Samara Maxwell Announces Sabbatical from 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series

Today, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports announces the return of original series Race Bikes, following the success of its debut season.Season two will air on WBD across mainland Europe (via Eurosport) and the UK and Ireland (via TNT Sports) as well as its streaming platform HBO Max. The behind-the-scenes four-part docuseries follows host Ric McLaughlin as he looks to lift the lid on some of downhill and cross-country’s most iconic bikes, meeting the riders and designers behind them and weaving each machine’s story together with rich archive footage.The first episode airs on Tuesday 7 April at 17:45 CEST (check local listings) with a deep dive into Loris Vergier’s Commencal Supreme – one of the most successful downhill mountain bikes of all time. The 30-minute episode includes interviews with the man whose name it bears – Max Commencal – shot at the manufacturer’s HQ in Andorra.Week two sees McLaughlin turn back the clock and head in search of 2011 and 2012’s most-winning bike – Aaron Gwin’s Trek Session 9.9. The American won nine UCI World Cup victories and two UCI World Cup overall titles aboard the Trek World Racing rig over the two seasons, becoming the first American to do so. McLaughlin’s search takes him to ex-manager Martin Whiteley’s house in Spain, where the pair delve into one of the most iconic periods in the sport’s history – and the bike that led the way.Episode three turns its attention to cross-country and one of the most cutting-edge designs to line-up on the current start grid – the Cannondale Scalpel. The show delves deep into the American manufacturer’s story and how it went from underdog to the top of the world, while also covers the career of 2020 Olympic gold medallist and Cannondale Factory Racing rider, Jolanda Neff.The series wraps up with one of the most mysterious bikes to grace the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series – Loïc Bruni’s Specialized Project Black. Developed out in the open but always kept relatively unmarked and under wraps, it’s the most cutting-edge bike to be covered yet on Race Bikes, and the first that McLaughlin has got to experience himself.Ric McLaughlin, Producer, Director and Presenter of Race Bikes, said: “Race Bikes is all about the bikes, but behind each one is a fascinating person and an equally fascinating story - how the bike was created and how it ended up where it is today. If you’re a core fan, you’ll definitely take something from it, but even if you only rode bikes as a kid and haven’t touched one in 20 years, there’s still something here for you.”This season follows on from the success of season one, where the four-episode series reached 3.3M viewers on linear TV (Eurosport and TNT Sports). All episodes of season one are currently available to stream on HBO Max.Schedule (timings subject to change, check local listings):Episode 1: Loris Vergier’s Commencal Supreme, Tuesday 7 April, Eurosport / TNT Sports, 17:45 CEST.Episode 2: Aaron Gwin’s Trek Session 9.9, Tuesday 14 April, Eurosport / TNT Sports, 17:30 CESTEpisode 3: Jolanda Neff’s Cannondale Scalpel, Tuesday 21 April, Eurosport / TNT Sports, 18:00 CESTEpisode 4: Loïc Bruni’s Specialized Project Black, Tuesday 28 April, Eurosport / TNT Sports, 17:45 CESTAll episodes will be available on demand on HBO Max.In addition to Race Bikes, WBD Sports’ documentary The Cycle is now available to stream on HBO Max. The 60-minute documentary follows five riders including WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stars Lachlan Stevens McNab (Trek - Unbroken DH) and Evie Richards (Trek - Unbroken XC) and goes behind-the-scenes to reveal what it means to live as a professional rider.The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season kicks off on May 1 in MONA YongPyong, South Korea – marking the return of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup to the Asian continent for the first time in 25 years. 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 HBO Max, as well as around the world through WBD’s broadcast partners.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe and GoPro are proud to confirm a new two-year partnership for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.The American technology company continues as Official Supplier of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, with the role of Official Wearable Camera Supplier across all UCI Downhill World Cup rounds.Cutting‑edge helmet-mounted GoPro cameras will deliver immersive live rider perspectives from the world’s most demanding mountain bike courses. Top downhill riders — including reigning Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup overall champion Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and others — will provide fans with in‑depth course previews and exclusive content shared throughout the season on WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and GoPro’s social channels, including @GoProBike Instagram and YouTube. GoPro integrations will also feature across Cross‑country and Enduro, where Carlson on Course will continue to offer expert course reviews alongside guest riders. As part of the partnership, GoPro will also receive dedicated on‑course branding visibility and a dedicated expo area on-site.GoPro makes the world’s best POV cameras for mountain biking—whether riders want the ultimate creative flexibility of the MAX2 360 camera or the unmatched, immersive perspective of HERO13 Black paired with the Ultra Wide Lens. GoPro’s Emmy® Award-winning HyperSmooth video stabilization, combined with a durable, waterproof design, helps capture unforgettable rider moments and perspectives—regardless of conditions. Learn more about GoPro’s mountain bike cameras and accessories at GoPro.com.Rick Loughery, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Digital Commerce at GoPro, said: “Continuing our partnership with the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is easy decision. GoPro is deeply committed to the mountain bike community, and we’re excited to empower riders and athletes to capture the speed, skill, and intensity of UCI Downhill World Cup racing with perspectives only GoPro can provide.”Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with GoPro for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. This relationship is built on long standing trust and a shared vision, developed over many years of close collaboration. Our ambition is always to put fans right at the heart of the action, and no one does that better than GoPro. Their innovative camera technology delivers truly immersive perspectives, bringing the intensity, speed and emotion of racing to our broadcasts and digital platforms.”  The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season kicks off on May 1 in MONA YongPyong, South Korea – marking the return of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup to the Asian continent for the first time in 25 years.

The Golden Ticket system will celebrate standout riders in the UCI Mountain Bike Continental Series, offering emerging talent a fast‑track opportunity to join the world’s elite. Riders who claim a Golden Ticket earn the right to enter any round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, marking a major milestone in their competitive journey.Launched in 2025, the UCI Mountain Bike Continental Series which are run in collaboration with the Continental Confederations, bring together high-level competitions across each region of the world.  In 2026, the five UCI Mountain Bike Continental Series comprise of 39 events across 27 countries worldwide in Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Downhill (DHI). These Series provide a vital steppingstone between regional racing and elite international competition by offering UCI points and now, a direct pathway to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.HOW GOLDEN TIKCETS WORKAt every qualifying UCI Mountain Bike Continental Series round, the top three finishers in each eligible category (excluding athletes already registered with a WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team) will receive a Golden Ticket during the podium ceremony.A Golden Ticket grants that rider a coveted starting place at one WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round of their choosing within 52 weeks of receiving it, providing a springboard onto the world stage. The eligible categories are as follows:XCO: Elite Men, Elite Women, Under‑23 Men, and Under‑23 WomenDHI: Elite Men, Elite Women, Junior Men, and Junior WomenThis initiative puts a spotlight on emerging talent from the Continental circuit, rewarding standout performances with the opportunity to race alongside the world’s best and gain international exposure on the road to a long-term professional career.Find out more information on the UCI regulations here.Discover the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike Continental Series calendar here.