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Set in the heart of the UNESCO-recognised Dolomites, Val di Fassa – Trentino (Italy) once again hosts enduro athletes for a two-day epic, set within one of Europe’s most established mountain bike destinations.Known for its high-altitude starts, huge descents and raw, technical terrain, the iconic Val di Fassa Bike District combines roots, off-cambers and long natural lines to create a true test for both Elite and Shimano Enduro Open riders.Last season, UCI Enduro World Cup overall winners Ella Conolly and Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) mastered searing temperatures and close racing to take victory here, extending their leads in the standings after two intense days on the bike.This year, across the two days, riders will cover a total of 59.58km featuring 2633m of descending across seven stages. Following training on Thursday and Friday, Elite and Shimano Enduro Open riders will tackle the opening three stages on Saturday, before completing the final four stages on Sunday.Stage 1: Tutti FruttiLength: 2.22 kmElevation: +31m / -362 mStage 2: 9.90Length: 1.85 kmElevation: +8 m / -319mStage 3: Ciasates “EWS”Length: 1.25 kmElevation: +31 m / -196mStage 4: TitansLength: 2.51kmElevation: +10 m / -536 mStage 5: LezuoLength: 3.94 kmElevation: +30 m / -528 mStage 6: InfinityLength: 3.69 kmElevation: +57 m / -467 mStage 7: Ciasates “EDR”Length: 1.32 kmElevation: +19 m / -223 m

While the dust might have just settled in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria), the Gravity and Endurance athletes are gearing up to do it all over again across the border in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) in the second of six back-to-back WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series rounds.Only one rider holds a 100% winning streak – Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) in dominant form – and 2026 has seen a number of first-time UCI World Cup winners seize their chance as more established names have been ruled out through injury or are yet to find their race pace.BIKE KINGDOM BECKONSThe downhill and cross-country riders now head west to the Bike Kingdom in Lenzerheide, which this year celebrates the 10th edition of the UCI World Cup at the venue.Lenzerheide first hosted a UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup back in 1994, before a 21-year hiatus. It returned to the calendar in 2015 with both XCO and downhill racing and has since become a staple of the series, absent only in 2018 - when it staged the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships -, 2020 and 2024.Located in the shadow of the Lenzerhorn in the town of Lenzerheide, the bike park more than lives up to its Bike Kingdom moniker, connecting Arosa, Lenzerheide and Chur to form the largest bike area in Switzerland.The UCI Downhill World Cup takes place on the venue’s Straightline World Cup track – a 1.7km course that features 402m of descent and a monster big drop to navigate into the finish corral.The cross-country Olympic (XCO) and cross-country short track (XCC) races, meanwhile, will be duked out in the densely packed woodland and expansive, exposed sections of mountain that lend themselves to close racing.WILDCARD ENTRIESThe following wildcard teams have been confirmed to compete in Lenzerheide: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: Bike Team Solothurn, KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Massi, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros - Youngstars, UNNO Factory Racing.All 14 teams have featured already this season, with Lexware Mountainbike Team’s Paul Schehl the pick of the wildcard entrants with the German currently leading the Men U23 UCI XCC World Cup overall and sitting in second place in the Men U23 UCI XCO World Cup overall.RISSVEDS THE WOMAN TO BEATJenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) is in the midst of a memorable year. Since the 2025 European Continental Championships in July, the Swede hasn’t finished outside of the top two in an XCO race, and her win in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland took her career total to eight – bumping her up to 10th in the all-time women’s race winners.The reigning UCI XCO World Champion starts in Lenzerheide as the woman to beat and is the most successful rider in the current women’s field at the venue, with two wins (2016 and 2019) already to her name.Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) and Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) are the only two riders to have got the better of Rissveds in the XCO this year, and Frei in particular will be extra motivated on Sunday with Lenzerheide being her home race. But it is another Swiss rider, Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), who is likely to pose the biggest threat to Rissveds. The 30-year-old has been her consistent self in the two WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series rounds that she has raced so far this season, and had the edge on Rissveds at the venue when they went bar-to-bar in 2025.BLEVINS RETURNS TO SHAKE UP PROCEEDINGSWhile the 2026 series has served up three different winners, two of whom were first time victors, one rider’s absence has loomed large over proceedings. Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) has been out since the opening round in MONA YongPyong (South Korea) with a broken collarbone, but the reigning XCO-XCC overall champion is back between the race tape this weekend – and will be targeting a winning return.Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) is the most likely rider to stand in his way – the Frenchman collecting a hat-trick of second place finishes this season and looking likely to add to his debut UCI XCO World Cup win from Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) in 2025. Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) had the edge over the Cannondale Factory Racing rider in Leogang though, taking the win and selecting the number 2 as his career number.But the Swiss contingent will also be amped up to perform in front of a passionate home crowd, and Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC), Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) and Fabio Püntener (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) all occupy spots in the top five in the individual rankings.RISSVEDS AIMING TO MAKE IT FIVE IN A ROW, AZZARO OUT TO PUT AUSTRIAN ROUND BEHIND HIMRissveds will also start the Women Elite UCI XCC World Cup as the out-and-out favourite – the Swede winning the last four XCC races in Lenzerheide and aiming to make it number five this Friday. She won’t have it easy though. Frei appears to be in the form of her life, adding XCC win number two to her tally in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland, while XCC specialist Evie Richards (Trek-Unbroken XC) is still absent after suffering a concussion in a crash in Nové Město Na Moravě. UCI XCC World Champion Keller will also be in contention, while Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) should never be overlooked.The men’s field is just as feisty but there will be one rider – Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) – looking to put Austria’s round behind him after a mistake cost him a podium finish in the XCO last time out. The Frenchman already has two XCC victories to his name this year and will be targeting number three in Lenzerheide.Blevins will likely be in contention, while Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) is another rider worth keeping tabs on.HÖLL IN CONTROL AND ON COURSE FOR PERFECT SEASONValentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) can’t stop winning. After only picking up one UCI Downhill World Cup all season in 2025, the Austrian has three from three this year, and few would bet against her extending her 100% record in Lenzerheide.The Bike Kingdom track has offered up mixed results for Höll – she won the 2018 Junior UCI Downhill World Championships here but is yet to go better than third in the Elite class. She arrives with undeniable momentum, and her form so far suggests she will be hard to stop as she looks to emulate Rachel Atherton’s perfect 2016 season.Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) is the rider with the best results in Lenzerheide – securing three of her 10 career UCI World Cup wins here – so in theory is Höll’s closest challenger this weekend, but the French icon hasn’t finished higher than third in 2026 or won a UCI World Cup since 2024.Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) meanwhile is finding her flow after a disappointing start to the season, backing up her qualifying win in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland with second place in finals.TITLE WIDE OPEN IN COMPETITIVE MEN’S FIELDWhile Vali Höll will remain at the top of the women’s contest regardless of results in Switzerland, in the men’s field, there are 19 riders who could mathematically find themselves in first place at the end of Saturday’s finals.This alone shows how open the 2026 series is with no one rider putting together a string of results to pull away from the pack.Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) has been the most consistent to date – the Frenchman recording a second podium finish of the season last weekend and a favourite to add another to his collection as the rider with the best winning record in Lenzerheide. But it could just as likely be Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity), Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP), or Luca Shaw (Canyon DH Racing) – the three riders to have stood on the top spot so far in 2026.One rider we can expect more of is the 2025 UCI Downhill World Champion and UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) – the Canadian yet to break into the top 10 this year. Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) remains out for a minimum of three months with a wrist injury.Racing gets underway in Lenzerheide on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup.  Full schedule and event details are available here. Find out where to watch here.

After four format action at Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria), the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ downhill and cross-country athletes return for their second UCI World Cup in as many weeks, having made the short journey west across the Austrian-Swiss border to the canton of Graubünden and the trails of Bike Kingdom – Lenzerheide (Switzerland).We look at everything you need to know about the Lenzerheide round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including when the cross-country short track (XCC), cross-country Olympic (XCO) and downhill (DHI) events are scheduled to take place, who is racing, and how to watch.WHEN? The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) starts with the Women U23 UCI XCC World Cup at 10:35 (UTC+2) on Friday, June 19 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI XCO Cup at 15:30 (UTC+2) on Sunday, June 21.Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EDT+6/BST+1/CEST):Friday, June 1912:30 – 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 EliteSaturday, June 2011:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite14:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men EliteSunday, June 2109:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U2311:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U2313:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite15:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men EliteWHERE CAN I WATCH?There are several ways to catch all the action from Switzerland. The UCI Downhill World Cup* and the Elite UCI Cross-country World Cup races are available to watch live worldwide.Europe:Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / EurosportBelgium: HBO Max, Eurosport, RTL (only Men Elite downhill & Men Elite XCO races live)Czechia: HBO Max, Eurosport, Czech TVIreland: TNT SportsSwitzerland, Liechtenstein: HBO Max, Eurosport, SRF/RSIUnited Kingdom : HBO Max, TNT SportsAsia:Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand - Eurosport WorldOceania:Australia: Stan SportNew Zealand: MTBWS TVSamoa: Eurosport WorldNorth America:Canada: FloSportsUSA: HBO Max / MTBWS TVMTBWS TV has now launched in the US, so fans will be able to watch the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series live on the streaming service. Racing will also still be available to watch on HBO Max.Central America: MTBWS TVSouth America: MTBWS TV and Direct TV (only XCC Elite races)Africa: MTBWS TVAll other territories: MTBWS TV*The UCI Downhill World Cup Qualification Day can be followed on live timing and across social media. 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 WATCHIn downhill, the series looks wide open in the Elite men’s category with three different riders victorious in the first three rounds – two taking their debut UCI World Cup wins and one, Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity), returning to the top of the podium for the first time since 2022.Iles has looked back to his best this year and has become the de facto leader of the Specialized Gravity team with teammate Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) out for the foreseeable future with injury.The Canadian sits second in the standings though behind Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) – the 2018 UCI World Cup overall winner adding a second podium of the season to his collection in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland. The Frenchman won in Lenzerheide in 2025 and has racked up three UCI World Cup wins at the venue in his career, so don’t be surprised if he adds number four this weekend.Others to keep tabs on include first-year Elites Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) and Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP), reigning UCI Downhill World Champion Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Henri Kiefer (Canyon DH Racing).The women’s contest, meanwhile, is beginning to take shape just three rounds in, with Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) proving untouchable so far. She continues her 100%-win record in 2026, extending her advantage in the overall standings to 271 points over second-place Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction).Lenzerheide hasn’t historically been a happy hunting ground for Höll though. While she won the Junior UCI Downhill World Championships at the venue in 2018, her best result has been third (2021, 2025) since she joined the Elite class.Nicole has three UCI World Cup wins in Lenzerheide although the Frenchwoman hasn’t stood on the top spot since Loudenvielle-Peyragudes in September 2024. Others to watch out for are Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing), Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) and Harriet Harnden (AON Racing).Either side of the downhill action is the Friday’s XCC and Sunday’s XCO, with each series shaping up nicely after three fierce rounds of racing.Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) and Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) lead the respective XCC overall classification, and both riders have recorded two UCI XCC World Cup wins already in this series.Neither is guaranteed to have it their own way in Lenzerheide though. Frei is likely to face stiff competition from Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing), Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and a resurgent Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), while Azzaro’s main rivals will be Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing), Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC) and Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team).On Sunday’s XCO, Rissveds and Martin are the riders who will line up with the red number one plate. UCI XCO World Champion Rissveds has picked up from where she left off at the end of 2025, recording two second places and a win from the opening three rounds. Frei and Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) are the only two riders to have gotten the better of the Swede in the Olympic distance race this year, while Pieterse and Keller are the only other likely candidates to truly test the 2016 Olympic champion.Martin meanwhile is without a win in 2026 but finds himself at the top of the men’s table through consistency – the Frenchman recording three consecutive second place finishes so far this season. It appears to be only a matter of time before he records his second UCI XCO World Cup win, but Lillo and Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) will take confidence from the fact that they’ve had the edge on the Cannondale Factory Racing rider in 2026.Reigning XCO-XCC overall champion Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) is also back between the race tape this weekend after being out since the opening round in MONA YongPyong (South Korea) with a broken collarbone.

All four formats were in action this weekend, as the UCI Enduro, Downhill, Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cups converged on Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria) for the first of two quadruple of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.The racing kicked off on Friday with a wet and wild XCC and didn’t let up until the final stage of Sunday’s UCI Enduro World Cup.Only one rider – Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) – retains a 100% win record for 2026, while there were first-time UCI World Cup victories for Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Racing) in XCC, Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) in XCO, and Winnifred Goldsbury in the UCI Enduro World Cup.But the winning riders only tell a small portion of the story from Austria. From a historic first in Downhill where the women’s Elite race closed the program, to dealing with a surprise disqualification in the Elite men’s XCO, here are some of the behind-the-scenes highlights from this week’s THE B LINE.HÖLL ROLLS ONVali Höll is following in the footsteps of the mountain biking greats Anne-Caroline Chausson and Rachel Atherton by going three-from-three in 2026, but the Austrian was over the moon to have won in front of a passionate home crowd.“It’s so cool to win at home. It’s the best thing in the world,” she said to Josh Carlson.“It’s cool to see Leogang become more of a hotspot for Downhill and the crowd every year is bigger. Lina [Frener] won in the Juniors category, so the future of Downhill is also Austria.”KIEFER PLEASED WITH PODIUMHenri Kiefer (Canyon DH Racing) has had a slow start to 2026, but things aligned for the German rider in Leogang as he followed up third in qualifying with third in finals.“The season kicked off, I didn’t start well, but I’m so stoked. Leogang is a fast track and pushes your limits so you have to expect some small things. This place means a lot because the family is always coming here. It’s like my home race. I live in Austria now, near Innsbruck, I’m an ambassador for Leogang, it all worked out so well. It’s a dream scenario.”CABIROU MAKES HISTORY IN MOMENTOUS DAY FOR WOMEN’S DOWNHILLSaalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland also witnessed history on Saturday with the women’s Elite field taking to the mountain at the end of the session and swapping with the men’s contest for the first time. For fastest qualifier Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing), it also meant closing out the racing with the last race run of the day.“It’s pretty amazing, and it was pretty amazing to live that once in my life. It was insane to see everyone go at the top and feel alone. I think it’s amazing for women’s sport to do that at least once per year.“My highlight is winning the qualifying because it was the first time in my life, and I finished second after starting last. Finally, I start to feel myself again on the bike so I’m happy with that. It gives me a lot of confidence. I was feeling good in South Korea but I crashed in the race run so I lost a bit of confidence. It was a bit hard to find the pace in Loudenvielle and to push again, but finally I feel good again and confident on the bike so it will be good for the next one.”NEWKIRK A FAN OF THE SWITCHAnna Newkirk (Frameworks / TRP Racing) was also a fan of the women’s race swapping with the men’s field, although noted how it left her with more time than she is used to on race day.“It was really cool getting to drop so late in the day. I dropped at 3pm. I normally race at 1pm or 12:30pm depending on how I qualified. It was so cool getting to go so late and having such a big crowd was really awesome as well.“What time I put my race run down doesn’t really matter to me. I guess it’s the same with start order – I don’t care if I drop first. I’ve never dropped last but I’ve dropped second to last a handful of times now. I don’t really care when I drop. I’m racing against myself.“I guess one thing that was pretty different was having so much time to overthink everything. We had five hours between practice and finals, so I was just sitting there thinking all day. I tried to take a nap and instead of napping I was just going through the track again over and over in my head.”ILES HAPPY TO BE OUT OF THE ONE WIN CLUBAnother Elite winner in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland was Finn Iles (Specialized Factory Racing). The Canadian has been on an upward trajectory this season and his victory was the first since his debut in 2022.“I didn’t expect it today. It feels good to get it done. Second time feels a lot different. It feels like we put a lot of work to get here. Four years, five seasons since I won in MSA. It’s been a long time.“I can’t say thank you enough to the team I have around me. The bike is a machine and I think Loïc [Bruni]’s been second in Korea, Jordan [Williams] was third in Loudenvielle and for me to win it means a lot. The biggest thing we did was trust what we already knew about the bike. We’ve done so much testing so we can predict what the conditions are going to be like and how the bike is going to react to those predictions. The boys made a big change after practice day. They softened the rear end, we stiffened the fork and we added air to the main chamber. “Last year was such a downer. I just struggled through everything. I was dealing with injuries to my back, so I never felt like I could train or ride properly. I can’t say thank you enough to Specialized, all the people around me, my girlfriend, my family for just helping me build myself back up into who I know I can be, and to be at the top feels amazing. I hope I can stay here and just build upon myself, build confidence, focus and continue to make this bike faster than it already is. All the stuff I went through last year has just made me a better athlete. It’s made me look at all the small details”.MARTIN, RILEY AND ALDRIDGE SHARE THOUGHTS ON VARIED RACE WEEKENDThe cross-country riders took to the Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland trails either side of the downhill action, and Ashleigh Wilmot caught up with Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing), Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team) and Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) after the dust had settled on a feisty XCO that saw second-place finisher Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) disqualified for taking the wrong line through the tech zone and Martin and Riley bumped up to second and third respectively as a result.“My first feeling is I was sorry for him because he did the wrong thing, but it’s not nice to be disqualified,” said Martin.“I had no clue. I thought I was fourth,” added Riley. “I felt like it was super cool, but the same as Luca [Martin], at the end of the day if you’re in [Azzaro’s] position, it’s a big bummer. It’s a hard one. It’s still really cool to be third.”Aldridge meanwhile had to settle for 35th, but the Brit was returning from a chest infection so was realistic about his result.“I tried to manage my effort. When you’ve had a chest infection for the last two weeks and you’re still coughing, your body’s not at 100% and you can’t push the same. The short track I thought was going to be fine and then I lasted about 15 minutes and blew my doors off. I still came 17th, so that was still good. [For the XCO], I was on cruise control, managing my effort, but the last two laps were pretty tough. I enjoyed it. It’s cool to be here, and the descents are really good fun.”Talk then turned to hobbies, with Martin and Riley sharing a passion for rally cars, while Aldridge likes to spend his off-season trail building for his bikes.“I’m lucky at home, I’ve got some good places to build trails near me,” added Aldridge. “The mountain is my canvas and my art. I go out and can really make it feel how I want to. You can make the trail and then ride it after with your mates. I built my own cross-country course so I can go and train on that.”All three will be in action again this weekend in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) with the racing coming thick and fast over the coming weeks.“It’s great because you can be so lazy,” said Riley. “Now, it’s about recovering, getting your easy spins in, a few intervals and then other than that, you just go and eat food and get physio. It’s nice to have a flow. The hardest thing is managing form. You need to have a bigger block every couple of weeks but you have six weeks and it’s full gas. Your form is hard to hold."

The second UCI Enduro World Cup round of this year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series brought riders to the iconic slopes of the Epic Bike Park in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria).Riders completed 73.37 kilometres of racing across six demanding stages, including 2,000 metres of descending. The conditions were also a challenge with heavy rain showers throughout the day resulting in slippery conditions on the slopes.After finishing third at the venue last year, 19-year-old Winnifred Goldsbury showed her talent by winning the Elite Women’s race by an impressive margin of 24 seconds from defending overall champion Ella Conolly and Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) in third.Defending Elite Men’s overall champion Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) took his first win of this season’s campaign by just four seconds ahead of Lief Rodgers in second, while Marius Tenet Berrat took third in a close finish.Speed Project won the mixed team competition and extended their lead in the overall team standings, ahead of Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team. In the Men’s Junior category Hugo Marti Montessinos recorded his second win of the season, while Nežka Libnik took the Women’s Junior honours.GOLDSBURY SHOWS TALENT IN MAIDEN ELITE UCI WORLD CUP WINIn just her second year as a Women’s Elite rider Winnifred Goldsbury conquered the slippery Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland slopes to make her own history. However, it was rival Ella Conolly who came into the race full of confidence after dominating the previous round at Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France).The 2.4-kilometre opening stage provided a rocky feel of what would follow. Goldsbury showed her talent and took an early 16-second lead, ahead of Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) and Conolly was at 22.3 seconds. The battle continued into the longer 3.6-kilometre X Line section and Goldsbury again led the way, despite riding the stage with a puncture. Conolly used her previous experience of the stage to remain just seven tenths of a second behind, while Nadine Ellecosta placed a close third.The 1.7-kilometre long Matzalm Trail provided a test of bike handling with the course littered by chunky roots. Goldsbury had further issues after a small crash resulted in her losing four seconds. Elly Hoskins set her first best time on the stage of 4:53, with Conolly just two seconds behind the leading time. Pugin was another casualty of the difficult third stage as a crash saw her lose 16 seconds.Talented Slovakian rider Simona Kuchyňková (Cube Action Team) had a nightmare opening round in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes when a mechanical off the starting ramp ended her day. After losing time on the early stages Kuchyňková came charging back on the iconic Hangman test, finishing the 1.78-kilometre stage in 4:13.Goldsbury remained in overall control, despite seeing her early lead reduced slightly by Conolly. A short transition followed to the short but difficult 820-metre long Back to the Roots.Goldsbury showed her fearlessness nature as her time of 3:00 was 5.5 seconds faster than Pugin and 13.6 seconds better than Conolly. Despite finishing eighth on the short final stage Goldsbury had done enough to secure her maiden Elite UCI World Cup victory.Conolly finished runner-up and leads the overall standings after two rounds, while Pugin settled for third after suffering several crashes during the day.“To win my first Elite World Cup here means so much to me,” said Goldsbury. “This is where I won my first Junior World Cup. Coming back here and doing that well is crazy for me.”ŁUKASIK BATTLES BACK IN OVERALL TITLE DEFENCEDefending overall champion Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) was pushed all the way for victory on the slippery slopes of Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland. The Polish rider came into the round looking for redemption after crashing in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes and losing vital points.Frenchman Marius Tenet Berrat finished a career-best eighth position two weeks earlier on home soil. The 20-year-old looked to go even better on the Austrian slopes and posted a best time of 5:55 on the 2.4-kilometre opening section.Łukasik was determined to have an improved performance in Austria and was three seconds back after the opening stage, along with Lief Rodgers. Meanwhile, Jt Fisher (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) was an early withdrawal after crashing on the first stage and was left frustrated following a promising practice session on Friday. Round 1 winner Alex Rudeau also had issues in the opening stage and lost 23 seconds to his title rivals.The second stage provided a mixture of terrain in 3.67 kilometres, including rocky and wooded sections, alongside a section of bike park with a good surface to help speed. Łukasik used his power and experience to post a fastest time of 7:23, some five seconds faster than Rudeau, while Tenet Berrat lost a further two seconds.Rudeau responded to the pressure and showed his bike handling ability again on stage 3 to post a quickest time of 3:54 over the 1.78-kilometre stage. Meanwhile, Łukasik only managed eighth on the stage some 10 seconds back and saw his overall lead cut to two seconds by Tenet Berrat, while Rodgers also remained in contention.The defending overall champion was tested again on the difficult 1.87-kilometre-long Hangman section. Łukasik rose to the occasion winning the stage by just one tenth of a second from Rodgers, while Tenet Berrat lost four seconds in the overall tussle. With little to separate the top three riders overall the fearsome Back to the Roots test the concentration of all the challengers. Rudeau was quickest clocking 2:24 over the 820-metre test, with Rodgers a close second and Łukasik losing three seconds and seeing his overall lead cut to four seconds.In the final stage Łukasik completed his performance by going fastest, while Rodgers secured a career-best runner-up spot overall. Tenet Berrat was also celebrating after clinching a first UCI Enduro World Cup podium with third. Rudeau recovered from a first stage crash to place sixth and keeps his lead in the overall heading into the third round.Race winner Łukasik said: “I’m so happy. I was so stressed after the last round. I felt pretty good in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes and I don’t know what happened. I knew Leogang is pretty good for me as I’ve known this place for many years from downhill and enduro. It’s finally getting number one after finishing twice in third place.”MONTESSINOS AND LIBNIK HOLD NERVES AND TAKE COMMANDING WINSHugo Marti Montessinos continued his domination of the Men’s Junior category by taking his second win from as many rounds. The Frenchman carried his confidence into the first stage and set the quickest time by five seconds. However, Italian Lorenzo Noferini responded on the 3.67-kilometre long X Line, with Montessinos losing 10 seconds and the overall lead to Czech rider Šimon Lehký. Montessinos responded and held his nerve on the iconic Hangman stage, posting the quickest time and finishing 10 seconds faster than Lehký. The Frenchman did not look back also winning the fifth and placing second on the last stage to secure the overall honours. Meanwhile, a battle behind saw German rider Quirin Bach place consistently to edge second place, finishing five tenths of a second quicker than Lehký in third.The Women’s Junior category was blown open after previous round winner Romy Williams failed to finish the opening stage and was out of the event. Nežka Libnik took control winning every stage and winning overall by 3:31. Swedish competitor Ella Mårtensson placed second and Emily Malin Hoyle was third.“The race was super fun,” said Libnik. “It was sketchy at moments, but it was very nice. I fell two times, but I got up and continued with the race. The views are so nice, I’ll definitely come back here.”The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will provide another weekend of packed action when it continues at Bike Kingdom – Lenzerheide in Switzerland between 19 and 21 June. UCI Downhill World Cup competitors will be joined by Endurance riders, who will compete in the UCI XCC and XCO World Cup. Meanwhile, Enduro riders will return to action at Val di Fassa – Trentino (Italy) on 26 to 28 June.

The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series was treated to a set of pulsating races at the Epic Bike Park in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria). The iconic venue is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and provided one of the toughest tests on the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup circuit.Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) clinched the Men’s Elite victory thanks to a devastating last lap attack, beating Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) into second and Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) third. Meanwhile, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) took her first win of season and eighth Women’s Elite UCI XCO World Cup victory. Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) and Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) took the Under-23 UCI XCO World Cup wins in their respective categories.Those results saw Specialized Factory Racing top the team ranking of the weekend, ahead of Thömus maxon in second and Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team. After three rounds Specialized Factory Racing have a healthy lead in the overall standings.RISSVEDS RETURNS TO PODIUM TOP STEP WITH COMMANDING RIDEJenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) sent a message to her rivals with a commanding solo victory in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland. Heavy rain and slippery conditions at the start made for dramatic racing for the Women’s Elite competitors. Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) got off to the perfect start up the opening climb, before colliding with Rissveds and crashing on the first descent - resulting in her moving from first to last. At the front Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) was the only rider who followed Rissveds in her initial charge.Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) was looking for her second double win of the season and fought her way into contention on the opening lap, before a series of crashes ended her podium fight.Mistakes from her opponents allowed Rissveds to build a slender margin of 10 seconds. Meanwhile, Swiss riders Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) showed their endurance on the gruelling course and joined Pieterse in the chase. Taking the last lap bell Rissveds had a commanding lead of a minute, while Pieterse gapped Keller by seven seconds in the battle for second.Rissveds was unstoppable as she took a clear win by 56 seconds ahead of Pieterse and a delighted Keller in third. After her first lap incident Blunk raced back through the field to finish an impressive fifth position.Rissveds leads the overall standings after three rounds, some 80 points ahead of Frei: “I wanted to be brave today and leave here with no disappointment,” said Rissveds. “I went for it and it worked. We have three overall leaders in the team at the moment, Thibaut (François Baudry), Valentina (Corvi) and myself, which is really cool.”BOICHIS TIMES PERFECT ATTACK TO TAKE MAIDEN WINAdrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) launched a devastating last lap attack to win his first Men’s Elite UCI XCO World Cup. The wet conditions from the morning racing made way for dry and warm weather. The drying course and steep descents resulted in some early crashes, with Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team team-mates Fabio Püntener and Filippo Colombo two of those to lose time.The relentless pace and tough nature of the course resulted in Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) going clear early on. However, the tough terrain at the Epic Bike Park also tested rider’s equipment and a flat rear tyre for Riley dropped him out of the leading group, while Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing) suffered the same fate.Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) was determined not to miss the podium battle and worked his way to make a leading quartet. Azzaro was the first rider to show his hand and his fourth lap attack resulted in Avondetto dropping back.French National Champion Martin also showed signs of weakness but used his technical skills and closed a gap of seven seconds on one descent to re-group with the leaders heading into the penultimate lap.Boichis left his winning effort for the final steep climb of the race, distancing Martin and then Azzaro. It was an emotional victory for him, finishing ahead of Azzaro in second and Martin third. However, following the race Azzaro was disqualified for an earlier infringement in the technical zone. After finishing runner-up for a third consecutive time Martin leads the overall standings.Following his win Boichis said: “It’s the highest thing ever. There is no bigger race than the UCI World Cup and there are no stronger people than Elite UCI World Cup winners. To think that today I was the best in the world is something special and I’ll never forget.“I have beautiful memories here. In 2023 I won my first Under-23 UCI World Cup. I just wanted to execute my plan of having a conservative start and then build through the race. I really believed in myself. When I was hurting. I was thinking that the others were hurting more. On the last kicker I went all out to the top.”CORVI AND SCHEHL PROVE STRONGEST IN UNDER-23 CATEGORYValentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) led the Women’s Under-23 race from start to finish in a show of strength on the gruelling Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland course. The Italian also won at MONA YongPyong (South Korea) in muddy conditions and provided a tape-to-tape win in Austria.Corvi was looking for redemption after crashing in Friday’s UCI XCC World Cup and led by 16 seconds after the opening lap, grewing her margin into an unassailable one. Swiss rider Fiona Schibler rode through the field from ninth on the first lap through to finish second. She showed her talent to match the lap times of Corvi as the race progressed, eventually finishing 1 minute and 14 seconds back. Meanwhile, Monique Halter (Thömus Akros-Youngstars) placed third.Corvi’s victory extended her lead at top of the overall standings ahead of Schiber. “It’s amazing,” said Corvi. “On Friday in the XCC I crashed, so I started today with high motivation to take the win on such a hard track. I just pushed so hard and the feeling was super-good. I just kept pushing and kept my concentration high, especially in the downhill which were sticky and difficult conditions.Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) made it a weekend double in the Men’s Under-23 UCI XCO World Cup. The German rider was given a welcome confidence boost by winning Friday’s UCI XCC World Cup.Nicholas Halter (Thömus Akros-Youngstars) joined Schehl at the front during the opening lap. However, the second lap saw Schehl pull out what turned out to be his winning advantage. Behind, Alix Andre-Gallis (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) came through to finish second just 16 seconds back and Naël Rouffiac (Origine Racing Division) placed third. A fifth placed finish was enough for Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon CX Racing) to lead the overall standings after three rounds.Following his win Schehl said: “It was a tough, mental race. I suffered some mechanical issues on laps three, four and five. It was so hard for me to keep going after the XCO in Nové Město Na Moravě where I had such big mental problems. I’m so stoked with myself about how I kept going, it’s amazing. It’s been a great week with the team and I’ve enjoyed every second.The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will provide another weekend of packed action when it continues at Bike Kingdom – Lenzerheide in Switzerland between 19 and 21 June. UCI Downhill World Cup competitors will be joined by Endurance riders, who will compete in the UCI XCC and XCO World Cup.

Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) and Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) conquered an unpredictable track at Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland to take hard-fought victories in vastly different circumstances in the UCI Downhill World Cup.After Friday’s UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup round took place in apocalyptic conditions, the sun was out in Austria for the downhill action but that produced its own challenges with the track still drying out run-to-run following such heavy rain.Höll and Iles’ eyes and brains were rewarded as much as their legs at the legendary WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series venue, with the Canadian edging out Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL / MUC OFF by Riding Addiction) by a fraction of a second while the women’s UCI World Champion delivered a peerless performance to win by a street.Höll becomes just the third woman to start the UCI Downhill World Cup with three consecutive victories, while a tearful Iles celebrated perseverance paying off as he claimed his second ever win in the series from 68 starts.Meanwhile Lina Frener (Norco x adidas Race Division) and Jonty Williamson (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) won the women’s and men’s Junior races to continue their strong starts to the season.HISTORIC HÖLL A CLASS ABOVEIt was a historic day for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series as for the first time, the women’s race was the grand finale of the UCI Downhill World Cup round as the last action of the day - providing both a unique opportunity and challenge with such a long gap between the final and their last practice run.The women’s leaderboard was much more dynamic than the men’s, with Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division) setting the early benchmark as the fifth rider out of the gate. Her hair-raising run put her firmly in contention, looking set for an extended stay in the hot seat. But Lisa Bouladou (Santa Cruz Burgtec by Goodman) deposed her immediately with an incredibly fast finish through the wooded section, as the course effectively evolved into a run of two halves with the exposed start drying out much more quickly than the bottom of the hill.Frida Helena Rønning (Crestline Speed Shop) and Valentina Roa Sánchez (MS-Racing) each spent time in the green then faded in the trees with the Colombian ejected from her saddle by a root, but her teammate Gloria Scarsi did take the lead from Bouladou with a hectic ride.Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL / MUC OFF by Riding Addiction) was three seconds ahead at the second split, but struggled through the technical wooded section, terrain that would typically play to her strengths. Yet the moment Höll dropped out of the gate, there was little doubt as to who would claim victory in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland.Höll produced one of the most dominant performances in recent WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series history, going quickest in every single section and beating Scarsi’s time by a monstrous nine seconds.Neither Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP) nor Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) did anything visibly wrong on their runs and the Frenchwoman even went faster than Höll in one time split, but they never ever looked likely to upset the home favourite who launched herself straight into the crowd after Cabirou crossed the line.“It was so nice, so quiet on track. I was really enjoying it, no one was disturbing me, so we can repeat that for sure. Pretty epic. I know how hard you need to push to be able to win World Cups nowadays. It took me so much energy to do this.“I just wanted to give back and seeing all my family, all my friends, all the little shredders from Austria, it’s the most important thing I can give back.“A lot of haters said they [the crowd] will all leave when we’re racing but look, the crowd is still there, it’s pretty epic, women’s sport is amazing.”Höll looks unstoppable in the overall race, sitting almost 300 points ahead of Nicole.ILES CELEBRATES EMOTIONAL RETURN TO THE TOPIn stark contrast to Höll’s supremacy in the women’s final, the elite men’s UCI Downhill World Cup round was decided by less than two tenths of a second between Iles and Pierron.Both riders needed two rounds of qualifying to make the final, but with the weather much improved on Saturday they flipped the script, locking out the top two positions early and holding that advantage all the way to the end.Pierron produced a strong finish to enter the hotseat as just the seventh rider down the ramp, but he was quickly pushed into second place by Iles just a few minutes later. Iles was only quickest through the final time split but was the most consistent rider on the difficult course and that’s what took him to the top of the timesheets and ultimately victory.Iles’ run wasn’t the most memorable moment of the day though - that honour went to Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) who flew off a jump and was thrown from his bike on landing, with the American somehow escaping the high-speed crash relatively unscathed.Englishman Ethan Craik (Scott Downhill Factory) went closest to deposing Iles, as he lit up the timesheets for three-quarters of the course but slipped in the trees and trailed home in sixth, three seconds behind Iles.Fellow youngster Henri Kiefer (Canyon DH Racing) - the ambassador for the Epic Bikepark Leogang - wasn’t as spectacular and produced a dreadful start yet rebounded to claim the final podium place as the only other rider within a second of Iles, while his teammate Troy Brosnan finished fourth.“That feels really good. Last year was such a struggle with injuries and I just didn’t feel like myself,” Iles said. “This offseason I put in so much work to find my groove back and to get a win in the third race of the season is incredible.“I just can’t say thank you enough to my team, all the people at Specialized for how much work they put into the demo and everybody around me for supporting me through last year because it was such a tough one for me. Now I feel like I’m back to being myself and it means so much.”For Pierron, there’s the consolation that he now leads the Elite Men UCI Downhill World Cup as he jumped from third to first and now leads second-placed Iles by 29 points. Pierron also pushed his COMMENCAL / MUC OFF by Riding Addiction team to the top of the team standings as both they and Canyon DH Racing leapfrogged Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres.WILLIAMSON AND FRENER PEERLESS IN JUNIORSWilliamson and Frener were a class above in the men’s and women’s junior races in Austria, battling the toughest conditions of the day as the curtain-raisers. The Kiwi eclipsed even Höll’s margin of victory with a massive 7.5-second win from Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton), continuing his 100% start to the season.After finishing sixth and second to start the season, Frener finally reaches the top step of the podium with a dominant ride. She beat Aletha Odegaard (Canyon DH Racing) by 3.4 seconds, while the American rose to the top of the standings with Rosa Zierl (Cube Factory Racing) absent this weekend.The action is far from over in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland, as after a dramatic set of XCC races on Friday, those stars return for the Cross-country Olympic showdowns on Sunday.The UCI Enduro World Cup also returns this weekend, taking place in Austria’s largest bike region, Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. You can find the full schedule and where to watch here.

Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team) and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) timed their winning moves perfectly to win the Men’s and Women’s Elite categories in the UCI Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) World Cup at Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland.The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series provided a dramatic round of racing at the Epic Bike Park in Austria. The iconic venue is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, but provided a fresh challenge for the XCC competitors. A new uphill rock-garden and steep climb proved pivotal in each race. Meanwhile, wet and slippery conditions throughout the day resulted in a pulsating set of races.Andreassen kept himself out of the drama in a chaotic Elite Men’s race before charging clear to win his first UCI XCC World Cup. Meanwhile, Frei won her third race of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series this season with a similar last lap move. For Andreassen the win was made more special, as his wife Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) was also on the podium after finishing second in the Women’s Elite race.Earlier in the day Monique Halter (Thömus Akros – Youngstars) marked her return from injury to win the Women’s Under-23 UCI XCC World Cup and Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) was the Men’s age category victor.ANDREASSEN WINS DRAMATIC MEN’S ELITE SHOWDOWNSimon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team) led a last lap charge to clinch victory by six seconds following an action-packed Men’s Elite UCI XCC World Cup. The 28-year-old has been without a UCI World Cup victory in over two years but his powerful attack on last lap was enough to clinch an emotional win.Drama started seconds into the race, as overall leader Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC) saw his race ended due to a snapped chain. Separately Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) missed his pedal away from the line and was forced to power back through to the leading pack. The slippery course resulted in Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing) crashing, ending his hopes of a top 10 finish.Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) was not content with a large leading group gathering and pulled out a slender advantage with Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). However, Martin also crashed on a descent before getting up and charging back through as the leaders re-grouped.Taking the last lap bell, 10 riders still had a chance of clinching victory with minutes remaining. Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) split the pack with a surge up the first climb and took Andreassen clear. However, approaching the rock garden Avondetto’s chain came off, ending his chances of victory. Andreassen took full advantage and pulled out an unassailable six-second victory.The drama was not over as Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) crashed on the final corner to concede second place to Colombo. Meanwhile, Martin recovered from his mid-race crash to finish on the podium in third. A 10th place finish for Azzaro was enough to secure the Frenchman’s top spot of the overall standings after three rounds.“I’m really happy,” said Andreassen. “It’s quite a cruel sport. I had a tough start to the World Cup season and then suddenly I’m winning. It’s super difficult to suffer week in and week out. When you finally win it’s all worth it.“I didn’t really have a plan, just tried to survive. With two or three laps to go I moved to the front. I was struggling to see, my glasses were so full of mud, and I just wanted to have clear vision. Nobody came past me after that; it was a good tactic.”FREI POWERS TO VICTORY WITH LAST LAP ATTACKSina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) powered through the final rock garden and climb to clinch a slender victory in the Women’s Elite UCI XCC World Cup. The 28-year-old was part of a leading trio who broke away during the grueling race, before battling out the victory.Noticeably absent from the third round was former UCI XCC World Champion Evie Richards (Trek - Unbroken XC), who is recovering from concussion suffered in Nové Město Na Moravě.The wet conditions had an early impact as Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) slipped on the first turn and a dab of her foot resulted in losing a host position. The new man-made rock garden, followed by two steep climbs resulted in the leading group naturally breaking up.European Champion Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) was joined at the front by Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), Sina Frei and Jennifer Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory Team). With three laps to go, UCI XCC World Champion Keller began to ramp up the pressure, forcing Jackson to drop off the pace.Rissveds was determined to ride away and launched a series of blistering attacks during the final two laps. However, Frei matched her efforts, carrying speed through the rock garden and then powered up the last lap climb. The Swiss rider mastered the descent down to the finish to clinch victory with the fastest lap of the race.Frei extended her overall lead in the UCI XCC World Cup and will look for her second double of the season in the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup on Sunday.“From lap to lap it got hard and harder, because I couldn’t see any more,” said Frei. “In the end it was trying to hit the perfect line. In the last lap I knew I had to go all in. When I crossed the finish, I didn’t know that I had won, I was so exhausted and just tried to go full gas until the line.”HALTER AND SCHEHL SHOW COMMANDING FORM IN UNDER-23 CATEGORIESMonique Halter (Thömus Akros – Youngstars) returned from injury with a show of technical riding in the Women’s Under-23 race. The Swiss rider showed her skills on the slippery descent to clinch her maiden UCI XCC World Cup victory.After winning the opening round in MONA YongPyong (South Korea), Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) looked comfortable in the leading group. However, the muddy conditions left visibility difficult for the Italian, resulting in a slip and a 10th placed finish. Meanwhile, overall leader Makena Kellerman paid for early efforts, recovering from a poor start, and dropped back in the latter stages to place 14th.At the front, Halter took control to finish eight seconds clear of Bloeme Kalis in second, while Katrin Embacher (KTM Factory MTB Team) finished third. Kellerman was rewarded with her efforts by maintaining her lead in the overall standings.“I feel super happy,” said Halter following her win. “I have had some difficult months because I had a foot injury, so I’m really pleased with how well my recovery has gone and to be performing at this level now. I really liked the technical downhill in the wet conditions and that was one place where I could make a gap to the others and move in front.”Paul Schehl made his decisive move on the final lap, breaking clear after controlling the front of the Men’s Under-23 UCI XCC World Cup race. The Lexware Mountainbike Team rider, buoyed by his recent win at the UCI XCC World Cup in Nové Město Na Moravě, rode with confidence throughout, patrolling the lead group before launching his late attack to secure victory by six seconds. Meanwhile, Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon XC Racing) edged out Benjamin Krüger in the sprint for second. After three rounds, Schehl leads the overall standings ahead of François Baudry.“It feels really great,” said Schehl. “I was always in control, I felt really good on the course and the physical nature played into my hands. It wasn’t too technical and I could ride a high pace all the time and controlled the front. I wasn’t wasting too much energy and felt really good.”The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues at Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland on Saturday with the UCI Downhill World Cup finals, following a dramatic qualifying session in challenging wet conditions, where Dylan Maples (Pivot Factory Racing) and Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) claimed top spot to earn last-start advantage. The UCI Enduro World Cup and UCI Cross-Country Olympic World Cup follow on Sunday. Discover the full schedule and where to watch here.

Dylan Maples (Pivot Factory Racing) and Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) mastered slippery terrain to win the qualifying session and will start last for tomorrow’s UCI Downhill World Cup finals, as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series descended into Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland.The wet course at the Epic Bike Park resulted in a number of top names failing to qualify, including the previous round’s Men’s Elite winner Luca Shaw (Canyon DH Racing). The Austrian venue is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and the conditions provided downhill riders with a qualification session which will last long in the memory.Considered a classic course for the discipline the steep slopes usually encourage fast speeds in the top section before descending down into the tight and technical trees, where line choice is key to coming out on top. The 2.6-kilometres long ‘Speedster’ trail contains 468 metres of descent. However, wet and slippery conditions throughout the course meant that bike handling and line choice was key to qualifying success.American rider Dylan Maples is bidding to improve on his fourth position from Val di Sole – Trentino (Italy) last year and topped the Men’s Elite first qualifying standings by over a second with 3:21.2. However, it was Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) who posted the quickest time of the day, holding his nerve in the second qualifying session to stop the clock in 3:17.7Meanwhile, Marine Cabirou will bid for her 10th UCI Downhill World Cup victory in tomorrow’s finals after enjoying the difficult conditions and finishing nine tenths quicker than Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/TRP) in the first qualifying session.The Junior categories also provided drama as Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) and Lina Frener (Norco X Adidas Race Division) went quickest.MAPLES THRIVES IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS AS RIVALS FAULTERTesting conditions greeted the Men’s Elite riders for the first qualifying session with low visibility out of the starting hut before taking on a wet and muddy course.Dylan Maples built speed throughout his run and conquered the technical section to set the quickest time in the first qualifying session.Ethan Craik (SCOTT Downhill Factory) is another rider looking for his first Men’s Elite World Cup win. The Briton showed his fearless descending ability to set the quickest times in each sector, only to lose 1.6 seconds in the final run to the line - finishing second in Q1. Meanwhile, Henri Kiefer (Canyon DH Racing) completed a surprise top three as the German rider was rewarded for his consistent run with a third-place finish, just 3.5 seconds behind.Austrian competitor Andreas Kolb (Santa Cruz Syndicate) was the fastest of the pre-race favourites in fourth and he will be looking for a home victory in the Saturday finals.Amongst the other riders who comfortably went through Q1 were Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity), Benoît Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory), Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP), Troy Brosnan (Canyon DH Racing) and Loris Vergier (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction).Defending overall champion Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) failed to record a qualifying time in the previous round at Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. The Canadian struggled to find speed in the difficult conditions and squeezed through in Q1 after finishing over six seconds behind the leader in 18th.After missing out in Q1, Canadian rider Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) put a flawless Q2 run together under pressure and posted the fastest time of 3:17.7.Ryan Pinkerton (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) progressed second in Q2 ahead of the COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction trio of Max Alran, Till Alran and Amaury Pierron. Despite clocking the fastest speed on the top section mistakes resulted in Luca Shaw finishing 18th and missing out on tomorrow’s finals.CABIROU SHOWS COMPOSURE TO TOP WOMEN ELITE QUALIFYING STANDINGSMarine Cabirou showed all her experience, as the nine-time UCI Downhill World Cup winner held everything together during a commanding qualifying performance. The 29-year-old overcame the slippery conditions and will look to repeat her success from Mont-Sainte-Anne last year in tomorrow’s finals.The earlier fog lifted on the top section for the Women’s Elite’s first qualification, but the lower technical slopes remained wet and challenging. Cabirou was an early starter and her time of 4:00.5 which was left unbeaten for all the finishers to come.Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/TRP) carried her speed through the technical sections and gained in momentum to place second just nine tenths of a second behind.After dominating the opening two UCI Downhill World Cup rounds Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) is looking for a home victory this weekend. The reigning UCI World Champion was in contention with the leading times throughout her run to finish comfortably in third just two seconds back.Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) and Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) were amongst those who also booked their finals spot through Q1. However, Phoebe Gale (Orbea FMD Racing), Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Gracey Hemstreet (Norco X adidas Race Division) all had difficulties in their runs, resulting in a Q2 ride.The returning Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing) and Sacha Earnest (Trek -Unbroken DH) also had trouble in the conditions and failed to finish their Q1 runs.Hemstreet responded from her Q1 disappointment and mastered the tough conditions to post the best time in Q2 of 4:05.17.Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory Racing) was less than two seconds behind in runner-up and Seagrave placed third, while Hoffmann also booked her finals spot. However, the course conditions continued to cause problems with Gale and Earnest failing to progress.FRENER AND WILLIAMSON TOP JUNIOR STANDINGSLina Frener (Norco X Adidas Race Division) continued her pursuit of a first Women’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup by qualifying quickest on the tough ‘Speedster’ trail. The Austrian rider held her composure to post a time of 4:04.2 and will start last in her category in search of a maiden win in front of her home supporters tomorrow.Opening round winner Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) will be in contention again after leading qualification at the third sector split. However, mistakes further down the course cost the American and she settled for fifth in qualification.Rosa Marie Jensen (Specialized Gravity) finished second in qualification six seconds behind Frener and overall leader Rosa Zierl (Cube Factory Racing) was third.Meanwhile, Jonty Williamson (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) was superior again in the Men’s Junior category as the overall leader led at every sector to set an unassailable time of 3:29.1. Behind, German youngster Lois Eller led the battle behind losing just two seconds to the fastest time. He will be hoping to repeat his form in tomorrow’s finals and clinch a first UCI Downhill World Cup podium of his career.The podium battle is set to be a close one as third placed Noé Forlin was just two hundredths of a second ahead of British rider Felix Griffiths.The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues at Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland on Saturday with the UCI Downhill World Cup finals. The UCI Enduro World Cup and UCI Cross-Country Olympic World Cup follow on Sunday.

SCOTT Sports, Official Cross-country Bike Partner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, has unveiled the latest evolution of one of the sport’s most iconic platforms with the introduction of the all-new Spark RC, a bike designed to meet the ever-increasing demands of modern UCI Mountain Bike World Cup racing.With a legacy defined by UCI World Championship titles, UCI World Cup victories and Olympic medals, the Spark name carries significant weight in the sport. Now, SCOTT is turning that heritage into future performance, launching what it describes as “its most complete Cross-country race bike to date”.Engineered for riders pushing the limits on tracks around the globe, the new Spark RC has been developed with a clear ambition: to transform effort into speed and precision into results. Built around the realities of today’s increasingly technical and demanding WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series courses, the platform focuses on maximising efficiency, control and integration.DESIGNED FOR MODERN UCI WORLD CUP RACINGAt the core of the new Spark RC are three key principles: Light Weight, Ride Dynamics and Seamless Performance. Together, these define a bike that is not only lighter, but more effective in converting rider input into forward momentum.Rather than chasing weight figures alone, SCOTT has focused on achieving optimal weight distribution to deliver real performance gains on course. By lowering and centralising mass within the frame, the bike improves stability, cornering precision and overall control, key factors on today’s high-speed, technical circuits.The frame itself underlines this philosophy, with the top-tier HMX-SL version weighing just 1,427 grams (size medium, painted with hardware), highlighting the balance between lightweight construction and race-ready durability.GRIP, CONTROL AND CONFIDENCERide dynamics play a central role in the new platform, with the frame engineered as a fully integrated system to maximise traction, reduce vibration and enhance control. By carefully tuning stiffness and flex throughout the frame, SCOTT aims to eliminate instability at speed and ensure consistent contact with the ground.The result is a bike designed to maintain momentum through corners, technical sections and variable terrain, a key performance factor in modern cross-country racing, where efficiency and control are closely linked.As SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team rider Filippo Colombo explains, “the bike almost floats over rocks and roots, allowing me to maintain speed while using less energy, energy I can use later in the race.”A FULLY INTEGRATED RACE PLATFORMBeyond frame design, the new Spark RC also focuses on seamless performance and integration, ensuring riders can optimise their setup quickly and effectively on race day.Key features include improved access to the rear shock for simplified maintenance and setup, full compatibility with standard XC suspension systems, and updated integration across components developed in collaboration with Syncros. New wheels and cockpit solutions further reinforce the bike’s race-ready performance package.Designed with modern XC racing in mind, the platform also supports longer-travel dropper posts, reflecting the increasingly technical nature of today’s courses and the need for greater control on descentsREADY FOR COMPETITIONThe new Spark RC will make its competitive debut during the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Leogang, where the SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team will take to the start line with the new platform.With courses continuing to evolve and the level of competition reaching new heights, innovation remains critical. The launch of the all-new Spark RC highlights how leading brands continue to push equipment development to support riders at the highest level of the sport.The full 2027 SCOTT Spark RC range features eight models, all built around the same core technology, and will be available from summer 2026.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports is pleased to announce the introduction of a new Team Trophy, named The Summit, which will be awarded to the best WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team of the season in cross-country, downhill and enduro.For the first time in UCI Mountain Bike World Cup history, teams will be formally recognised with a dedicated trophy, underlining their role as the driving force behind performance, progression and results. The Summit looks to reward excellence demonstrated across an entire season, earned by teams operating as one through collaboration, innovation and consistently high-level execution.The team standings for each format are established at every round of the UCI World Cup, with riders registered to a WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team or UCI Mountain Bike Team contributing points based on their performance.Across downhill, enduro and cross-country, rankings are calculated by combining the points of a team’s four highest-scoring riders across both Men’s and Women’s fields, and across Elite and Under 23/Junior categories. For cross-country, standings are based on the combined results from the cross-country Short Track (XCC) and cross-country Olympic (XCO) races.Throughout the season, points from each round are accumulated to determine the overall team classification, with The Summit awarded to the team that finishes with the highest total points in each respective format.In 2025, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and WBD Sports introduced significant updates to the UCI Regulations - reshaping the sport’s landscape, raising professional standards across the series, and connecting elite teams with broader global audiences. As part of this evolution, The Summit sits at the heart of WBD Sports’ wider strategy to elevate the sport’s leading teams, delivering consistent, high-quality visibility. Its introduction places greater emphasis on the collective nature of performance, while unlocking new opportunities to raise coverage and engagement for teams and their respective brands beyond individual athlete results.The Summit has been officially unveiled today, Thursday 11th June, at the season’s first quadruple-header in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria). Crafted from sustainable oak, bio-based PLA, recycled aluminium and acrylic, stainless steel and recycled carbon fibre from the cycling industry, the trophy reflects the same philosophy that drives the best teams forward: progress without waste, performance with purpose, and a constant push to elevate to the highest point. Its defining feature, the carbon globe at the top, carries the same prestige as the Overall UCI World Cup trophy (The Globe), bringing teams and riders together under a shared symbol of ambition and global competition.The trophy for the winning enduro team will be presented at the last UCI Enduro World Cup round in Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France) whilst trophies for the winning cross-country and downhill teams will be awarded in Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA), at their final 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series event.The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues this weekend with enduro, downhill and cross-country action in Saalfelden Leogang – Salburgerland (Austria), followed by five back-to-back rounds across Europe.

After the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series burst into action last month, riders head into the first quadruple header of the season with scores left to settle from the opening rounds.With two rounds down of the downhill (DHI), cross-country short track (XCC) and cross-country Olympic (XCO) formats the early standings are already beginning to take shape as riders arrive in Austria. Meanwhile, enduro riders have had two weeks to tweak their form following the opening round in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France).Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland is a favourite on the international calendar, having hosted 14 UCI Mountain Bike World Cups, alongside the 2012 and 2020 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, and is set to return as a UCI World Championships venue in 2028. This year’s event marks a major milestone, with the Epic Bikepark celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026.A FAMILIAR TEST WITH A NEW TWISTBased in the heart of the Austrian Alps near the German border, the Epic Bikepark forms part of Austria’s largest bike region, Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, and stands as one of Europe’s most renowned mountain biking destinations. Offering trails for all levels, from first timers to elite riders, the venue has evolved from a handful of tracks into an extensive network of 120 km of lines and trails, continuously developed and refined over the years.For the 2026 season, new courses and stages have been designed specifically for the XCO and enduro competitions, further strengthening the region’s status as a world-class destination for elite mountain bike racing.The cross-country Olympic course features several new rock gardens near the start/finish, along with a newly introduced natural descent, while the XCC course has also undergone a revamp.The ‘Speedster’ trail will once again host UCI Downhill World Cup riders, with a 2.6 km course featuring 468 m of descent. Considered a classic for the discipline, the steep slopes encourage high speeds and motorway jumps, alongside tight, technical tree sections where line choice is key.The UCI Enduro World Cup will see athletes take on six stages across an expanded 71 km course, featuring 2,000m of descent during the race stages. The grueling test includes a brand-new 820 m ‘Back to the Roots’ stage, providing a fresh challenge for riders.For the first time, Leogang will welcome Enduro Open, giving riders from around the world the chance to compete at this iconic venue, tackling the exact same course as the UCI Enduro World Cup elite just hours earlier.WILDCARD ENTRIESThe wildcard teams who will take on the downhill course are Crestline Speed Shop, Outlaw Intense Racing, Pivot Factory Racing, Team High Country, The Alliance and Stoic Racing.Among the standout results for wildcard teams at the previous UCI Downhill World Cup, Dylan Maples (Pivot Factory Racing) secured 13th in the Men’s Elite, Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) impressed with 5th in the Women’s Junior category, and Sterling Stevens-McNab (The Alliance) claimed 9th in the Men’s Junior race.Meanwhile, the cross-country wildcard teams are CABTECH RACING TEAM, KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, MASSI, SCOTT Creuse Oxygene Gueret, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros -Youngstars and UNNO Factory Racing.Standout performances from the previous round in Nové Město Na Moravě saw Maximilian Foidl (KTM Factory Team), finish 8th in the Men’s Elite XCO, Sara Cortinovis (UNNO Factory Racing) take 10th in the Women’s Elite XCC and Monique Halter (Thömus Akros Youngstars), place 9th in the Women Under 23 XCO.UCI DOWNHILL WORLD CUP: HÖLL LEADS CHARGE AS GOLDSTONE TARGETS REDEMPTIONReigning Women Elite UCI Downhill World Champion Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) has been flawless across the opening two rounds of the season. Despite already claiming 13 UCI World Cup victories, the Austrian has yet to win three consecutive rounds, a milestone now within reach. Should she succeed, Höll would become just the fourth woman to win the opening three Elite UCI World Cup rounds, with each of the previous riders going on to secure the overall title.Her path, however, will not be without challenges. Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing) is set to return from the elbow injury she sustained in the opening round, with the Briton chasing her 50th podium from 86 starts. Gracey Hemstreet (Norco X adidas Race Division) could also prove a major contender, having won at this venue last year and finished runner-up to Höll in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. Meanwhile, Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) and Valentina Roa Sánchez (MS-Racing) have both shown consistency across the opening rounds.For the first time in the sport’s history, the Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup riders will conclude the race schedule as the final competitors on Saturday’s Finals day.In the men’s field, defending overall Elite UCI Downhill World Cup winner Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) arrives with a point to prove on the ‘Speedster’ track. A difficult start to the season, including a 26th-place finish at MONA YongPyong (South Korea) and a failure to post a qualifying time in Loudenvielle, leaves the Canadian more than 200 points off the overall lead.His task is made slightly easier by the absence of key rival Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity), who is set for a spell on the sidelines following wrist surgery after a crash in practice at the last round. In contrast, Luca Shaw (Canyon DH Racing) leads the standings after securing a long-awaited first Elite UCI World Cup victory in Loudenvielle. The American has chosen number 10 as his career number following the memorable victory. Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP), fresh from his maiden Elite UCI World Cup win at MONA YongPyong, will also be targeting more success, while Benoît Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory) and Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) have both made strong starts to the 2026 season.SWISS PAIR LEAD EARLY CROSS-COUNTRY STANDINGSAfter two rounds of cross-country action, Switzerland’s Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) and Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC) lead the Elite UCI XCO standings heading into Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland. Both riders excelled in the wet and muddy conditions at MONA YongPyong and will be hoping for similar terrain should rain arrive this weekend.Lillo backed up his victory with a seventh-place finish in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia) and has also collected two XCC podiums this season. Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a broken collarbone sustained at the series opener. Meanwhile, defending Leogang winner Ondřej Cink (Cube Factory Racing) returns to the venue where he triumphed in XCO last year, although he could only manage 20th in the previous round at Nové Město Na Moravě.In the women’s Elite competition, Frei has been a model of consistency, winning the opening round and following it with another podium finish. However, Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) has dominated at the Epic Bikepark in recent seasons, claiming back-to-back XCO wins and completing the XCO-XCC double last year. On her return to mountain biking two weeks ago, she immediately made an impact with victory in the XCC race.Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) continues her search for a first win of the season after finishing runner-up in XCO and outside the podium in XCC at both rounds so far, with the reigning UCI World Champion well suited to the demands of Leogang’s gruelling course. Isabella Holmgren (Trek – Unbroken XC) is another name to watch as she steps up to the Women’s Elite ranks - the multi-discipline U23 UCI World Champion arrives off the back of a fourth-place overall finish at the Giro d’Italia Women. Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) will carry the hopes of the Austrian crowd, while Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) has also enjoyed a strong start to the season.A notable absence will be that of 2025 Women Elite UCI XCC World Cup overall winner Evie Richards (Trek – Unbroken XC), who will not line up in Leogang after suffering a concussion in a crash at Nové Město na Moravě.RUDEAU AND CONOLLY LEAD AFTER OPENING ROUNDElla Connolly continued her impressive form in the Women Elite UCI Enduro World Cup, winning the opening round in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. The Briton, who claimed three victories and three additional podiums last season, laid down a strong marker with a five-second winning margin and arrives as the rider to beat.She is unlikely to have it all her own way, however. Raphaela Richter showed strong pace on her return from shoulder surgery, claiming victory on the final stage of the opening round, while Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) finished second and will be hoping to go one better in Austria. Talented Slovakian rider Simona Kuchyňková (Cube Action Team), who enjoyed a breakthrough season last year with a win in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta and three further podiums, will be hoping for better luck this weekend after suffering a mechanical issue off the start ramp two weeks ago.In the Elite Men’s competition, the season opened with a dramatic showdown, with just seven-tenths of a second separating the top two riders. Alex Rudeau edged out Raphaël Giambi (Speed Project) for victory, giving him an early psychological advantage heading into round two. Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) demonstrated clear speed despite inconsistency, ultimately finishing third.Last year’s overall winner Slawomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) endured a frustrating start to his title defence after crashing on the opening stage, ruling him out of contention. He will be looking for a clean run and a return to form this weekend.Racing gets underway in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland on Friday 12 June with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and events details are available here. Find out where to watch here.

Set in Austria’s largest bike region, Saalfelden Leogang is one of just two venues on the 2026 calendar that will host cross-country, downhill and enduro riders across one weekend, as the Epic Bikepark celebrates its 25th anniversary.Saturday will also see a historic first for the sport, with the Elite Women UCI Downhill World Cup Final scheduled to finish last for the first time.We take a closer look at everything you need to know ahead of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stop in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland, from race schedules across cross-country, enduro and downhill, to key riders to watch and how to follow the action.WHEN?The race program in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland starts with the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup on Friday 12 June at 10:35 (UTC+2) and concludes with the Elite Men UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup at 13:50 (UTC+2) on Sunday, June 14.Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EDT+6/BST+1/CEST):Friday, June 1210:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U2311:25 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U2312:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite13:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite14:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior14:40 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior15:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men Elite15:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite17:30 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite18:20 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men EliteSaturday, June 1311:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior11:45 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite14:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women EliteSunday, June 1408:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Women U2310:00 – UCI Enduro World Cup10:10 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Men U2311:55 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Women Elite13:50 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Men EliteWHERE CAN I WATCH? There will be several ways to watch the endurance and gravity action unfold from the iconic WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series venue.For the UCI Enduro World Cup, there will be a course preview featuring the route and its key sections, practice day and race day highlights on the official YouTube channel, key race moments on social media and live timings on the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website.For the UCI Downhill World Cup* and the Elite UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup and UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, races are available to watch live worldwide.Europe:Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / EurosportAustria – HBO Max, Eurosport, K19Belgium - HBO Max, Eurosport, RTL PLay (Only Elite XCO and Downhill races live)Czechia - HBO Max, Eurosport, CT SportIreland – TNT SportsSwitzerland, Liechtenstein - HBO Max, Eurosport, SRG/RSI (Only Elite XCC & XCO races live)United Kingdom – HBO Max, TNT SportsAsia:Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand - Eurosport World Oceania:Australia – Stan SportNew Zealand - MTBWS TVSamoa - Eurosport WorldNorth America:Canada – FloSportsUSA – HBO Max / MTBWS TVMTBWS TV has now launched in the US, so fans will be able to watch the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series live on the streaming service. Racing will also still be available to watch on HBO Max.South & Central America: MTBWS TVAfrica: MTBWS TVAll other territories: MTBWS TV*The UCI Downhill World Cup Qualification Day can be followed on live timing and across social media. 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 WATCHThe Epic Bikepark is a familiar venue for experienced Endurance and Gravity competitors. Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland has been a mainstay on the UCI Downhill World Cup circuit since 2010 and featured on the UCI Cross-country World Cup calendar between 2021 and 2025. The venue also made its Enduro debut in the series three years ago, quickly becoming a favourite among fans and riders.In downhill, Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) will be bidding to make it a career-best hat-trick of wins in front of her home crowd. Höll won at the venue in 2024 and has been imperious during the opening two rounds of this campaign. However, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco X adidas Race Division) will look to rain on her parade, having won at the venue last year and finishing runner-up to Höll in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France).Defending Elite Men overall champion Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) won at the Austrian course 12 months ago, however the Canadian could only manage 26th at the opening UCI Downhill World Cup round in MONA YongPyong (South Korea) and then was disqualified from both qualifying runs for missing the tape two weeks ago. Meanwhile, former winner at the Austrian venue and five-time UCI World Champion, Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity), will miss the event after sustaining a wrist injury during practice at Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, and may see him sidelined for the next three months. Attention therefore turns to Luca Shaw (Canyon DH Racing), who will aim to build on the momentum of his maiden UCI World Cup victory, while Andreas Kolb (Santa Cruz Syndicate) will be targeting a return to winning ways at a venue where he has previously enjoyed success.On the endurance side of things, the competition could provide some of the closest racing of the weekend, with the absence of several star riders. Last season’s Men Elite UCI XCC and XCO World Cup overall winner Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) remains sidelined, as he continues to recover from a broken collarbone sustained at the opening round, while 2025 Women Elite UCI XCC World Cup overall winner Evie Richards (Trek – Unbroken XC) is also absent after suffering a concussion in a crash in Nové Město Na Moravě.In their absence, Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC) will look to capitalise, leading the XCO overall standings and sitting second in XCC after a string of strong results, including victory in MONA YongPyong. However, Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) impressed in Nové Město Na Moravě, where he was only beaten by Tom Pidcock, who will also not compete this weekend.After making her mountain bike return two weeks ago, Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech) will be looking to repeat her success in Leogang last season which saw her do the XCC-XCO double. Meanwhile, Specialized Factory Racing duo Laura Stigger and Sina Frei will look to maintain their strong form, with the former targeting a repeat of her XCO victory from two weeks ago and delight the home fans. UCI World Champion Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) will also be looking to open her winning accounts for 2026.Ella Connolly remains the name to beat in the enduro field after the defending overall champion opened her account with an impressive win at the opening UCI Enduro World Cup in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. Second and third placed riders Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) and Raphaela Richter will have to find something special to stop Connolly adding another win to her collection.The men’s UCI Enduro World Cup is wide open after Alex Rudeau won the opening round by just seven tenths of a second. Frenchman Raphaël Giambi (Speed Project) will be hoping to overturn the small deficit over the six-stage event. Former UCI Pump Track World Champion Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) was also on form in the opening round and could challenge again. Meanwhile, last year’s overall winner Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) will be hoping for a clean event after a crash last weekend cost him a bid at the podium.Racing gets underway on Friday, June 12 in Saalfelden Leogang - SalzburgerLand. Full schedule and event details are available HERE.

After a thrilling opening round in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France), the 2026 UCI Enduro World Cup heads to Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland (Austria).Set in Austria’s largest bike region, Saalfelden Leogang is one of just two venues on the 2026 calendar that will host all four WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series formats across one weekend, as the Epic Bikepark celebrates its 25th anniversary.For the first time ever, Leogang will welcome Enduro Open entries, giving riders from around the world the chance to compete at this iconic venue, tackling the exact same course as the UCI Enduro World Cup’s elite.Last season, the venue delivered one of the toughest challenges on the UCI Enduro World Cup circuit, with heavy rain setting the stage for two fiercely contested races, ultimately won by Jesse Melamed and Ella Conolly. Only time will tell what the conditions will look like this year, adding an extra layer of anticipation.This year, riders will tackle a 73.37 km course featuring 5,289m of descending across six stages, with the route including one brand-new stage for riders to sink their teeth into.STAGESStage 1: Bergstadl TrailLength: 2.42 kmElevation: +39m / -527mStage 2: X LineLength: 3.67 kmElevation: +50m / -743mStage 3: Matzalm TrailLength: 1.78 kmElevation: +44m / -343mStage 4: HangmanLength: 1.87 kmElevation: +22m / -367mStage 5: Back to the RootsLength: 0.82 kmElevation: +5m / -213mStage 6: Lower SpeedstarLength: 0.65 kmElevation: +2m / -180mEnduro Elite, Junior and Open riders will take to the trails for training on Friday, with the chance to watch the UCI Downhill World Cup Finals on Saturday, before racing commences on Sunday in both the Enduro Open and the UCI Enduro World Cup.

The Gravity riders were back in action this weekend, as the UCI Downhill World Cup returned a month on from the series opener in MONA YongPyong (South Korea) and the UCI Enduro World Cup kicked off its 2026 season.The French Pyrenees provided the backdrop for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, presented by FACOM, and riders were treated to fast and flowing trails that had benefitted from plenty of dry weather in the build-up.There was a second win of the 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup for Vali Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) and first of his Elite career for Luca Shaw (Canyon DH Racing), while in the first UCI Enduro World Cup of 2026, Ella Conolly and Alex Rudeau got their seasons off to the strongest possible starts.But the winning riders weren’t the only stories from the weekend’s action. From a disappointing final run in front of a passionate home crowd to signs of progress after a 2025 to forget, here are some of the highlights from this week’s THE B LINE.BAUMANN BREAKS ONTO PODIUMLisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) might be the double UCI Snow Bike World Champion, but the Swiss star has proven she is just as good in the dry, recording her first Elite Women’s podium this weekend.“It’s crazy. I felt really good on this track. [Qualifying] was harder for me. I felt really good during training, and I know I can be good on this track,” she said. “I’m so happy I got this podium. It’s really cool. All the work that the team is doing is crazy.”PIERRON IN THE PITSAfter a miraculous, mid-race recovery to finish on the podium in South Korea, Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC OFF by Riding Addiction) wasn’t able to repeat the feat in the French Pyrenees – the home favourite and second-fastest qualifier coming down hard in his finals run and settling for 20th.“I’m pretty happy with my riding, but I got smoked,” he said. “I knew that section was tricky. I don’t understand – I need to watch the GoPro footage. When you can’t deliver what you want it’s frustrating. The weekend was going well until that point.”ILES LIVING THE DREAMOne rider looking close to their best in 2026 is Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity). The Canadian had a rocky 2025 by his high standards, but his fourth-place in the Elite Men’s finals was his best result in almost two years.“Last year was such a tough journey but something I had to come through. The sport has changed with no protections and how the qualifying works, and just the overall level. There’s no middle ground anymore – you’re either fast or you’re not making it through Q1,” he said.“I felt like I had a win in me. After the tough sections of races I’ve had, it felt really good. It’s confidence building heading to Leogang.”Outside of racing, Iles also says that he benefits from the support of his partner, fellow rider Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing). “Life is great. I’m living the dream. I get to race my bike with my girlfriend. She’s incredibly supportive. I think we both have a lot of determination and grit.”HARDEN HAPPY TO PUT TOGETHER A SOLID WEEKENDHarriet Harnden (AON Racing) continued her strong start to the year, adding sixth place in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes to her fourth-place finish in MONA YongPyong. The British multi-discipline rider was grateful to get through a whole weekend of racing, having failed to qualify for the Elite Women’s finals at the French venue in 2025.“It’s been a great week after a bit of a slow start,” she said. “I wasn’t sure I was going to qualify but I got there eventually. I felt like I was breaking too much but when I saw the time, I went really quick. Vali [Höll] was something else but the rest of us were really close. After going so well in Korea, I wanted to back it up.”HÖLL ON A ROLLAfter only winning one UCI Downhill World Cup in 2025, Vali Höll has doubled her tally already in 2026 to retain a 100% record. While the Austrian makes it look easy – winning by more than three seconds – doubts still creep in.“I was quite scared in the start hut because I knew how fast we had to go on this race track. I checked the time of the Juniors and they all improved a little bit, so I thought I need to improve.“I’m definitely not lacking motivation. It helps a lot with the environment I’m in and the people around me. We are all here to chase one goal and that’s riding the bikes fast. I’m only 24, it’s hard for me to stop now and think of something else because I don’t know what else I’d do to be honest, so I just stick around and ride my bike as fast as I can until the juniors come up who have a bit more competition. We are on a roll right now.”SHAW CELEBRATES DEBUT WINWhile Höll recorded her 14th UCI Downhill World Cup win, Luca Shaw was picking up his first – the American rider finally standing on the top step of the podium after 79 starts, which included three second-place near-misses.“It’s so special to have this kind of support,” he said. “I felt like people were waiting on me to do this for years. I couldn’t do it without everyone of these guys in here and it feels so good that we can celebrate together.“[I feel] relief but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve been working my ass off for a long time and to finally do it in a fair race, in fair conditions, in France on a sick track. It was meant to happen today. This is amazing.“I love my team. They’re behind me. They’re like family to me. They support me through thick and thin. They’re here when it doesn’t go well. It means the world and I’m so happy to celebrate with them.”