Sports next week and available on streaming platform HBO Max on demand.The final stage of the UCI Enduro World Cup in Aletsch will be broadcast live on-site, with fans also able to follow the action on a delayed-live basis via subscription on MTBWS TV, in all markets where the streaming service is available.ENDURO OPEN RETURNSWith demanding, steep, technical and wild trails, Aletsch Arena & Bellwald will push riders of all abilities to their limits. Through the Enduro Open, participants have the opportunity to test themselves on the very same trails and on the same days as the sport’s elite, dropping in just hours ahead of the professionals. Once they cross the finish line, they can stay on to watch the pros race and directly compare their times with the world’s best.To further enhance the competitive experience, new age categories and a pairs category have been introduced, allowing for tighter groupings and more meaningful racing. Registration is also open for the final round in Morillon (Haute‑Savoie, France) with full details available here.Racing gets underway in Alestch Arena - Bellwald on Saturday – full schedule and event details are available here.
Just one week after the La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta (Italy) quadruple-header, the downhill and cross-country stars traded the Alps for the Pyrenees as they returned to action in Pal Arinsal-Andorra. The venue hosted the final UCI World Cup round before a six-week summer break across the three formats: cross-country short track (XCC), cross-country Olympic (XCO) and downhill.Racing got underway on Friday with a fast and furious UCI XCC World Cup, where riders left nothing in reserve on the high-altitude course. The intensity continued throughout the weekend, culminating in a thrilling UCI XCO on Sunday that kept fans on the edge of their seats right through to the final rider crossing the finish line.Pal Arinsal - Andorra witnessed a number of firsts in the cross-country: Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team) winning his debut XCC, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) becoming the first-ever woman to win three XCC-XCO doubles, and Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) victorious in the XCO for the first time in what is the Frenchman’s adopted home track.In downhill, the winners’ circle looked familiar, as Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) and Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) repeated their victories from the previous round. Yet Andorra’s dry, technical course still produced several milestones.Höll’s triumph marked her fifth UCI Downhill World Cup win of the season, setting a new personal record for victories in a single campaign. In the men’s race, Williams was joined on the podium by Reece Wilson (AON Racing), making it the first time since Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria) in 2022 that two British riders have occupied the top two spots on a UCI Downhill World Cup podium, when Matt Walker and Danny Hart achieved the feat.But the winners in Pal Arinsal are just one part of the story.. From Reece Wilson’s emotional journey to an injury update from Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing), here are some of the behind-the-scenes highlights from this week’s THE B LINE.TRIUMPHS, FRUSTRATIONS AND MOMENTUM AHEAD OF THE SUMMER BREAKEmma Stewart caught up with a number of the top performers from last weekend’s race, gaining insight on the thoughts and feelings of the format’s biggest stars.Reece Wilson (AON Racing) won the sport’s biggest one-off race when he became UCI Downhill World Champion in 2020, but the Scotsman’s first podium since 2024 will live long in the memory because of its David vs Goliath-like undertones.“If someone had told me 15 years ago when I started this downhill journey that I would be standing here as the owner of my own team, on a bike that I basically designed myself and to be stood in second place at a World Cup with the effort that goes in with some of these other teams is honestly outstanding. It’s a bit of history for me and a day I’ll look back on for the rest of my life and probably shed a tear.”Wilson was just 2.3 seconds off of first place, which went to Jordan Williams for the second consecutive week despite less than ideal prep for the new series leader: “I was struggling this week a bit. Not on the track and riding but I really felt quite drained. Last week was obviously really insane and I felt pretty tired and not so myself. I was waking up tired, I couldn’t recover so amazingly. I had an insane sleep last night and woke up ready for it.”While Williams was celebrating another victory, it was a different story for the 2022 Elite winner in Pal Arinsal - Andorra, Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate), who put her 11th place finish down to a lack of confidence on the testing terrain: “I had no speed. My race run felt like practice. I couldn’t find it this weekend. I couldn’t find a flow. I was scared of going fast. I couldn’t find a bike set up. I’ve never felt puzzled that much. After feeling good last week, I thought I’d found my momentum, but it’s absolutely gone this week.”Although the summer break can’t come quickly enough for the German, for Ryan Pinkerton (Mondraker Factory Racing DH), the six weeks between racing arrives just as the American has found his groove and secured his first Men’s Elite podium. But he has a plan to try and maintain the momentum: “I go home, I have National Champs, so hopefully I keep the sleeve, and then rest, train some more and come back swinging for the second half of the season.”Sasha Earnest (Trek - Unbroken DH) was another podium finisher in Pal Arinsal - Andorra, and the New Zealander is keen to take the next steps on the podium: “I’m always stoked to be on the podium. Last race was my first time on the podium for the season and now I’ve just done it again, so I can’t be disappointed. But always, there’s an underlying feeling of I was close today and I could have it today, but the racing of the top two was out of the park.”The one rider keeping her firmly off of the top spot is Valentina Höll, who made it back-to-back wins to build a seemingly unassailable lead with three rounds still to go. But despite her success, the series leader is looking forward to a well-earned break: “I can’t wait. This was my only motivation today. One more round and then holidays. I’m going to spend two weeks in Switzerland until we go back testing for Worlds. It’s really much needed. Today really felt like one second longer I would have been terrible.”BOICHIS SHINES, SCHWARZBAUER REAPS THE REWARDS AND KORETZKY EYES HIS RETURNEither side of the Downhill, it was the turn of the Cross-country riders in the highest altitude round of the series.Adrien Boichis clinched his second-ever UCI XCO World Cup win, and the Andorran resident was over the moon with his result on a previously difficult course for him: “It’s super special to win here today. It’s a track I’ve always struggled in the past. To have such a good day today here with the altitude and all the different factors, it doesn’t get much better.”Joining Boichis on the XCO podium was Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon XC Racing) – the German’s first top three Olympic-distance finish since Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria) in June 2023. He revealed that he has suffered with doubts in the intervening years, but that working with a mental coach during the off-season has helped to refocus his efforts: “This winter, I worked with a mental coach and there was one point where it was maybe a click moment when he said ‘if you want to leave an impression and footprint in this sport, and change things to a better and more positive thing, then you need to be in the front because that’s what people are interested in’. Understanding this was more fuel on the fire and I think that’s something that’s part of the success.”One place behind Schwarzbauer was reigning UCI XCO World Cup overall winner Chris Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing), and the American was relieved to be back near the front of the action after a difficult return from injury: “There’s definitely a bit of relief. It has felt like eternity. I had two races back before this weekend and both of them were pretty rough. I knew I’d be part of it just chasing yourself and trying to get back to it but I’ve never been good on this course. I felt so good out there. We had an altitude camp with the team, which I think helped a lot. I think that was the difference.”While the summer break is coming just as Blevins is refinding his racing form, for Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing), the six-week break offers an opportunity to reset and recuperate after a long period on the road: “I’m super excited. I go home. I will not touch my bike for a week. I will go swimming, climbing, running. I have a bit of an easy week but I want to see my friends and do different things, and I’m excited to go home because I was now five weeks on the road and that’s a long time for me.”Finally, one rider who wasn’t racing this weekend but was in Pal Arinsal - Andorra was Victor Koretzky, and the Frenchman provided an update on the broken arm that has kept him out for the whole season: “The recovery is going pretty well. I do between three and five appointments per week with the physio. I work a lot on strength at the gym. I’m just waiting to have enough strength on my arm to hold the bar and not feel any pain. Now, when I go downhill and it’s too bumpy, it’s super painful and I can’t control the bike perfectly. I still need a few weeks and I hope to be back in Les Gets but we will see. My legs are ready but my arm is not.”
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series headed deep into the heart of the Pyrenees for a spectacular stop at the Pal Arinsal Bike Park, home to the highest-altitude race venue on this year’s calendar and one of its toughest endurance tests. The four-kilometre course featured 119 metres of climbing per lap, with three punchy ascents steadily wearing down the world’s best cross-country riders.The weekend also marked the conclusion of an intense racing block that saw four UCI Cross-country World Cup rounds contested in just five weeks. With a six-week summer break looming, riders left nothing on the course in the battle for crucial overall points.Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) further extended her lead in the overall standings and became the first Women Elite rider to complete the Pal Arinsal double, following up her UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup victory with success in the XCO race. Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) continued her impressive run of form to finish second, while Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) secured third place on the podium.In the Men Elite race, Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) turned Friday’s narrow XCC defeat into a dominant XCO victory, crossing the line ahead of Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) and Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon XC Racing). Despite battling illness throughout the weekend, Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) retained the overall series lead after finishing 22nd.The Under-23 categories saw Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) and Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) both complete perfect weekends, claiming XCC-XCO doubles and carrying commanding leads in the overall standings into the summer break.It was also a highly successful weekend for Specialized Factory Racing, which topped the team standings and further strengthened its lead in the overall team classification.BOICHIS CONQUERS THE PYRENEES WITH MASTERCLASS PERFORMANCE IN PAL ARINSALAdrien Boichis put in a commanding performance to claim the second Men Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup victory of his career. The Frenchman dictated the pace from the front, steadily increasing the pressure with each lap before launching a decisive attack to ride clear of the field.After crashing in Friday’s XCC race, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) was forced to start from 26th on the grid. Undeterred, the Frenchman produced a stunning opening lap, using the course’s demanding climbs to surge through the field and quickly rejoin the fight for the podium.By the second lap, a lead group of four had formed, with Boichis and Luca Martin joined by German National Champion Luca Schwarzbauer and Azzaro. Sensing an opportunity, Boichis maintained a relentless tempo that proved too much for Martin, who was eventually dropped from the front group.Fresh from a podium finish in Friday’s XCC race, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) continued his impressive comeback from a broken collarbone suffered earlier in the season. The American led the chase behind his teammate, while Boichis kept the pressure high at the front, gradually distancing Schwarzbauer. Only Azzaro was able to match the Frenchman’s pace as they approached the halfway mark.Elsewhere, reigning UCI XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC) saw his challenge hampered by a wheel change after suffering a puncture, one of several riders affected by the demanding conditions throughout the day.As Andorra resident Boichis continued to drive the pace on home trails, he and Azzaro built a comfortable advantage over Schwarzbauer in third. Azzaro briefly tested his rival with an attack when Boichis reached for an energy gel, but the Specialized Factory Racing rider responded immediately and regained control of the race.Having weathered the challenge, Boichis took a moment to recover before launching a decisive attack on the penultimate lap. He quickly opened a gap over Azzaro and never looked back, extending his advantage to cross the finish line 19 seconds clear of his compatriot. Schwarzbauer secured third place, marking his first UCI XCO World Cup podium since 2022 and the third of his career.Meanwhile, Luca Martin, still battling illness, faded through the field to finish 22nd. Despite the difficult day, the Cannondale Factory Racing rider retained the overall series lead, carrying a 130-point advantage into the summer break.Following his victory, Boichis said: “It feels super special. It’s a magical day. Mike Sinyard, the founder of Specialized, is here, so to have such a good race in front of him is incredibly special. I felt amazing on the S-Works Epic 9 today, it was like the bike was flying both up and down the course.Cycling doesn’t get much more enjoyable than days like this. My plan was to ride at a steady pace and not go over my limit. I felt comfortable, and when I saw riders starting to drop, I just kept pushing. When Mathis [Azzaro] attacked, I knew I could respond straight away. I focused on riding the final two laps as fast as possible while staying in control. I live in Andorra now, so winning here at altitude, on such a demanding track, makes this result even more special.”RISSVEDS RIDES SOLO TO COMPLETE PAL ARINSAL DOUBLEJenny Rissveds once again showcased her exceptional form with a commanding solo victory in the Women Elite race. The reigning UCI XCO World Champion seized control on the second lap and quickly established a lead that she never relinquished, riding alone to a convincing win in front of her adopted home crowd in Andorra.The race began with early drama as a coming together on the opening gravel climb forced both Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) down the order, costing them valuable positions and time. Meanwhile, Ronja Blöchlinger (LIV Factory Racing), renowned for her explosive starts, once again hit the front from the gun. However, Rissveds was quick to capitalize, taking over the pace-setting duties before dropping the Swiss rider and moving clear at the head of the race.The demanding Pal Arinsal course continued to take its toll on the field. The venue’s sharp rocks and technical root-filled descents caused mechanical issues for several riders, with Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing) suffering a puncture and Rebecca Henderson (Orbea Fox Factory Team) seeing her race come to an end after a blown tyre.Fresh from her victory in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta (Italy) the previous weekend, Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) led the chase alongside Specialized Factory Racing teammates Laura Stigger and Sina Frei. As the effects of the altitude and relentless climbing began to show, Blöchlinger was first reeled in and then dropped by the pursuing trio. Although Rissveds remained firmly in control, her advantage fluctuated between 25 and 30 seconds for much of the race, preventing her from completely disappearing into the distance.After her difficult start, Blunk produced an impressive comeback ride, using her climbing strength to bridge across to the chase group on the penultimate lap. As the riders took the bell for the final lap, Rissveds held a comfortable 44-second lead. Behind her, Berta launched a decisive move on the course’s longest climb in an attempt to secure second place. Only Frei could respond, while Blunk and Stigger were left behind.Frei repeatedly attacked throughout the final lap in a bid to shake off her Italian rival, but Berta matched every acceleration. In the closing kilometres, the Origine Racing Division rider found another gear, moving ahead and holding firm to secure second place, with Frei completing the podium in third.Although her winning margin was reduced during the final lap, Rissveds remained in complete control to claim another dominant victory. The result strengthened the Andorra-based rider’s grip on the overall standings, extending her lead to 347 points over Frei heading into the summer break.Following her victory, Rissveds said: “It feels really good. It’s amazing to be racing at home. I love the course here and the spectators are great. It’s just a nice place and I’m enjoying it. I’m in a really good place at the moment. I made some big changes in my life last year and moved to Andorra. I’m just enjoying life, and I think that happiness helps me go fast as well.”SCHEHL AND CORVI COMPLETE PERFECT WEEKENDS WITH DOMINANT UNDER-23 VICTORIESPaul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) continued his remarkable run of form by securing a fourth consecutive Men Under-23 UCI XCO World Cup victory. The German rider wasted no time asserting his authority, establishing a small advantage on the opening lap before gradually extending it into an unassailable lead.Behind him, Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon XC Racing) led the chase throughout much of the race but ultimately crossed the line 1:17 adrift of the dominant Schehl. The battle for the final podium position went down to the wire, with Nicolas Halter (Thömus Akros-Youngstars) producing a blistering penultimate lap to break clear of a four-rider group and secure third place.Having also claimed victory in Friday’s UCI XCC World Cup, Schehl completed a perfect weekend in Pal Arinsal and heads into the summer break with a commanding 103-point lead in the overall standings. Following his victory, he said: “It was a hard race, but I found a really good flow and enjoyed every moment out there. I was able to maintain a high pace while still feeling comfortable. The biggest challenge was carrying speed through the sharp rocks and avoiding a puncture. This result is really special because I’ve struggled here in the past, so to come away with a perfect weekend is absolutely phenomenal. I enjoyed every second of it.”In the Women Under-23 race, Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) further cemented her status as the category’s dominant force, claiming her fifth victory in six UCI XCO World Cup rounds this season. Following a runaway success in Friday’s XCC race, the Italian once again rode away from the field to claim another emphatic solo win.Corvi immediately took control of the race, opening a 21-second lead by the end of the first lap before steadily increasing her advantage to 1:19 by the finish. Elina Benoit (Lexware Mountainbike Team) initially led the chase behind Corvi but paid for her early efforts and eventually slipped to fourth. Instead, it was Ella Macphee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Racing) who delivered a perfectly judged race, conserving energy before launching a powerful late charge that secured second place. Fiona Schibler completed the podium just seven seconds further back in third.Corvi now holds a remarkable 403-point advantage in the overall standings as the series heads into its six-week summer break. Reflecting on her latest victory, Corvi said: “It was super hard today. After this racing block I was feeling a little tired, so I focused on riding my own race. I struggled a bit in the middle of the race because the course is so demanding, with tough climbs and technical descents. I just tried to stay focused on my body and my sensations. The last three laps felt much better and I’m really happy to finish this race block with another win”.The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues next weekend with the UCI Enduro World Cup in Aletsch Arena–Bellwald, Switzerland, from 17–19 July. Meanwhile, the cross-country athletes now head into a six-week summer break before returning to action in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, from 20–23 August.
Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) and Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) claimed back-to-back victories at the UCI Downhill World Cup in Pal Arinsal – Andorra. For Williams, the triumph marked the third Men Elite UCI World Cup victory of his career and came just one week after ending a three-year wait for success in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta (Italy). The Brit delivered a masterclass in precision and technical riding to continue his impressive run of form. Höll, meanwhile, further underlined her dominance in the Women Elite category, collecting her fifth victory in six rounds of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.Set high in the heart of the Pyrenees, the Pal Arinsal Bike Park presented riders with a very different challenge to the demanding slopes of La Thuile. The 2.1-kilometre course, characterised by loose and dusty terrain, rewarded confidence and commitment, allowing riders to carry high speeds through a physically and technically demanding descent.The next generation of talent also continued to shine, with Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) and Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) adding another victory to their growing collections in the Junior categories.In the Teams competition, Canyon DH Racing emerged victorious in Andorra and COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction retained their place at the top of the overall standings after six rounds, taking a slender advantage into the six-week summer break.BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES PROPEL WILLIAMS TO SERIES LEADJordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) surged to the top of the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup overall standings after claiming the third UCI World Cup victory of his career. The 21-year-old first announced himself on the sport’s biggest stage with a breakthrough win at Lenzerheide in his rookie Elite season in 2023. Having ended a three-year wait for victory in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta just a week ago, the Briton backed it up in style with a fearless and commanding run in Pal Arinsal, winning by more than two seconds.The experienced Troy Brosnan (Canyon DH Racing) laid down the benchmark early, producing a clean ride through the course’s demanding technical sections to stop the clock at 2:45.321. His time ultimately secured seventh place as the pace continued to rise.After topping Q2 the previous day, Ethan Craik (Scott Downhill Factory) saw his hopes dashed by a crash in the opening high-speed sector. Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) also endured a frustrating run after dropping his chain.Reigning UCI Downhill World Champion Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) continued his search for a first victory of the season. Although the Canadian gained time in the opening section, he lost ground over the lower part of the course and crossed the line more than three seconds off the winning pace in sixth.With conditions demanding both commitment and composure, Reece Wilson (AON Racing) delivered a brilliantly controlled run to set a new fastest time of 2:43.997. Another highly rated rookie, Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction), looked set to challenge for the podium before a chain issue ended his charge.It proved to be a frustrating afternoon for COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction. Overall contender Amaury Pierron was on pace to challenge for victory before crashing in one of the course’s technical sections. Williams capitalised in emphatic fashion, building speed throughout his run and taking a remarkable 2.331 seconds off Wilson’s benchmark to post a winning time of 2:41.666.Fellow Specialized Gravity rider Finn Iles had qualified ahead of Williams and arrived in Andorra on the back of a superb season. The Canadian was fastest through the opening sector, gaining three tenths of a second, but could not match Williams’ pace in the technical portions of the track and eventually finished fifth, three seconds adrift.Wildcard entrant Bode Burke (Crestline Speed Shop) was still in podium contention when a crash ended his run, while fastest qualifier Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek – Unbroken DH) also fell victim to the fast and dusty conditions.While Williams celebrated back-to-back UCI World Cup victories, the race marked a welcome return to the podium for Wilson, whose second-place finish was his first since 2021. Ryan Pinkerton (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) completed the top three to secure the first Men Elite UCI World Cup podium of his career.Williams heads into the summer break as the overall series leader, holding a 63-point advantage over teammate Iles. Reflecting on his latest triumph, he said: “This is crazy. It’s something that you dream of. To go back-to-back is insane. I can’t thank my team, Specialized Gravity, enough. For us to get four wins in a row on the S-Works Demo 11 is incredible. After my first win in my first Elite race, I went a bit crazy afterwards and didn’t manage to back it up. Being in a team with Loïc [Bruni] and Finn [Iles], I’ve learned so much. “To win by more than two seconds on a track like this, I honestly didn’t think was possible. I don’t know how I did it. I want to be number one, and now I want to keep this momentum going and fight for the championship.”HÖLL EXTENDS HER DOMINANCE WITH FIFTH VICTORY OF THE SEASON Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) continued her remarkable run of form with a fifth victory in six rounds, further strengthening her grip on the Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup standings. Racing on the home turf of bike manufacturer Commencal, the Austrian delivered another flawless weekend to extend her overall lead heading into the summer break.The Women Elite field was dealt a major blow before racing even began, with two-time UCI Downhill World Champion Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) ruled out of the finals after crashing during practice and suffering a dislocated and fractured finger.After missing qualification in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta last weekend, Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) rediscovered the form that carried her to victory in Lenzerheide last month. The American, who adopted race number 14 following that breakthrough win, attacked the dusty Andorran track with confidence to set an early benchmark of 3:10.185, a time that ultimately secured fourth place.Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory Racing) followed closely behind. Despite conceding nearly two seconds in the upper part of the course, the New Zealander produced a blistering lower section to finish just five hundredths of a second behind Newkirk in fifth.The lower half of the track proved decisive throughout the afternoon. European champion Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) was building momentum and setting a competitive pace before her challenge ended in a crash. In contrast, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division) showed no hesitation on a course where she crashed twelve months earlier. Continuing her resurgence this season, the Canadian delivered a fearless middle sector and slashed 2.9 seconds from Newkirk’s benchmark to take the lead in 3:07.202.Penultimate starter Sacha Earnest (Trek – Unbroken DH) nearly lost control straight out of the gate, narrowly avoiding a course marker at high speed. Although she dropped time in the technical middle section, the New Zealander held on to secure a podium finish, crossing the line 2.3 seconds behind Hemstreet in third.As the final rider on course, Höll immediately demonstrated her intent, opening a six-tenth advantage through the first split. While she surrendered some time in the second sector, the reigning UCI Downhill World Champion responded when it mattered most, delivering a clinical final section to edge out Hemstreet by just 0.485 seconds with a winning time of 3:06.717.The victory was Höll’s fifth of the season and further cemented her position at the top of the overall standings, where she now leads with 553 points.Reflecting on her latest triumph, Höll said: “It’s insane. I had such a hard practice this morning and didn’t really feel like risking my life today. Somehow, once I left the start gate, my brain switched off and I managed to make it happen again. I’m happy to have the holidays now because this is so stressful.“The bike is incredible. The Commencal bike is really helping me on tracks like these. I saw the Women Junior’s time [Aletha Ostgaard] this morning and thought, ‘I need to go faster than that’. Somehow I managed it, and I’m super happy. They’re inspiring, they’re pushing the level higher, and it will be both fun and stressful racing against them next year.”OSTGAARD AND WILLIAMSON CONTINUE THEIR WINNING WAYS IN PAL ARINSAL Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) once again underlined her exceptional talent with a commanding victory in the Women Junior category, claiming her third win of the season by nearly three seconds. As expected, the battle at the front came down to the category’s standout trio, who went head-to-head on the dry and dusty slopes of Pal Arinsal.Lina Frener (Norco x adidas Race Division) arrived in Andorra chasing her third UCI Women Junior Downhill World Cup victory of the year. The Austrian rider put together a strong run through the technical sections to post an early benchmark of 3:10.987 and place the pressure on her rivals.Marie Rosa Jensen (Specialized Gravity) looked poised to challenge for the top spot and remained locked in a close contest with Frener at every split. However, a small loss of time in the final sector proved decisive, with the Dane crossing the line just 0.002 seconds adrift to take third place.Ostgaard had already signalled her intent by setting the fastest qualifying time of any Junior or Elite woman the previous day. The American attacked from the outset, carving out a 1.7-second advantage in the opening section before extending her lead at every split on her way to victory in 3:08.156 – an impressive 2.831 seconds clear of the field.The result marked Ostgaard’s third win of the season and the seventh UCI World Cup victory of her Women Junior career. Only Valentina Höll has recorded more wins in the history of the category. After six rounds, Ostgaard now leads the overall standings by 25 points ahead of Frener.Reflecting on her victory, she said: “It feels so good. My speed has felt really consistent lately, so to back it up again is amazing. I really had to push for that one, but it was a great run. Nothing compares to being in race mode. I come into the start gate with a completely different mindset than in qualifying. I’m always having fun, but racing is why I do this, and it’s important to enjoy these moments.”In the Men Junior category, Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) returned to the top step of the podium after a frustrating weekend in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta. A crash in practice and a puncture during his race run had ended his winning streak, but the young New Zealander responded in style with another composed and clinical performance under pressure.Despite a slight issue leaving the start gate, Williamson quickly found his rhythm, carrying impressive speed through the upper sections and building an advantage of more than a second. A late scare, when he momentarily unclipped a foot approaching the final sector, did little to halt his charge as he secured a dominant victory.Kasper Hickman (Cube Factory Racing) finished as his closest challenger, 1.29 seconds behind, while Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) completed the podium in third.The win was the fifth UCI World Cup victory of Williamson’s Junior career, drawing level with Jordan Williams and Asa Vermette on the all-time category list. With five wins from six rounds this season, he now holds a commanding 111-point lead in the overall standings. Following his victory, he said: “I’m so stoked. After last weekend, when I had a rough time with the crashes, this feels amazing. Today I rode exactly how I wanted to, apart from one small mistake. I’m just so happy.”The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues in Pal Arinsal – Andorra on Sunday with the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup. The UCI Downhill World Cup returns after the summer break in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, from 20–23 August. Find out where to watch here.
Five days on from the first-ever UCI Cross-country World Cup at La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy), the stars of the Endurance formats were back between the race tape in the heart of the Pyrenees in Pal Arinsal - Andorra.The course with the highest elevation of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, altitude would always have a role to play in Andorra – especially in the full gas nature of the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup, where riders are in the red from start to finish.In the women’s field, it was a defacto local, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing), who went long with more than a lap to go to secure her second consecutive UCI XCC World Cup win a week on from La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, and her first in Andorra. Behind the Swede, Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) and Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory Racing) battled it out for the remaining podium spots, with Stigger edging it in a sprint for the line.In the Men’s Elite, Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team) timed his attack to perfection, letting Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) and Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) duke it out throughout the race before overtaking Boichis with two corners and a sprint finish to clinch his first UCI XCC World Cup win. The Frenchman would finish second, while team-mate Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) came third – the reigning UCI XCC World Cup overall winner securing his first podium of an injury-hit season.Before the Elites, it was the turn of the U23s on Pal Arinsal’s high-altitude course, and it witnessed wins for series leaders Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) and Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) – their second and fifth of the series respectively.RISSVEDS IN CONTROL As the heavens opened on a sunbaked course, the Women’s Elite riders took to the punchy Pal Arinsal XCC trails, with rain and thunderstorms making for a tricky proposition.Rissveds wasn’t phased though, and the Swede led the field on the first climb of the opening lap. She had Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing) for company, and while the Swiss star traditionally goes well in the mud, her efforts would fade as the race progressed.The lead group set a metronomic pace and there was constant jostling for positions – Stigger and last week’s UCI XCO World Cup winner Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) taking the lead, only for Rissveds to always find herself back at the front.By the midway point, Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) took up the mantle, and Rissveds looked like she might have a fight on her hands. The reigning UCI XCC World Champion, Keller has won four UCI XCC World Cups in Andorra and was chasing her first short track victory of the year at her favourite course. It was the Swiss rider’s surge on lap seven that finally whittled down a bloated lead group – Berta and series leader Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) dropped to leave a six-strong pack.The victory looked like it would come from either Keller or Rissveds– the pair slugging it out as they have done countless times over the last 12 months. It was Rissveds who would throw down the gauntlet on the penultimate lap, taking Keller’s signature tactic of attacking from distance. While the Swiss rider tried to respond, an untimely slip on the last corner slowed her chase with Stigger overtaking into second.Taking the bell for the final lap, Rissveds had gone and opened space between herself and the chasing pack, now led by Blöchlinger. Behind her, Stigger, Keller and Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) were in the hunt for third.Rissveds was able to take it easy as she crossed the line, celebrating her second UCI XCC World Cup win in as many weeks, and taking her within 30 points of series leader Frei. A late surge from Stigger saw her catch and edge Blöchlinger on the line.Her victory means that Rissveds has extended her lead as the most successful UCI XCC World Cup rider of all time, with 10 wins, and gives her the chance to become the first female rider to win three XCC-XCO doubles in Sunday’s Olympic distance race.Speaking at the end of the race, Jenny Rissveds said: “It feels really good. I’ve never really had a good short track here before. Even though I live here, I struggle with the altitude. No matter how much you adapt, and how much you try, it’s always hard to be at altitude. Today was just good. I think the rain before the start really helped because it was so dusty here, so there were good conditions on the course and as always I love when the organisation let us ride on a natural course like this. Riding trails is super cool.The racing has changed since last year. It’s tighter. It used to be that at start/finish, we’d sit up and we recover, but this year, it’s full gas the whole lap every race, which is really cool. I think we learned a little bit from the boys.Racing at home makes a huge difference. Not so much when it comes to training on the course, I’m rarely here and I actually live in a different valley. But being able to sleep in my own bed, spend time with my parents and friends, and enjoy a day at home gives me a real boost. It makes it feel like I’m simply heading over to the next valley to race my mountain bike, rather than travelling to another event.”RILEY CLAIMS FIRST UCI XCC WORLD CUP VICTORY AS BOICHIS TAKES OVER SERIES LEAD All eyes were on whether Adrien Boichis could make it three in a row in the short track, or if series leader Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) could overcome the bad luck that has plagued his recent XCC efforts.Initially, it was Charlie Alridge who set the tempo, holding a fast pace that seemed at odds with the altitude that they were racing at. Azzaro was second, while Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC) sat in third.Aldridge remained at the forefront, but by the third lap he had been joined by the in-form rider Boichis. The Frenchman led into the course’s singletrack section, while Aldridge looked like he was going backwards and paying for his earlier efforts.As Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) came into view, the 2025 UCI XCC World Cup winner in Andorra was visibly frustrated, repeatedly striking his handlebars, while Azzaro appeared to have gone down. The Origine Racing Division rider was ultimately forced to retire from the race, ensuring there would be a new leader at the top of the overall series standings.By the race’s midway point, Boichis still led proceedings, but was joined at the front by Blevins – the American picking his way through the pack to find himself at the front of a race for the first time this season. The pace seemed to ramp up once more, and by lap six, there was a lead group of four – Boichis, Blevins, Aldridge and Martin – with a gap to Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon XC Racing) in fifth.Bjorn Riley had other ideas though. The American is in the form of his life and wanted a part of the action. By lap seven, he had become the fifth member of the lead group and navigated his way to second place with some great bike handling skills through the technical singletrack sections.A slight lull was broken by Martin, as the French national champion started to ramp things up. Aldridge was there though – the Scotsman looking to add to his sole UCI XCC World Cup win. On the penultimate lap, he led into the woods, while behind him, Boichis edged Martin into the downhill section. Riley and Blevins meanwhile were happy to sit and wait their turn.Crossing the start/finish straight for the penultimate time, Boichis kicked on the climb, and his power was too much for Martin, who dropped from the back of the group. Aldridge was on the Frenchman’s wheel, while Riley was still there in third. It looked set for a three-up sprint to the line before Aldridge attempted an off-piste line through woods, skidding out and crashing into a tree – the Brit eventually rolling home in 30th.It was down to Boichis and Riley, and with two corners to go, the American attacked, going past the Frenchman and managing to hold him off until the checkered flag. Blevins meanwhile finished third to complete the podium.While he’ll be disappointed not to have completed a hat-trick of wins, Boichis’ second-place finish moves him into first in the overall, where he has a 116-point lead over Azzaro with three rounds to go.Speaking after the race, Bjorn Riley said: “Every race feels like the fulfilment of a dream. Winning is something you dream about your whole life, so actually doing it feels surreal. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet. Maybe later tonight, when I’m trying to sleep, it’ll hit me and I’ll end up lying awake thinking about it. Right now, it just feels incredible.“We all know each other’s strengths, and heading into the final climb I knew Boichis has an explosive kick. I could tell he didn’t quite have it on the climb today, and that’s something I’d been thinking about over the last couple of days. Normally, I don’t take big risks on the final lap because I’m already happy with a podium but today felt different. I did get a bit nervous because when I looked back on the finishing straight, he was right there behind me. I’m not used to having to sprint for the win, so that was a little scary.“So many people had been telling me they wanted to see me win. It’s amazing that people believe in me like that. Sometimes I still feel like the same kid who just loves riding his bike.“Towards the end of last season, I started feeling competitive in short track again. I had a strong year in 2023, but it took some time to find that level once more. Race by race, I’ve felt myself improving. I’ve spent a lot of time on the road recently, and now that I’m back fighting at the front, my confidence is growing.“I absolutely love being part of this team, but it’s a squad filled with champions. To feel like you truly belong, you have to perform at a high level. Little by little, I’m starting to feel like I’ve earned my place here.”CORVI AND SCHEHL EXTEND SERIES LEADS WITH ANOTHER COMMANDING DISPLAY Series leaders Valentina Corvi and Paul Schehl extended their advantages at the top of their respective standings, Corvi continuing her winning form from her home round in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, while Schehl’s streak now stands at five – third place at the season opener in MONA YongPyong (South Korea) the only time the German hasn’t been on the podium’s top spot.For Corvi, it was another dominant display. The Italian was in the lead group from the off but threw down the gauntlet in lap four of eight. While Florencia Monsálvez Rojo and Lisa Krsitine Jorde followed the attack, both faded in the following lap while Corvi kept the pressure on. By lap six, she had an almost-30 second advantage over a chasing group of six riders, but the pack couldn’t use their numerical advantage to real her in.While Corvi was able to cruise to her second consecutive U23 UCI XCC World Cup win, there was a sprint behind for the final podium places – Jorde and Rafaelle Carrier edging second and third respectively, while Monsálvez Rojo and Bloeme Kalis (KMC Nukeproof MTB Racing Team) missed out.Speaking after the race, Valentina Corvi said: “It’s amazing. The last days have been quite challenging. After La Thuile, I was tired. But today, I went out for the XCC and I’ll try to recover for the race on Sunday. I tried to stay with the others in the first laps, and then I realised I was able to push a little bit more on the climbs and in general on the downhills, so I accelerated. I’m super happy, I finally got the feelings here. Also, considering the altitude…My season is going really well. It’s so special every time to go on the podium and it’s also amazing for the team. They always work super hard behind the scenes to make everything perfect. It’s good to take a great result.The men’s U23 race was a much tighter affair with a group of six still in contention with two laps to go. It was Paul Schehl, Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon XC Racing) and Nicolas Halter (Thömus Arkos - Youngstars) who managed to split the group in half and gaining a slim advantage.Schehl showed why he is the format’s dominant rider, going clear on the final lap to win by two seconds to François Baudry. The last lap acceleration was too much for Halter, who rolled in in third.Speaking at the end of the race, Paul Schehl said: “It was an incredibly tough race. The pace wasn’t particularly high at the start, but as soon as I bridged across, I was able to drop a few riders and close the gap to the leaders. Over the final three laps, it came down to me, Thibaut [François Baudry] and Nicolas [Halter]. I thought I’d be able to create a bigger gap, but they were incredibly strong and stayed on my wheel for a long time.“I tried to make the race as hard as possible from start to finish, so to come away with another win is something I still can’t quite get used to. Every victory feels special, and this one is no different. I’m really happy.”The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues in Pal Arinsal on Saturday with the UCI Downhill World Cup, following an action-packed qualifying day that saw Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) and Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek - Unbroken DH) set the fastest times. The endurance athletes return to the trails on Sunday for the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup. Discover the full event schedule and find out how and where to watch the action here.
After two thrilling rounds in Italy, including an unforgettable night-stage race, the UCI Enduro World Cup heads to the Valais region of the Swiss Alps for another two-day showdown across Aletsch Arena and Bellwald.Aletsch Arena combines demanding natural trails, steep vertical drops and spectacular views of the Great Aletsch Glacier, while the renowned Bike Park Bellwald brings creative trail design, flowy lines and unmistakable alpine character. Together, they offer a standout challenge for riders from around the world, with routes set within the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch.In 2025, Aletsch hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships which saw Richie Rude return to Enduro briefly to win his second Men’s Elite World Championship title, while Elly Hoskin claimed her first in the Women’s Elite category. Now, attention turns to who can master the UCI World Cup course.This year, riders will cover a total of 80.3km featuring 5974m of descending across eight stages. Following training on Thursday and Friday, Elite and Enduro Open riders will tackle the opening four stages on Saturday, before completing the final four stages on Sunday.
As well as the venue’s notorious altitude, riders also had to contend with warm, sunny conditions on the course, which was as dry, dusty and fast as ever.Plus, coming hot off the heels of La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, Pal Arinsal - Andorra offers riders the chance to carry momentum or pick themselves up quickly if they had a disappointing result in Italy.HÖLL ON COURSE FOR ANOTHER PERFECT WEEKENDWhile Vali Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) already looks nailed on for her fifth UCI Downhill World Cup overall title, the Austrian is chasing her own personal records. A win in Andorra would be her fifth of the season, which would beat her previous best with three rounds still to go, and she gave herself the best possible shot at achieving it by qualifying fastest.After a sluggish first split, Höll turned things around, putting in a blistering lower half to record her third qualifying win of 2026. Back it up with a win tomorrow and that would be three perfect weekends (and another 250 points in the standings) for the 24-year-old.Second place went to Sacha Earnest (Trek - Unbroken DH) – the New Zealander backing up her second career podium in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta last weekend with another impressive performance in Pal Arinsal, finishing less than 0.5 seconds off the pace.Gloria Scarsi (MS Racing) and Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division) were the only other two riders to get within a second of Höll.At the other end of the Q1 results table, both 2023 UCI Downhill World Cup winner in Pal Arinsal Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and the only rider other than Höll to win a round this year, Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) missed out on a top 10 run and were forced to go again in Q2. Both made it through at a second time of asking, along with Valentina Roa Sanchez (MS Racing), Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory Racing) and Phoebe Gale (Orbea FMD Racing).One rider absent from proceedings was Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC OFF by Riding Addiction). The two-time UCI Downhill World Champion crashed in practice yesterday, dislocating and breaking a finger.STEVENS-MCNAB CLINCHES FIRST QUALIFYING VICTORY WITH PERFECT RUNLachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek - Unbroken DH) has shown his potential during his four years in the Elite class, securing two podium finishes and qualifying second fastest back in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) last month. But the New Zealander took it up a notch in Pal Arinsal, laying down a 2:46.1 qualifying run where he was in the green from the top to the bottom of the mountain.Only wildcard entrant Bode Burke (Crestline Speed Shop) could get within the 2:46 bracket to finish second in only his sixth Elite UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying round. The American has so far made it through to finals three times, with 25th in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta his best result to date.Completing the qualifying podium was Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) – the Canadian up to speed again following a check of his momentum in Italy last week. Last weekend’s winner Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) showed the result was no fluke by qualifying fifth, while series leader Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) was one place back in sixth.Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate), Aaron Gwin (Frameworks Racing / TRP) and Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) also snuck in through Q1, finishing 17th, 18th and 20th respectively.In Q2, Ethan Craik (Scott Downhill Factory) topped the times as one of 10 additional riders to secure a place in tomorrow’s finals, alongside high-profile names Troy Brosnan (Canyon DH Racing) and Danny Hart (Norco x adidas Race Division).There won’t however be a spot in the start hut for Andreas Kolb (Santa Cruz Syndicate) or Benoit Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory).WILLIAMSON AND OSTGAARD FASTEST IN JUNIORSOverall leader Jonty Williamson (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) showed that his 17th last weekend in La Thuile - Valle d'Aosta was a blip, putting the loss of his 100% win record behind him to get back on the top spot in the men's Junior qualifying – the New Zealander recovering from being 0.5 seconds back in the first intermediate split to finishes fastest with a time of 2:52.245. Kasper Hickman (Cube Factory Racing) was the only rider who could get within a second of Williamson, while privateer Ažbe Kalinšek’s third place gives the Slovenian a realistic chance at recording a second Junior podium of his career.The Women Junior UCI Downhill World Cup overall leader Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) meanwhile has carried over her speed from the Alps to the Pyrenees, going fastest in an incredibly competitive field and beating Elite women's Q1 winner Vali Höll's time by almost a second. Third place in the overall standings Rosa Marie Jensen (Specialized Gravity) could only just get within three seconds of Ostgaard's blistering time, while Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) went from first fastest in split one to third fastest by the bottom of the hill, finishing 5.048 seconds off the best time.Racing gets underway tomorrow (Saturday, July 11) in Pal Arinsal - Andorra from 11:00 CEST with the Women Junior UCI Downhill World Cup Finals. Find out how to watch here.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports presents THE GRIND, a new documentary series produced by Monster Energy that follows three of its cross-country athletes through the 2026 UCI Cross-country World Cup season.The three-part series goes behind the scenes with UCI World Cup winners Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing), Gwendalyn Gibson (Trek - Unbroken XC) and Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing), offering an inside look at the pressure, sacrifice and reality of life on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series circuit.Across the season, the series captures the highs, setbacks and defining moments that shape each athlete’s campaign - from winter preparation and early-season expectations to the physical and mental demands of racing at the highest level. More than a story of performance alone, it explores the resilience, passion and drive that push each rider to pursue something bigger than results.Episode 1, “The Beginning”, introduces all three athletes as they prepare for the season ahead, taking viewers inside their winter training camp and through the opening three rounds in MONA YongPyong (South Korea), Nové Město na Moravě (Czechia) and Lenzerheide (Switzerland), where expectations begin to meet reality.The following two episodes will follow their journeys through the rest of the season, as the demands of travel, recovery and high-pressure racing intensify round by round, building towards the season finale.All episodes will be released on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel throughout the season.The first episode is available to watch NOW.Cross-country and Downhill action on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues in Pal Arinsal – Andorra this weekend, before a six-week summer break.
After an Italian double bill in Val di Fassa - Trentino and La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series crosses from the Alps to the Pyrenees with the UCI Downhill and UCI Cross-country World Cups taking to the trails of Pal Arinsal - Andorra.We look at everything you need to know about the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series races, including when the Cross-county Short Track (XCC), Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Downhill events are scheduled to take place, who is racing, and how to watch.WHEN?The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Pal Arinsal - Andorra starts with the Women U23 UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup at 10:35 (UTC+2) on Friday, July 10 and concludes with the Men UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup at 15:30 (UTC+2) on Sunday, July 12.Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EDT+6/BST+1/CEST):Friday, July 10 12:30 – 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 U2318:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite18:50 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite Saturday, July 1111:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior11:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite13:40 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men EliteSunday, July 1209:00 – 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 Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH?Fans around the world will have plenty of ways to follow the action from Andorra. The UCI Downhill World Cup* and the Elite UCI Cross-country World Cup races are available to watch live worldwide on one of the below channels or streaming services:Europe:Albania, 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, Sweden, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / EurosportAndorra: HBO Max, Eurosport and RTVABelgium: HBO Max, Eurosport and RTLplay.be (only selected races)Czechia: HBO Max, Eurosport and Czech TV (only selected races)France: HBO Max, Eurosport and L’Équipe (only selected races)Ireland: TNT SportsSpain: HBO Max, Eurosport and RTVESwitzerland, Liechtenstein: HBO Max, Eurosport, SRF/RSI (only selected races)United Kingdom: HBO Max, TNT Sports Asia: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 / MTBWS TVCentral America: MTBWS TVSouth America: MTBWS TVAfrica: MTBWS TVAll other territories: MTBWS TVIn markets where MTBWS TV is available, fans can now watch the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series live and on demand, anytime and anywhere on the new MTBWS TV app. Download it from the App Store or Google Play.*The UCI Downhill World Cup Qualification Day can be followed on live timing and across social media. Live timing will be available via the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website and app, alongside a new live blogging feed. The men’s and women’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup races will be available on HBO Max (in all available territories) and MTBWS TV via subscription. The Elite finals will be shown on one of the above channels or streaming services.RIDERS TO WATCH XCC TITLE CONTENDERS LOOK TO STRIKE BEFORE THE SUMMER BREAKIn the UCI XCC World Cup, it’s hard to look beyond Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) in the men’s race. The Frenchman followed up his debut UCI XCC World Cup win in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) with his second in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy), getting the edge on compatriot Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) both times. While Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) still leads the standings, his 55-point advantage looks precarious.The women’s field is more unpredictable with Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) becoming the fourth different winner in five rounds after her victory in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta. Her two fellow podium finishers last week, Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) are riders to watch, as is Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), who is still without a win in rainbow bands as the 2025 UCI XCC World Champion. MARTIN AND RISSVEDS, THE RIDERS TO BEAT IN XCOOn Sunday, the men’s XCO race could follow a similar pattern to the XCC, with another Frenchman Luca Martin, arriving as the standout rider to beat. The Cannondale Factory Racing rider is in red-hot form, winning back-to-back UCI XCO World Cups, and has shown he can perform at altitude in Andorra, finishing second in last year’s XCO there, just behind Olympic champion and Andorra resident, Tom Pidcock. Others to watch out for include Boichis, who picked up his third consecutive UCI XCO World Cup podium in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta; Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division); UCI XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC); and Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team).Although Rissveds is running away with the women’s overall UCI XCO World Cup and will maintain her lead into the summer break, save a shock result in Pal Arinsal, Martina Berta’s (Origine Racing Division) win in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta shows that the Swede has a growing number of competitors vying for the top spot in the Olympic-distance format. Berta became the fourth different winner of the series in Italy, joining Frei, Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) and Rissveds. Elsewhere, Savilia Blunk is getting closer every week, while the likes of Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Keller are always a threat.PIERRON AND HÖLL IN CONTROL IN COMMENCAL’S BACKYARDIn the middle of the Cross-country bread is the Downhill filling of a jam-packed Andorran sandwich. In the men’s competition, things are hotting up with a four-way battle for the title race. Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) currently holds a slim 12-point advantage over Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity). The two-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner sits in first place despite not recording a win in 2026, but victory in Pal Arinsal will taste even sweeter if he can do it in his team’s home race.It’s not a foregone conclusion with Iles recording two third place finishes on the course (2023 UCI World Cup and 2024 UCI World Championships), although the Canadian’s 20th place in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta might have knocked the wind out of his sails after his back-to-back wins. Iles’ teammate and the winner in Italy, Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) is a further 19 points back in the overall, while round one winner Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) is only 65 points off of top spot and was the only rider within a second of Williams’ winning time in La Thuile.For the women, Valentina Höll’s (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) maximum points in Italy means that it’s almost a matter of when, rather than if, she will win a fifth overall title. Her lead over second-place Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) already stands at 363 points, and with four rounds to go, it’s hard to see her relinquishing her advantage.If that wasn’t ominous enough for the competition, Höll is targeting her fifth UCI World Cup win of the season in Pal Arinsal – which would be a personal record – and she has the best record of the current field on this circuit, including two wins (2022 UCI World Cup and 2024 UCI World Championships). If it isn’t Höll, then teammate Baumann looks poised for the top step, while the only other rider to win in 2026 – Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) – will be looking to bounce back strongly after failing to get out of qualifying in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta.Racing gets underway on Friday, July 10 in Pal Arinsal - Andorra. Full schedule and event details are available HERE.
Andorra has become a familiar fixture on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series circuit, with Pal Arinsal featuring every year since 2022, aside from 2024 when it hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Before that, under its previous name, Vallnord, the venue had been ever-present since 2016, having also hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2015.Located in the heart of the Pyrenees and a short journey from the Andorran border with Spain, both formats take place at the Pal Arinsal bike park. The park has more than 60km of trails across 30 different lines and five ski lifts to help riders experience the more than 1,000m of elevation drop on offer.Downhill takes place on the venue’s third UCI World Cup track, with riders dropping from Pic del Cubil down to Fontanals on a rowdy 2.1km course.The UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup races, meanwhile, take on some of the hardest terrain that the riders will face all season, thanks to the addition of altitude. The XCO course is 4km long (160m elevation gain), while the XCC course is 1km long.WILDCARD ENTRIESThe following wildcard teams have been confirmed to compete in Pal Arinsal - Andorra:UCI Downhill World Cup: Crestline Speed Shop, Outlaw Intense Racing, Pivot Factory Racing, Team High Country, The Alliance, Stoic Racing.UCI Cross-country World Cup: Cabtech Racing Team, KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Massi, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros - Youngstars, UNNO Factory Racing.Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) continues to be the leading wild card entrant – the German on seven-win streak across the Men U23 UCI XCO and XCC World Cups.RISSVEDS LOSES PODIUM RECORD BUT STILL IN CHARGEJenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) was on an incredible run of form that stretched back to Val di Sole - Trentino (Italy) on 20 June last year that saw the Swede finish within the top three of a UCI XCO World Cup for more than a calendar year. Her record came to an end, again in Italy, as she had to settle for fourth place in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy) last Sunday, but the reigning UCI XCO World Champion retains a colossal lead in the overall that will be hard to overthrow. She finished third in Pal Arinsal - Andorra in 2025 behind Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), and with Maxwell taking a sabbatical this season and Keller yet to hit her stride, she will be confident of getting back to winning ways.Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) is amongst the favourites to prevent Rissveds from returning to the top spot. The Italian finished fourth in Andorra 12 months ago and will line up in the Pyrenees bursting with confidence after winning her debut UCI XCO World Cup in front of a passionate home crowd last weekend.Others knocking on the door include Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing), who is having her best season yet and is improving every round; Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech), who clinched her UCI XCO World Championship rainbow jersey at the venue in 2024; and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing), who sits 212 points behind Rissveds in the overall, and as the only rider within 350 points of the Swede, is the last realistic challenger for the title.MARTIN ON THE MARCHLuca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) extended his extraordinary record in 2026 of not finishing outside the top two in the XCO by winning his second consecutive round in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta following his victory in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). His lead in the overall standings is even more impressive than Rissveds’, and even if Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) does the XCO-XCC double this weekend and Martin fails to score a single point, the Cannondale rider has such an advantage (343 points) that he will enter the summer break in the top spot. A likely scenario is that Martin will extend his lead in Andorra – the 24-year-old finished second at the venue behind Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Team Cycling) 12 months ago, and with the Brit absent at the Tour de France, Martin will be confident of going one better on Sunday.Boichis will also look to stand on the top step in Pal Arinsal - Andorra, while another Frenchman, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), showed he can compete in the longer Olympic-distance format by finishing second in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta. Bjorn Riley (Scott SRAM MTB Race Team) is another to watch – the American sitting third in the overall and the third most consistent rider (behind Martin and Boichis) in this packed block of racing since round three in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria).ALL TO PLAY FOR IN THE SHORT TRACKWith some steaming ahead in the XCO overall standings, there are battles being fought in the XCC. In the men’s contest, any of the top six in the standings could mathematically go into the summer break in the lead, although series leader Mathis Azzaro and second-place Adrien Boichis are the most likely – only 55 points separating the pair.Meanwhile, Sina Frei is the clear frontrunner in the women’s contest, and only Jenny Rissveds can catch the Swiss star this weekend (and would need a 170-point swing to do so). Frei is the only rider to win multiple UCI XCC World Cups in 2026, while Rissveds added a record-extending win in the short track in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta to take her career total to nine. But while both will fancy their chances in Friday’s race, Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) will be the favourite – the Swiss rider holding a 100%-win record at Pal Arinsal - Andorra, clinching three UCI XCC World Cup wins in 2022, 2023 and 2025.HÖLL CHASES BEST EVER SEASONWhile the competition has come on leaps and bounds in the women’s field, when you’re as good as Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), your closest competition is yourself. The Austrian returned to winning ways in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, putting a disappointing 10th-place finish in Lenzerheide behind her to make it four victories from five rounds. The reigning overall series winner has already amassed a 363-point lead over second place Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), and with four rounds still to go, she can be expected to clinch a fifth overall title before the series finale in Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA). Now, the 24-year-old can target personal records, starting with a career-best fifth win of the season in Pal Arinsal - Andorra. Victory would also be the 16th of her career, taking her level with Tracy Moseley in joint-fourth place in the overall, one shy of Sabrina Jonnier.Höll isn’t the only rider taking to the start hut this weekend, and there are a number of riders ready to pounce if she makes an uncharacteristic mistake. Teammate Baumann has finished second best in the last two rounds, Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) is the only rider other than Höll to have won in 2026, and Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) has tasted success in Pal Arinsal - Andorra before back in 2023. Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing) won’t be there to defend her top spot 12 months on from her 2025 win though – the Brit taking a break from racing to recover from injuries and focus on the UCI Downhill World Championships.PIERRON LEADS A FOUR-WAY BATTLE FOR THE OVERALL TITLEWhile the women’s contest is all-but decided, there’s a four-way fight for the men’s competition with four rounds to go. Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) leads the way, and having the experience of two overall title wins already in his career (2018 and 2022) will be confident of closing things out with his consistent performances.The Frenchman’s advantage is only 12 points over Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) though, and with the Canadian recording two wins in 2026 to Pierron’s zero, the Commencal rider will need to do something he hasn’t managed since Lenzerheide last September if he is to put more breathing space between himself and second place.La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta winner Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) is next in line after his perfect score in Italy propelled him up the leaderboard, while Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) looks likely to join Williams in the two UCI World Cup wins club sooner rather than later.One other rider you can’t rule out is Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate). The rainbow jersey hasn’t been kind to the Canadian in 2026, but he is gradually starting to show the race pace that rocketed him to his first overall title last year. Scoring a win on Saturday would put him firmly in the title conversation with three rounds to play.Racing gets underway in Pal Arinsal - Andorra on Friday 10th July with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and event details are available here. Find out where to watch here.
Following a week off after the downhill and cross-country double header in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), both formats were back in action last weekend in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta. It was a return to the Italian Alps for the downhill contingent, who had broken ground at the iconic Enduro venue in 2025, while for the Endurance athletes it was a chance to make history as La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta made its UCI Cross-country World Cup debut.The racing kicked off on Friday with a blisteringly fast XCC, and the adrenaline-fuelled action didn’t conclude until Sunday’s UCI XCO World Cup.La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta’s cross-country premiere wasn’t the only first of the weekend – Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) recording her debut UCI XCO World Cup win in front of a passionate home crowd. Jenny Rissveds also scored her first UCI XCC World Cup of 2026, while in the men’s contest it was a carbon copy of Lenzerheide – Adrien Boichis victorious in the XCC, while Luca Martin made it two-in-a-row in the XCO.In the Downhill meanwhile, Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) ended his three year wait for a second UCI World Cup win, making it a hat-trick of first places for his team and Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) returned to winning ways for her fourth top spot of 2026.But the winners are just the headlines from a memorable round in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta. From an injury update from Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) to Mathis Azzaro’s (Origine Racing Division) thoughts on the aggressive nature of Luca Martin’s riding, here are some of the behind-the-scenes highlights from this week’s THE B LINE.INSIDE THE PADDOCK: THE WEEKEND’S TOP PERFORMERS SPEAKEmma Stewart caught up with a number of the top performers from last weekend’s race, gaining insight on the thoughts and feelings of the format’s biggest stars.Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) is the highest ranked first-year elite this year, and the American shared that his belief in his abilities mean the shift from juniors to the premier class hasn’t felt like a big step up: “I had expectations on myself that were high. I knew I could do it based on my results in Mont-Sainte-Anne the year before and doing the fastest time of the day, and I knew that I could.”One rider who hasn’t hit the heady heights of 2025 yet is Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate), but the Canadian is improving every round and picked up his first podium of the season: “It wasn’t the perfect run. There was more out there that I could have done, but I’m stoked with third and stoked to be healthy going into next week.”Sacha Earnest (Trek-Unbroken DH) also finished in third place – her second-ever UCI Downhill World Cup podium – and the New Zealander is already looking ahead to this weekend’s race in Pal Arinsal - Andorra and retaining that momentum: “I love back-to-backs. If you do bad, you can always do better. If you do good, you can continue. There’s no real downsides to back to back other than if you’re injured.”Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) was sandwiched between Earnest and her team-mate Höll on the podium, narrowly missing out on her first-ever Elite win by 0.275 seconds: “I know I could have done it today. I missed a bit on the last split. I’m so happy. I’m so consistent this year.”Although not racing, Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) was also in attendance at La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, and the four-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall champion shared an update on the injury that he sustained at in practice at Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) back in May: “I hit my head pretty hard in the crash. My fingers are still swollen and stiff. My wrist needs another surgery. It’s up and down. But we’re trying to get a goal, which is Les Gets. It seems too optimistic, but we’ll try and make it happen. I really want to come back when I’m ready. The boys [Finn Iles and Jordan Williams] are taking the pressure from my shoulders. They’re doing so well and they don’t need me to come back sooner. I don’t want to rush it because for once I need time. I feel cooked, more than usual.Bruni’s team-mate, and last weekend’s winner in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta, Jordan Williams also shared what it was like to clinch his second-ever Elite win, three years after his first in Lenzerheide, and how he plans to follow it up in Andorra: “It’s been a long time since my first win. I’ve put in so much work. To finally pull it off, I’m so stoked. I need to look at Finn [Iles] and look at Loïc [Bruni] and see how they’ve done it and try do the same.MAKING HISTORY IN LA THUILE: BERTA’S BREAKTHROUGH AND AZZARO’S BATTLEEither side of the downhill, the cross-country riders took to the venue’s new track, making history in this northwest corner of Italy.Martina Berta wasn’t daunted at the prospect of competing at her home track, and the local rider thrived on the atmosphere en route to her debut UCI XCO World Cup win.“It was crazy. I dreamed about it a lot of times since I knew La Thuile was in the calendar. I’ve seen some step up this season, but I was not too close to winning a UCI World Cup. I still have to process and understand how I did it. The crowd was on fire today.”Her team-mate Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) was also at the sharp end of proceedings (and Luca Martin’s aggressive racing tactics) and recovered from a crash in Friday’s XCC to come second in the XCO.“It’s not the first time I’ve raced with Luca [Martin]. I know his riding style. You like or dislike it. You saw the drama in the short track. He’s still younger than me, I hope he’s going to learn from that. It’s sometimes fair, sometimes unfair. If we stay on the bike, it’s alright. For the spectators and TV, I think it’s great. We always want to be the first one, especially on super demanding tracks. He knew where I was faster, so he wanted to be in front of me. I knew where I was faster, so I wanted to be first. It’s a fight all the time.”
Set high in the spectacular Alps on the Italy–France border, La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta provided the backdrop for one of the most physically demanding rounds of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Perched at 1,500 metres above sea level, the brand-new 3.2-kilometre UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup course combined relentless climbing with technical descents, pushing riders to their limits.The challenge began almost immediately with a punishing 652-metre ascent from the start line, before competitors were tested further by rutted downhill sections and a steep rock garden that demanded unwavering focus and precision throughout.The efforts of the La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta organisers were rewarded with a weekend of thrilling racing from the world’s best athletes. Racing in her Italian National Champion jersey, Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) delighted the home fans by securing her maiden Women’s Elite UCI XCO World Cup victory. In the Men’s Elite race, overall series leader Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) delivered a composed and clinical performance, capitalising on a rare error from his rivals before riding clear to victory.In the Under-23 categories, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) and Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) completed a perfect weekend, backing up their UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup victories on Friday evening with equally dominant displays in Sunday’s XCO races.Strong performances across the weekend saw Specialized Factory Racing extend their advantage at the top of the team standings. However, with just 76 points separating the next five teams, the battle behind remains fiercely contested as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads into the second half of the season.A DREAM COME TRUE: BERTA CLAIMS FIRST UCI XCO WORLD CUP WIN ON HOME SOILMartina Berta delivered a dream performance in front of her home fans to claim her maiden Women’s Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup victory. Racing just a short distance from her hometown and wearing the Italian National Champion jersey, the 28-year-old rose to the occasion on one of the most demanding courses of the season. However, victory did not come easily, as she was forced to fend off a relentless late challenge from Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) before sparking scenes of celebration in La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta.Fast starter Ronja Blöchlinger (LIV Factory Racing) set a fierce early pace, opening up a 10-second advantage on the opening lap. Behind her, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) led the chase before being joined by Berta and Blunk. Roared on by the home crowd, Berta steadily reeled in Blöchlinger before making her move at the front, with only Blunk able to match the Italian’s pace.As the race unfolded, the altitude and relentless nature of the course began to take their toll. Blunk lost precious seconds through a series of small mistakes, while Blöchlinger also faded from contention and was eventually caught by a charging Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing).Yet the battle for victory was far from over. Blunk mounted a determined comeback and steadily closed the gap to the leader. As the riders crossed the line to begin the final lap, Berta held a slender four-second advantage, while Stigger sat 36 seconds adrift in third. Sensing the pressure, the Italian dug deep and responded in emphatic style, producing her fastest lap of the race to finally shake off Blunk and secure a memorable victory on home soil.Blunk was forced to settle for second place, finishing 12 seconds back as she continues her search for a first UCI XCO World Cup win, while Stigger completed the podium 55 seconds behind the winner.Rissveds strengthened her overall series lead with a fourth-place finish, one spot ahead of fellow title contender Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon). Returning to competition after recovering from concussion, Evie Richards (Trek – Unbroken XC) impressed with a solid seventh-place finish.In victory, Berta became the first Italian Elite woman to win a UCI XCO World Cup on home soil. Reflecting on her achievement, she said: “I’ve dreamed about this day since last year when the calendar came out. I saw La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta on the calendar and told my coach I wanted to win here, it was a dream. From dreaming it to actually doing it is a long journey. It’s just amazing. I’m so grateful for all the support. In the final part of the race I was really suffering because Savilia [Blunk] was coming back. I couldn’t disappoint all the people here. I still can’t believe what I did today, and it will probably take a few days to fully realise it.”MARTIN MASTERS LA THUILE TO EXTEND UCI XCO WORLD CUP LEADLuca Martin delivered another statement performance as the Frenchman secured back-to-back UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup victories. After narrowly losing out to long-time rival Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) in Friday’s UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup, the Cannondale Factory Racing rider proved untouchable over the longer distance, capitalising on a key mistake from his rivals before powering clear to a dominant victory.The start list was notably missing two major contenders. Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) remained sidelined after fracturing his fibula in a recent training accident, while Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) was unable to start after crashing during practice earlier in the weekend.Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team), winner of the UCI XCC World Cup round in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland last month, set the early pace on La Thuile’s demanding opening climb. Riding high after team-mate Martina Berta’s victory in the Women’s Elite race, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) looked eager to animate the race and launched an early attack, with Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) joining him at the front.Neither Boichis nor Martin showed any signs of fatigue from their XCC battle two days earlier and quickly responded to the move. The lead group was eventually reduced when Avondetto crashed on an off-camber section through the woods, bringing down Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) and causing both riders to lose contact with the leaders.What followed was a fascinating tactical battle, with Martin, Boichis and Azzaro repeatedly testing one another across the punishing climbs and technical descents of the Alpine course. The decisive move came midway through the race when Martin sensed an opportunity on one of La Thuile’s technical downhill sections. A small error from Azzaro was all the overall series leader needed to launch his attack, opening a gap that neither Azzaro nor Boichis could close as the pair made further mistakes while trying to respond.From there, Martin never looked back. The Frenchman steadily extended his advantage to take victory by more than a minute, while Azzaro dropped Boichis over the closing laps to secure second place.Riley recovered strongly from his earlier setback to continue his impressive season in fourth, while United States National Champion Riley Amos (Trek – Unbroken XC) celebrated a career-best fifth-place finish.Elsewhere, reigning UCI XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC) made his return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series following a spell racing on the UCI WorldTour road circuit, crossing the line in 16th place.Martin’s victory extended his lead in the overall UCI XCO World Cup standings to 343 points after five rounds. Reflecting on his triumph, he said: “It is so special. I’m so happy to have raced here. This track was a real mountain bike track, with incredibly technical and dusty descents. When we reached around 45 minutes into the race, I felt it was the right moment to attack because I was feeling really good. I live in Nice and the terrain is quite similar, with the same type of dirt and descents, so I felt very comfortable riding this course.”CORVI AND SCHEHL DOMINATE UNDER-23 RACING IN LA THUILEValentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) delivered the most commanding performance of the day in the Women’s Under-23 race. The Italian has established herself as the rider to beat in the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup this season and strengthened her grip on the overall standings with a fourth victory in five rounds.In front of her home crowd, Corvi wasted no time asserting her dominance, opening up a 45-second advantage on the opening lap and steadily extending her lead throughout the race before crossing the line an emphatic 2 minutes and 42 seconds clear of her nearest challenger.Monique Halter (Thömus Akros – Youngstars) rode a lonely race in second for much of the day, but a slower penultimate lap allowed the chasing riders to close the gap. Despite a determined final-lap effort from Ella Macphee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Racing), Halter held on to secure second place by just two seconds, with the Canadian completing the podium in third.Corvi’s latest success extended her lead in the overall standings to an impressive 320 points after five rounds. Reflecting on her performance, she said: “I’m almost speechless. I knew my shape was good, so I just tried to race as well as I could. From the start, my goal was to enter the second part of the track in front because I felt that was the key section. Lap after lap I gained a few more seconds and managed my effort. It’s such a demanding course, with tough climbs and technical descents. To win both races here in Italy, in front of my home crowd, makes it even more special.”In the Men’s Under-23 race, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) also completed a perfect double after backing up his UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup victory with a commanding XCO triumph. Much like Corvi earlier in the day, the German took control from the front on La Thuile’s gruelling course, distancing his rivals from the opening lap and quickly establishing a decisive lead.Nicolas Halter (Thömus Akros–Youngstars) emerged as Schehl’s closest challenger but was unable to match the German’s pace, eventually finishing 1 minute and 32 seconds adrift in second place. Behind him, Lucas Teste (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) timed his race to perfection to secure third, while Friday’s XCC runner-up Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) finished fourth.Three consecutive UCI XCO World Cup victories have helped Schehl extend his lead at the top of the overall standings to 68 points. Following his latest win, he said: “It’s unbelievable. I’m in the shape of my life at the moment and everything is coming together perfectly. I’m so happy. This track is amazing. I absolutely love it. We need more courses like this.”The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues at a relentless pace, with another iconic mountain destination awaiting next weekend. The series heads to Pal Arinsal – Andorra, where riders will once again face the challenges of high-altitude racing. Action begins on Friday with the UCI XCC World Cup and UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying, before the downhill finals take centre stage on Saturday and the UCI XCO World Cup concludes the weekend on Sunday.
Raphaël Giambi (Speed Project) and privateer Ella Conolly delivered standout performances to claim UCI Enduro World Cup victories in La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta, following a spectacular day of racing in one of Enduro’s iconic destinations. Nestled in the Alps, La Thuile Bike World once again lived up to its reputation as a rider favourite, providing a dramatic backdrop for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.Set on the Italy–France border, the challenging Alpine venue featured 28.4 kilometres of racing across four stages, with almost 3,000 metres of descending. The day concluded with a unique spectacle: a 600-metre night stage, illuminated by 23 floodlights and featuring the fan-favourite rock garden, creating a memorable finale for riders and spectators alike.Giambi secured the first Men’s Elite UCI Enduro World Cup victory of his career thanks to a composed and consistent performance across the venue’s dusty, technically demanding trails. In the Women’s Elite competition, Conolly claimed her fifth UCI Enduro World Cup win, strengthening her bid for the overall title.The Junior races followed a familiar script, with overall series leaders Nežka Libnik and Hugo Marti Montessinos once again standing on the top step of the podium. In the teams classification, Speed Project continued their dominant season, securing a fourth consecutive victory to remain the benchmark squad in the series.GIAMBI MASTERS LA THUILE’S CHALLENGE TO TAKE MAIDEN UCI WORLD CUP VICTORYRaphaël Giambi claimed the first Men’s Elite UCI Enduro World Cup victory of his career with a masterclass in consistency and technical precision on the demanding trails of La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta.Defending overall champion Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) took to the start despite suffering a crash during practice the previous day, setting the stage for a fiercely contested race. Even on the opening stage, a near nine-minute test across exposed alpine terrain, the margins remained remarkably tight at the front of the field.Adrien Dailly (Speed Project) laid down an early marker, finishing 2.3 seconds quicker than Jt Fisher (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), with Giambi a further two seconds adrift. Having finished runner-up in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes earlier this season, Giambi arrived determined to go one step better. He found his opportunity on the steep and technical 1.43-kilometre Belface stage, where he showcased his descending prowess to claim the stage win on a challenging mix of bike park features and wooded singletrack.Joe Millington posted the second-fastest time on the stage, with Łukasik third. Meanwhile, overall contenders Fisher and Alex Rudeau remained firmly in the hunt as the battle intensified. Dailly’s challenge, however, suffered a major setback when a puncture cost him 19 seconds and valuable ground in the overall standings.The notoriously demanding Cambogia test, a 3.58-kilometre stage packed with technical sections and little margin for error, proved decisive. Dailly responded impressively to his earlier misfortune, setting the benchmark time and finishing eight seconds clear of his nearest rival to reignite his podium hopes.Canadian rider Lief Rodgers clocked the second-fastest time, while Giambi limited his losses with the third-best stage result, 10 seconds back. Fisher conceded 15 seconds, while Łukasik dropped a further 23 seconds to his rivals in the overall battle.Giambi ensured there would be no late drama by also taking victory on the final stage, ahead of Dailly, who finished second, and William Bordie, who completed the stage podium a year after crashing out on La Thuile’s iconic night test.At the end of four demanding stages, Giambi secured the overall victory by five seconds over team-mate Dailly, delivering a one-two finish for Speed Project. Alex Rudeau rounded out the podium in third and strengthened his position at the top of the overall standings, where he now holds an 85-point advantage after four rounds.Following his victory, Giambi said: “It was a dream day for me. I was consistent from start to finish, avoided mistakes, and led after the first three stages. Heading into the night stage as the last rider on course was an incredible experience. It felt unreal, almost like I wasn’t riding anymore, just floating down the track.”CONOLLY STRENGTHENS TITLE BID WITH DOMINANT VICTORY IN LA THUILEElla Conolly claimed her second Women’s Elite UCI Enduro World Cup victory of the season with a commanding performance in La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta, pairing outright speed with remarkable consistency across the demanding Alpine terrain. The race was missing two of its expected contenders before it had even begun, with both Winnifred Goldsbury and Simona Kuchyňková (Cube Action Team) ruled out following crashes during practice.After finishing runner-up in Val di Fassa–Trentino a week earlier, where severe weather forced the cancellation of two key stages, Conolly arrived determined to make amends. The Briton wasted no time asserting herself, producing a dominant ride on the opening 4.42-kilometre Touraisse stage. Her aggressive yet controlled run through the loose, open terrain earned her a stunning stage victory by 13 seconds, immediately putting her rivals on the back foot.Fresh from her win in Val di Fassa–Trentino, Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) recovered well from an early mistake to finish second on the opening test, although she conceded valuable time to the race leader. Raphaela Richter completed the top three, keeping herself firmly in contention heading into the more technical stages.Reigning UCI Enduro World Champion Elly Hoskin found herself on the defensive after losing 18 seconds on the opening stage. Determined to respond, she attacked the steep and highly technical Belface stage, a 1.43-kilometre descent packed with 525 metres of vertical drop. The short but intense test rewarded both precision and commitment, and Hoskins delivered exactly that, edging out Conolly for the stage victory by just one second. Pugin remained within striking distance in third as the battle for the podium tightened.Pugin showcased her technical skill once again on the infamous Cambogia stage, a 3.58-kilometre test featuring steep rock gardens, wooded sections and high-speed descents. The French rider set the fastest time to reignite her challenge, but crucially managed to claw back only four seconds on overall leader Conolly.New Zealander George Swift impressed with the third-fastest stage time, while Hoskins endured a difficult run and lost 26 seconds, reopening the fight for the final podium place and allowing Richter to move back into contention.Hoskins bounced back by claiming victory on the spectacular floodlit final stage, but Richter stayed close, finishing just 1.8 seconds behind. Rebecca Baraona completed the stage podium in third as the crowd-lined night test delivered a dramatic conclusion to the weekend.Despite the late pressure, Conolly held firm to secure overall victory by seven seconds over Pugin. Richter completed the overall podium after edging Hoskins by a razor-thin one-tenth of a second. The result also strengthened Conolly’s grip on the UCI Enduro World Cup standings, extending her series lead to 70 points over Pugin as the two riders continue to emerge as the main protagonists in the fight for the overall title.Following her victory, Conolly said: “Nightfall is such a cool stage. Having such a huge crowd up there really gets you pumped up. I rode quite cautiously because I knew I had a small advantage, maybe even a little too cautiously as it ended up being pretty close. But it was an amazing way to finish the weekend. I’m taking it one round at a time and just focusing on giving everything every race weekend. My goal is simple: I want to fight for the win every time I line up.”LIBNIK AND MARTI MONTESSINOS EXTEND THEIR JUNIOR DOMINANCE IN LA THUILENežka Libnik continued her remarkable run of form by extending her winning streak in the Women’s Junior category. Fresh from a dominant victory in Val di Fassa–Trentino (Italy), where she claimed every stage win, the Slovenian once again set the benchmark in La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta.Libnik laid the foundations for victory on the opening 4.42-kilometre Touraisse stage, where she immediately opened up an advantage of more than 30 seconds over her rivals. The championship leader further strengthened her position on the demanding Cambogia test, extending her lead as the battle for the remaining podium places intensified. Bélinda Baudet established herself in second after gaining 26 seconds on Romy Williams (Speed Project), creating a clear gap in the fight for the runner-up spot.The final floodlit Nightfall stage saw the podium order remain unchanged, with Libnik completing a flawless weekend to secure overall victory by an impressive 1 minute 48 seconds over Baudet, while Williams finished a further minute adrift in third.Despite missing the opening round of the season, three consecutive victories have propelled Libnik to the top of the overall standings, where she now holds a 30-point lead.Following her victory in La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta, Libnik said: “It’s so special to come to places like this and be able to win. My goal is to race the remaining rounds and do my best to secure the overall title. The night stage was incredible, the atmosphere in the rock garden was amazing, with so many people cheering us on.”In the Men’s Junior race, overall leader Hugo Marti Montessinos arrived in La Thuile determined to bounce back after a crash last weekend denied him victory in Val di Fassa-Trentino. The French rider immediately signalled his intent by winning the opening Touraisse stage and carving out an advantage of almost five seconds over his rivals.Fellow French riders Tommy Bougon and Jules Janniaud emerged as his closest challengers, while the second stage produced one of the tightest battles of the weekend. Marti Montessinos edged out Guillaume Marmillon by a mere two hundredths of a second, with Bougon once again completing the top three.There was no stopping the championship leader on the demanding Cambogia stage, where he added another five seconds to his advantage. Janniaud mounted the strongest challenge, while Harper Nelmes recovered from a difficult start to the day to secure third on the stage.Bougon finally earned a stage victory on the spectacular Nightfall test, finishing ahead of Marmillon and Matej Šrail. With a comfortable advantage in hand, Marti Montessinos was able to manage his effort through the floodlit finale and seal overall victory by 15 seconds, with Janniaud finishing second and Bougon rounding out the podium in third.After claiming three victories in the opening four rounds, Marti Montessinos has strengthened his grip on the championship and now leads the overall standings by 80 points. Following his victory, he said: “The final stage at night was really exciting. There were so many spectators around the rock garden, which is one of the toughest sections of the course. Racing at night is something completely different, and we had a lot of fun out there.”The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues on Sunday in La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta, where UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup riders will tackle the venue’s demanding course for the first time. The series then heads to Pal Arinsal, Andorra (10–12 July), where both endurance and downhill racing return to centre stage. Enduro competitors will resume their campaign the following weekend with a two-day challenge at Aletsch Arena–Bellwald, Switzerland (17–19 July).
