Following back-to-back rounds of Gravity-fuelled action in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), this weekend sees the return of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ Cross-country contests after a six-week break as the Endurance competitions descend on Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ (Czechia). If April’s Brazilian double-header in Araxá, Minas Gerais was the season’s South American appetiser, then the third round is the start of the series’ European entrée. And it’s kicking off at an iconic spot – the Vysočina Arena course, an annual staple in the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup schedule every year since 2011, except in 2016 when it hosted the UCI Mountain Bike XCO World Championships. Two hours southwest of the Czech capital Prague in the region of Vysočina, Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ has built a reputation for fast, frantic racing, with huge support present around the course and in the start/finish straight’s grandstand arena. And this year is set to be no different. FAST AND FURIOUS COURSE Both the XCO and cross-country short track (XCC) races feature incredibly technical courses that take in the area’s picturesque forests and countryside before riders cross the start-finish line in front of the arena’s raucous grandstand. Punchy climbs are followed by fast, tricky descents and there’s little let-up for the riders. Nino Schurter’s (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) six XCO wins (including one at the UCI World Championship) make him the most successful men’s rider of all time in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ. While the G.O.A.T could extend his record this weekend, Tom Pidcock’s (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) run of four consecutive XCO wins will definitely come to an end – the Brit’s absence to ride the Giro d’Italia meaning there will be a different men’s XCO winner for the first time since 2020. ALL EYES ON VAN DER POEL AND PIETERSE Reigning XCO UCI World Champion Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) returns to mountain biking after a full Spring Classics season on the road where she didn’t finish outside the top 10, winning La Flèche Wallonne Féminine and podiuming at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes and Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition. Her team-mate Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is arguably the most eye-catching name on the start list though. The Dutchman hasn’t raced off-road since September 2023 and last lined up at a UCI World Cup at Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ in 2021. But with sights set on an illusive XCO title at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in 2025 and one eye on the Olympic Games in LA 2028, the multi-discipline star is adding flat bar racing to his racing program after four years predominately focused on the road. It’s not a foregone conclusion for Pieterse and Van der Poel. Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) is the woman to beat from the first two rounds, winning her first UCI XCO World Cup at the season opener in Araxá and following it up with second place six days later. Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) also looks back to her 2016 Olympic-winning best, while Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing), Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) are likely to be in contention in Czechia. The men’s competition meanwhile is the Specialized Factory Racing show – the American team’s riders occupying the top four spots in the XCO overall table. Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) is in the form of his life, almost completing a perfect double-header in Araxá with his second place in round one’s XCO race the only time he wasn’t on the top spot. Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) has carried his strong season-ending form through to 2025 and will push his team-mate every pedal stroke of the way. Others outside the Specialized stable worth keeping an eye on are record-holder and age-defier Schurter and Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) – the first-year Elite rider did the U23 XCO-XCC double in 2024. In the XCC, UCI World Champion Evie Richards has a 100% record this year and in previous Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ events – winning both UCI XCC World Cups at the venue in 2020. If she claims first this weekend, the Brit will equal Annika Langvad’s 2018 record of winning the opening three UCI XCC World Cup rounds. Again, expect Koller, Maxwell and Keller to be fighting the rainbow bands for the lead in the shortened format. In the men’s competition, Blevins and XCC UCI World Champion Koretzky went 1-2 at both races in Brazil, and the American could become the first rider to ever win the opening three rounds with victory in Czechia. But with 10 XCC wins to his name and red-hot form on the road and cyclo-cross bike this Spring, the most successful short-track rider of all time Van der Poel will fancy his chances. Racing gets underway in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ on Saturday with the U23 UCI XCC World Cup. Full schedule and events details are available here.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that 16 wildcard teams – eight cross-country and eight downhill – have been selected for round seven of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland (Austria) on June 5-8. While all eight teams that applied for a Downhill spot secured a wildcard, only eight Cross-country teams were selected from 18 applicants. Most of the teams qualified via the new wildcard system will be making their second or third appearance in the series for their respective formats, but there will be a first appearance for Future Frameworks Team in the UCI Downhill World Cup. The newly formed sister squad to WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team Frameworks Racing/5Dev, is focused on up-and-coming talent and made up of first-year Juniors Jack McCredie and Zanna Logar, and second-year Junior Benny De Vall. Elsewhere, in Cross-country, KTM Factory MTB Team and Lexware Mountainbike Team continue their 100% attendance record so far in the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, while Goodman Santacruz, Rogue Racing – SR Suntour, Team High Country and Kenda NS Bikes UR Team do the same in downhill. One rider who has qualified via the wildcard system worth keeping an eye on is Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing). The American legend has four UCI World Cup victories at the Austrian venue during his storied career, including an iconic finals run from 2015 where his bike’s chain snapped when coming out of the start hut and he still somehow went on to win. The 16 wildcard teams for round 7 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland are: UCI Cross-country World Cup: KTM Factory MTB Team BIXS Performance Race Team Lexware Mountainbike Team Massi Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret Trek Future Racing Cabtech Racing Team Trinity Racing UCI Downhill World Cup: Goodman Santacruz Gwin Racing Rogue Racing – SR Suntour Team High Country Kenda NS Bikes UR Team YT Racing Development The Alliance Future Frameworks In addition to hosting round 4 of the UCI Cross-country World Cup and round 3 of the UCI Downhill World Cup, Austria’s largest bike region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn will also stage round 4 of the UCI Enduro World Cup, one week after a trip to Loudenvielle-Peyragudes in France.
Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea / FMD Racing) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) defied appalling conditions in the Szczyrk Mountain Resort (Poland) to claim the opening round of the UCI Downhill World Cup in sensational style. Bruni triumphed by a nail-biting 0.156 seconds over Oisin O’Callaghan (YT MOB), redemption for the Frenchman who lost out by an even tighter margin last year in Bielsko-Biała to another Irishman, Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH), and won a race to recover from a collarbone injury just to compete in Poland. The 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner was the last rider down the starting ramp to round out a fraught day that featured plenty of spills to match the thrilling finish, and he produced an almost perfect run to depose O’Callaghan who looked set for victory. Seagrave put the women’s elite field on notice, announcing this is the first step in a tilt at the overall title after struggling with her own injury problems in recent years, as only Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / 5DEV) could get anywhere close to her. SEAGRAVE CONQUERS SNOW AND THE FIELD It was a sign of the challenging conditions facing riders in Poland that Veronika Widmann (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) was the first woman to make it down the course in one piece as the third starter. Lisa Bouladou (Goodman Santa Cruz) hit trouble just before the flat section, and Phoebe Gale (Orbea / FMD Racing) lost traction after slipping on a boardwalk bridge at the top. Utah-born Newkirk set the benchmark immediately after Widmann, powering (and at times scooting) into the lead a staggering 17 seconds quicker than the Italian. Only four other riders finished within ten seconds of Newkirk as a first UCI World Cup win looked more and more likely with Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Gloria Scarsi (MS Racing) all came and went in slower times - the latter rocking a belt-driven gearbox chasing the €100,000 prize for winning a round on that equipment. However, the dream died when Seagrave entered the snowstorm. Riding the route as if it were dry, the Brit was fastest through the opening three time checks and though she lost time on the tail end of her run and nearly went over her handlebars at one stage, it was still enough to set a scorching time of 3:34.340. Reigning UCI Downhill World Cup champion, Valentina Höll had no answer for YT MOB - lacking the aggression of Seagrave she finished in fifth at seven seconds down on the tenacious 29-year-old Brit. “Because of the conditions my brakes weren’t working very well so I think that helped,” Seagrave said. “You’ve just got to make the best of it, I kept pumping the brake to make it work. I had a little sketchy moment at the end because I forgot to do that, but glad I managed to put it together. “I don’t think it’s too early [to think about overall], I feel the healthiest I have been and I’m back from a series of horrible injuries. I’ve had a couple of years to get back into it and I’m ready to give it my all again.” BRUNI EDGES OUT O’CALLAGHAN BY NARROWEST OF MARGINS The fight between Bruni and O’Callaghan came right down to the wire with the Frenchman losing a second between the last two intermediate time checks, then clinging onto his tenth of a second advantage to avoid a second agonising defeat in as many years in Poland. Staying on the bike proved half the battle with a host of riders hitting the deck while they sat in the green on the timing screens, the slightly improved weather conditions for the men’s race cajoling more risks and the corresponding rise in incidents. Danny Hart (Norco Race Division) rolled back the years to set the first competitive time of the day but it was Amaury Pierron(Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) who was the story until the final stages. The sixth starter of the afternoon blew the rest of the field away with a time of 3:05.675 and would go on to finish third as the only other rider within a second of Bruni. For over an hour, it looked like it’d be even better. Plenty started stronger than Pierron but whether it was Benoit Coulanges’ dropped chain for Scott Downhill Factory or Ronan Dunne, Andreas Kolb (YT MOB), Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing - SR Suntour) and Luca Shaw (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) all losing control while ahead, no one could put together the complete run. Lachlan Stevens-McNab went the same way for Trek Factory Racing DH in arguably the most dramatic fashion of all as he was ejected from his bike midway through the course - the second year in a row he’s bit the dust while on track for the lead. Richie Rude (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) was perhaps the closest to besting Pierron before O’Callaghan’s run, carrying some outrageous speed through the tightest sections of the Polish course on his return to Downhill after winning back-to-back Enduro UCI World Cup titles. This season the American has switched his focus to the pure gravity discipline, like 2024 women’s overall UCI Enduro World Cup winner Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) who qualified third but bottomed out on her final run and finished half a minute adrift. Rude had no such trouble, igniting the competition with his hair-raising run that finished just seven tenths behind Pierron. The Frenchman was finally overthrown by ‘Double O’ though, O’Callaghan producing a magical run and celebrating joyfully as he crossed the line and saw he’d moved into first - a position he kept until the very last run of the day as Bruni proved inevitable. “Last season was a bit stinky with finishing so close to the win,” Bruni said. “I didn’t think I had it in me with the offseason a bit complicated and the weather being so far from my favourite conditions but I just kept on riding.’’ “To me it was not so perfect, it was really rough, and I was getting caught off guard with the braking. I just had to give everything.” With this podium Loïc Bruni equals his hero, Nicolas Vouilloz, with 44 career trips to the rostrum though he was quick to play down his own achievements compared to the French legend. O’Callaghan added on watching Bruni’s run: “It definitely gets the heart racing more than the run. Woah it was tight, I was on the edge of the seat but good start, can’t complain really.” ALRAN AND JENSEN SET THE PACE IN JUNIORS Max Alran (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding) showed he still reigns supreme in Men’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup, but was pushed all the way by a new crop of challengers led by Tyler Waite (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team). Last down the ramp, Alran skated home just eight tenths ahead of Waite while Oli Clarke (MS-Racing) made it a Kiwi double-podium while another compatriot took fourth place - Waite’s teammate Jonty Williamson. Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / 5DEV) had a disappointing first round of the year, trailing home tenth after the UCI World Championship qualified second, but he was still only seven seconds back in a compact field led by Alran. Alran said: “Really stoked, not the easiest run but made it to the bottom first so really happy. What a way to start the season! The bike worked good, vision was good, so yeah… really happy.” With defending UCI World Champion and UCI World Cup overall winner Erice van Leuven (Norco Race Division) still recovering from a crashthat returned multiple broken bones, the Women’s Junior category was up for grabs and it was Denmark’s Rosa Maria Jensen who laid down the first marker of the season. “I just won my first UCI World Cup! I’m starting to believe it now, it’s the best day of my life, I’m so so happy and to be here with the team and family is something I’ll never forget,” Jensen said. Jensen was the class of the field, beating Lina Frener and Eliana Hulsebosch by five seconds ahead of Van Leuven potentially returning next time out in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. The French Pyrenees will host another gravity double-header in a fortnight’s time, after three home riders took victory in 2024. However, before that, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads to an iconic stop in Nové Město Na Moravě. The Czech staple of the European leg will feature the return of the UCI Cross-country Olympic and Short Track World Cup competitions that got started in such dramatic fashion in Araxá, Brazil as Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing), Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Evie Richards (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) will look to defend or even extend their overall leads from May 23-25.
Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) and Elly Hoskin secured their first Elite wins in the second round of the UCI Enduro World Cup at the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland). Lukasik was dominant throughout the five stages of the Men's race, while it was a more dramatic affair in the Women’s race as Hoskin claimed victory after Raphaela Richter crashed out. LUKASIK DAZZLES ON HOME TURF Lukasik made an early statement of intent, being fastest on stage one. The Polish rider posted a time of 4:30.014 - and he never relinquished his advantage. The Yeti / Fox Factory Team rider finished over three seconds ahead of Gregory Callaghan on stage one. Plenty of eyes were on Daniel Booker who went into the second race of the season off the back of a win in the opening event at Pietra Ligure. He came from behind to secure victory in Italy, but there was never any sign of a repeat in Poland after he came home in fifth on the first stage of Cygan, 6.312 seconds behind Lukasik. In a show of strength, Lukasik was quickest on stage two. On the Dziabar trail, which had the largest vertical drop at 485m, he clocked a time of 6:27.456. Louis Jeandel (Lapierre Gravity Collective) was second on the stage, 1.519 behind Lukasik, and his run was enough to catapult him up from third to second after two stages. Booker lost further ground and dropped to 11th after two stages, over 22 seconds adrift of Lukasik, while Callaghan went from second to fourth - with Jack Moir (YT Mob) climbing to third. Lukasik, who was narrowly beaten into second in the opening race of the season, extended his advantage by securing first place on stage three, albeit by only 0.511 from Marco Osborne of the United States. Jeandel retained second place overall but saw his deficit increase to over 11 seconds, while Callaghan returned to the top three - 11.439 behind the leader. It was another disappointing stage for Booker, who came home in 13th on the Debowiec trail to drop over 30 seconds behind Lukasik in 11th. Stage four did not go to Lukasik as he was overshadowed by Moir, who took the top spot on the DH+ trail with a time of 3:23.138. Lukasik took 14th on the stage, 8.332 behind Moir, and it left him with an advantage of 4.846 over Callaghan going into the final leg. Any thoughts of Lukasik cracking on Stary Zielony were quickly snuffed out, as he produced a strong performance to take second on the stage, with Moir again topping the timing sheets. Lukasik’s overall time of 23:26.591 was enough for victory over Moir by 6.040, with Callaghan completing the podium in third. It was an afternoon to forget for last week’s winner, as Booker finished in 95th. Race winner Lukasik said: “It was crazy. I still can’t believe. It was a really stressful day, but finally I got the win. It was a great day, but a really stressful one. The home crowd was so crazy. I am so stoked.” HOSKINS SHINES AS RICHTER SUFFERS MISFORTUNE There was drama in the Women’s UCI Enduro World Cup race, as Raphaela Richter crashed out from the lead going into the final leg which allowed Hoskin to take her first race win. Germany’s Richter won the first stage and followed that up in the fourth, but her hopes of victory were dashed as she came down with what was reported to be a dislocated shoulder. Richter was locked in a tense battle with Hoskin for the top spot, but the German’s departure allowed the Canadian to coast home. Ella Conolly of Great Britain took the fifth stage in a time of 4:40.328, which was narrowly ahead of Hoskin. Despite missing out on the fifth stage, Hoskin had the final say as her combined time of 26:46.980 was good enough for the race win by a comfortable margin of over 45 seconds from Conolly. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) took third place, 51.854 off the winner. No other rider got within a minute of Hoskin. Race winner Hoskin said: “It was really fun day out there, really mucky and slippery. There was no snow, which was a little bit different from practice, but I managed to enjoy it and I think people had a lot of fun out there. I certainly did.” JUNIOR ACTION AND ENDURO OPEN Tommy Bougon led home a one-two for France in the Men’s Junior UCI Enduro Enduro World Cup. Bougon was never out of the top four at any stage on the course and found pace on the run for home as he clocked a winning time of 25:17.223. Last week’s winner Melvin Almueis took second, 2.393 behind Bougon, while third went to New Zealand’s Cooper Millwood. Victory in the Junior Women’s event went to Slovenian talent Nezka Libnik, who came home in a time of 29:08.568. Lacey Adams, from Australia, was second in a time of 29:40.007, with American Chloe Bear in third. A total of 115 riders took part in the Enduro Open event, testing their fitness, racing skills, and on-the-fly bike fixes on the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała—the same weekend and terrain as the UCI Enduro World Cup. The event wasn’t limited to Enduro bikes, with dedicated E-enduro categories that pushed both riders and their battery-assisted machines to the limit. HÖLL AND BRUNI SET THE PACE IN BIELSKO-BIAŁA UCI DOWNHILL WORLD CUP QUALIFYING In the opening round of the 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup in Bielsko-Biała, Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) posted the fastest times in qualifying, picking up right where they left off last season. Höll surged from third place after the early splits to finish first with a time of 3:39.203, ahead of British riders Tahnee Seagrave and Harriet Harnden. In the Men’s race, Bruni climbed from ninth at the first split to secure the top spot with a time of 3:08.648. Amaury Pierron, who briefly led, ran into issues before the finish and had to push hard in Q2 to secure a place in Sunday’s finals—alongside other top contenders who also had to battle their way through, making for an incredibly exciting and high-stakes Q2 session. In the Junior Qualifying, Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) topped the Women’s field, while France’s Max Alran(Commencal/Muc-Off), the 2024 overall series winner, set the fastest time among the Junior Men. The UCI Downhill World Cup finals in Bielsko-Biała will take place on Sunday, May 18, with the Junior races starting at 11:30 CET, followed by the Elite finals. Fans can catch all the action live, with Junior finals streamed on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel. To find out where to watch the Elite finals in your region, click here. The Enduro field takes a well-earned pause to rest and recharge before the third round of the UCI Enduro World Cup, set to take place in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, France, from May 30 to June 1.
In a flashback from the past and indicator of what could be to come, Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) set the fastest times in Downhill qualifying on the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała. Höll and Bruni were the dominant forces in the 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup season, and showed they are ready to fight for glory again with strong performances at the start of the opening weekend of the campaign. Höll produced a stirring finish in Women's Downhill Q1. The Austrian found herself in third after the opening split, as Tahnee Seagrave (Orbea / FMD Racing) set the pace. British rider Seagrave held sway after the first three splits, but defending UCI Downhill World Cup champion Höll found pace between the third and fourth timing checks. After taking the lead at the fourth split, Höll powered away to cross the line in a winning time of 3:39.203. Seagrave crossed the line in second, 1.566 behind Höll. Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans), switching from Enduro to Downhill, made it a two-three for Britain, as she came home in a time of 3:41.290 for third place. Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) was the winner at Bielsko-Biała 12 months ago, and she took sixth place behind Höll. Of the 32 starters, there was only one DNF at the Szczyrk Mountain Resort in southern Poland, with Jolanda Kiener failing to get to the fourth split. BRUNI MAKES STATEMENT OF INTENT Men’s 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup champion Bruni threw down an early marker with victory in Q1. The French rider was only ninth at the first split but made relentless progress. He hit the front at the third split, only for his fellow French rider Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off By Riding Addiction) to go faster at the fourth split. Pierron had an issue on the run to the finish, coming home in 79th, as Bruni stopped the clock in a time of 3:08.648. Oliver Davis of Trek Factory Racing DH took second, 1.359 behind Bruni, with Ryan Pinkerton (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) completing the top three. After his issue in Q1, Pierron had to push hard in Q2 to qualify for Sunday's final. He came home in fifth in Q2 to advance to the finals. Like Amaury Pierron, several top riders who didn’t make it through Q1 were back on track for Q2, where they had to push hard to earn their place in Sunday’s finals — making for an incredibly exciting and high-stakes qualifying session. JUNIOR QUALIFYING In the Junior Qualifying, Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) topped the Women’s Qualifying, while France's Max Alran (Commencal/Muc-Off By Riding Addiction), the 2024 overall series winner, set the pace in the Men's Qualifying. The UCI Downhill World Cup finals in Bielsko-Biała take place on Sunday, May 18, with Junior racing kicking off at 11:30 CET, followed by the Elite Men and Women finals. Fans around the world can tune in live: both the Men’s and Women’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup races will be streamed on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel. To find out where to watch the Elite finals in your region, click here.
Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Team), Camille Balanche (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) and Harriet Harden (Aon Racing - Tourne Campervans) share their thoughts ahead of the UCI Downhill World Cup in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała, Poland, while Dan Booker and Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) assess their chances ahead of the second UCI Enduro World Cup. The start of the downhill season is almost upon us in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, and riders are ready and raring to go after a long seven months since they last went racing in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. The off-season can be a time for change – whether that’s new bike or component setups, training routines or, in some cases, whole new teams – and things can therefore be hard to predict until we get a clear idea of who’s up to speed in qualifying. One rider who tried to minimise change during the break is Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing). The Irishman has kept everything consistent, even if an injury in February did disrupt his pre-season preparation for a couple of weeks. And, as last year’s UCI Downhill World Cup winner in Bielsko-Biała, he goes into this weekend with added confidence. Speaking at the pre-race press conference, Dunne said: “I was really happy with the off-season. I’m a bit more prepared this year and more used to the bike than last year. We have the bike pretty similar to how we ended the season last year so it was a lot easier. [The off-season] was more riding and speed-wise rather than messing around with set-up and trying all these different things. “I got injured, but it wasn’t too bad. I had a few weeks off the bike and then back on for about a month and a half. Everyone has had big injuries in this sport. I wasn’t going to miss any races because I knew I’d have time to come back to build up speed, so I wasn’t too worried about it. It was the first broken bones, so it was a good experience. “The [Bielsko-Biala] track is basically the same layout as last year and I loved the layout last year. I’m not going to be messing around too much with lines this weekend. I’ll be sticking to what I know.” At the other end of the off-season change scale is Camille Balanche (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing). The 2020 UCI Downhill World Champion made the move from Yeti/Fox Factory Racing after her old team Dorval AM Commencal shut at the end of the 2024 season. The Swiss rider spent most of last year battling with the symptoms of a head injury suffered in 2023 but feels back to her best and has one eye on a home UCI World Championships in Champéry, Valais in September. Speaking at the pre-race press conference, Balanche said: “Everything is new – new team, new bike, new mechanic, new coach. It’s motivating and exciting, [but] it’s a lot to learn and adapt to. “I’m completely healthy again and I could train as much as I wanted so I’m totally fit. Last year was challenging. I still had symptoms, but I didn’t know where they were going to come. Sometimes it worked out not bad, sometimes it was just a disaster – especially mentally to know when I could push and when I couldn’t really ride much. It was super hard, but I was just happy to be there still. This year is different. I’ve had a really good off-season since last December, so I’m super stoked. “[UCI World Championships] is an objective, but I’ll get to it when it comes because it’s in September. UCI World Championships at home is the dream and the best but it’s far away so I want to focus now on the first UCI World Cup and think about that a bit later. “I did really well [in Bielsko-Biała] last year so it must be a track that suits me. I had an advantage because it was brand new, and I feel like I can adapt really fast to a new track.” Another rider who went through a big change in the off-season was Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing – Tourne Campervans). The Brit switched to Reece Wilson’s new outfit after racing all her life for Trek and the 2024 UCI Enduro World Cup overall series winner is also primarily focusing on downhill, rather than enduro, for the 2025 season. That didn’t stop her from racing and winning in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) last weekend though. Speaking at the pre-race press conference, Harnden said: “I don’t mind change. I quite like the idea and fun of trying something new and discovering what’s out there and figuring out what works for you. “The focus is definitely on the downhill. I spent a lot more time on my Gamux Sego this winter and that’s practically all I’ve ridden. I only got a few rides in on [the Nikolai] before the race last weekend. I didn’t get a chance to properly bed her in, but we definitely put in the miles last week. I’m looking forward to riding that a bit more throughout the year and getting it really dialled for the UCI World Champs in Switzerland. “I really enjoyed the two days of racing [in Pietra Ligure]. My first-ever Enduro World Series event was a two-day race in 2019 so it’s cool to be able to go back to that and enjoy it as a more established enduro rider. I think that’s what enduro is – a big day and adventure and just enjoying being out in the mountains – we certainly did that last weekend.” “I think [Grit & Glory] is going to be a great way to show some behind-the-scenes and let people feel like they’re more part of the action. I’m excited to see how it’s going to come out. I’m not going to be a part of Enduro so much, so I’ll be following along as much as all the fans.” It’s not just the downhill athletes who are in action this weekend though, with the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała also hosting the second round of the UCI Enduro World Cup. Riders have only had a short turnaround window after last week’s season opener in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy), and a debut victory still hasn’t sunk in for Men’s Elite winner Dan Booker. Speaking at the pre-race press conference, Booker said: “I don’t really feel like it’s sunk in yet because I’ve been so busy since it happened. Since I crossed the line at the race it’s been flat out, travelling all the way up here. My focus has pretty much gone straight into this race. Maybe when we have the break after this round, it’ll sink in a bit more. “I’m just going to take this year race by race and do the best I can. I’m super happy on the [privateer] set-up I’m on at the moment, so I’m not really looking to make an impression to any other teams. I want to do it for myself and hopefully it would be great to bring another person on board – whether that’s a mechanic or someone just to help out with errands – but that’s the only thing I’d change. “There are some really tough parts about the way that I run the program, especially on days like today in practice – my bike’s sitting muddy in the back of the car, and I’ve got to go and wash it! But when the conditions are good, you feel a lot of freedom running your own program, so I enjoy it.” The man Booker pipped to first place last week, Slawomir Lukasik, was humble in defeat and believes that the level of competition in Enduro means that even home advantage counts for little on the Enduro Trails of Poland during tomorrow’s finals. Speaking at the press conference, Lukasik said: “I was so stoked to see [Dan] in first place. The battle was really tight. It’s even better for the sport and those who follow the race. [There is a home advantage] but it’s not as big as people think. I think the level of the sport is pretty high – all of the top 20 guys can ride really fast on that kind of track without losing speed.” Watch the full press conference HERE.
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series has already witnessed the opening rounds of the cross-country and enduro formats, with three race weekends full of nail-biting, unpredictable racing in Araxá – Minas Gerais (Brazil) and Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy). This weekend, downhill joins the action alongside the second round of the UCI Enduro World Cup in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), and fans can expect more of the same in the gravity-fuelled formats. A MODERN CLASSIC The Beskid Mountains venue in southern Poland hosted rounds of the UCI Downhill World Cup and UCI Enduro World Cup for the first time last year, and instantly became a modern classic. Its Enduro Trails network was already renowned in this corner of Europe for its steep, technical and natural terrain, while its new downhill course delivered on its pro debut with its blend of jumps, technical features and wood sections. Riders were also treated to a warm welcome from the thriving local mountain bike community, with passionate Polish fans stationed on every jump, berm, rock garden and drop. The downhill course is broadly the same, while the UCI Enduro World Cup features a new stage from last year – the final 2.31km Stary Zielony – with the remaining stages reshuffled in order. In total, athletes will take on five stages during a 37km course featuring 1,320m pedal ascent (and 440m gondola) and 1,609m of descent. FIRST-ROUND FORM FINDER The opening round of the UCI Downhill World Cup is always difficult to predict, with riders coming off a long off-season that could have included a switch in team and bike set-up, recovery from injury or operation, or simply seven months without racing. Reigning overall series champions Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) and Valentina Höll (YT Mob) will line up as favourites with points to prove – both having missed out on the top spot last year in Bielsko-Biała. But Bruni and Höll face stiff competition from a chasing pack of riders that’s more competitive than ever. For Höll, Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) is the most intriguing opposition in Poland. The reigning UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner has switched formats for 2025 and is focusing on downhill, but still found time to dominate the first UCI Enduro World Cup round of the season in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) last weekend. Other likely challengers for Höll include last year’s victor in Bielsko-Biała, Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), Nina Hoffman (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing). Bruni meanwhile hasn’t gone between the race tape since Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada) last October, but few would bet against the Frenchman being in contention for the win on Sunday. Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing) was the only rider to get the better of Super Bruni in Poland last year, but a resurgent Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off By Riding Addiction), format-switcher Richard Rude Jr (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) and wildcard qualifier Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) could all stand between the Frenchman and the top spot this time out. A POTENTIAL HOME WINNER Before Sunday’s Downhill final, there’s the small matter of the second UCI Enduro World Cup to be decided on Saturday. Slawomir Lukasik’s (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) wait for a debut win goes on – the Pole missing out by an agonising 0.374 seconds to Daniel Booker in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region – but he will be hoping home advantage can help give him the edge in the Beskid Mountains. Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity) spoiled the Polish party in 2024, but with Richie Rude focused on downhill, that’s one less challenger for Lukasik to contend with. In the women’s field, there will definitely be a different winner from last year – Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) having retired from full-time racing at the end of 2024. With first-round winner Harriet Harnden also switching formats to downhill in Poland, the competition is wide open. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) has UCI World Cup-winning experience on her side, but Ella Conolly showed consistency in Pietra Ligure to put herself into contention, while fourth-placed finisher Raphaela Richter was the only rider other than Harnden to win a stage in Enduro’s heartlands. Racing gets underway in Enduro Trails Bielsko-Biała on Saturday with the UCI Enduro World Cup – full schedule and events details are available here.
After an iconic UCI Enduro World Cup season opener in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy), the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series keeps the Gravity action coming this weekend with downhill also joining the fray in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała, Poland. We look at everything you need to know about the Bielsko-Biała round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including when the enduro and downhill events are scheduled to take place, who is racing and how to watch. WHEN? The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, starts with the UCI Enduro World Cup at 8:00 (UTC+2) on Saturday, May 17 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup at 14:00 (UTC+2) on Sunday, May 18. Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST): Saturday, May 17 08:00 – UCI Enduro World Cup 12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying 1 Women Elite 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying 1 Men Elite 14:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying Women Junior 14:40 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying Men Junior 15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying 2 Women Elite 15:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying 2 Men Elite Sunday, May 18 11:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior 12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite 14:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? There will be several ways to watch the Gravity-packed action unfold in Poland. For the UCI Enduro World Cup, there will be a course preview featuring the route and its key sections, practice day and race day video 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 first UCI Downhill World Cup of the season, you can watch the finals live anywhere in the world. Both the Men Junior and Women Junior UCI Downhill World Cup races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, while the Elite finals will be shown on one of the below channels or streaming services. Pre-show starts at 12:45 UTC+2, so set a reminder to join Ric McLaughlin live from Poland: North America Canada – Flobikes USA – Max South & Central America All Central and South American territories – MTBWS TV Caribbean – Rushsports 2 Asia Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – Eurosport China – Zhibo.tv All other Asian territories – MTBWS TV Oceania Australia – Stan Sport New Zealand – MTBWS TV Africa All African territories – MTBWS TV Europe* Andorra – MAX, Eurosport Austria – discovery+, Eurosport Belgium – HBO Max, Eurosport Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max, Eurosport Bulgaria – Max, Eurosport Croatia – Max, Eurosport Czechia – Max, Eurosport Denmark – Max, Eurosport Faroe Islands – Max, Eurosport France – Max, Eurosport, L’Équipe Live 2 (OTT) Germany – discovery+, Eurosport Hungary – Max, Eurosport Ireland – TNT Sports Italy – discovery+, Eurosport Moldova – Max, Eurosport Montenegro – Max, Eurosport Netherlands – HBO Max, Eurosport North Macedonia – Max, Eurosport Norway – Max, Eurosport Poland – Max, Eurosport Portugal – Max, Eurosport Romania – Max, Eurosport Serbia – Max, Eurosport Slovakia – Max, Eurosport Slovenia – Max, Eurosport Spain – Max, Eurosport Sweden – Max, Eurosport Switzerland – MTBWS TV Türkiye – Max, Eurosport United Kingdom – discovery+, TNT Sports All other European territories – MTBWS TV RIDERS TO WATCH The Bielsko-Biała venue made its UCI World Cup debut last year and instantly became a rider and fan favourite. Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing), Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity) and Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) won their respective events in 2024, but few would predict an exact repeat in Poland this weekend. In the Men’s enduro competition, Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) is the rider to watch. The 32-year-old Pole led in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region last weekend until the final stage, when Daniel Booker’s searing final run saw the Australian leapfrog him at the last, meaning Lukasik missed out on his first UCI World Cup win by less than a second. It was a similar story in Bielsko-Biała last year too, and he will be hoping he can use home support to his advantage in getting over the line. Lukasik won’t have it easy though. While team-mate and 2024 UCI Enduro World Cup overall series winner Richard Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) will be focusing on downhill this weekend, reigning UCI Enduro World Champion Alex Rudeu, Jack Moir (YT Mob) and 2024 UCI E-Enduro World Cup overall series winner Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) will all be in contention. The Women’s Enduro competition is also wide open with last year’s winner Isabeau Courdurier not racing and Pietra Ligure’s fastest rider Harriet Harnden (AON Racing – Tourne Campervans) focused on downhill. Morgan Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) has the experience, but Ella Conolly has also started 2025 strong with a second-place finish in Italy. In Downhill, the reigning WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall winners Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) will be aiming to get their title defences off to a strong start while hoping to make amends for missing out on the top spot in Poland last year. Harnden is Höll’s most interesting competition and it will be intriguing to see how the Enduro rider handles a different format, while Nina Hoffman (Santa Cruz Syndicate), Cabirou and Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) can all lay down race-winning runs. In the Men’s Elite, Rude is another format-crossing rider worth keeping an eye on, while downhill purists Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) and Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Racing Addiction) mean it’s not a foregone conclusion for Super Bruni. Racing gets underway on Saturday, May 17 in Bielsko-Biała. Full schedule and event details are available HERE.
The Dutchman returns to Cross-country mountain biking for the first time in almost two years with more off-road racing planned later this season. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has confirmed that he will be competing at next weekend’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Nové Mĕsto na Moravĕ, Czechia. The 30-year-old last completed a mountain bike race in 2023 at the Paris 2024 test event, while his last UCI World Cup was in Nové Mĕsto na Moravĕ in 2021. Before this, he was a regular at UCI World Cups between 2016 and 2019, winning 10 Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and three Cross-country Olympic (XCO) races. The Dutchman has predominantly focused on road cycling and cyclo-cross over the last four years though, winning UCI World Championships in both and claiming iconic victories in the Spring Classics and a Tour de France stage. But he signalled a return to cross-country mountain bike was on the cards in 2025, with an elusive UCI XCO Mountain Bike World Championship a target for this year as he builds towards a potential tilt at a gold medal at the LA 2028 Olympic Games. His team, Alpecin-Deceuninck, announced on X that he would line up at Nové Mesto before turning his attention back to the road and the Tour de France. They also teased that he would return to off-road racing after July, with a detailed program to be announced at a later date. Van der Poel arrives in Czechia in great form, having claimed his third consecutive Paris-Roubaix title in his most recent race. His victory concluded a strong Spring Classics campaign that included wins at E3 Saxo Classic and Milan-Sanremo and a third-place finish at the Tour of Flanders. The multi-discipline master will also have fond memories from Nové Mesto in 2021, having won the XCC race and finished second in the XCO. The man who stopped him doing the XCC-XCO double, Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), won’t stand in his way either as he’s competing on the road at the Giro d’Italia.
The Canadian sustained a fractured finger during a training ride in the Czech Republic and will miss the opening Downhill round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Poland. Kasper Woolley (YT Mob) is recovering from a fractured finger he injured during a training ride in the Czech Republic earlier this week. The 26-year-old was gearing up for his first UCI Downhill World Cup of the year having switched formats from Enduro in the off-season but is now set to miss this weekend’s racing in Bielsko-Biała and the could potentially be sidelined for Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France), Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria) and Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy). In a press release from YT Mob, Woolley said: “My goal is to be back in 4-6 weeks. The fracture is very small, but it’s unfortunately in the joint, so it’s not something I can just tape up and push through. It’s a huge bummer to miss the first race. I actually have been struggling with tendinitis in this same hand all winter long, and it was finally all coming together. I definitely was not feeling anywhere close to 100% ready for this first race, but the plan was to just get some racing under my belt and be ready for Loudenvielle. I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but with lots of races this season, I’m looking forward to showing what I can do. We wish Kasper a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him in action this summer.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that six wildcard teams have been selected for the second Downhill round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series that will take place in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) on May 30-June 1, presented by FACOM. Four of the teams will be making their second appearance in this year’s series, while there are first starts for The Alliance and Gwin Racing. All six outfits are crammed full of up-and-coming talent, but five-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall champion Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) is the highest-profile rider yet to qualify through the new wildcard system. The 37-year-old showed he still has what it takes to compete in the Elites after returning from injury at the end of the 2024 season, qualifying for finals last time out in Loudenvielle and finishing 12th in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. While he has only gone between the race tape twice this year in domestic races in the US, third and fourth-place finishes are evidence that he shouldn’t be overlooked in the Pyrenees. Gwin is joined by compatriot Gavin Tomlinson and Canadian Michael Delesalle – both of whom are making the step up to the Elite class in 2025. The Alliance meanwhile is made up of three promising riders from the southern hemisphere. New signing Jackson Connelly has recorded the trio’s biggest result to date, finishing 25th at the 2023 UCI World Cup in Snowshoe (USA), while James MacDermid has been with the team for three years but is yet to qualify for an Elite finals run. Ursula Summers completes the outfit, with the 16-year-old making her UCI World Cup debut in France. Elsewhere, well-known names to qualify via the wildcard system include Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing - SR Suntour), Thomas Estaque (Goodman Santacruz), and 2019 Junior Men’s UCI Downhill World Champion Kye A’Hern (Kenda NS Bikes UR Team). The six wildcard teams for round 6 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Loudenville-Peyragudes are: Goodman Santacruz The Alliance Rogue Racing – SR Suntour Kenda NS Bikes UR Team Team High Country Gwin Racing In addition to hosting round 2 of the UCI Downhill World Cup, Loudenvielle-Peyragudes will also stage round 3 of the UCI Enduro World Cup, following the season opener in Pietra Ligure - Finale Outdoor Region (Italy), and round 2 in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, from 16–18 May.
Daniel Booker waited until the last possible moment to take an outlandishly dramatic first UCI Enduro World Cup round by less than a second at the 2025 season opener, while Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) proved she’s still the woman to beat with a commanding triumph in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy). Booker had led only once across the first six stages as first Jack Moir (YT Mob), then Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) appeared in pole position to take the first UCI Enduro World Cup round of the season. But entering the final stage trailing Łukasik, Booker produced a blistering four minutes of descending to put all the pressure on the Pole who came up short by just three tenths of a second, with UCI Enduro World Champion Alex Rudeau in third. Harnden enjoyed a much more straightforward route to victory as she picked up where she left off last season despite shifting her focus to the UCI Downhill World Cup in 2025, finishing 24 seconds ahead of fellow Brit Ella Conolly. Conolly was in contention until the 3.5km Fedeli alla Linea trail on stage five that featured almost 700m of elevation drop and also proved pivotal in the Juniors - Harnden finished almost half a minute ahead and won the final two stages for good measure. Misfortune hampered two very finely poised Junior races, as overnight leaders Melvin Almeuis and Lucile Metge completed a French double on a UCI Enduro World Cup round featuring a new two-day format going back to the discipline’s more adventurous routes. 0.37 SECONDS: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GLORY AND DEFEAT FOR BOOKER Having worked so hard to build a lead over Łukasik, Booker and the rest of the chasing pack including surprise struggler Richie Rude (Yeti / Fox Factory Team), Moir threw it all away on the first stage of an unpredictable day two of the men’s race. Moir didn’t enjoy the same cushion as Harnden overnight having won his brace of stages by an aggregate of 1.3 seconds - Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) bounced back from a disaster on Isallo Extasy to win Dolcenera - yet was clearly the rider to beat holding a four-second lead over Łukasik. However, that all went up in smoke on the 1.9km Spillpietra trail within view of the sparkling Mediterranean, as Moir finished a stunning 14 seconds adrift of Rudeau, as Booker took up the Australian standard at the front by finishing as runner-up and moving into first place overall. Last year’s UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner Rude signalled a return to form in fourth - and he’d finish on the podium in the three remaining stages despite the damage to his chance of winning the round being done on day one - and Łukasik and Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti / Fox Factory Team)’s competitive showings kept them in contention ahead of the all-important stage five. Fedeli alla Linea catapulted Łukasik back into first as Gilchrist claimed the stage with the Pole putting valuable seconds into Booker and Moir - the latter of whom failed to produce the major resurgence he needed to get back into contention - setting the stakes perfectly for the short, sharp final double-header. Łukasik was the man to beat on stage six giving himself an advantage of 2.7 seconds over Booker ahead of the finale, which proved once again that the theme of this men’s race was impermanence. Beginning Armuin half a minute before the Pole, Booker flew down the course with the best time of the day and didn’t have to wait long to find out if he’d done enough - Łukasik crossed the line 33 seconds later meaning he lost out on victory in Pietra Ligure by an agonising 0.374 seconds. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I reckon later on it will, but feels pretty amazing. It was a tough race, two-day races you really had to try and conserve your energy where you could, such long physical stages as well,” Booker said. “Maybe Saturday I felt a bit stronger but then today I felt like I was holding onto it. To come from behind and win feels amazing. I’ll go for a swim, get some gelato then pack up and get to Poland. Really looking forward to it.” HARNDEN OUTLASTS CONOLLY AND CHARRE While Harriet Harnden didn’t have things all her own way on day one, losing out on the opening stage to Ella Conolly (Cannondale Enduro Team), she surged back to hold a comfortable nine-second lead over her compatriot by the end of stage three with Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) the only other rider within touching distance overnight. The bulk of Charre’s time loss came on the tough Hiroshima Mon Amour stage that also cost Connolly 12 seconds, and Harnden didn’t let up entering day two as she doubled her lead across the opening two stages. Only Conolly could hang with the reigning overall UCI Enduro World Cup winner down Spillpietra, before the 27-year-old was decisively shaken off on the longer Fedeli alla Linea. In the trail area built around the 19th-century Forte Tortagna, Harnden fortified her lead with another nine seconds while behind, the larger gaps between Conolly, Charre and fourth-place Raphaela Richter began to settle the fight for the remaining podium positions. At only a kilometre in length, stage seven was unlikely to provide large enough time gaps to shake up that order unless a rider crashed, though that didn’t stop Harnden giving it everything to claim another stage win and on her way to securing the Pietra Ligure round. Richter recorded her best result of the weekend in finishing runner-up on Armuin, within a quarter of a second of Harnden, as Conolly and Charre both finished comfortably in the top ten to confirm their places on the podium. Another top five finish for last year’s U21 overall winner Simona Kuchyňková capped an up-and-down, but ultimately promising weekend for the CUBE Factory Racing prospect while Nadine Ellacosta (Abetone Ancillotti Vittoria Factory Team) ensured there was Italian representation in the top 10 on home trails. However, none of them were close to dethroning Harnden, who said: “I wasn’t expecting that, I was just coming for some fun and downhill’s the focus next week. This was just a fun start to the season. I just enjoyed riding my bike, I wasn’t overthinking stuff. It’s nice to know I still have the feeling of how to race Enduro and I’ve not lost it over the winter. “After yesterday I wasn’t sure, it was still super tight. Nine seconds can go in a flash but then after I started riding good this morning I was pretty confident I was in a good place.” ALMEUIS AND METGE HOLD OFF DETERMINED CHALLENGERS The Men’s Junior race was the tightest of all, heading into day two in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region as Melvin Almeuis led Gabriel Sainthuile by just 0.336 seconds after three incredibly tight stages produced three different winners with New Zealand’s Cooper Millwood also getting in on the action. Millwood was the first rider to lay down a marker on Spillpietra, winning by five seconds from Almeuis while Sainthuile dropped his biggest chunk of time in the round so far, hemorrhaging four seconds to the overall leader. As was a theme in Italy though, Fedeli alla Linea was the critical stage as Almeuis stamped his authority on the competition. A mechanical for Sainthuile contributed to him losing 12 minutes and dropping him to dead last while time gaps to the riders who did have a clean run also exploded - Almeuis took his second stage win 19 seconds ahead of Millwood with Italy’s Matteo Falcini (Abetone Ancillotti Vittoria Factory Team) the only other rider within a minute of the domineering Frenchman. Millwood took the final two stages by a second and three to secure his runner-up spot but was never a threat to Almeuis overall, while the sailing was even plainer for fellow French junior Lucile Metge in the Women’s Junior race. Metge bounced back from defeat on Isallo Extasy to finish day one with a two-second advantage over Elise Porta (Lapierre Gravity Collective), and that gap barely changed on stages four and five as the pair picked up a win each by the narrowest of margins. However, Porta unravelled on stage six as Chloe Bear (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) led the consistent Metge and Porta failed to finish on Armuin marking a disappointing end to such an enthralling tussle that promoted Lacey Adams (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) to second overall and Bear onto the podium. That rounded out a successful curtain-raiser for the European WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series leg of the season that also saw the Enduro Open races held on Saturday in Pietra Ligure, featuring 205 participants across various categories, including both Enduro and E-enduro. Metge, Almeuis, Harnden and Booker don’t get much time to celebrate though with the Pietra Ligure competition kicking off a run of five WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series rounds on consecutive weekends. Next week, the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała sees the first Gravity double-header of the season as Enduro returns on 17 May, before the UCI Downhill World Cup opener takes centre stage on 18 May in Poland.
Jack Moir (YT MOB) was the surprise package on an adrenaline-filled opening day of the revamped UCI Enduro World Cup in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) as he took control of the men’s elite race against favourite and reigning overall winner Richie Rude (Yeti / Fox Factory Team). The spiritual home of Enduro provided the perfect setting for the discipline to return to its roots with seven stages spread across two days, that extended schedule putting more emphasis on the adventure, exploration and self-sufficiency that make the Gravity-based format such a hit. However, that shake-up couldn’t upstage the unflappable Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) in the women’s elite race as the reigning UCI Enduro World Cup winner stamped her authority over a new season of the competition. And as JT Fisher (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) and Simona Kuchyňková graduated to the elite ranks, there were new pacesetters in the juniors with Melvin Almueis and Lucile Metge in pole position for day two. Picture: © FOR Nicola Damonte MOIR STEALS THE LIMELIGHT ON OPENING DAY Ahead of the event, Jesse Melamed appeared the favourite to capitalise if Rude became unstuck having won here two years ago and also beaten the 2024 overall winner in Squamish last month. But Melamed hit major trouble on the opening stage as the final starter and finished dead last on Isallo Extasy, as instead Jack Moir and Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) set the pace over the opening 5.9km. The towering 50-metre beech forests providing a backdrop for the opening salvos couldn’t have contrasted any more with the microscopic difference at the top as Moir led Łukasik by less than half a second before riders embarked on a tough, pioneering transition to the start of stage two with Daniel Booker and UCI Enduro World Champion Alex Rudeau the next best challengers. Picture: © FOR Nicola Damonte Hiroshima Mon Amour served up more of the same as Rude struggled and even a rain shower couldn’t stop Moir, as the Australian stretched his overall lead to a more comfortable three seconds and his compatriot Ryan Gilchrist moved into the top five. Melamed found redemption on the medieval streets of Radzi village, winning on a Dolcenera stage that highlighted the best of old and new in Pietra Ligure as the most recent trail zone added to the extensive Finale Outdoor Region network. The margins were extremely tight once again on the 1km stage as Dmitri Tordo missed out by less than half a tenth with Moir and Booker also finishing within a second of the Canadian meaning Moir holds a lead of 4.2 seconds overnight ahead of Łukasik, with Rude 20 seconds adrift. Picture: © FOR Nicola Damonte HARNDEN LEADS CONOLLY IN BRITISH ONE-TWO Despite an initial wobble, Harriet Harnden had no such trouble showing she remains the rider to beat in the women’s elite category. Ella Connolly sprung a surprise on Isallo Extasy, beating both Harnden and Morganne Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) by over four and one second respectively, though that proved to be a false dawn as her fellow Brit came roaring back on Hiroshima Mon Amour with a huge margin of victory. Connolly still finished second as Charre arguably lost out the most, coming in almost 20 seconds back and behind Winnifred Goldsbury, before Simona Kuchyňková announced herself to the elite ranks on Dolcenera. Last season’s U21 overall winner finished third, ahead of Charre and within three seconds of the all-conquering Harnden as Connolly was the bridesmaid yet again - though not quite by the same hair’s breadth as in the men’s stage. A tough start for Kuchyňková means she’s likely out of the running for the overall win with Connolly 9.8 seconds away from Harnden and Charre the only other rider within half a minute, meaning day two already looks like a three-horse race for the first victory of the season. Picture: © WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series JUNIOR RACES REMAIN FINELY POISED The race to lead the men’s junior standings overnight went right down to the wire thanks to Gabriel Santhuile’s stage three win helping to evaporate the monster seven-second advantage Melvin Almueis had held earlier in the day. The Frenchman dominated the opening stage but saw his wings clipped over the next two stages as Santhuile finished just 0.336 seconds behind overall, with stage two victor Cooper Millwood in third. Meanwhile Lucile Metge is in pole position in the women’s junior despite finishing last on Dolcenera - Elise Porta (Lapierre Gravity Collective) was quickest there and on Isallo Extasy but a torrid stage two cost her 18 crucial seconds. 205 riders took to the startline in the Enduro and E-Enduro Open events held across the four stages that the elite and junior riders will tackle on day two in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region. The action continues tomorrow with Enduro the sole focus this weekend in Italy, kicking off a run of five consecutive weekends of WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series thrills and spills. Harnden, Moir, Metge and Almueis will defend their overall leads across four stages on Sunday including the fearsome Fedeli alla Linea, featuring almost 700m of elevation drop over just a 3.5km trail.
UCI Enduro World Cup athletes will be in Bielsko-Biała, Poland on the 16-18 May, for the second round of the season. This one day race at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series takes the athletes on some of the regions best enduro trails, across 5 stages. They will be challenged with 1320m of climbing (plus an additional 440m via gondola), followed by descents of over 1600m in stages that range from 1.85km (DH+) to 3.6km (Dziabar). For a more detailed look at the courses, you can check out the athlete interactive map.
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns this weekend with the first Gravity event of the year – Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) hosting the opening round of the UCI Enduro World Cup. The racing in Italy kicks off five back-to-back weekends of off-road action in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series that also takes in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ (Czechia) and Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) before concluding with a four-day festival in Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland (Austria) between June 5-8. But Enduro is the sole focus this weekend in Pietra Ligure and sees the format return to its adventurous roots with the racing spread over two days and seven unique stages. It’s hard to think of a better location to launch the 2025 UCI Enduro World Cup – the wider Finale Outdoor Region regarded as the spiritual home of the endurance-focused Gravity format. CLASSIC CURTAIN RAISER After the success of last year’s season opener in Finale Ligure, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns to the Italian Riviera for the format’s 2025 curtain raiser – albeit slightly along the coast in the direction of France in the seaside town of Pietra Ligure. The Finale Outdoor Region is something of a mountain bike Mecca and for three decades, the hills to the north of the coastal town have been a hive of activity, spawning a series of trails across the exposed limestone that are now world-renowned. This year, the UCI Enduro World Cup will delve further into the chocolate box selection of technical natural features and adrenaline-fuelled downhill sections, while splitting the race across two days allows athletes to explore and become fully immersed in the area’s natural beauty as they take on seven stages during an 83km course featuring 4,200m of descent and 3,200m of pedal ascent. Although the days are split fairly evenly in terms of distance, ascent and descent, the racing kicks off with two sizeable stages (Isallo Extasy, 5.9km, 940m; Hiroshima Mon Amour, 5km, 730m) meaning the chance for big-time splits from the off. FAVOURITES IN PIETRA Last year, Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) recorded wins in the Men’s and Women’s Elite UCI Enduro World Cup in Finale Ligure, securing crucial points on their respective journeys to the UCI Enduro World Cup overall titles. Although Rude and Harnden announced that they would be switching formats and focusing their attention on the UCI Downhill World Cup this year, both of the reigning series champions are on the start sheet in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region after being swayed by the prospect of two days of racing in Enduro’s heartlands. The pair go into the weekend as favourites, but there are plenty of other Enduro-only riders who will be looking to stake their claim to the title at the first race of the season. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) is likely to be Harnden’s main challenger on the north Italian coast. The Frenchwoman won Pietra Ligure’s last UCI Enduro World Cup in 2023, which featured four of this weekend’s seven stages. Others likely to be vying for a podium spot include privateers Ella Conolly and Raphaela Richter – the former finishing third in Finale Ligure last year, while the latter won two out of six stages en route to fourth spot in 2023. In the Men’s Elite, Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV) was victorious in Pietra Ligure in 2023, and the Canadian has already got the better of Rude in 2025 at April’s Squamish Enduro. Jack Moir (YT Mob) and Martin Maes (Orbea FMD Racing) have also tasted success in this corner of the Mediterranean coast, while Enduro’s first UCI World Champion, Alex Rudeau, will be hoping the rainbow bands bring him race-winning speed on the trails of Finale Outdoor Region. HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION Race content will be available across the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ official platforms, including the official YouTube channel, website, and social media profiles. Fans can catch up with the action from Pietra Ligure with: A course preview featuring the route and its key sections Practice day and race day video highlights Key race moments on social media Real-time race updates via live timing on the official website Racing gets underway in Finale Outdoor Region on Saturday – full schedule and event details are available here. Pictures: © FOR Nicola Damonte
WHOOP, the human performance company and title partner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, introduces WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG — two next-generation wearables designed to unlock a new approach to personal health and longevity. Paired with a redesigned WHOOP experience, the devices offer 14-day battery life in a sleeker, seven percent smaller form - and introduce category-defining features, including Healthspan with WHOOP Age, Heart Screener with on-demand ECG, Blood Pressure Insights, and more. “This isn’t just a product launch. It’s a new chapter for WHOOP and for our members.ˮ said Will Ahmed, WHOOP Founder & CEO. “Weʼve taken everything weʼve learned over the past decade and built a platform to help our members perform and live at their peak for longer. Weʼve held nothing back.ˮ Trusted by many elite riders competing in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including stars like Mathieu Van der Poel and Puck Pieterse, WHOOP has become a go-to platform for monitoring performance, recovery, sleep, and training metrics. As a leading brand in the world of sports — and particularly within cycling — these new WHOOP devices mark a significant step forward in how wearable technology helps professional and amateur athletes optimize performance and tailor their lifestyles based on real-time physiological insights. NEW HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE IN-APP FEATURES Healthspan with WHOOP Age: a powerful new way to quantify your physiological age and slow your Pace of Aging. Developed in partnership with Dr. Eric Verdin, CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, this feature uses 9 different metrics linked to long-term health to calculate your WHOOP Age and Pace of Aging. This feature is not available for users under the age of 18. Heart Screener with ECG: an FDA-cleared ECG feature that allows reading to be taken anytime, from your wrist — and shared directly with a healthcare provider. The Heart Screener detects signs of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), a leading cause of stroke, and provides Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications (IHRN) for greater peace of mind. This feature is not intended for users with known arrhythmias other than AFib or users under 22 years old. It is not recommended for users with a cardiac pacemaker, ICDs or other implanted electronic devices. This is a medically regulated feature and is not currently available in every region. Blood Pressure Insights: A patent-pending technology that delivers daily blood pressure insights, right from your wrist. Get estimated systolic and diastolic readings and learn about how blood pressure affects wellbeing and performance. Blood Pressure Monitor is not a medical device and cannot diagnose or manage medical conditions. It does not provide medical advice. Always consult your doctor for health concerns and never delay or modify medical care based on its information. Womenʼs Hormonal Insights: WHOOP goes beyond cycle tracking to deliver science-backed education and personalized insights on how hormonal shifts influence recovery, sleep, stress, and performance. Menstrual Cycle Insights should not be used for birth control or fertility tracking. The ovulatory phase indicators are estimates only. Menstrual Cycle Insights is not a medical device and cannot diagnose or manage medical conditions. It does not provide medical advice. Always consult your doctor for health concerns and never delay or modify medical care based on its information. Sleep Performance Update: Unlock better nights and better days. The reimagined Sleep Score delivers a more accurate reflection of sleep quality, helping members recover more effectively and show up stronger each day. Comprehensive Fitness Tracking: From daily steps and VO₂ Max to Muscular Strain during strength training and 145+ supported activities, members can now optimize fitness for both performance and long-term health outcomes. HARDWARE, REIMAGINED FOR PERFORMANCE AND PRECISION: Precision Sensors. Smaller Design. Greater Power. WHOOP 5.0 and MG pack more technology into a 7% smaller form factor. Enhanced sensors capture data 26 times per second, while a redesigned processor delivers 10x more power efficiency — enabling richer insights without sacrificing battery life or comfort. 14+ Day Battery Life. New Wireless PowerPack: 14+ days per charge across WHOOP 5.0 and MG hardware. Now, members with their device alongside the new Wireless Powerpack have access to a full month of battery life. Wireless PowerPack is offered with Peak & Life Memberships. Wired battery pack available on One. Elevated Accessories: Complete the experience with a new line of WHOOP accessories — including the new LeatherLuxe, crafted from genuine Italian leather for our most premium look and feel yet. 24/7 Wearability: WHOOP remains the only wearable thatʼs truly wearable — designed for 24/7 use across multiple locations on the body. Powered by WHOOP Body and AnyWear™ technology, WHOOP technical garments seamlessly integrate with your device to capture data with unmatched precision — no matter your sport, lifestyle, or movement.CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE: To make these innovations even more accessible, WHOOP is also introducing three new membership tiers. These tiers empower WHOOP members to choose the hardware device, features and pricing that make the most sense for them: WHOOP One: Professional-grade fitness insights. WHOOP Peak: Advanced health, fitness and longevity insights designed to help you perform at your peak, longer. WHOOP Life: The most powerful WHOOP ever, delivering medical-grade health and performance insights. To learn more or start a one-month free trial, visit whoop.com and connect with WHOOP on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
The eight-part documentary series will follow all the action from the UCI Enduro World Cup during the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season, providing an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of mountain bike’s hardest formats. Today, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports announces a brand-new eight-part documentary series Grit & Glory: Enduro Mountain Bike Racing, premiering in August 2025. The docuseries will give viewers an exciting and intimate glimpse into the world of professional enduro mountain bike racing, following a select group of elite athletes as they battle it out in the UCI Enduro World Cup on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series circuit. Each 23-minute episode will capture the highs and lows of one of mountain bike’s most gruelling racing formats – which combines the fitness of cross-country with the descending skills of downhill – and tell previously untold stories of the athletes and teams, revealing the passion, rivalry, and personal struggles, in a mixture of action-packed race footage and exclusive behind-the-scenes access. After starting with an explainer episode “What is Enduro Mountain Bike Racing?”, the following seven episodes will each focus on a different UCI Enduro World Cup round throughout the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Kicking off at the season opener in Pietra Ligure - Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) and concluding with the finale in Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France), viewers will get a true understanding of the diverse and challenging terrains tackled at each race weekend, as well as the preparation and strategy that goes into competing at the top of the burgeoning mountain bike format. The docuseries will showcase Enduro racing in a whole new light and will be exciting to watch for fans who have been with enduro since its inception as well as new viewers discovering its unique culture and grittiness for the first time. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “The expansive nature of the UCI Enduro World Cup makes live race coverage a real challenge—but Grit & Glory gives us the unique opportunity to capture the raw essence of this adrenaline-fuelled format. “Across eight episodes, we’ll take audiences closer to the action than ever before, revealing the intensity, determination, and grit of the athletes through powerful storytelling. From high-stakes descents to emotional highs and lows, the series will shine a spotlight on Enduro’s most compelling moments as we look to continue to grow excitement and awareness around mountain biking.” The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series began in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) last month, with a high-intensity UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-country Olympic (XCO) double-header. The UCI Enduro World Cup will kick off this week in Pietra Ligure-Finale Outdoor Region, Italy from 9 – 11 May. All the action from the UCI Enduro World Cup will be available through the official platforms of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including the YouTube channel, official website, and social media profiles. Fans will have an in-depth look at every round, beginning with a Course Preview that showcases the route and its key features. As riders take to the track, the Practice Day highlights will provide behind-the-scenes footage of them testing lines and getting comfortable with the terrain, whilst Race Day will deliver high-energy, unfiltered highlights that capture the intensity and atmosphere of the competition on race day. Key moments are shared across social media, and fans can follow live timing on the official website for real-time race updates.
From July 9 to 13, Andorra will become the epicenter of top-level international mountain bike as Pal Arinsal hosts the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Pal Arinsal is gearing up for the 10th edition of the UCI World Cup, taking place from July 9 to 13, 2025. Tickets are available on the official website, with three options: 1-day, 3-day, or 5-day passes. The event will once again make Andorra a key stop on the international calendar, hosting the world’s best riders in the Cross-country (XCO), Short Track (XCC), and Downhill (DHI) disciplines. Spectators will be able to enjoy the show from designated viewing areas in La Caubella and Fontanals, with access to lifts, shuttle buses, and transportation services connecting key points of the circuit. This year, the lower section of the Pal Arinsal Bike Park will remain open during the competition days, offering an extra activity option for mountain biking enthusiasts who want to combine sport and action. Children up to 6 years old can enter for free, as long as they are accompanied by an adult and carry identification. Season pass holders of Grandvalira Resorts (Andorra Pass, Nord Pass, and Bike Pass) will enjoy free access to the World Cup during the event, at no additional cost. Inclusive access for all People with functional diversity will have free access to the event. Each attendee may be accompanied by one person, who must purchase their own ticket. To manage their entry and receive all relevant accessibility information, they can contact the organization at accessibilitat@palarinsal.com. Buy tickets: https://events.palarinsal.com/en/palarinsalandorra/tickets
The German cleaning equipment and pressure washer specialist signs deal that sees it become the Official Cleaning Partner (water-based cleaning solutions) for five rounds of this year’s Series. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and Kärcher are proud to confirm a five-round agreement for the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The 90-year-old German cleaning specialist becomes the Official Cleaning Partner (providing water-based cleaning solutions) for five rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, starting at the UCI Downhill and Enduro World Cup in Bielsko-Biała (Poland) on May 16-18. It will reprise its partnership a week later in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia) and will also partner UCI World Cups later in the season in Saalfelden Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria), Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy) and Lenzerheide (Switzerland). Established in Winneden, Germany in 1935, Kärcher developed the first European hot water high-pressure cleaner in 1950. Today, the family-owned company is a world-leader in cleaning technology and employs a team of 17,000 people in 85 countries. At the heart of its focus is sustainability, with its products and services aiming to help prolong and maintain everything they interact with, ensuring a benefit to the environment and the community they work in. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “Kärcher is synonymous with cleaning technology excellence, and to have the iconic company come on board for five rounds of this year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is hopefully the start of a long and fruitful partnership between the German manufacturer and WBD Sports.” Bernd Rützler, Executive Vice Presidents Marketing & Brand Management at Kärcher, said: “We’re delighted to join the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series as the Official Cleaning Partner. Mountain biking, with its passion and energy, resonates strongly with Kärcher, and we’re proud to contribute our sustainable cleaning technologies to these world-class events. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase how our solutions can support both performance and environmental responsibility”. The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series kicked off in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil), with a high-intensity Brazilian double-header to open the season for the endurance teams. Next up: the first round of the UCI Enduro World Cup in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy), from May 9–11, followed by the launch of the UCI Downhill World Cup season on the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), May 16–18. Live and on-demand coverage of every race is available through WBD’s channels and platforms including Eurosport (Europe) and TNT Sports (UK & Ireland) with streaming on Max and discovery+, as well as around the world through WBD’s broadcast partners. More information on where to watch the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season is available here.
The first UCI Enduro World Cup of the year is just around the corner and here's your first look at the two-day course in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region. Day one will see the athletes take on 57km across three stages; whilst on day two, the four stages are slightly shorter at 42.9km, but with an extra 278m of climbing! 😅 The course is set for two big days out at the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region. For a detailed look at the courses, you can check out the athlete interactive map.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, promoted by WBD Sports, marked Earth Month by spotlighting some of the key initiatives that form part of its 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports has signed the UCI Climate Action Charter. Every April, over 190 countries come together to celebrate Earth Month — a global moment dedicated to raising awareness and driving action to protect our planet. At its core, Earth Month is a call for reflection and change: a time to spotlight environmental challenges, inspire individuals, communities, and organisations to act. To mark the occasion this year, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and its global promoter, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe, are proud to highlight some of the key initiatives that will form the foundation of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy in 2025. UCI CLIMATE ACTION CHARTER As a long-standing partner of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), WBD Sports has officially signed the UCI Climate Action Charter, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable development across the sport and its Events business. By aligning with the Charter, WBD Sports reinforces its dedication to reducing its environmental footprint while championing the bicycle as a powerful symbol and instrument of climate action. The Charter outlines a series of key commitments, including the measurement and reporting of emissions linked to WBD Sports’ activities and events, the adoption of science-based reduction targets, a transition towards renewable energy wherever possible, waste reduction through circular economy principles, the implementation of sustainable procurement practices, the prioritisation of low-carbon transport solutions, and the protection of biodiversity. This pledge reflects WBD Sports’ dedication to driving meaningful change across its operations and contributing to a more sustainable future for the sport. TRACKING IMPACT WITH OXYGEN SOLUTIONS WBD Sports will also be partnering with Oxygen Solutions (formerly known as 261PI), one of the two service providers which in 2023 helped the UCI launch the UCI Sustainability Impact Tracker, the first online platform designed to help cycling stakeholders measure and understand their environmental and social impact. Oxygen Solutions will assess and monitor the impact of WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series events across key areas such as waste management, sustainability practices, and diversity and inclusion. Four rounds of the series (Saalfelden Leogang in Salzburgerland, Val di Sole in Trentino, Les Gets in Haute Savoie and Mont-Sainte-Anne) will benefit this season from a tailored framework designed to support and enhance their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts. As a result, Oxygen Solutions will provide detailed reports to stakeholders including local organisers, partners, and host regions, offering valuable insights to drive continuous improvement. SUSTAINABILITY TAKES ROOT IN ARAXÁ As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, WBD Sports actively encourages all event stakeholders to take meaningful action — from small everyday changes to large-scale initiatives — that contribute to lasting environmental impact. In this spirit, and during the opening rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil), WBD Sports participated in a tree-planting campaign led by the Local Organising Committee and the City of Araxá with support from the Planning and Sustainable Development Institute (IPDSA), the Araxá Cycling and Adventure Sports Association (ACEAA), and the local non-profit Casa do Pequeno Jardineiro. The number of trees planted was determined through a technical assessment of emissions, factoring in everything, from air travel to local event logistics. In 2024, Araxá’s debut year on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar, 1,000 native trees were planted in a partnership with Projeto Plantar — setting a strong precedent for continued environmental action. Representatives from the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series management team — including Simon Burney (Head of Sport for Cycling Events at WBD Sports) — joined riders Alex Malacarne (Brazil), Gustavo Xavier (Brazil), Catalina Vidaurre (Chile), Ignacio Gallo (Chile) and Agustín Durán (Argentina) in supporting this initiative. “Our goal was to ensure the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series left a legacy. This is just one of several actions that show the event goes beyond competition. It inspires, transforms, and plants the seeds of the future,” said Rogério Bernardes, local organiser of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “We commend the efforts of our Local Organising Committees for embracing and driving sustainability, and we are proud to support and take part in initiatives like this — turning climate commitments into concrete, on-the-ground impact. “Our commitment to sustainability within the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues to grow, marked by two major milestones: the signing of the UCI Climate Action Charter and our partnership with Oxygen Solutions. Through these collective efforts, we aim to drive meaningful, lasting change — within the sport and beyond.” David Lappartient, UCI President, said: “The UCI is delighted to welcome WBD Sports as our newest UCI Climate Action Charter signatory. Our objective when we launched the Charter in 2022 was to unite cycling’s stakeholders to reduce our sports’ emissions and support the global fight against climate change. It is fantastic to see WBD Sports implement its ambitious CSR strategy, embedding sustainability into the delivery of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.” In 2024, the Events division of WBD Sports Europe achieved a prestigious ISO20121 certification, which approves the structured framework that sees sustainability integrated into every aspect of its event management practices, with the aim of reducing the environmental and social impact of the large-scale international events that are promoted while maintaining their economic viability.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and Saalfelden Leogang go together like downhill racing and chainsaw noise, or Cross-country and lycra. It’s only natural that Austria’s mountain bike mecca in the Pinzgau region once again welcomes the UCI World Cup circuit – for the 13th time overall. From 6 to 8 June 2025, the world’s top mountain bikers will compete in Cross-country, Downhill, and Enduro events at the Epic Bikepark Leogang, part of Austria’s largest bike region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Fans can expect not only thrilling racing, but also a full weekend of entertainment – from a bustling Teams and Expo Area and athlete signing sessions to exciting side events for all ages. UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup and UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup After a year’s break, the endurance riders of Cross-country racing are returning to Saalfelden Leogang, making this the season’s first triple-header. Sunday’s action features the Olympic-format race (XCO) on a four-kilometer course in the Epic Bikepark. In 2023, Puck Pieterse (NED) and Lars Forster (SUI) claimed the top spots. As of now, Samara Maxwell (NZL) and Christopher Blevins (USA) lead the overall standings. Local heroes Laura Stigger, who finished third in both 2022 and 2023, and Mona Mitterwallner, who finished second in 2023, are both eager to end up high on the podium this time around. But the Cross-country action already kicks off on Friday evening with XCC races at the base of the Asitzbahn gondola. Two years ago, France dominated the podium with wins by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Jordan Sarrou. This year, however, the field is wide open: Evie Richards (GBR) and Christopher Blevins took the opening rounds in Brazil. What happens next in Nové Město Na Moravě and Saalfelden Leogang is anyone’s guess. Downhill – Will Vali Höll Make It a Triple? Bruni, Kolb, or the Young Guns? For reigning overall UCI World Cup winner and UCI World Champion Valentina Höll, the Saalfelden Leogang round has become something of a homecoming fairy tale. After some early struggles on this track, the Saalbach native now aims for a third straight win on home soil. On the men’s side, the “Speedster” course – 2.5 kilometers of pure adrenaline – has recently been conquered by Loïc Bruni and Andreas Kolb. Both the French UCI World Champion and the Austrian fans’ favorite are among the top contenders again, but rising stars like Jackson Goldstone and Ronan Dunne could shake up the standings. Enduro – A New Fixture in Saalfelden Leogang’s UCI World Cup Line-Up Now in its third edition, the UCI Enduro World Cup is fast becoming a permanent highlight in Austria’s biggest bike region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. This year’s route covers roughly 70 kilometers and six timed stages, taking riders from the Epic Bikepark Leogang via Asitz peak to Saalbach and back again. For the first time, the Enduro race will be held on Sunday. 2024 champions Isabeau Courdurier (FRA) and Richie Rude (USA) won’t compete this year, leaving the competition wide open for some new stars. More Than Racing: A Full Weekend Experience for Everyone While over 1,000 athletes deliver peak performances on the trails, more than 20,000 expected visitors can enjoy a packed schedule of entertainment in Saalfelden Leogang. The large Expo Area features top brands showcasing the latest gear, and the Teams Area offers behind-the-scenes insights into the daily life of elite racers and technic freaks can have a peek at the team mechanics getting the riders’ weapons dialed for UCI World Cup racing. Several parties will keep the vibes high throughout the weekend. A major highlight is the spectacular Red Bull helicopter show that will wow the crowd with jaw-dropping aerial maneuvers. All this is made possible by the dedication of over 400 volunteers. A free, secured bike parking zone next to Hotel Rivus allows visitors to cycle to the venue with peace of mind, and frequent shuttle buses between Saalfelden and Hochfilzen make it easy to reach the event area. Those arriving by public transport will find Saalfelden Leogang well-connected via major hubs like Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich, and Klagenfurt. Free public transportation within the federal state of Salzburg is included in the event ticket. Standard and VIP Tickets for this one-of-a-kind MTB weekend are available now. Be quick – they’re always in high demand and tend to sell out fast. Families can also take advantage of a special deal: from 1 to 31 May 2025, every adult ticket purchase includes a 50% discount on a child’s ticket (Standard or Standard incl. gondola). Race program Friday, 6 June: UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup (U23 and Elite) UCI Downhill World Cup Qualifications (Junior and Elite) Saturday, 7 June: UCI Downhill World Cup Finals (Junior and Elite) Sunday, 8 June: UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) (U23 and Elite)UCI Enduro World Cup A detailed timeline can be found here. All further details about the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang can be found at www.mtb-weltcup.at and within the official event app. Can’t make it to Saalfelden Leogang in person? Full broadcast details can be found here.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that eight wildcard teams have been selected for the third Endurance round of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, that will take place in Nové Město Na Moravě, Czechia on May 23-25. Three of the spots go to the Czech teams Cabtech Racing Team, Rouvy and Expres CZ - BMD Team Kolín, two go to teams awarded wildcard places at the opening two rounds in Brazil, KTM Factory MTB Team and Lexware Mountain Bike Team, while the remaining three squads comprise a mixture of development prospects and established riders. The eight teams were whittled down from 15 that applied. All will join the 20 Endurance WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Teams on the start line in Nové Město Na Moravě. Of the three local teams selected, there are a number of riders who have already appeared in the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ Brazilian double-header – both Zoe Cuthbert (Cabtech Racing Team) and Adéla Holubová (Rouvy) securing individual spots for the first two rounds in Araxá, Minas-Gerais. Cuthbert’s Cabtech Racing Team has an international feel, with the Australian elite-level rider one of three non-Czech athletes in the five-strong outfit, while Rouvy and Expres CZ - BMD Team Kolín are predominately Czech affairs – Slovakian National Champion for Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Cross-country Short Track (XCC), Matej Ulik (Expres CZ - BMD Team Kolín) is the only rider who won’t be competing at home in the UCI World Cup in Nové Město Na Moravě. Lexware Mountain Bike Team and KTM Factory Team meanwhile will all be returning for their third WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round of the season, and each are rewarded for strong performances in Brazil – Katharina Sadnik (KTM Factory Team) recording the best results of the lot, securing second and third in the Women U23 UCI XCC World Cups. Finally, the three new teams making their 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut feature a number of well-known athletes and up-and-coming talent. Bixs Performance Race Team has a squad that includes Marcel Guerrini –third at last year’s Nové Město Na Moravě UCI XCO World Cup; Germany-based Trek Future Racing – the development squad responsible for Mona Mitterwallner and Bjorn Riley – features Spanish U23 XCO National Champion Marta Cano Espinosa; while Belgian XCO and XCC National Champion Emeline Detilleux will be representing Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret in Czechia on 16-18 May. The eight wildcard teams for round 5 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Nové Město Na Moravě are: KTM Factory MTB Team Bixs Performance Race Team Lexware Mountainbike Team Cabtech Racing Team Trek Future Racing Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret Rouvy Expres CZ - BMD Team Kolín
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that five wildcard teams have been selected for the first Downhill round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, that will take place in Bielsko-Biała, Poland on May 16-18. All of the teams have a development focus and are made up of promising up-and-coming talent and those with a few years as Elite riders under the belts. But there are also a number of established names who will be lining up in a UCI Downhill World Cup start hut once more thanks to the new wildcard system. Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing) is the highest profile rider to earn his spot in Poland – the Frenchman is a UCI Downhill World Cup round winner, having won in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, in 2023. Other well-known athletes to qualify via the new set-up include Thomas Estaque (Goodman - Santa Cruz), who finished fifth in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie last year; Kenda - NS Bikes’ 2019 Junior downhill UCI World Champion Kye A’Hern; and his sister, Australian National Champion Sian A’Hern (YT Racing Development). In addition to Estaque, Goodman - Santa Cruz’s five-rider lineup includes French National Champion Lisa Bouladou and Nathan Pontvianne – a UCI Downhill World Cup finals qualifier in 2024. Meanwhile Rogue Racing’s Italian National Champion and top 10 UCI Downhill World Cup finisher Davide Palazzari will also get his shot at qualifying for finals in Bielsko-Biała. YT Racing Development are a new introduction for 2025 and are a feeder team for WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team, YT Mob. High Country meanwhile are the final team to secure a spot, and feature three future stars of downhill from the southern hemisphere, with 16-year-old New Zealander Malik Boatwright making his WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut in Poland between 16-18 May. The five wildcard teams for round 4 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Bielsko-Biała are: Kenda - NS Bikes YT Racing Development Goodman - Santa Cruz High Country Rogue Racing
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns to Lake Placid (USA) for a second year running. Three-Day Event Includes UCI Cross-Country World Cup Races at Mt Van Hoevenberg and UCI Downhill World Cup at Whiteface Mountain The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority), Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) are pleased to announce the return of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to Lake Placid from 3 to 5 October, this time featuring men’s and women’s UCI World Cup races in both endurance and gravity formats. The Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-country Olympic (XCO) events head back to Mt Van Hoevenberg, while the Downhill (DHI) competition will be held at the iconic Whiteface Mountain. Whiteface Mountain, located in Wilmington, New York in the majestic Adirondack Mountains, is a premier ski destination. With over 3,400 feet of vertical drop—one of the largest in the eastern United States—Whiteface delivers a rare and demanding downhill experience that will challenge riders. The Whiteface region of Northern New York boasts over 20 miles of trails, including the renowned Flume and Hardy Road networks that offer a mix of flowy singletrack, aggressive climbs, and thrilling descents. Whiteface Mountain is making a highly-anticipated return as it hosts the UCI Downhill World Cup. Combining stunning scenery with high-octane riding, Whiteface has all the makings of a truly unforgettable UCI World Cup venue. The weekend will feature the world’s best Elite, Under 23, and Junior riders battling for podium finishes and valuable points in the overall standings. Cross-country races return to an updated version of the demanding course introduced in 2024 at Mt Van Hoevenberg, while Whiteface Mountain unveils its new Downhill course — traversing roughly two kilometers of steep, technical terrain designed for high-speed descents that require both precision and fearless determination. Darcy Rowe Norfolk, Olympic Authority Spokesperson, said: “We’re thrilled to build on the success of last year with the addition of downhill racing at Whiteface Mountain. Our goal is to deliver an exceptional experience for both athletes and fans, while showcasing the world’s best mountain bikers across two formats. Events like this not only elevate the profile of the Olympic Region and its thriving cycling community but also generate meaningful economic impact for our region.” Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “We’re thrilled to return to Lake Placid—this time not only to Mt Van Hoevenberg for Cross-country, but also to Whiteface for Downhill. Recognised as one of the premier ski destinations in the United States, we’re proud to support its revival by bringing world-class downhill racing to this iconic venue. If last season’s experience in Lake Placid is anything to go by, we’re in for another outstanding week of mountain biking that’s sure to excite both fans and riders. Supporting the resurgence of mountain biking at Whiteface and celebrating the sport’s continued growth in the region is something we’re incredibly excited about.” Lake Placid will serve as the penultimate round on the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, which kicked off on April 3 in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) and will wrap up from October 9 to 12 in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec (Canada). The venue made its debut on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar in 2024, hosting UCI XCO, XCC, and Mountain Bike Marathon (XCM) World Cup races at Mt Van Hoevenberg. It was a standout weekend for Specialized Factory Racing, with Victor Koretzky taking commanding victories in both the XCO and XCC events, while teammates Laura Stigger and Sina Frei secured an impressive one-two finish in the Women Elite races. Meanwhile, Christopher Blevins has opened this season in dominant fashion, winning three of the four opening races in Araxá, Brazil. After sweeping round two with victories in both the UCI XCC and XCO World Cups and finishing first (XCC) and second (XCO) in the opening round, the American rider is shaping up to be one of the riders to watch of the season. The cross-country stars will be joined by the biggest names in downhill, including the likes of Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity), who will be aiming to defend their WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall titles. Tickets for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Lake Placid (Mt Van Hoevenberg / Whiteface) are on sale now and can be purchased HERE. Admission is free for SKI3 season pass holders. As a two-time Olympic host city, Lake Placid brings a unique sense of sporting heritage to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar—its rich legacy making it a fitting backdrop for another thrilling chapter in mountain bike history. For more information on the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series events in Lake Placid, please visit https://ucimtbworldseries.com/events/lake-placid-2025.
The UCI has confirmed the locations for the four mountain bike formats at the second-ever unified UCI Cycling World Championships, with Cross-country and Downhill returning to the UCI World Cup staple of Les Gets and Enduro and Cross-country Marathon tackling the trails of the Grand Massif. Les Gets, Portes du Soleil has been picked for Cross-country Olympic (XCO), Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Downhill. The bike park is a firm favourite amongst mountain bike fans and hosted its first UCI Downhill World Cup in 1996. It has previous experience hosting UCI World Championships too – first the UCI Downhill World Championships in 2004, and most recently XCO, XCC and Downhill in 2022. Enduro and Cross-country Marathon (XCM), meanwhile, will see athletes compete on the Grand Massif’s expansive 400km network of trails. With the French Alps as a backdrop, both races are sure to be a spectacle for riders and fans alike. The mountain bike formats are just four of the 20 UCI World Championships that will be held across 12 sites in the Haute-Savoie department during the second-ever UCI Cycling World Championship. An expansion on the first event in Glasgow 2023, it will see 10,000 Elite and Amateur athletes compete for rainbow bands in disciplines as varied as road, track, BMX, indoor cycling and eSports between August 24 - September 5, 2027. Some two million fans are expected to travel to the Haute-Savoie department for the 13 days of competition, with the whole of the area part of the festivities, while its breathtaking landscapes and iconic landmarks like Mont-Blanc will be celebrated during the contests. Speaking at a press conference in Sallanches, France, UCI President David Lappartient said: “These combined UCI Cycling World Championships were part of my vision when I was elected UCI President in 2017. This vision became a reality in 2023 in Glasgow and across Scotland, and we are now building on what we created in Scotland, in an even wider range of cycling specialties. I am delighted that this edition will take place in Haute-Savoie, a recognised host region for UCI events in several disciplines. Cycling in all its splendour will be celebrated in the French department.” In 2025, the Haute-Savoie department will host all formats of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series over two consecutive weekends. Morillon will make its debut as a UCI Enduro World Cup venue from August 22–24, followed by UCI World Cup events in Les Gets—including XCC, XCO and Downhill —from August 28–31.
Christopher Blevins led a Specialized Factory Racing 1-2-3 in the Men Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup which was decided on the final lap of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, while Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) showed her experience to take a solo women’s victory in the sizzling heat of Araxá, Minas Gerais. Blevins now leads both men’s elite overall UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and UCI XCO World Cup standings after securing his first-ever XCC double, along with a win and a runner-up finish in the XCO, on a fast and demanding course in Brazil. After riding away to victory a week ago at the same venue Specialized Factory Racing again dominated the men’s podium but were pushed all the way for victory this time out. A leading group of 10 riders came into the final lap together and the red jerseys only pulled clear on the final climb with Blevins quickest in the sprint ahead of team-mates Martin Vidaurre in second and Adrien Boichis in third. Rissveds had a more comfortable win in the women’s UCI XCO event after timing her midway point attack to perfection and building an unassailable advantage. After winning last weeks’ UCI XCO World Cup race, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) burst clear from the chasing pack for second and a bruised Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing – Pirelli) came back from an early crash and sprinted into third. The course in Araxá provided a different challenge to a week ago with short punchy climbs exchanged for one four-minute ascent - which the men tackled 10 times and women one less. BLEVINS LEADS LATE SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING MASTERCLASS After riding away from their opponents in the opening XCO round, Specialized Factory Racing, again dominated the podium, but were forced into winning a different way. Specialized tried to repeat last week’s winning move of riding clear on the opening climb, but were this time followed throughout by a leading group of riders. German national champion Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) was one of those who was trying to test the Specialized Factory Racing quartet – including Victor Koretzky - at the head of proceedings. Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) placed himself amid the Specialized Factory Racing train and stopped them riding away with proceedings, while Luke Moir and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) also posed a threat in the leading group. Boichis appeared to be suffering in the heat at the midway point and fell back to a second group leaving Specialized Factory Racing team-mates in a leading group of four, along with Avondetto. However, Boichis responded and brought the second group back up to his team-mate as a larger leading group formed. After withstanding the Specialized Factory Racing attacks Avondetto took the race to his opponents on the seventh time up the climb, but the fast descent allowed the leading group to swell back to 10 riders. Swiss rider Fabio Puntener attacked through the feed zone entering the penultimate lap as Specialized Factory Racing appeared to be losing their grip on the front. Vidaurre responded and attacked at the top of the climb and was chased down by team-mates Blevins and Boichis on the descent. It was Puntener who had a slender gap coming into the final lap after attacking through the feed zone for a second time. However, the privateer was caught and Specialized Factory Racing led the first four positions entering the final climb – led by Blevins and Boichis. Series leader Koretzky was the first rider to crack on the climb and fell down the pack as teammate Boichis attacked into the descent. Specialized Factory Racing had dispatched their rivals coming into the final exchanges as Boichis, Blevins and Vidaurre had an eight-second advantage on Italian Avondetto. Using his XCC speed, it was Blevins who beat Vidaurre into second and Boichis third. “It was all a blur, I love that kind of racing where everything was happening at once and you have to stay locked in,” said Blevins. “The team aspect, Adrien Boichis, when he passed me on that climb, I've never met a kid with more exuberance than him, he's just brilliant. I had to dig super-deep to stay with him. Martin [Vidaurre] had a hell of a ride as well. "It's just a cool feeling doing it with the team. We were just so locked in as a unit, there is something about the four red jerseys at the front. When we all push each other, it’s like iron sharpens iron, and it’s hard to figure out exactly what to do with team tactics. Having four red jerseys at the front is changing the way we race.” Blevins now has the overall series lead, he added: “I’ll take it race by race. It's a long year and a lot can change. I’ve just got to do my process, just as I would if it didn't go well this weekend. I’ll stay focused on the next one, I really want to perform well in Europe so that’s my goal now.” RISSVEDS TIMES ATTACK PERFECTLY TO TAKE SOLO WIN Jenny Rissveds was surprised to take an unusual solo victory as she claimed a fourth career UCI XCO World Cup win, following a grueling women’s race. The blistering heat in Araxá and steep climb made it a war of attrition with little to separate the leading competitors throughout the race. After winning last weeks’ XCO race Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) was full of confidence and looked to take command during the tense opening minutes. A long climb on each lap proved a grueling challenge in the heat and on the second of nine laps Rissveds started stringing out the field but was closely followed by Maxwell and Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing). However, slowing of pace on the descent and flat section at the bottom of the course resulted in the chasers regrouping each lap in the opening half of the race. The race winning move was an unlikely one as Rissveds had a slender advantage on the climb after five of nine laps, and as her opponents eased their pace the former Olympic Champion powered on to build an advantage. Bidding to defender her overall lead Maxwell attacked the chasing group in search of Rissveds but struggled to get away from the likes of Jennifer Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory Team) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing – Pirelli). The tactical games behind allowed Canyon CLLCTV XCO rider Rissveds to continue to grow her advantage from a large chasing group of 14 riders. After being patient during the first half Tamara Wiedmann (Mondraker Factory Racing XC) was the next to push the pace from the chasers and had Lecomte for company with three laps remaining. However, both Wiedmann and Lecomte suffered for their efforts in the blazing heat as the chasing group remained largely together. Heading into the penultimate lap Rissveds had an advantage of 37 seconds from Wiedmann, Maxwell and Jackson, as the chasing group started to fragment. After winning her second consecutive UCI XCC World Cup the previous day, Richards was in a determined mood and clawed back to the chasing group for the final lap. Maxwell was the strongest of the chasers on the climb and went clear for second place, but her rivals, led by Jackson, remained just seconds behind as they descended to the finish. Showing her short track power Richards was the quicker descender and bridged to third placed Jackson coming into the final stages. Canyon CLLCTV XCO rider Rissveds had enough of an advantage to fend off the late charge from series leader Maxwell, while Richards sprinted past Jackson for third. “It's new to me to be lonely like that in a World Cup race,” said Rissveds. “I’m working up some confidence, which is really nice and a big forward from last weekend.” “I wanted to stay with the group to start with and then I tried to settle into my rhythm. I might have gone a little bit too soon, but not as early as last weekend and I think that was smart. Talking about working on her confidence, Rissveds added: “I’m working on it every race. I think we all do that. We might seem confident, but I think we all have some doubts.” HOLMGREN AND TREUDLER RIDE AWAY FROM U23 COMPETITION AGAIN Isabella Holmgren maintained her perfect start for the season by making it four UCI Cross Country World Cup wins from four in Brazil. After winning the previous day’s Women U23 UCI XCC World Cup the Canadian took control of the Women U23 XCO race to win by 50 seconds. Wearing the UCI World Champion stripes Holmgren took control on the second lap, with only Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) able to match her pace. In similar fashion to the opening XCO round the pair worked together until midway point. It was on the fifth of seven laps when Holmgren increased her pace on the steep climbs and quickly gained a lead of 12 seconds. Italian Sara Cortinovis (Ghost Factory Racing) and Canadian Ella Macphee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Racing) had slower starts but their consistent pace pulled them through to battle out for the final podium spot. Holmgren continued to grow out her lead and finished 50 seconds ahead of Corvi, while Macphee had enough power in the final lap to place third and second Canadian on the podium. “I loved every second of it,” said Holmgren. “I wanted to see how the race would play out, we worked together really well in the first few laps making a bigger gap. “I noticed that I was putting her under a bit of pressure so I went all in and created the gap.” Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) won the opening UCI XCO World Cup round last weekend and put in another masterclass to continue his winning form. Unhappy with the large leading group which had gathered on the second of eight laps, Cube Factory Racing team-mates Treudler and Nikolaj Hougs went on the offensive and gapped the rest by 15 seconds. With the team-mates sharing out pace setting through the wooded terrain the leaders slowly edged out a gap on the seven chasers. At the halfway point Treudler proved too strong for team-mate Hougs and last weekend’s UCI XCO World Cup winner was alone at the front. Hougs faded following his earlier effort and crashed on a technical wooded section to lose further time, falling back to the chasers and then out of podium contention. The chasing group fractured on the penultimate lap with Norwegian William Handley and Elian Paccagnella (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Racing) going clear in search of the podium. European champion Treudler was able to give a triumphant celebrating, with Handley pulling clear in second and Paccagnella holding off the chasers to complete the podium. “I wanted to get a gap early to race my own rhythm,” said Treudler. “I knew I could go super hard on the uphills and I tried to keep it safe in the downhills, with all the sharp rocks and stuff. "It was super hard, especially when you get called the times, you never know sometimes the gap gets bigger, sometimes it gets smaller. I just tried to focus on myself and it worked out in the end.” The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues with the first round of the UCI Enduro World Cup in Finale Ligure-Finale Outdoor Region, Italy on May 9-11.
After the fireworks of last week’s opening round, the second UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup in Araxá, Minas Gerais in as many weeks had a lot to live up to but live up to it did as Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) produced stunning individual performances to claim consecutive wins. Richards had threatened throughout but was unable to shake Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) and Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) until the very last, going long in a sprint for the line that the other podium finishers couldn’t handle. The win was the reigning UCI XCC World Champion’s seventh in the format, which saw her overtake Pauline Ferrand-Prévot as the most successful elite women in XCC ever. In the men’s elite, Blevins recovered from a slow start to find himself in the four-strong lead group as the race entered its final stages. The American launched a searing attack on the course’s calf-shredding climb, blowing everyone including team-mate Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) away to cross the line with enough time to drink in the adulation of the vibrant Brazilian crowd. Koretkzy would once again finish second, outgunning the G.O.A.T Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) at the last. Before the elites, it was the turn of the U23s on Araxá’s red clay course, and it was almost a complete repeat of round one’s results – Isabella Holmgren claiming her second XCC win in Brazil, while Elian Paccagnella (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) recorded his first UCI U23 win. RICHARDS MAKES IT TWO FROM TWO IN ARAXÁ Evie Richards might not have been targeting the win last week, but even when the reigning UCI XCC World Champion isn’t in peak form, she can’t stop coming first – taking her second victory in as many weeks. It wasn’t as clear cut for the Brit as last Saturday’s race though, and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) set the early pace as a lead group of 16 formed. One of those who appeared to be out of contention before the race had properly got going was Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) – the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup series leader forced to unclip on the Araxá XCC course’s twisting ascent and leaving herself with a lot of catching up to do. Richards flexed her muscles for the first time on lap three, leading the pack up the climb and over the rock garden with Jenny Rissveds and Jennifer Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory Team) for company, but the group would soon reform and rebunch as riders took their feet off the gas entering the start-finish straight. This became a theme for the next few laps – the lead constantly shuffling but no one appearing willing to stake a claim. That was until Jackson launched a move on lap six that only Richards and Rissveds appeared to be able to handle. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) attempted to bridge the gap as the race entered its final lap, but it was too little too late for the reigning UCI XCC World Cup overall winner and as Richards started to turn the screw, it was Koller who appeared to be the most likely to be able to prevent the Brit from consecutive wins. The Swiss rider overtook Richards on the climb, entering the rock garden and jump line in a commanding position. But the Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli rider isn’t sporting the rainbow bands for nothing and glided past Koller to leave South America with maximum points. “I think when you’re world champion and you’re leading the series, there’s a lot of pressure, so I was really nervous before,” said Richards at the line. “We had a bit of a rough plan, but nothing changes too much. You’ve just got to [think] on your feet and depending on how the race goes, you can’t really have a plan.” BLEVINS BLOWS AWAY COMPETITION WITH LAST LAP SURGE Last week’s win was Christopher Blevins’ first UCI XCC World Cup triumph since 2022, but the American only had to wait six days to get that first-place feeling again as he threw down the gauntlet in Araxá. Blevins’ race hadn’t got off to the greatest start, and it was his team-mate Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) who set the early tempo, leading a sizeable group of riders around the fairly unchanged XCC course for the first lap. As the race hotted up like the baking Brazilian climate, Schurter took charge of proceedings, showing some style on the jump line, while the rainbow stripes of Koretkzy also came to the fore. Blevins finally found his spot at the head of the pack by lap three, when a resurgent Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) looked back to his 2023 best and upped the ante at the front. The German set the pace until the halfway point of lap six, when the Specialized Factory Racing pair of Koretzky and Blevins went on the attack on the climb – the latter leading into the technical rock garden. Only Carter Woods (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC) and Schurter could stay in contact, and it was clear that the podium would come from this quartet. Entering the last lap, it was Koretkzy who played his hand first, going deep with an audacious move off the front that saw Woods wilt in the heat. Blevins held the Frenchman’s wheel though, launching his own attack on the climb that saw the bungee cord finally break. His lead was suddenly five seconds, and there was no coming back. Crossing the finish line arms aloft, he became only the second elite man after Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to win the first two XCC races of the season. Koretzky would have to settle for second, with Schurter third. “I still feel like I’m trying to find my consistency. It’s such a hard sport. There are so many guys who can win. I don’t take it for granted. I’m really happy to start as I have here,” said Blevins at the line, before adding that his winning move was pre-meditated. “Everybody knows that’s where you’ve got to go, and you have to be leading there. Deja vu again. It’s been three times where Victor [Koretzky] was leading going into that. That gives me confidence, knowing that he’s got a kick that I’ve got to go really hard to match. Three times in a row 1-2 is really amazing for the team.” HOLMGREN CONTINUES 100% RECORD AND PACCAGNELLA ANNOUNCES HIMSELF ON WORLD STAGE Isabella Holmgren made it two U23 UCI XCC World Cup wins from two in Brazil – the Canadian maintaining a 100% record in Araxá having also won last weekend’s U23 UCI XCO World Cup. It wasn’t a carbon copy of last Saturday’s short track win though, and the reigning U23 XCC World Champion had to bide her time before winning in a sprint finish for the line. It was last week’s second-place finisher Katharina Sadnik (KTM Factory MTB Team) who had led the race from the first lap – the Austrian setting a ferocious early pace that slowly whittled away the lead group to five riders by the sixth and final lap. As well as Holmgren, she had fellow first-round podium finisher Ella Maclean-Howell (Cube Factory Racing), while Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) and Marin Lowe (Liv Factory Racing) completed the quintet. But the race-leading efforts soon caught up with the KTM Factory MTB Team rider, and when Holmgren kicked with the line in sight, she didn’t have enough in the tank to respond. Corvi also managed to out-lunge the Austrian in a photo finish, with Maclean-Howell and Lowe having to settle for fourth and fifth respectively. "I’m feeling really good. It’s super hot out today so that definitely made the race really hard. It was so much fun, super tactical. It’s almost like road racing, so I enjoyed it a lot,” said Holmgren, who is also competing on the road for Women’s UCI WorldTour team Lidl-Trek during the 2025 season. “It definitely gives me a bit of confidence, but I know that all the girls are super strong and any weekend anyone can be on the top, so there are still a lot of nerves when I go on the start line.” The Men U23 UCI XCC World Cup race wasn’t as close as the women’s, with Elian Paccagnella (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) winning the contest at a canter. Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) was the only other rider to finish within three seconds of the Italian, with his team-mate and last week’s third-place finisher Heby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) rounding out the podium spots. William Handley and round one’s second-place finisher Sondre Rokke had led a 14-strong pack on lap one of an enthralling contest, and the large group stayed together deep into the race. The penultimate lap saw Brayden Johnson launch an attack, splintering the field with only eight riders able to stay within striking distance. Last week’s eighth-placed finisher Paccagnella was perfectly poised, and he threw down a move that only Treudler could follow. First and second decided, it became a battle for the final podium spot, with Johnson not having enough in the tank to hold off Pedersen’s late surge. "It’s an amazing feeling. I can’t believe it until now. Last time I came eighth. I didn’t think at all I could win today, but I was in the end one lap remaining and I thought ‘all out’. I won and it’s unbelievable,” said an overjoyed Paccagnella. It’s just so amazing to win. Tomorrow’s another race. We’ll see how I recover from today, and I hope it’s going well like this.” The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action concludes in Brazil tomorrow as riders return to the tropical terrain for the second UCI XCO World Cup of the season.
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series only just returned from its six-month winter break, but the action keeps on coming this weekend with the second of Araxá, Minas-Gerais’s back-to-back UCI Cross-country World Cup rounds. After a six-month break, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is back with a bang as the Endurance contests open their 2025 accounts with two weekends of consecutive racing in Araxá, Minas-Gerais, Brazil. The dust might have just settled on the Brazilian venue’s red clay course, but riders are readying themselves to go again on the tropical terrain – a second race weekend in quick succession offering those with disappointing season openers the chance to make immediate amends, while also enabling those who came out on top to reemphasize their dominance. The racing won’t be a foregone conclusion, either. Course designers are mixing things up for the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup course, with new features and trails for the riders to get to grips with ahead of Saturday’s finals. A SPELLBINDING SOUTH AMERICAN SHOW Last weekend’s racing saw Araxá prove that its 2024 UCI World Cup debut was no fluke. Then, fans witnessed a thrilling finale in the men’s elite XCO race, and while the 2025 season opener didn’t feature a four-up sprint for the line, each contest was an intriguing spectacle that showed the various ways you can win a cross-country race. In the women’s elite XCO race, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) made history by clinching her first elite UCI XCO World Cup win – the 23-year-old New Zealander biding her time in the lead group before creating a small gap on the seventh lap that the chasing Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) weren’t able to close. Maxwell’s win also meant she was eligible to select her own career number – a new feature for the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. She opted for #66, although as the current UCI XCO World Cup leader, she’ll be racing with the #1 plate this weekend. Meanwhile, in the men’s elite, teamwork made the dream work – Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) time-trialled their way to an insurmountable advantage over the chasing pack before the Frenchman threw down a race-winning surge on the penultimate lap that Blevins couldn’t come back from. SAME AGAIN OR ALL CHANGE AT THE TOP? While the XCO course is undergoing some modifications for round two, the riders won’t be going into it completely blind come Saturday’s finals and will have had time to practice and get up to speed with any tricky new technical areas. When picking favourites, it’s therefore worth looking at who appeared to be at the peak of their powers in hot and humid conditions in Brazil. Few would write off Maxwell’s chances of doing the Araxá double. The Kiwi has shown she can beat the best in her second elite season and appears to be in the form of her life after a near-perfect weekend where she also finished second in the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup. Those looking to prevent the 23-year-old from going back-to-back include the riders who shared the podium with her last Sunday – Koller and Blunk – while the reigning UCI XCO and XCC overall series winner, Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon), has shown she’s back to her consistent best following surgery at the end of last season. Riders with points to prove meanwhile include Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO), Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing) and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing), who will all be hoping for better next time out. In the men’s elite field, it’s hard to look beyond the Specialized Factory Racing show, with Koretzky appearing to have the edge over Blevins in the longer format of the XCO. The rest of the pack will have to find a way of disrupting the pair’s dominance in Araxá, and it might require the Swiss trio of Lars Forster (Thömus Maxon), Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) – who finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively – to form an alliance along national lines to prevent Koretzky from running away with an early lead in the overall series. Elsewhere, Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) will be looking to make amends, having failed to finish on Sunday, while Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team) shouldn’t be overlooked – the Dane is the only other rider present who has won at the venue. In the XCC meanwhile, the course remains the same and racing is likely to be just as tight. Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) and Blevins came out on top in round one, and enter this Friday’s races as favourites, but expect opposition from Koretzky, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) and Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC) in the men’s elite, and Maxwell, Keller and Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) in the women’s elite. Racing gets underway in Araxá on Friday with the U23 UCI XCC World Cup – full schedule and events details are available here.
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will be streamed across the globe via WBD Sports’ network including Max, Eurosport and discovery+, as well as a host of broadcast partners. After a five-day break, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns this Friday with Araxá, Brazil hosting the second rounds of the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Short Track (XCC) World Cup seasons to conclude the Brazilian venue’s back-to-back doubleheader. We look at everything you need to know about the Araxá round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series races, including when the men’s and women’s XCO and XCC events are scheduled to take place, who is racing and how to watch. WHEN? The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Araxá, Brazil starts with the Women U23 UCI XCC World Cup round at 11:15 (UTC-3) Friday, April 11 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI XCO World Cup at 14:45 (UTC-3) on Saturday, April 12. Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-3 (EST+1/BST-4/CET-5): Friday, April 11 · 11:15 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U23 · 11:55 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U23 · 13:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite · 13:40 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite Saturday, April 12 · 9:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U23 · 10:45 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U23 · 12:45 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite · 14:45 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? You can watch all the action from the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá, Brazil wherever you are in the world. Both the men’s and women's UCI XCO World Cup U23 races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, but for all other races, tune in to one of the below channels or streaming services: North America Canada – Flobikes USA – Max Central and South America Brazil – Rede Minas (XCC and XCO live); Bandsport (XCO men delayed) All other Central and South American territories: MTBWS TV Asia Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – Eurosport All other Asian territories: MTBWS TV Oceania Australia – Stan Sport New Zealand – MTBWS TV Africa Angola, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cape Verde, Cote d'lvoire, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial, Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger, Reunion, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini, São Tome and Principe, St Helena and Ascension, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Socotra, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Zambia – Supersport All other African territories: MTBWS TV Europe Andorra – Max & Eurosport Austria – discovery+ & Eurosport Belgium – HBO Max & Eurosport Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max & Eurosport Bulgaria – Max & Eurosport Croatia – Max & Eurosport Czechia – Max, Eurosport & CT Sport+ Denmark – Max & Eurosport Faroe Islands – Max & Eurosport Finland – Max & Eurosport France – Max, Eurosport & L'Équipe Live Germany – discovery+ & Eurosport Greece – Eurosport Hungary – Max & Eurosport Ireland – discovery+ & TNT Sports Italy – discovery+ & Eurosport Moldova – Max & Eurosport Montenegro – Max & Eurosport Netherlands – HBO Max & Eurosport North Macedonia – Max & Eurosport Norway – Max & Eurosport Poland – Max & Eurosport Portugal – Max & Eurosport Romania – Max & Eurosport Serbia – Max & Eurosport Slovakia – Max & Eurosport Slovenia – Max & Eurosport Spain – Max & Eurosport Sweden – Max & Eurosport Switzerland – Eurosport & SRF2/RSI LA2 Türkiye: Eurosport United Kingdom – discovery+ & TNT Sports 1 All other European territories – MTBWS TV MTBWS TV is new for the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and is an evolution of WBD Sports’ distribution agreement with the streaming service Staylive. Find out more at https://watch.ucimtbworldseries.com/ and discover if it is available in your location here. RIDERS TO WATCH After last weekend’s fireworks in Araxá, we have an early indication of who is starting the season in red-hot form and who’s still a bit off the pace. Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) shared the spoils in the men’s XCO and XCC in round one, and it’s hard to look beyond the pair when picking winners for this weekend’s racing. There will be plenty of riders vying to break up the Specialized Factory Racing monopoly, though, with Lars Forster (Thömus Maxon), Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) coming closest in the XCO. In the women’s field, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) had the jump on the rest of the pack in the XCO and had enough in the tank to hold out for a debut UCI XCO World Cup win. The Kiwi will be aiming to do it all again on Saturday, but she’ll face stiff competition from a chasing pack that will now be closing down every move. Chief amongst them will be Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), who had to settle for second and third place, respectively, on Sunday, while Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) can’t be ignored. In the UCI XCC World Cup, UCI XCC World Champion Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) will be targeting a second win in as many weeks in the rainbow bands, while Blevins will have his work cut out for him if he’s to beat Koretzky and Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) once more. Racing gets underway in Araxá on Friday. Full schedule and events details are available HERE.
The UCI Enduro World Cup heads to Pietra Ligure (Italy) this May (9–11), where the world’s best riders will battle it out on some of the most iconic natural trails in the sport. That same weekend, amateur riders will have the chance to put their fitness, racing skills, and trail-side repair savvy to the test on those very same tracks. Registration is now live for the Enduro Open Race, with riders having until May 2, 2025, to sign up. This is a unique opportunity for fans to take on the same heart-pounding descents and leg-burning climbs tackled by the pros. Speed is of the essence if you want to secure your spot on the start line, with a limit of 400 spaces available. A TECHNICAL AND SCENIC COURSE This year’s Enduro Open racecourse spans 43 km with 1,700 meters of elevation gain, designed to test both the technical skills and endurance of participants. For those competing in the E-MTB race, the course will be 32 km with 1,500 meters of elevation gain, specifically designed to be completed with a single battery, making energy management a key factor for success. Both races will be entirely pedal-powered, with no shuttle support—bringing enduro racing back to its roots. Riders will be tested not just on technical descents and high-speed sections, but also on their physical stamina and ability to endure a full day out on the trails. The selected course features some of the best trails in the Finale Outdoor region area, offering a perfect mix of flowy sections, technical challenges, and breathtaking sea views—making for an unforgettable racing experience. The race is open to the following categories: Junior Men, Junior Women, Men, Women, Masters Men (35+), Masters Women (35+), E-bike Men, and E-bike Women. As an official qualifying event for the UCI Enduro World Cup, the race awards global ranking points, providing a crucial opportunity for those aiming to compete at the UCI World Cup level. A WEEKEND OF SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT The EDR Open and E-EDR Open races are set for Saturday, May 10, with official practice kicking off on Friday, May 9. And the fun doesn’t end with racing—competing on Saturday means riders can spend Sunday soaking up the action as spectators, watching the world’s top riders go head-to-head in the UCI Enduro World Cup. HOW TO REGISTER The deadline to register for the Open Enduro race is May 2, 2025. Registration is now open—sign up HERE. There is a limit of 400 spaces available!
The French equipment brand signs five-year deal as the Official Bicycle Shoe Supplier and also becomes the official partner for its home UCI World Cup round of Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe and Mavic are proud to confirm a new five-year agreement for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The historic French apparel and equipment manufacturer becomes an official supplier of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series as the Official Bicycle Shoe supplier, as well as an Official Partner for the UCI World Cup round in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France). Founded in Lyon, France, and now based in Annecy, Mavic has been at the forefront of cycling innovation for over 135 years. Best known for its pioneering bicycle wheels, the brand meticulously designs its products in the heart of the French Alps, reflecting a deep commitment to performance and innovation. Instantly recognisable by its distinctive style and iconic yellow-and-black colours, Mavic embodies excellence in the cycling world. Its passion for innovation is evident in every wheel spun and every piece of gear worn, with products distributed worldwide. From the racetrack to open roads and rugged trails, Mavic boldly transforms the cycling experience. Thanks to their innovations and designs validated by hundreds of hours of laboratory, wind tunnel, and field testing, their products have proven their ability to withstand the extreme demands and constraints of the extreme speeds reached by professional athletes, powering them to prestigious international and Olympic titles across multiple formats and disciplines. The new partnership sees Mavic strengthen its dedication to mountain biking and the global riding community. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “A true symbol of innovation and performance, Mavic’s cutting-edge equipment is recognised as a benchmark in the sport. It remains one of the most influential brands in mountain biking, continuing to shape the sport’s greatest moments. “The new five-year partnership with WBD Sports brings together the pinnacle of mountain biking competition – the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series – and in Mavic, one of the sport’s most iconic pioneers.” Alberto Morgando, CEO of Mavic: "By joining forces with WBD Sports as an official partner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Mavic reaffirms its deep-rooted passion for mountain biking and competition, both integral to our DNA. This partnership presents a unique opportunity to amplify the presence of our iconic yellow brand, particularly through WBD Sports' dynamic activations and cutting-edge digital solutions. These innovations will bring us closer to the fans, allowing us to share the thrill of the sport in new and engaging ways. We are proud to contribute to the global growth of this spectacular discipline and to strengthen our connection with the mountain biking community worldwide." The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series began last weekend in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil), with the first of 16 rounds. The action continues in Brazil next Friday and Saturday, with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup taking centre stage on April 11, followed by the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup on April 12, wrapping up this exciting opening double-header. Live and on-demand coverage of every race is available through WBD’s channels and platforms including Eurosport (Europe) and TNT Sports (UK & Ireland) with streaming on Max and discovery+, as well as around the world through WBD’s broadcast partners. More information on where to watch the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series this weekend is available here.
Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) survived a nail-biting final lap chase to win an emotional maiden UCI World Cup round, while Victor Koretzky led a 1-2-3 for Specialized Factory Racing in the Men Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup race in tropical Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil). Koretzky and Blevins broke clear very early and rode a majestic two-man team time trial for the first eight laps, the Frenchman finally breaking the truce on the penultimate circuit with the chasing pack well out of contention. After Blevins led a team 1-2 in the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup yesterday, it was Koretzky’s turn in XCO and Martin Vidaurre made it thrice as nice for the team after his important role disrupting the pursuit. Maxwell broke for glory on lap seven, causing the group of favourites to splinter behind as only teammate Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) could live with the 23-year-old’s frantic pace. Maxwell led the chasers by 18 seconds at the start of the final lap but was hanging on by her fingernails through the final few corners with Koller finishing just four seconds behind the first-time victor. Men’s and women’s U23 victors only spent a couple of laps within view of the main pack combined, Finn Treudler (CUBE Factory Racing) and Isabella Holmgren won by 29 and 19 seconds respectively. VICTOR BY NAME AND NATURE AS SPECIALIZED CELEBRATE SUPER SUNDAY A race that lasted 80 minutes was effectively over within five when Koretzky and Blevins gapped Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) in the Red Bull Energy Zone on lap one. After their dominance in the XCC curtain-raiser, the Specialized Factory Racing pair were again left to fight between themselves for victory in an exceptional display of teamwork that worked perfectly for eight laps. As Kortezky and Blevins rolled turns on the front for over an hour, Maximilian Brandl (Lapierre Racing Unity), Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Racing Team) and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) each made big efforts leading a fractured chasing group but all in vain with Specialized Factory Racing’s Martin Vidaurre playing a valiant blocking role. The white flag was finally raised with three laps of nine still to go, as the 17-man chase group switched their focus to the fight for third, and the party soon become 18 when Schurter completed his impressive recovery ride from an early problem. As the gap hit a minute on the penultimate lap, Koretzky decided enough was enough and dropped the hammer on his teammate, the move appearing conclusive as he quickly gained nine seconds on Blevins. The American stemmed the bleeding as rain began to fall adding an extra dimension to the red clay and humid conditions, before Koretzky kicked again on the final lap while Vidaurre attacked behind to make it one-two-three for Specialized on the trail. All of them held on, Koretzky embraced Blevins after crossing the line before the pair turned and cheered Vidaurre home in the sprint for third, capping a special weekend for the team “Chris [Blevins] was super strong at the beginning of the race, he did a super-high pace and it was difficult to follow him. Then I had a second life in the middle of the race,” Koretzky said. “We just did one lap each all the time, I had a flat on the last two laps so it was tricky for me on the downhill, tough stuff until the end, but I managed to finish like this. “I think we were all the time teammates; the goal was to be together until the last moment. Alone it was difficult to do it but with my teammate it was like a hard day in training. It’s so cool to share that with the team.” The Specialized trio weren’t the only ones celebrating at the finish line either, as three home heroes sent the Araxá crowd into raptures. Gustavo Xavier, Alex Malacarne and Ulan Galinski crossed the line together in 10th, 11th and 12th sealing the first time three Brazilians have finished in the top 12 of a UCI World Cup round, passing a host of more established riders on the final lap to complete the feat. MAXWELL CONTINUES TO LIVE THE DREAM IN ARAXÁ After Samara Maxwell described Saturday’s XCC second place as a “dream come true”, she must quickly get used to this reality of being a main contender at UCI Cross-country World Cups as the Kiwi blazed clear of a star-studded lead group and held off a determined pursuit from Nicole Koller who also had the carrot of a first win at this level. While the winning move only went away in the final quarter of the race, the main protagonists were established early as Jenny Rissveds set a blistering early tempo in her first XCO race for Canyon CLLCTV XCO. Aided by Jolanda Neff - also keen to impress in new colours for Cannondale Factory Racing - the Swiss rider couldn’t sustain the punishing workload, but the winner always looked likely to be one of Rissveds, Maxwell, Blunk, Koller, Candice Lill, Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) or Jennifer Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory Team). Jackson was the most surprising member as she survived a heart-in-mouth moment on the opening lap. The Canadian misjudged a landing in the Red Bull Energy Zone and skewed left into the crowd yet somehow returned to the front group in a matter of minutes, later saying she hoped her race wasn’t only remembered for the ‘hugie’. A crash for Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team new signing Emily Johnston threatened to red-flag the race, but the action ultimately continued uninterrupted as the incident coincided with Maxwell’s winning attack. She scorched up a rocky ascent and try as they might, Koller and Blunk couldn’t reel in Maxwell, who gave a tearful interview after a fight UCI World Cup victory that looked like it might never come when the reigning Oceania Champion took a career break to deal with an eating disorder that gives her reduced energy levels. “I genuinely can’t [believe it], Jenny [Rissveds] was so strong at the start and I was on the limit the whole time,” Maxwell said. “On the descents I’ve been working so hard technically over the summer on my skills, it was just a matter of getting to the front and I just went for it.” Asked when she believed she would win in Araxá, Maxwell responded: “At the finish line. I honestly couldn’t believe it, I just kept telling myself ‘this is for a world cup win, hurt as much as you can because you won’t get it if you don’t’. “The team has been so incredible for me, I’ve had a bit of hard time the last few years and the team stood by me and said, ‘no matter what you do, as you long as you put your health and yourself as a person first, we will support you’. “They were willing to support me walking away from the mountain biking team for a few years to get back healthy because they believed in me so much. So, to have everything fall into line for these amazing people is the most special part.” U IS FOR UNTOUCHABLE AS TREUDLER AND HOMLGREN DOMINATE U23 Isabella Holmgren wrote off a tilt at the overall title after her UCI XCC World Cup triumph yesterday, but 24 hours later the Canadian underlined her supremacy in the Women U23 competition by winning the XCO race by 19 seconds Resplendent in the UCI World Champion’s rainbow bands, Holmgren wasted little time in breaking away from the field with only Valentina Corvi able to follow for Canyon CLLCTV XCO. It appeared that pair would contest the win until Corvi was also discarded on the rocky ascent of lap three, she dropped back to join Ella MacPhee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and Ella MacLean-Howell (CUBE Factory Racing) in the group that provided the best remaining action. Despite her early pace, Corvi made the mistake that crowned MacPhee runner-up as she was forced to unclip on a narrow and rooty uphill section, blocking MacLean-Howell with the Canadian ahead, and none of the trio were even in view as Holmgren crossed the line to complete her weekend double. “I was pretty much on the limit with her [Valentina Corvi]. I think at one point I realised I put in a bit of a gap, so I just kept my effort going and then tried to hold on until the end”, Holmgren said. A start line crash marred the opening lap of the men’s U23 race as Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) hit the deck, the German’s misfortune causing a domino effect through the riders behind including Canyon CLLCTV XCO’s Thibaut Francois Baudry and Tom Schellekens of KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team. Martin Farstadvoll set a blistering pace on the opening lap and held a commanding early lead, but proved to have gone too hard too soon and was overhauled by Finn Treudler on lap two. The Swiss rider disappeared into the distance and quickly inflated his advantage to 45 seconds, where it would remain until a late chain problem, while the all-Danish battle for second between Nikolaj Hougs (CUBE Factory Racing) and national champion Heby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Racing Team) was won by the latter. Schellekens took a very creditable fourth, but none of them could touch Treudler, who finally took top spot in Araxá after finishing a close second to Riley Amos last season. “I was really determined on going for that first spot today,” Treudler said. “I came so close last year, and I knew with all the fast guys from last year moving up I’m definitely one of the favourites and I wanted to prove that today. “I lost my chain in the second-last lap, I was a bit scared, but I had a good gap and kept it to the finish. I just tried to keep calm, and I knew I had the legs even if they catch me again.” The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series remains in Brazil for more thrills and spills next Friday and Saturday on a modified Araxá course, with the UCI XCC World Cup taking centre stage on April 11 before the UCI XCO World Cup returns on April 12 as the climax of this opening double-header.
The UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup began with a bang in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil), as Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) produced triumphant explosive moves on the final laps of two thrilling Men’s and Women’s Elite curtain raisers. Richards kept her powder dry until the end of the Women’s Elite race but followed all the potential winning moves with apparent ease before dropping her own bombshell on the final climb, swinging wide into the climb to carry maximum speed into the ascent and blow Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) and Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) off her back wheel. Richards never relinquished the slender lead she carried over the summit to Decathlon Ford Racing Team’s Samara Maxwell - the only rider to live with the initial acceleration - as the UCI XCC World Champion banished the demons of the concussion she suffered in Araxá last season. The Men’s Elite contest didn’t feature the same high-octane racing from start to finish but produced an even more exciting finale with two teammates in a league of their own on a hair-raising last circuit, Blevins and Victor Koretzky throwing everything at each other as third-placed Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) could only watch. And as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returned for 2025 on the iconic red clay of Araxá, Sondre Rokke and Isabella Holmgren got their U23 campaigns off to the perfect start. RICHARDS COMBINES AND BRAWN TO DOUBLE UP IN ARAXÁ It’s no surprise Evie Richards is sporting those rainbow bands if she can win like this in races she’s not even targeting. With plenty of riders lining up in new colours at the start of the next Olympic cycle, Jolanda Neff, Jenny Rissveds and Loana Lecomte might’ve been too keen to impress for Cannondale Factory Racing, Canyon CLLCTV XCO and BMC Factory Racing respectively as they pushed the pace early in a lead group that also included Richards and Swiss duo Keller and Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing). That sextet initially looked like the riders who would contest the win as the first-day fervour caused a crash on the maiden feature as Ronja Eibl found strife on the bridge for Origine Racing Division. However, the tempo relented in the second quarter as first Maxwell bridged across, then the lead group ballooned to 15 after entering the penultimate lap after Keller had reduced it to just Richards and Frei at one stage. Having bided her time through five laps, Maxwell stunned the pack by making the decisive selection of the race on the climb of the sixth circuit with only Richards, Keller and Koller able to follow the explosion uphill - the Brit once again showing her strength without putting her nose in the wind. That all changed as the lead quartet took the bell though, as Richards left the Swiss pair in the dust up the final climb and opened up a bike length, then two to Maxwell, that the Kiwi just couldn’t close, both riders celebrating across the line. “I’m super happy, this wasn’t a target race for me,” Richards said, having also admitted she felt low on confidence entering the weekend. “I wasn’t very confident coming into it, but I like to win so I was really focused. This is what I love doing so I just give it everything and see where I come. I’m just trying to be a bit smarter tactically, the first race of the year it’s more like sus everyone else out and ride my own race. I couldn’t have attacked if I didn’t have the legs, so it was just on my feelings really.” SPECIALIZED DOUBLE UP IN MEN’S ELITE 1-2 Same race, different result. Victor Koretzky was superior last season in Araxá when the Specialized pair juked it out, but 12 months later Blevins crossed the line with his arms aloft for his first XCC triumph since 2022. Blevins pushed the tempo alongside Simon Andreassen in the Dane’s first race for Orbea Fox Factory Team, yet try as they might, neither rider could force a decisive split. With Charlie Aldridge and Mathias Fluckinger also present and correct at the front for Cannondale Factory Racing, gaps of a few bike lengths failed to convert to anything more and 30 riders were in the lead group entering the penultimate lap, where a Koretzky mistake finally broke the stalemate. The UCI XCC World Champion unclipped as he turned to summit and Blevins immediately dropped the hammer in response - pulling Azzaro, Andreassen and Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing) with him while the beleaguered Kortezky took the bell in seventh. Although he did recover to briefly lead on the road run-in, Blevins smelled blood and attacked again on the climb to whittle it down to a two-horse race as Koretzky regained ground on the rock section. Blevins survived elbow-elbow contact through the flat corners and had more in the tank for the home straight after Koretzky’s lung-busting effort, Azzaro the only other rider in view as the American crossed the line. “Victor’s a champion, I love having him as a teammate,” Blevins said. “It’s one of the best feelings in the world when you’re going for that last lap and you’re about to battle with a teammate that you live this with. “I was feeling really good on that kick and then the jumps as well, so I wanted to lead there and try to old it off which is a hard thing to do with Victor behind you. “UCI World Cup Short Tracks are such a fight for position the whole time, I made an effort to be more intentional, be more of a fighter and don’t give up positions. This time I spent more time in the wind than I usually do but that paid off for me.” Victor Koretzky has the consolation of a front-row start in tomorrow’s UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup race as he chases that elusive first UCI World Cup overall win in the discipline, and added: “At two laps to go I did a mistake on the hill and it was the moment Chris [Blevins] decided to attack so I lost a few seconds and places. I managed to close the gap on the last lap, for me it was not the last lap full gas but the last one and a half so at the end I was completely empty. “I didn’t want to do any mistakes on the few last corners so we just keep the position, it’s a win for Specialized Factory Racing team and that’s the most important.” LAST LAP PROVES DIVISIVE IN U23 RACES With reigning U23 UCI XCC overall winners Riley Amos and Kira Böhm moving up to the elite ranks, it was anyone’s guess who’d come out on top in the first races of the weekend, two cagey affairs where the margin of victory was in single digits. Isabella Holmgren was one of the main animators in the Women U23 alongside compatriot Ella MacPhee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) after they finished fifth and ninth last season. It took until the final quarter of the race for the pack to splinter, the Canadian duo escaping with Valentina Corvi (Canyon CLLCTV XCO), Katharina Sadnik (KTM Factory MTB Team) and Ella MacLean-Howell (CUBE Factory Racing), and initially LIV Factory Racing’s Tyler Jacobs before the South African faded. Holmgren wasn’t done there though, kicking again on the final lap to open a four-second gap across the line while Sadnik outsprinted MacLean-Howell to take second place. Holmgren is balancing road and mountain bike commitments this season so wrote off a tilt at the overall charge, but the Canadian said her quest for as many headline results as possible got off to the perfect start: “It’s my first race of the season so I was really nervous obviously, don’t know where the fitness is at and everything. I just tried to go in, see how the race played out and make my strategy because you don’t know how anyone else is going, and yeah just raced hard.” The men’s U23 race was an even tighter affair, with a lead pack of 15 riders fighting out the finale. Norwegians Sondre Rokke and Martin Farstadvoll were among those setting a punishing pace in the sapping conditions. Farstadvoll fell out of contention on the final lap as Lexware Mountainbike team’s Paul Schehl made the initial dig, creating separation but not enough to survive Rokke’s ferocious attack on the climb. He finished almost two minutes down on Amos last season yet proved the man to beat in the 2025 season opener, holding onto his lead ahead of the final stampede, as Brayden Johnson and Wilier-Vittora Factory Team’s Heby Gustav won the battle for the remainder of the top three. Rokke called his victory “unexpected” but hopes it can provide the springboard to an overall challenge in his final year of U23, adding: “Super hard from the start, then just the battle for position into the climb every lap. I felt quite good on the downhill, could just cruise a bit down and take the gaps again. I was a bit lucky into the last climb and just pushed hard, tried to get some metres over the top and held it to the finish line.” After the UCI XCC World Cup got the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to a thrilling start, the action keeps on coming from Brazil as riders return tomorrow for the UCI XCO World Cup curtain-raiser in Araxá.
Iconic Japanese bicycle components manufacturer signs four-year deal as the Official Drivetrain & Electric Drive Unit Components partner Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe and SHIMANO are proud to confirm a four-year partnership agreement for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The Japanese manufacturer becomes a main partner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and is the Official Drivetrain & Electric Drive Unit Components partner. The partnership builds on a strong legacy that both WBD Sports and Shimano share within the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Shimano’s strong relationship with the UCI goes back more than 25 years, and this new partnership will build on this foundation, with both WBD Sports and Shimano eager to explore exciting new opportunities. The partnership means that Shimano will be involved at every round of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, providing technical support and assistance to all athletes and ensuring that everyone is ready to take to the start line or start hut – from the opening Brazilian Cross-country double header in Araxá, Minas Gerais, through to the season finale in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “Shimano is synonymous with quality and reliability, and has been at the forefront of mountain bike drivetrain and electric drive unit component development for decades. “Already a mainstay in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, the new four-year partnership enables WBD Sports and Shimano to build on our historic success and develop new, innovative ways of working together and supporting athletes and teams at every round of the series.” Yuzo Shimano, Senior Executive Officer, Vice President, Bicycle Marketing Department and Planning Department at Shimano, said: “We are proud to be part of this ground-breaking technical partnership with WBD Sports and the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Shimano wants to support mountain biking racing at all levels, while we continuously innovate alongside these fantastic athletes taking part in the series. “By providing our technical expertise at every round, we are ensuring that all athletes have access to the captivating products and reliability that has defined Shimano for generations.” For over 100 years, Shimano has been committed to crafting industry-leading cycling components and accessories. A key focus of their efforts is a system engineering approach, where products are designed to work together seamlessly for the ultimate on-bike experience. Founded in 1921, Shimano now operates offices and factories worldwide.
New AI technology platform transforms storytelling capabilities for WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series coverage, enhancing the viewer experience through data-driven insights Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe today announces the launch of Cycling Central Intelligence (CCI), an innovative generative AI-powered platform developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), that transforms how mountain bike events are brought to viewers worldwide. The platform debuts at the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season opener in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) this weekend, marking a significant advancement in sports broadcasting technology. As part of this initiative, AWS becomes the Official Cloud Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning Provider for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, supporting WBD's mission to further enhance on-screen experiences for mountain bike’s global fan base. CCI will dramatically improve efficiencies for cycling commentators by mitigating the challenges of accessing comprehensive information about riders, venues and race histories within a live broadcasting environment. By providing instant access to a wealth of data points, it will empower commentary teams to deliver even richer, contextual storytelling to better connect fans with their favourite sport. "What makes CCI truly revolutionary is how it enhances and complements the human expertise that makes sports broadcasting special," said Chris Ball, VP, Cycling Events at WBD Sports. "Our commentators and producers bring unmatched levels of experience and passion for the sport, and through our partnership with AWS, CCI ensures they can expertly craft the compelling stories and insights that our viewers love and that will keep them engaged. "This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to innovation in sports broadcasting," Ball continued. "By combining cutting-edge AI technology with our leading production expertise, we're setting new standards for how mountain bike events are brought to life for viewers around the globe." "AWS is helping Warner Bros. Discovery enhance the art of sports storytelling through the practical uses of generative AI," said Samira Panah Bakhtiar, General Manager of Media & Entertainment, Games, and Sports at AWS. "This collaboration showcases how AWS’ generative AI services can amplify human expertise. By handling time-consuming research and data synthesis tasks, CCI frees up WBD's talented commentary teams to focus on their passion and ability to capture the excitement of live sports." The CCI platform leverages advanced generative AI capabilities of Amazon Bedrock and Anthropic's Claude 3.5 on AWS to create a unified knowledge base that processes and analyzes hundreds of documents about riders and events, along with vast databases of results, race times, and athletic performance data. This comprehensive system enables commentators and production teams to access information through natural language queries, dramatically reducing research time and enabling more engaging, data-driven storytelling. Working backwards from the needs of its broadcasting teams, WBD Sports Europe collaborated with teams at AWS to envision CCI, develop a proof-of-concept, and build the solution. CCI's technical architecture carefully balances AI capabilities with human expertise. The platform utilizes Amazon Textract for document processing, Amazon Translate for breaking down language barriers across international content, and Amazon Comprehend for organizing and structuring information. Amazon Bedrock integrates with these services while ensuring broadcasting professionals maintain complete control over the storytelling process. The platform will continue to evolve throughout the season, with plans to incorporate additional features that will enable WBD’s commentators and production teams to serve mountain bike fans with the best possible live content and viewing experiences. The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series begins in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) this weekend with the first of 16 rounds. Live and on-demand coverage of every race is available through WBD’s channels and platforms including Eurosport (Europe) and TNT Sports (UK & Ireland) with streaming on Max and discovery+, as well as around the world through WBD’s broadcast partners. More information on where to watch the opening round of the 2025 season is available here.
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will be streamed across the globe via WBD Sports’ network including Max, Eurosport and discovery+, as well as a host of broadcast partners. The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns this weekend with Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) hosting the first round of the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Short Track (XCC) World Cup seasons and kicking off the back-to-back Brazilian doubleheader. We look at everything you need to know about the Araxá round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series events, including when the men’s and women’s XCO and XCC events are scheduled to take place, who is racing and how to watch. WHEN? The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Araxá, Brazil this weekend starts with the Women U23 UCI XCC World Cup round at 10:45 (UTC-3) Saturday, April 5 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI XCO World Cup at 15:30 (UTC-3) on Sunday, April 6 Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-3 (EST+1/BST-4/CET-5): Saturday, April 5 10:45 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U23 11:25 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U23 12:45 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite 13:25 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite Sunday, April 6 9:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U23 11:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U23 13:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite 15:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? You can watch all the action from the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season opener in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) wherever you are in the world. Both the men’s and women's UCI XCO World Cup U23 races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, but for all other races, tune in to one of the below channels or streaming services: North America Canada – Flosports USA – Max Central and South America Brazil – Rede Minas & Bandsport Puerto Rico - MaxAll other Central and South American territories: MTBWS TV Asia Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – EurosportAll other Asian territories: MTBWS TV Oceania Australia – Stan Sport New Zealand – MTBWS TV Africa Angola, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cape Verde, Cote d'lvoire, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial, Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger, Reunion, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini, São Tome and Principe, St Helena and Ascension, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Socotra, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Zambia – SupersportAll other African territories: MTBWS TV Europe Andorra – Max & EurosportAustria – discovery+ & EurosportBelgium – HBO Max & EurosportBosnia & Herzegovina – Max & EurosportBulgaria – Max & Eurosport Croatia – Max & EurosportCzechia – Max, Eurosport & CT Sport+Denmark – Max & EurosportFaroe Islands – Max & EurosportFinland – Max & Eurosport France – Max, Eurosport & L'Équipe (XCO live + XCC delayed)Germany – discovery+ & Eurosport Greece – Eurosport Hungary – Max & EurosportIreland – discovery+ & TNT SportsItaly – discovery+ & EurosportMoldova – Max & EurosportMontenegro – Max & EurosportNetherlands – HBO Max & EurosportNorth Macedonia – Max & EurosportNorway – Max & Eurosport Poland – Max & EurosportPortugal – Max & EurosportRomania – Max & Eurosport Serbia – Max & Eurosport Slovakia – Max & EurosportSlovenia – Max & EurosportSpain – Max & Eurosport Sweden – Max & Eurosport Switzerland – Eurosport & SRF/RSITürkiye: EurosportUnited Kingdom – discovery+ & TNT SportsAll other European territories – MTBWS TV MTBWS TV is new for the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and is an evolution of WBD Sports’ distribution agreement with the streaming service Staylive. Find out more at watch.ucimoutainbikeworldseries.com and discover if it is available in your location here. RIDERS TO WATCH The season opener is always difficult to predict, and if Araxá’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut last season is anything to go by, fans will be kept guessing right up to the line. One thing guaranteed though is that the course will be lined by extremely passionate fans, who will turn every inch of the track into a festival of colour and noise. Between the race tapes, all eyes will be on Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing). The Frenchman is a clear favourite for the UCI XCO World Cup overall series for 2025, and he will be targeting maximum points in Brazil. Those with a good chance of spoiling his perfect start include his team-mate Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing), Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing), and last year’s winner, Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team). In the women’s field, reigning UCI XCO and XCC World Cup overall winner Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) is the woman to beat, with Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO), Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing) and up-and-comer Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) likely to push the Swiss star all the way. In the Short Track, UCI XCC World Champion Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) will be hoping for a winning start to her season in the rainbow stripes, while Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) will be looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing 2024 by his own high standards. Racing gets underway on Saturday, 5th April in Araxá. Full schedule and events details are available HERE.You can find where to watch all of the racing action live in Araxá HERE.
The Brazilian venue is hosting the first of its back-to-back UCI Cross-country World Cup rounds this weekend, and if its debut last year is anything to go by, fans and riders are in for some amazing racing. After a six-month break, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is back with a bang as the Endurance contests open their 2025 accounts with two weekends of consecutive racing in Araxá, Minas-Gerais, Brazil. Located in the country's southeast, 600km south of the capital Brasília, the area is world-renowned for its spa, mountains and waterfalls. Last year, it added mountain bike to that list, with Araxá putting on a UCI World Cup to remember. Its red clay course and tropical backdrop truly set it apart from the rest of the venues on the calendar, and with a fifth of the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup series to be decided on its trails, points secured in Brazil could make all the difference come the season’s end in October. BAR-TO-BAR RACING Araxá set high standards in its WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut in 2024, putting on one of the most memorable races of the season – Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team) coming out on top in a four-way sprint for the line to decide the Men Elite UCI XCO World Cup round. Fans will be hoping for more of the same this time out, and the XCO and XCC courses should deliver – both combining flat, high-speed sections with fast, gravity-fuelled descents. While the venue is going to be the same for the next two weeks, this weekend’s results shouldn’t make round 2 a foregone conclusion either – course designers are keeping the riders on their toes with a modified XCO course to navigate next week. EARLY SEASON FORM-FINDER The first round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series can always be a bit of a lottery with predictions. While some riders will have got between the race tape in smaller contests in the weeks leading up to this weekend, these aren’t necessarily true indicators of form, with some using it as part of their training to peak for Brazil and others returning from off-season injuries or surgery. Last year, Andreassen clinched that iconic XCO win, while Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) achieved an XCO-XCC double. The former is on a new team for 2025, although he looks up to speed on his Orbea with a win in the MTB French Cup in March, while Batten hasn’t raced since a crash at the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships last September ended her 2024 season early, and she is staying in the US rather than travelling to Brazil for the first two rounds. One rider looking to prevent Andreassen securing back-to-back wins in Araxá is Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing). The Frenchman won the UCI XCC World Cup round at the venue last year and will be hoping score maximum points to improve on his second in the XCO overall in 2025. He will face stiff competition though from his team-mate Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing), Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Facing) and the G.O.A.T, Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). In the women’s field, all eyes will be on Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) to see whether the reigning UCI XCO and XCC World Cup overall winner has recovered from surgery in time to mount a defence of her titles. Meanwhile, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) has experience of podiuming in Araxá, and Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing) will aim to continue her end-of-season form with her new team. Outside of the obvious favourites, two other riders worth keeping tabs on are Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) and Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing). The reigning U23 UCI XCO World Cup overall winners did the XCO-XCC doubles in Araxá in 2024 and have already shown they can mix it with the Elites – Böhm winning a CIMTB race in Araxá against a strong South American field as recently as last weekend. In the XCC meanwhile, specialists with plenty to prove include Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) and the UCI XCC World Champion Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli). Racing gets underway in Araxá on Saturday with the U23 short track – full schedule and events details are available here.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series rounds in Pietra Ligure, Val di Fassa, and Morillon will bring Enduro racing back to its roots, with UCI World Cup races now spanning two action-packed days. Three out of the seven UCI Enduro World Cup rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will occur over two days of racing for the first time. Starting with the season opener in Pietra Ligure (Finale Outdoor Region, Italy); Val di Fassa (Trentino, Italy) and Morillon (Haute-Savoie, France) will also pit competitors against back-to-back days in the saddle, with riders facing between 3-5 stages per day and different stages during each race day. The change is an effort to return the format to its roots, where the extended nature of racing allows for more adventure and exploration. It will also push the riders and the bikes to new limits, making an individual’s self-sufficiency as important to win a race as riding ability. Simon Burney, Head of Sport for Cycling Events at WBD Sport, said: “The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series visits the best mountain biking locations around the planet, and Enduro has always been about riders tackling the world’s most raw, natural riding environments. “By adding another day of competition, we’re allowing the course designers to take riders further into the backcountry and test their skills far from the comforts of the race village and their mechanical support. “We hope that it will make for a much more authentic Enduro experience for riders and fans alike, while increasing the unpredictability of every single race weekend.” The remaining four UCI Enduro World Cup rounds, integrated into the multi-format WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series events, will continue as one-day races, each featuring 4-6 stages. The Enduro Trails in Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France), and La Thuile- Valle d’Aosta (Italy) will also host UCI Downhill World Cups on the same weekend. Meanwhile, Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland (Austria) will present a four-day mountain biking festival, showcasing UCI World Cups across all three formats – Cross-country, Downhill, and Enduro. CATEGORIES, CRITERIA AND SCHEDULE The UCI Enduro World Cup categories have received a refresh for the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. In addition to Men Elite and Women Elite, the development categories have been brought in line with the other Gravity format, Downhill, meaning that riders born in 2007 and 2008 now have their own Men Junior and Women Junior categories. Unlike the updated entry requirements announced across the UCI Downhill and UCI Cross-country World Cup, the field for each UCI Enduro World Cup has increased. Riders have to be registered on an official UCI Mountain Bike Team (WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series or UCI MTB Teams), be part of a National Federation quota selection or be ranked within the Top 300 men or Top 75 women on the Global Ranking list at the time of entry. Entries for all UCI Enduro World Cup events will open in early April. Finally, the new two-day racing format means there are two different UCI Enduro World Cup schedules in action this year. The main takeaway is that for the one-day rounds, racing remains on Saturdays (except for the multi-format event in Leogang where it will take place on Sunday). For two-day rounds meanwhile, racing will be spread across both Saturdays and Sundays. FULL DETAILS AND SCHEDULES One-day race venues Enduro Trails, Bielsko-Biała (Poland) Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, France Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland, Austria La Thuile, Valle d’Aosta (Italy) Race week 4-6 stages Thursday – Training Friday – Rest Day Saturday – Race (except for the multi-format event in Leogang where it will take place on Sunday) Two-day race venues Pietra Ligure – Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) Val di Fassa, Trentino (Italy) Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France) Race week Racing over two days on different stages 3-5 stages per day Thursday – Training (on race day 2 stages) Friday – Training (on race day 1 stages) Saturday – Race Day 1 Sunday – Race Day 2 ENDURO OPEN: THE ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN BIKING CHALLENGE FOR PASSIONATE AMATEURS Thanks to the Enduro Open calendar, amateurs will have the chance to experience the same adrenaline-fueled descents and lactic acid-inducing uphill liaisons as the pro athletes of the UCI Enduro World Cup. At five of the seven iconic venues of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, fans will be able to put their fitness, racing skills and trail-side tinkering credentials to the test on the same weekend as the UCI Enduro World Cup as they embark on some of the world’s most iconic natural trails. It’s not limited to Enduro bikes, with each round also featuring separate E-bike categories that will push riders and their battery-assisted bikes to their limits. As if racing against the backdrop of breathtaking scenery in locations like Pietra Ligure (Italy) or Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) wasn’t enough, participants will also have the chance to directly compare their times to the pros, who go between the race tape on the exact same stages 24 hours later. ENDURO OPEN CALENDAR 10 May – Finale Outdoor Region, Pietra Ligure (Italy) 16 May – Enduro Trails, Bielsko-Biała (Poland) 30 May – Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) 28 June – Val di Fassa, Trentino (Italy) 23 August – Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France) Entries for Pietra Ligure and Bielsko-Biała are now open, with registration for Loudenvielle, Val di Fassa, and Morillon set to open next Monday (31st March). All Enduro Open races will take place on a single day, regardless of whether the UCI Enduro World Cup at the respective venue is a one-day or two-day event. For more details on Enduro Open races, pricing, and included services, click HERE.
From defending champions and mountain biking legends to up-and-coming talent and format-switching stars, these are the riders to watch across Cross-county, Downhill and Enduro in the 2025 season of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series The dust has firmly settled after a busy off-season transfer window, training blocks have been completed, and summer is just around the corner, which can only mean one thing – the return of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The 2025 series kicks off with a UCI Cross-country World Cup double header in Araxá - Minas Gerais, Brazil in April, before Enduro (in Pietra Ligure, Italy) and Downhill (in Bielsko-Biała, Poland) join the party in May. The racing will take on a fresh look and feel, thanks to the introduction of career numbers. As part of the broader developments aimed at enhancing the excitement of mountain bike, this new feature allows riders who have won an Elite UCI World Cup race (XCO, DHI or EDR) to choose a unique racing number, while series leaders will compete with the prestigious number ‘1’ plate. But who is looking strong heading into the first rounds of racing? And what numbers should fans be looking out for? Ahead of each series’ first pedal stroke, these are the riders who should be on your radar… KORETZKY AND KELLER THE RIDERS TO BEAT IN CROSS-COUNTRY Could this be Victor Koretzky’s (Specialized Factory Racing) year? The Frenchman (#6), had to settle for second place to Thomas Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and #11 Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC) in the biggest Cross-country Olympic (XCO) races of 2024 but with both unlikely to be in attendance for all of 2025’s rounds, expect big things from the 30-year-old in both formats. He won’t have it all his own way though. Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) will be hoping to prove that age is just a number as the G.O.A.T (#10) embarks on his 21st UCI World Cup season targeting win 37 at the age of 39. At the other end of proceedings, 2024 U23 UCI XCO World Cup overall winner Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) has already shown he can mix it with the elites with a 7th place finish at the Paris Olympics. In the women’s field, Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) is aiming to defend both her UCI XCO and Cross-country Short-Track (XCC) World Cup series titles, and few would bet against the number 1 plate replacing her career #11 at some point during the year. The Swiss faces stiff competition from a resurgent Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing), who will sport #2 on her new BMC bike, and the multi-discipline phenom, #3 Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck). CAN STARS OF ENDURO CHALLENGE BRUNI AND HÖLL’S DOWNHILL DOMINANCE? Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) and Valentina Höll (YT Mob) have both won back-to-back UCI Downhill World Cup overall series, and it looks like it’s going to take something special to knock the men’s #29 and women’s #11 off their perch. Enter Richard Rude Jr (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans). The UCI Enduro World Cup overall title holders are both switching focus for the 2025 series and will expect to be contesting for podium spots from the off. Elsewhere, Jackson Goldstone’s (Santa Cruz Syndicate) return from injury will see the Canadian #6 resume his hunt for UCI World Cup wins, while #57 Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) can rival anyone on her day if she can get up to speed quickly on her new Orbea downhill rig. COMPETITION HOTS UP IN ENDURO The absence of Rude Jr and Harnden from a minimum of four of the seven rounds of the 2025 series means that the door has been left open for other riders to seize their opportunity. In the men’s field, #8 Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity) will duke it out with Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) in a battle for the number 1 plate, while #21 Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV) and #2 Jack Moir (YT Mob) will be hoping to find some of their race-winning form. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) is the out-and-out favourite in the women’s contest, but the French #9 should expect to be pushed all the way by Brit Ella Conolly, who will expect to break her podium drought in 2025.
Get ready for the ultimate mountain bike experience in Austria's largest bike region, Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn! From June 5 to 8, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2025 will bring together cross-country, downhill, and enduro athletes for one thrilling 'super event.' While the cross-country elite will launch the action in Araxá (Brazil) next week, the enduro and downhill riders will have to wait until mid-May, when their UCI World Cup season begins in Pietra Ligure (Italy) and Bielsko-Biała (Poland). In June, all the formats will unite for the first time at a “super event” in Saalfelden Leogang, where the full force of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will unfold. Saalfelden Leogang, a proud UCI Bike Region, is gearing up to welcome over 1,000 athletes from 30+ countries back to Salzburger Land this year. Local hero and downhill star Vali Höll surely has unforgettable memories from her 2023 showdown, when she finally overcame her Leogang curse and secured her first UCI World Cup win on home turf. Now, as the reigning UCI Downhill World Champion and overall WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series winner (Women Elite, Downhill), she’s aiming for the Leogang hat-trick! “My home UCI World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang is always something special. It's a true season highlight that I eagerly anticipate. Not only because my friends and family are there to support and celebrate with me, but also because the organization and atmosphere are flawless. Winning a UCI World Cup at home for the third consecutive time would be an absolute dream", said Vali Höll. Alongside Vali, local hero Laura Stigger also has cherished memories of the Saalfelden Leogang UCI World Cup events. “The races in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series are all top-tier events. But racing on Austrian soil is something truly unique. I’m always supported by countless friends and fans here, which gives me an extra boost of motivation. I have many positive sporting memories of Leogang. This year, my goal is once again to fight for podium positions. As always, the motto is: ‘Full throttle’”, said Laura Stigger. RACE PROGRAM: Friday, 6 June: UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup (U23 and Elite) UCI Downhill World Cup Qualifications (Junior and Elite) Saturday, 7 June: UCI Downhill World Cup Finals (Junior and Elite) Sunday, 8 June: UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) (U23 and Elite) UCI Enduro World Cup Tickets for this extraordinary bike weekend are available here. It's worth grabbing them quickly - demand is high, and tickets usually sell out fast. Of course, the event weekend not only offers thrilling race highlights but also once again impresses with varied side events, parties, an extensive expo, autograph sessions, and much more. All further details about the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang can be found at www.mtb-weltcup.at. For all those who cannot be onsite in Saalfelden Leogang, there is the option of following the final races live on various channels. All information about where which race will be broadcast, can be found here. ACCREDITATION FOR JOURNALISTS: Media accreditation for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang 2025 is already open and will close on Friday, 6 June 2025. All relevant information can be found HERE. AUSTRIA'S LARGEST BIKE REGION Together with Saalbach Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn, Saalfelden Leogang forms Austria's largest bike region, boasting nine mountain railways across seven mountains, a joint bike ticket, and more than 105 kilometers of trails, 45 kilometers of which are found in the Epic Bikepark Leogang alone. These trails—some of which are brand new—are open daily from May 9 to November 9. Saalfelden Leogang offers specialized bike hotels with top-notch services tailored to all aspects of biking, including secure bike storage, tool rentals, and laundry services for dirty clothes. In Saalfelden, options like Hotel Das Saal (which opened in summer 2024) and Ritzenhof - Hotel und Spa am See are great choices, while in Leogang, guests can enjoy stays at Hotel Bacher, Hotel Leonhard, Hotel Der Löwe - Lebe Frei, Mama Thresl, Riederalm - Good Life Resort Leogang, Biohotel Rupertus, Hotel Salzburger Hof, Hotel Stockinggut, Hotel Puradies, Hotel Krallerhof, and Naturhotel Forsthofgut. A full list of bike-friendly accommodations in the Saalfelden Leogang region can be found here. For those looking to improve their riding skills, trained bike guides are available to help at the Elements bike school, where MTB experts offer valuable tips and guidance. You can also take part in various bike camps. Additionally, sports shops like Sport Mitterer and Bikepoint offer a range of equipment, bikes, and protective gear, most of which can be rented.
Enduro at its heart is about adventure. The format’s origins pitted competitors against remote, raw terrain across multiple days of competition, and its self-sufficient nature meant skills with a multitool were as crucial to winning as technical riding abilities. It has also been a testbed for new mountain bike technology, with dropper posts, 1x drivetrains and E-bikes all put through their paces in Enduro before being adopted by the wider industry. In 2025, the UCI Enduro World Cup is returning to its roots, with courses that delve deep into the backcountry and go big on exploration. Thanks to the Enduro Open, amateurs will have the chance to experience the very same adrenaline-fuelled descents of stages and lactic acid-inducing uphill liaisons as professional athletes. At five of the seven iconic venues of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, fans will be able to put their fitness, racing skills and trail-side tinkering credentials to the test on the same weekend as the UCI Enduro World Cup as they embark on some of the world’s most iconic natural trails. It’s not limited to Enduro bikes, with each round also featuring separate E-bike categories that will push rider and their battery-assisted bikes to their limits. And if amazing riding against the backdrop of stunning scenery in the likes of Pietra Ligure (Italy) and Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) wasn’t enough, participants will also be able to directly compare their times to the pros – who go between the race tape on the exact same stages 24 hours later. ENDURO OPEN CALENDAR 10 May – Pietra Ligure - Finale Outdoor Region (Italy)16 May – Enduro Trails, Bielsko-Biała (Poland)30 May – Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France)28 June – Val di Fassa, Trentino (Italy)23 August – Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France) Entries for each Enduro Open round are split across six categories: Junior Men* Junior Women* Men Women Masters Men (35+) Masters Women (35+) Ebike Men Ebike Women *Minimum age 17/18 years old depending on the year of birth. Please check individual races in the booking portal. Entries for Pietra Ligure (Italy) and Bielsko-Biała (Poland) will open on Tuesday, March 25th. More details on the races, pricing, and included services: 10 May – Pietra Ligure (Italy) | A classic Finale Outdoor Region race of rocky trails, coastal views and the true enduro experience. Entry fee: 110€ (no shuttle or transportation included) Services included: Race entry, training day, access to water and feed stations, timing equipment and access to technical support Make a weekend of it - watch the UCI Enduro World Cup opening round on Sunday 11 May Click HERE for registration 16 May – Bielsko-Biała (Poland) | An up-and-coming mountain biking hotspot! Entry fee: 130€ (includes shuttle/uplift service) Services included: Race entry, training day, access to feed stations, uplift/shuttles, timing equipment, and access to techincal support. Make a weekend of it - watch the second round of the UCI Enduro World Cup alongside the UCI Downhill World Cup opening round on Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18. Click HERE for registration Entries for the remaining Enduro Open races in Loundevielle-Peyragudes (France), Val Di Fassa, Trentino (Italy), and the brand-new venue of Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France) will be opening (very) soon. Stay tuned to our official website and social media channels for updates or sign up for our newsletter! Speed is of the essence if you want to secure your spot in the Enduro Open start line, with a limit of 400 spaces available at each round. Entry requirements: There are no entry criteria for Enduro Open races! All you need is a bike and the desire to have an unparalleled and unique mountain biking experience. For those aiming higher, each Enduro Open round also serves as an official qualifier for the UCI Enduro World Cup, with global ranking points up for grabs in both the men's and women's categories.
With just three months to go, Val di Sole is getting ready for their round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and excitement is building for this thrilling event taking place on June 20-22, 2025. Tickets are officially on sale starting Friday, March 21, and here's a quick look at what’s available: One-Day Tickets:Saturday, June 21 (UCI Downhill World Cup): €20 + service charges.Sunday, June 22 (UCI Cross CountryWorld Cup) : €20 + service charges. Two-Day Pass: €30Early bird offer: The first 150 buyers can grab a weekend pass (Saturday and Sunday) for just €20, the price of a single-day ticket. After the promotion, the weekend pass is priced at €30. Friday Events (June 20): Free Entry to all UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup races, training sessions, and the exciting 4X Pro Series event. Lift Pass (Saturday, June 21): a downhill lift pass can be added for €10 + service charges. Exclusive Hospitality Experience: a two-day hospitality pass for €220 + service charges, offering access to a dedicated area near the finish line, with all-day food, beverage service, and lift access.Single-day hospitality passes are also available at €140 + service charges. Free Entry for Kids: Children under 12 (born on or after April 30, 2013) can attend for free when registered alongside a paying adult. Where to Buy: Tickets are available online at valdisolebikeland.com
The Australian suffered a fractured shoulder in her Australian National Championship win and will miss the two opening rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Brazil. Rebecca Henderson (Orbea Fox Factory Team) is recovering from a fractured shoulder following a crash during the Australian National Cross-country Olympic (XCO) Championships. The 33-year-old was involved in a crash in the opening lap of the race, but remounted her bike and battled back to win in a sprint finish – her 12th consecutive elite national title. Scans have since shown that she has fractured her shoulder, while her thumb has a "possible small fracture". Posting on her social media, Henderson said: “I’ve come back today after MRI, CT and x-ray scans. In a nutshell, I have fractured this shoulder but it’s pretty good news because the ligaments and everything is all good, so no surgery is required. So that’s a really good outcome. The thumb has a possible small fracture – it’s hard for them to say yes or no. It’s just still really sore and I can’t use it so I guess I will recover in good time. “The bad news obviously is no Oceanias and no Brazil. No Brazil is a huge hit for me. I made some big commitments to myself late last year that I was going to go all in for Brazil. “I just wanted to be back at my best and see what was possible. I worked really hard to put a different support network around me to be the best I could possibly be. “There’s been a lot of effort behind the scenes for that and I felt like I’ve been training as good as ever. I’ve been training really hard ... and it was about time for me to be accountable to myself for the goals I had set so that’s really hard to have that ripped away, but it is what it is.” Henderson had been set to make her WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut for new team Orbea Fox Factory Team in a fortnight’s time, but the injuries mean that the Australian will be ruled out of the first two rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, which take place in Araxá - Minas Gerais, Brazil on April 3-6 and 10-12. We wish Rebecca a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her between the race tape this summer.
Morillon to host Enduro action while Downhill and Cross-country return to Les Gets in August. Today, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), Warner Bros Discover (WBD) Sports and the French region of Haute-Savoie are pleased to confirm the two venues that will host the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series rounds from August 22 to 31. The first weekend of action in Haute-Savoie will see the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series head to Morillon on August 22-24 for the venue’s first ever UCI Enduro World Cup. The Grand Massif commune opened an Enduro Bike Park in 2024, and its pine forest-flanked trails will crown the overall Enduro winners of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. If last year’s finale is anything to go by, fans are in for a nail-biting conclusion. The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action continues the following weekend with the UCI Cross-country Olympic, Cross-country Short Track and Downhill World Cups returning to Les Gets on 28-31 August. The iconic venue first hosted a round of the UCI World Cup for downhill in 1996 and witnessed victories from the likes of Nicolas Vouilloz and Steve Peat as well as the utter domination by Anne-Caroline Chausson during the early years. After Fabien Barel and Venessa Quin were crowned UCI World Champions for downhill in 2004, there was a 15-year break before racing returned to Les Gets, this time with Endurance athletes added to the schedule. It has been an annual mainstay ever since and is renowned for its challenging terrain, picturesque alpine backdrop and partisan French crowd. Two back-to-back weekends of off-road riding will see the world of mountain bike converge on Haute-Savoie, with live music, entertainment, an expo and fan activations also at the event villages throughout. The 2025 double-header is also a great preview of what the region has in store when it hosts the 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships. First held in Glasgow in 2023, the competition combines multiple UCI World Championships for cycling’s different disciplines into a two-week celebration of bike-based brilliance. The Haute-Savoie Regional Council is pursuing an ambitious and proactive sports policy aimed at supporting clubs and local communities. This includes providing grants for sporting events, athletes, and the acquisition of equipment. In 2025, the region is dedicating over 19 million euros to its sports initiatives.
Three local outfits make up the seven-strong selection that will join the Endurance WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Teams for the first two rounds. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports confirm that seven wildcard teams have been selected for the first two Endurance rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, that will take place in Araxá – Minas Gerais (Brazil) on April 3-6 (Round 1) and April 10-12 (Round 2). Three of the spots go to Brazilian teams Caloi Henrique Avancini Racing, Specialized Racing BR and Soul Extreme Racing Team, while the other four are taken by promising, development-focused European UCI MTB Teams that have a wealth of up-and-coming talent at their disposal. With just one week separating the two opening rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá – Minas Gerais, the seven teams have received a wildcard entry for both rounds and will join the 20 Endurance WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Teams on the start line in Brazil. Of the three local teams selected, the most well-known outside of Brazil is Caloi Henrique Avancini Racing. The three-rider squad is managed by the Brazilian legend and two-time UCI Cross-country Marathon World Champion Henrique Avancini, who recently announced that he is coming out of retirement to try his hand on the road. Specialized Racing BR will have athletes represented across all racing categories (Elite, Under 23), while new team Soul Extreme Racing includes multi-time Brazilian Cross-country Olympic (XCO) National Champion, Karen Fernandes Olimpio. Elsewhere, the Under-23-focused Lexware Mountain Bike Team has a squad that includes Elina Benoit – a Swiss rider who recorded a number of top 10 finishes in U23 races last season; Trinity Racing – the British development squad responsible for Haley Batten and Christopher Blevins – features new addition Line Burquier (Junior XCO UCI World Champion in 2021, then crowned U23 UCI World Champion the following year); while UCI World Cup regulars Maximilian Foidl (KTM Factory MTB Team) and Yana Belomoina (Massi) will be looking to use their years of experience to seize their wildcard opportunity in Brazil when the racing gets underway on 3-6 April. The seven wildcard teams for rounds 1 and 2 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá Minas -Gerais are: Caloi Henrique Avancini Racing Specialized Racing BR Soul Extreme Racing Team Lexware Mountainbike Team Trinity Racing KTM Factory MTB Team Massi
With the announcement of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Teams, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) officially confirmed the Endurance teams that have secured top-tier status for the 2025 season. We focus on the 20 teams selected for all 10 rounds of the UCI Cross-country World Cup (UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – XCO – and UCI Cross-country Short-Track World Cup – XCC) Comprised of the top 15 ranked teams based on UCI points, along with five permanent wildcards, this roster of 20 teams forms the first division of endurance racing in mountain biking. Each team is guaranteed entry to all 10 Endurance rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, which kicks off in Araxá, Brazil, on April 3, 2025. The selections confirm that the world’s best cross-country mountain bike riders will battle it out for supremacy again, with the teams of stars such as Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC), Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon), Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing), Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC), Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) all guaranteed spots on the start line. Simon Burney, Head of Sport for Cycling Events at WBD Sports Europe, said: “The 20 Endurance teams that have secured WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status will guarantee that each round will be fiercely contested from the first pedal stroke to the last surge for the line.” ESTABLISHED OUTFITS AND NEW ADDITIONS AMONGST TOP-15 RANKED TEAMS Three-quarters of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Teams were selected based on their UCI team rankings, which were determined by the UCI points of the four highest-ranked riders of each team. Sat at the top of the rankings table was Specialized Factory Racing – the American manufacturer’s team retaining all of the star women riders (Haley Batten, Sina Frei and Laura Stigger) that helped secure the women’s team series overall in 2024, as well as UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Champion and reigning WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall winner, Victor Koretzky (XCC – Men Elite) alongside American Continental XCO Champion, Chris Blevins. Alessandra Keller’s results (2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall winner - XCC and XCO – Women Elite) effectively secured Thömus Maxon’s place at the table, while UCI XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly’s move to Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC contributed the lion’s share of the US outfit’s points tally. Despite winning the men’s team series overall last season, Hatherly’s old team Cannondale Factory Racing slipped in the rankings due to the South African and Simon Andreassen’s moves. But the British team did enough to secure WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status and will be led by Charlie Alridge and new signing Jolanda Neff. Andreassen’s UCI points bolstered Orbea Fox Factory Team’s total, and the Dane will be vying for wins to add to his collection for the Spanish manufacturer alongside fellow new addition Rebecca Henderson. Elsewhere, Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team could count on the points of stalwarts Nino Schurter, Filippo Colombo and the addition of up-and-coming star of last season’s Under-23 category, Bjorn Riley. The American youngster will be one to watch in what will his first Elite season. Riley’s main rival in the Under-23 class, Riley Amos, is also taking the step up for 2025 and will be leading the charge for Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli alongside Evie Richards, while Canyon CLLCTV XCO is pinning its hopes on Luca Schwarzbauer and 2016 Olympic Champion Jenny Rissveds. It wasn’t just the established teams who made it into the top 15, with new outfit Origine Racing Division’s four-strong selection having enough points collectively to propel them into a WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team spot. Led by UCI XCO World Cup podium finishers Mathis Azzaro and Martina Berta, the French team will be looking to make an instant impression. Other teams to secure the automatic WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status were BH Coloma Team, Decathlon Ford Racing Team, the Bart Brentjens-managed KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team, Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team, Ghost Factory Racing and Cube Factory Racing. STARS AMONGST WILDCARD SELECTIONS In addition to the top 15 ranked teams, five season-long wildcard spots were up for grabs for the remaining UCI Mountain Bike Teams. These have been assigned to the established outfits Alpecin-Deceuninck, BMC Factory Racing and Liv Factory Racing, and new teams Lapierre Racing Unity and Mondraker Factory Racing XC. Among members of these teams are multi-discipline stars Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck), reigning French XCO National Champions Jordan Sarrou and Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing), and three-time UCI Cross-country Marathon World Champion, Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC). The full list of teams to secure WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status are: Alpecin-Deceuninck (BEL) BH Coloma Team (ESP) BMC Factory Racing (SUI) Cannondale Factory Racing (GBR) Canyon CLLCTV XCO (FRA) Cube Factory Racing (GER) Decathlon Ford Racing Team (FRA) Ghost Factory Racing (GER) Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC (USA) KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team (NED) Lapierre Racing Unity (FRA) Liv Factory Racing (USA) Mondraker Factory Racing XC (ESP) Orbea Fox Factory Team (ESP) Origine Racing Division (FRA) Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team (SUI) Specialized Factory Racing (USA) Thömus Maxon (SUI) Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli (USA) Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team (ITA
With the announcement of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Teams, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) officially confirmed the Gravity teams that have secured top-tier status for the 2025 season. We focus on the 20 teams selected for all rounds of the UCI Downhill World Cup and UCI Enduro World Cup The 20-strong roster that will form the first division of Gravity racing in mountain biking has been confirmed, and it’s packed full of big factory teams, plucky underdogs and the most exciting talent from the worlds of Downhill and Enduro. As well as reigning WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall winners and past and present rainbow jersey holders, the start list for every round will feature up-and-coming stars and legends of the sport. Simon Burney, Head of Sport for Cycling Events at WBD Sports Europe, said: “The introduction of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status ensures fans get to watch the best in the business battle it out at each round, and witness nail-biting racing where every hundredth of a second counts.” BIG NAMES AND EXCITING NEW ADDITIONS IN DOWNHILL FIELD With the UCI points of the four highest-ranked riders of each team determining the UCI team rankings, the 2024-2025 off-season transfers took on even greater importance. Top-ranked team Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction strengthened their already talented roster, adding the UCI Downhill World Champion Loris Vergier to a star-studded line-up which includes multiple UCI Downhill World Cup winners Myriam Nicole and Amaury Pierron. The Andorran manufacturer faced stiff competition for the top spot from YT Mob, who signed European Champion and UCI World Cup winner Andreas Kolb. The Austrian joins a team that already features the almost unstoppable and reigning WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall winner (Women Elite - Downhill) Valentina Höll and UCI World Cup winner and reigning Irish National Champion Oisin O’Callaghan. Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team’s signing of 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup overall series runner-up Marine Cabirou meant that the German outfit was the only other team to break the 3,000-point barrier. The Frenchwoman will be hoping to go one better in 2025, as will new teammate Troy Brosnan, who edged Amaury Pierron to second in the overall standings last year as a result of his famous win in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. The man to beat though remains 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall winner (Men Elite - Downhill), Loïc Bruni, who will once again be flanked by Finn Iles and Jordan Williams in the Specialized Gravity Team. One rider who has shown he can get the upper hand over Bruni on his day is Ronan Dunne. The Bielsko-Biała UCI Downhill World Cup winner will once again line up for Mondraker Factory Racing, alongside Dakotah Norton and new teammate Greg Williamson. Elsewhere, veteran Danny Hart will be completing his 18th elite season as part of Norco Race Division. Trek Factory Racing DH meanwhile has a new-look squad fronted by Matt Walker and Lachlan Stevens-McNab. Some new teams also made the automatic WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike Series Team cut. Tahnée Seagrave has linked up with Spanish manufacturer Orbea to launch Orbea/FMD Racing and is joined by Martin Maes – the only rider on the circuit who has won a UCI Downhill World Cup and a UCI Enduro World Cup; while 2020 UCI Downhill World Champion Reece Wilson is spearheading one of the most interesting additions to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series pits – AON Racing - Tourne Campervans. The Flying Scotsman isn’t going alone either, with Monika Hrastnik and UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner Harriet Harnden on board. Finally, Santa Cruz Syndicate just scraped into the automatic selection spots. The Steve Peat-managed outfit will be hoping for more successful seasons from Laurie Greenland, Nina Hoffmann and a fully recovered Jackson Goldstone. Other teams to secure the automatic WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status were Giant Factory Off-Road Team - DH, Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres, Axess Intense Factory Racing, Frameworks Racing/5Dev and MS-Racing. ICONIC ATHLETES AND ENDURO OUTFITS CELEBRATE WILDCARD SPOTS The five season-long wildcard spots were all given to teams with previous experience at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and ensured that some of Downhill and Enduro’s biggest names would still be in the start hut at every Gravity round in 2025. The most established team was Scott Downhill Factory, which slipped to 16th in the rankings despite the points total of new signing and 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup winner in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes Benoît Coulanges. Continental Atherton was another name to celebrate the wildcard system after losing Andreas Kolb’s points. But with Rachel Atherton registered to ride, could we see the return of one of Downhill’s most iconic athletes to the podium this season? Two of the five wildcard spots were taken by teams with big ambitions. Richie Rude’s Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team is committing itself fully to Enduro and Downhill for 2025 and added 2020 UCI Downhill World Champion Camille Balanche to their 10 rider-strong line-up. Pivot Factory Racing will also dabble in both, with Morganne Charre hoping to add to her two UCI Enduro World Cup wins from 2024. Jess Blewitt and Max Hartenstern’s Cube Factory Racing secured the final wildcard spot. SHAKE UP IN ENDURO FAVOURITES FOR 2025 The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Teams selections lean towards Downhill, but five teams will also be represented at UCI Enduro World Cup rounds. Fans can expect a shake-up in the favourites for 2025 though. That’s because the reigning WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall Enduro winners Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) are both set to focus on Downhill – opening the door for other riders to come to the fore. In the men’s field, UCI Enduro World Cup winners Jack Moir (YT Mob), Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV Factory), and Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity), combined with Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team’s Slawomir Lukasik and Ryan Gilchrist will be fighting for the title. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing), meanwhile, will be a firm favourite in the women’s competition but will be pushed all the way by Ella Conolly, and Mélanie Pugin. The full list of Gravity teams to secure WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status are: 1. AON Racing - Tourne Campervans (SLO) 2. Axess Intense Factory Racing (GBR) 3. Canyon CLLCTV Factory team (GER) 4. Commencal/Muc-Off By Riding Addiction (FRA) 5. Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres (FRA) 6. Continental Atherton (GBR) 7. Cube Factory Racing (GER) 8. Frameworks Racing /5Dev (USA) 9. Giant Factory Off-Road Team - DH (USA) 10. Mondraker Factory Racing DH (ESP) 11. MS-Racing (AUT) 12. Norco Race Division (CAN) 13. Orbea / FMD Racing (GBR) 14. Pivot Factory Racing (GBR) 15. Santa Cruz Syndicate (USA) 16. Scott Downhill Factory (FRA) 17. Specialized Gravity (FRA) 18. Trek Factory Racing DH (USA) 19. Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team (USA) 20. YT Mob (GER)
Former WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series star and 2023 UCI Cross-country Marathon World Champion joins Factor Racing. The Brazilian cross-country mountain biking icon Henrique Avancini has announced he is coming out of retirement to try his hand at racing on the road. The 35-year-old Brazilian called time on his mountain biking career at the end of 2023, bowing out as the reigning UCI Cross-country Marathon (XCM) World Champion. But after a year sat on the sidelines, Avancini is returning on the road and is joining Factor Racing – the new UCI Continental-level factory team of the UK-based bike manufacturer. Speaking about his decision, he said in a press release: “In 2024, I started thinking seriously about racing on the road. As a child, I used to dream about racing the Tour, the Giro, the Vuelta. When I felt refreshed mentally and physically, I really started to be able to enjoy what I’d achieved as a mountain biker, and think seriously about giving this gift to myself, this goal of trying to achieve my childhood dream. When I first met with Factor, for some reason, they were really excited about the project. I felt from the very first meetings that this was the right group of people to try this with. And win or lose, it still feels like something great to do.” Avancini raced for more than a decade at the pinnacle of mountain biking, winning another UCI XCM World Championship (2018), a UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup and two UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cups during his 11 elite seasons. He also helped raise the sport’s profile in his home country, which is evidenced with two UCI World Cups kicking off the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá-Minas Gerais. The Brazilian is set to line up for his new team at the UMAG Classic in Croatia on Wednesday, March 5, but it won’t be his first time racing on the road – Avancini first competing at the 2007 UCI Road Cycling World Championships in the Junior category, where his best finish was 36th in the individual time trial. We wish Henrique all the best for his new chapter.
Val di Sole, Trentino, has officially been confirmed as a key stop on the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The event, scheduled from June 20 to 22, will play a significant role in the middle of the season, setting the stage for the highly anticipated 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, also taking place in the region. The announcement comes as the sport enters a new era following the Paris 2024 Olympic cross-country events. The 2025 season promises to bring fresh dynamics to the world of mountain biking, with new regulations and a competitive mix of rising stars and seasoned champions. Amid these changes, Val di Sole remains a cornerstone of elite mountain biking, with its legacy continuing into the next Olympic cycle. The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will feature 15 stages across 10 countries, and the Val di Sole event will serve as the eighth stage in this prestigious competition. The Daolasa di Commezzadura area will host Olympic Cross Country, Cross Country Short Track, and Downhill events, bringing top-tier action to the region. This marks the beginning of an exciting two-year period for Val di Sole, leading up to the World Championships in August 2026, which will be the fourth time the region has hosted this prestigious event in nearly two decades. Luciano Rizzi, President of Grandi Eventi Val di Sole, and Fabio Sacco, Director of the Val di Sole Tourism Board, expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming years. "We're gearing up for two intense years. Our goal is to further strengthen Val di Sole's international reputation as a premier destination for cycling and outdoor activities during the summer months," they said. "Years of hosting top-tier events have established Val di Sole as a mountain biking mecca, significantly boosting our region's profile on the global stage." With its continued prominence in the world of mountain biking, Val di Sole is set to further cement its status as one of the sport's most iconic venues in the years to come.
