Shortlist For Golden Arrows Legacy Award Announced

The final day of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Soldier Hollow presented by SCOTT Sports delivered another chapter of mountain bike history as Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) cemented her status as the rider of the weekend with victory in the Women’s Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup, while Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing) ignited celebrations in Midway, Utah, after storming from 25th on the grid to claim a remarkable Elite Men’s win.Less than 24 hours after becoming the first Italian rider to win a UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup round, Berta completed a memorable double, becoming only the 11th elite woman to achieve the feat in a single weekend.The Italian controlled proceedings from the opening lap before distancing home favourite Gwendalyn Gibson (Trek - Unbroken XC) on the final circuit. Gibson held on for second place ahead of Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing), whose podium finish helped her close the gap to overall leader Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) after a challenging day for the Swede.The Elite Men’s race unfolded very differently, with victory remaining undecided until the closing moments of a brutally demanding and highly tactical contest. Having worked his way through the field from a lowly starting position, Vidaurre timed his attack to perfection on the final descent to secure one of the most impressive victories of his career.Meanwhile, Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) strengthened his grip on the overall standings, extending his advantage over absent Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), the only rider still mathematically capable of denying him the title.In the Women’s U23 category, Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) showed no signs of easing off despite having already secured both the overall U23 XCC title and the U23 XCO crown earlier in the season. The Italian delivered another commanding display to take victory in Soldier Hollow.Germany also had plenty to celebrate in the Men’s U23 race, where Benjamin Krüger claimed the round win and Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) sealed the overall UCI XCO World Cup title to complete a memorable day for the German contingent.As for the Teams Standings, Specialized Factory Racing continued to underline their dominance, with Vidaurre’s victory alongside strong performances from Sina Frei and Haley Batten helping the team extend its advantage over Decathlon Ford Racing Team to 797 points.PATIENCE PAYS OFF AS VIDAURRE STRIKES LATE IN SOLDIER HOLLOWChris Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) thrilled the home crowd by leading onto the opening climb of the Elite Men’s race and setting a relentless pace from the gun. The brutal opening lap immediately put pressure on several favourites, including teammate Martín Vidaurre, Riley Amos (Trek - Unbroken XC) and Cole Punchard (Cannondale Factory Racing), who were all forced to work their way through the field after being disadvantaged by an incident in Saturday’s XCC race. Yet the pace proved unsustainable even for Blevins himself. The American crashed while exiting a berm and became the first of several high-profile riders to see their hopes disrupted.His fall did little to slow the action at the front, however. Riders including Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Luca Martin and Charlie Aldridge of Cannondale Factory Racing continued to drive the pace, with Aldridge briefly opening a small gap on lap five.The attrition continued as Luca Schätti (Bixs Race Team) crashed in a rock garden before Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) suffered a puncture moments after bridging across to the lead group. Aldridge then provided one of the most dramatic moments of the race. Misjudging a landing on the penultimate lap, the reigning UEC European Champion was launched over a berm and into the crowd netting in a spectacular crash. Fortunately, he landed on his wheels before being thrown clear and later admitted to TNT Sports that he was “thanking his lucky stars”.Although Aldridge quickly remounted, damage to his bike ended his challenge. Up front, Punchard and Martin kept the pressure on as the lead group repeatedly tested one another but struggled to make a decisive move stick.The race finally exploded in the closing stages when Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) was forced to unclip on a technical slab section, creating a small split among the six-rider lead group. Sensing his opportunity, Vidaurre launched his attack moments later, opening a decisive gap and holding off Punchard all the way to the finish.The Chilean’s perfectly timed move secured a memorable first UCI XCO World Cup victory of the season, while Punchard was rewarded with the first UCI World Cup podium of his elite career. He was joined on the rostrum by another breakthrough performer, Mathis Guay (KTM Factory MTB Team), who capped a remarkable weekend as the only other rider to finish within 10 seconds of the winner.“It’s so good. I’ve been looking for this all year,” said Vidaurre. “I worked like a dog, my team has been incredible all season, and my teammates have been winning all year. It was finally my turn. I didn’t expect it today. Yesterday I had really bad luck, but man, it feels so good.”Elsewhere, Martin strengthened his position in the battle for the overall title and could be crowned the 2026 UCI XCO World Cup champion before the final race in Lake Placid, depending on the plans of absent Adrien Boichis, the only rider still mathematically capable of denying him the crown.BERTA COMPLETES A DREAM WEEKEND WITH HISTORIC DOUBLEMartina Berta was undoubtedly the rider to beat at Soldier Hollow, backing up her breakthrough UCI XCC World Cup victory with an emphatic solo win in the Women’s Elite UCI XCO World Cup less than 24 hours later.The Italian wasted no time taking control of the race, leading from the opening lap alongside overall leader Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing). However, Rissveds’ early aggression proved short-lived, as the Swede was dropped around the midway point, leaving a select lead group featuring Berta, Sina Frei, Gwendalyn Gibson and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon).Local favourite Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing), who grew up less than 20 miles from Soldier Hollow, delighted the home crowd with an impressive solo effort to bridge across to the leaders. But Berta was in no mood to share the spotlight and launched a decisive acceleration on lap four that immediately shattered the group.Only Gibson was able to match the Italian’s pace as the pair steadily pulled clear of their rivals. Lap after lap, Berta applied relentless pressure on the climbs, helping the duo establish a lead of around 30 seconds over the chasing riders.Gibson made her move on the final ascent, attempting to catch Berta off guard, but the WHOOP Heart Rate Monitor suggested the American had spent more energy throughout the race. Moments later, Berta responded with a counterattack eerily similar to the one that had first reduced the lead group, cresting the climb with a small but crucial advantage that she carried all the way to the finish line.“It’s insane, I can’t believe it,” said Berta. “After yesterday, I knew I had good legs, but to do the double is amazing. There are a lot of emotions right now. I’m just so happy.”Gibson held on for second place and was able to savour the first UCI XCO World Cup podium of her career, while Frei secured an important third place after outsprinting Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) in the battle for the final podium spot.Further back, Evie Richards (Trek - Unbroken XC) also gained ground on Rissveds in the closing stages, costing the Swede valuable points in the overall standings. Nevertheless, Rissveds remains firmly in control of the title race heading into the Lake Placid finale, carrying a 220-point advantage with a maximum of 330 points still available.Frei, however, has no intention of giving up the chase: “My mindset is just fighting until the finish line,” she said. “There is still one race left, and I’m really looking forward to it.”JOY FOR CORVI, KRÜGER AND SCHEHL IN U23SValentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) continued her remarkable season in style, marking her first race in the rainbow jersey with another commanding display in the Women’s U23 UCI XCO World Cup. The newly crowned UCI World Champion crossed the line 32 seconds clear of Rafaelle Carrier and Makena Kellerman, who fought hard to challenge the Italian.Corvi wasted little time taking control of the race. Exploding off the front from the opening laps, she initially went clear on her own before Carrier and Kellerman managed to bridge across. Behind them, only Maruša Tereza Šerkezi (Cube Factory Racing), Bloeme Kalis (KMC Nukeproof MTB Racing Team) and Lisa Kristin Jordø were able to limit the damage as the race split apart.For two laps, Carrier and Kellerman matched the relentless pace of the UCI World Champion, but Corvi had another level in reserve. The Italian launched a decisive acceleration on the penultimate lap and quickly established a gap that neither rival could close. In the battle for second, Carrier eventually distanced Kellerman in the closing stages despite strong support from the home crowd.“Today has been even more special with the jersey,” said Corvi. “I wanted to honour it. It definitely gives me energy. I was feeling really good in the final laps and just tried to do my best. I worked super hard this season, I wanted to achieve big goals, and I think I've done quite well.”The Men’s U23 race provided another memorable chapter for Germany. While Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) described the race as a “pain cave”, sixth place was enough to secure the overall U23 UCI XCO World Cup title, just 24 hours after clinching the U23 UCI XCC World Cup crown.There was no stopping fellow German Benjamin Krüger, however. Krüger launched a devastating attack on the second lap and immediately broke clear of the field. Riding with supreme confidence, he extended his advantage throughout the race to claim victory by 49 seconds, with only Naël Rouffiac (Origine Racing Division) finishing within one minute of the winner.“It's absolutely amazing, in front of this crowd,” said Krüger. “I can't believe it. I'm out of words. I attacked on the long climb on the second lap. I think riding solo on this course is actually a good strategy because you don't end up towing the entire field. I just rode my own race and managed to finish it off. Hopefully we'll celebrate with some good food.”The action now moves to another iconic destination as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads to Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia, Canada, for the penultimate UCI Downhill World Cup round of the season.Fresh from claiming the rainbow stripes, Valentina Höll (COMMENCAL SCHWALBE by Les Orres) will look to continue her outstanding run of form, while the battle for the Elite Men’s overall title remains wide open, with 13 riders still mathematically in contention heading into the Canadian stop.Qualifying at the spiritual home of Downhill takes place on Saturday, 26 September, before the finals on Sunday, 27 September.

Soldier Hollow’s debut weekend in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, presented by SCOTT Sports, got off to a spectacular start as Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) claimed a historic UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup victory in the women’s elite race with a bold solo attack, before Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Premier Tech) powered through the rain to secure his first UCI World Cup win in almost 900 days.Berta became the first Italian rider to win a UCI XCC World Cup after launching her move at the start of the long descent on the penultimate lap. Although her advantage was cut to just six seconds, hesitation within the chasing group allowed her to open the gap once more and ride clear to victory.Gaze’s path to the top step could hardly have been more different. The New Zealander spent much of the men’s elite race biding his time before striking in the final metres, timing his sprint to perfection as the rain swept across the course and edging out Cannondale Factory Racing teammates Charlie Aldridge and Luca Martin.Martin nevertheless left Utah with a significant reward, moving ahead of the absent Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) to take over the lead in the men’s overall standings. In the women’s competition, Sina Frei strengthened her grip on the series lead, extending her advantage over Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing).In the U23 ranks, Canada’s Rafaelle Carrier delivered a remarkable comeback ride to claim her maiden UCI World Cup victory. After starting the opening lap down in 20th position, she fought her way through the field before outsprinting Makena Kellerman to the line. Meanwhile, newly crowned UCI World Champion Nicolas Halter (Thömus Akros-Youngsters) added another victory to his résumé with a commanding performance in the U23 men’s race.The day also saw the first overall titles decided, with Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) and Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) sealing the U23 overall crowns.BERTA MAKES ITALIAN XCC HISTORY IN SOLDIER HOLLOWMartina Berta combined courage and raw power to break clear of the field and secure the first UCI XCC World Cup victory of her elite career, leaving a star-studded chasing group unable to respond.An early lead group featured Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing), Gwendalyn Gibson (Trek-Unbroken XC) and Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing). Racing less than 20 miles from her hometown, Batten looked determined to make her mark in front of a home crowd.With the pace easing, Gibson’s teammate Evie Richards was forced to bridge across before taking turns on the front to keep the tempo high and discourage further attacks. The result was a tense stalemate through the middle stages of the race, until Berta blew it apart on the penultimate lap. Launching her move at the start of the course’s long descent, the Italian quickly opened up a 10-second advantage by the time she crossed the line to take the bell.The gap began to come down on the final climb as signs of fatigue started to show, but a momentary hesitation among the chasers proved decisive. Given just enough breathing room, Berta dug deep and held on all the way to the finish.Behind her, Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) attacked from the chasing group and managed to carve out a small but crucial advantage. The Swiss rider held firm to claim second place, while Sina Frei edged the sprint for third.“It’s unreal,” said Berta. “My plan was to make a hard effort on the second-to-last lap to reduce the group for the final lap, but when I looked back, nobody was there. I was really on the limit and wasn’t sure I could stay away on my own for the entire last lap, so to pull it off in front of this crowd is amazing.”Further back, Jenny Rissveds could only finish fifth, leaving her with a mountain to climb in the fight for the overall title. The Swede will need to win the final round of the season and hope Frei endures a difficult day if she is to have any chance of overturning the deficit. “Anything can happen in racing,” said Frei. “There’s still one round to go and I’m still looking forward.”GAZE TIMES IT TO PERFECTION FOR LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO VICTORY A hectic men’s elite race remained wide open until the very last metres despite a succession of attacks, with Sam Gaze ending an 889-day wait for victory by storming to the win in a dramatic sprint finish as rain swept across Soldier Hollow.With pre-race overall leader Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) absent from the final two rounds of the season to focus on his road campaign, Luca Martin knew he had a golden opportunity to strengthen his bid for the overall title. The Frenchman wasted little time in taking the initiative, attacking alongside Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) on lap four and forcing a select group clear that also included Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division).Azzaro, Martin’s closest remaining rival in the overall standings, was quick to respond and shadowed the French champion’s every move as the two locked horns throughout the race.Although the breakaway was eventually reeled back in, the aggression never relented. A string of riders tried their luck, including Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing), whose solo move briefly threatened to emulate the successful attack that had earned Martina Berta victory in the women’s race earlier in the day.Sarrou was eventually brought back by Aldridge, setting up a tense finale. The Briton led the field into the closing stages after several contenders, including Cole Punchard (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing), crashed on the final lap as deteriorating weather conditions turned the race into a battle of survival.Gaze timed his effort to perfection. Having spent the entire race conserving energy and avoiding the wind, the New Zealander hit the front for the first time in the finishing straight and powered clear to seal a memorable victory.“Incredible, I don’t even know what to say,” said Gaze. “I came here just looking to have a bit of fun. This morning I felt pretty average, but with five laps to go we regrouped and it all came down to the finish straight. There’s no time for confidence or doubt in those moments. For a second I thought I was boxed in, but I managed to find a way through.”While victory slipped away, Martin’s second-place finish still represented a significant result in the overall battle. The Frenchman gained 50 points on Azzaro and heads into the season finale with a 96-point advantage at the top of the standings.CELEBRATIONS ALL ROUND IN THE U23 RANKS There was no shortage of celebrations in the U23 ranks at Soldier Hollow, as Rafaelle Carrier and Nicolas Halter claimed the race victories while Valentina Corvi and Paul Schehl secured the U23 overall titles.Carrier captured the first UCI World Cup victory of her career with an ice-cool performance in the closing stages of a tactical U23 women’s race. The Canadian rider overcame a dreadful start before positioning herself perfectly on the final lap, using Makena Kellerman’s wheel before launching her winning sprint in the final metres.“It feels unbelievable,” said Carrier. “I had such a bad start, I was around 30th place, so to come away with the win is crazy. The easiest way to move up was on the long straight because nobody wanted to pull. The group was almost stalling at times, and that gave me opportunities to gain positions. Before the sprint I knew I had the perfect wheel. Makena [Kellerman] is such a strong sprinter that she almost gave me a lead-out. It was unbelievable. I didn’t even have time to celebrate.”Corvi safely navigated the race within the lead group to lock up the U23 Women’s UCI XCC World Cup overall title, and less than an hour later Paul Schehl followed suit by securing the U23 men’s crown.The race victory, however, belonged to newly crowned UCI XCC World Champion Nicolas Halter, who backed up his rainbow jersey triumph in emphatic fashion. The Swiss rider, whose sister Monique Halter also won the U23 UCI XCC World title in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy), launched a decisive attack on the final lap, splitting the field apart before holding off Nikolaj Hougs (Cube Factory Racing) to the finish.“I feel amazing in this jersey,” said Halter. “It was my first race wearing it and it almost felt like it gave me wings. I went all-in on the final lap, opened a small gap and then just went full gas to the finish. It felt like a very long run to the line.“Racing in the rainbow jersey is something special and maybe it gave me a few extra percent today. Sharing this success with my sister makes it even more incredible. The key was carrying as much speed as possible onto the climb after the downhill. If you lost momentum, you had to work so much harder. In the end it came down to timing, and for me everything worked perfectly.”There will be little time for Berta, Gaze, Halter and Carrier to celebrate their victories. All four will be back on the start line tomorrow for the penultimate UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup round of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, with racing getting underway at 9:00 (local time) with the U23 women’s race. For full broadcast details and start times, click here.

Making its debut on the UCI World Cup circuit, Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah (USA), offers riders a unique challenge. Its dry, sandy terrain is unlike anything encountered so far this season and is expected to add an extra layer of unpredictability to the racing.Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Soldier Hollow, presented by SCOTT Sports, including the schedule for the Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-country Olympic (XCO) races, the key riders to watch, and how you can follow all the action live.WHEN?The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA) starts with the Women’s U23 UCI XCC World Cup at 11:20 (UTC-6) on Saturday, September 19 and concludes with the Men’s Elite UCI XCO World Cup at 15:30 (UTC-6) on Sunday, September 20.Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-6 (EST-2/BST-7/CEST-8):Saturday, September 1911:20 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track | Women U2312:10 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track | Men U2313:00 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track | Women Elite13:50 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track | Men EliteSunday, September 20 9:00 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic | Women U2311:00 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic | Men U2313:30 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic | Women Elite15:30 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic | Men EliteWHERE CAN I WATCH?The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads to North America for the first time in 2026, with the eighth round of the UCI Cross-country World Cup set to take place at Soldier Hollow. Fans around the world will be able to watch the Elite XCC and XCO races live via the following broadcasters and streaming services:Europe:Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / EurosportCzechia – HBO Max, Eurosport and CT Sport +France – HBO Max, Eurosport and L'Equipe LiveIreland – TNT SportsSwitzerland, Liechtenstein – HBO Max, Eurosport and SRF/RSIUnited Kingdom – HBO Max and TNT SportsAsia:Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand – Eurosport WorldOceania:Australia – Stan SportNew Zealand – MTBWS TVSamoa – Eurosport WorldNorth America:Canada – FloSportsUSA – HBO Max / MTBWS TVSouth & Central America: MTBWS TVAfrica: MTBWS TVAll other territories: MTBWS TVRIDERS TO WATCHA lot has changed in the fight for the UCI XCO World Cup overall since the last European round of the season in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) at the end of August.In the women’s field, Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) appears to have the momentum. The Swiss rider followed up the XCO-XCC double she secured in Les Gets by claiming the UCI XCO World Championship title in Val di Sole, further strengthening her credentials as she looks to hunt down Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing).While Rissveds still holds a commanding 282-point lead with two rounds remaining, Frei will be aiming to close the gap before the season finale at Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA) and take the overall contest down to the wire. That task now takes her to Soldier Hollow, the latest of three new UCI Cross-country World Cup venues introduced in 2026, following MONA YongPyong (South Korea) and La Thuile, Valle d’Aosta (Italy). Frei has already proven she can adapt quickly to unfamiliar terrain, claiming another XCO-XCC double at the Korean stop earlier this season. While Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) and Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) remain mathematically in contention for the overall title, they are more realistically chasing podium positions in the standings.Other riders to watch include Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), whose impressive return to competition continued with a fifth-place finish at the UCI XCO World Championships, and Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing), the local favourite and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist. The men’s competition also remains mathematically open with five riders still in contention, although it would take a major upset for Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) not to be crowned the 2026 overall winner. The Frenchman’s closest challenger, Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), has shifted his focus to road racing for the remainder of the season, leaving Bjorn Riley (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team), Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC) with a significant deficit to make up. That does not mean there will be any shortage of storylines in Soldier Hollow. Martin is chasing a third UCI XCO World Cup victory of the season, while teammate Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) will look to carry his strong form into the North American leg after finishing runner-up to Tom Pidcock at the UCI XCO World Championships, having already secured the European title in July. Martín Vidaurre Kossman (Specialized Factory Racing), fourth in Val di Sole, and teammate Christopher Blevins should also feature prominently. The latter has happy memories of the venue, having won the American Continental XCO Championship there in 2024.Saturday’s UCI XCC World Cup race could prove equally decisive in the battle for the overall series. Just 80 points separate Frei and Rissveds in the Women Elite standings and, with 500 points still available, Savilia Blunk, Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) and Laura Stigger remain in the mathematical hunt. Blunk will be especially motivated on home soil as she targets her second UCI XCC World Cup victory of the season, while Stigger will make her first appearance in the rainbow jersey since being crowned UCI XCC World Champion.In the Men Elite category, the absence of newly crowned UCI XCC World Champion Adrien Boichis reopens the fight for the overall title between Luca Martin and Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division). Both riders are expected to surpass Boichis’ points tally, with just 46 points separating them heading into the final two rounds. Although Azzaro has been the less consistent of the two, he boasts two UCI XCC World Cup wins this season compared to Martin’s none. Martin, however, held the upper hand at the UCI XCC World Championships, finishing third while Azzaro crossed the line in seventh. Elsewhere, Riley will be targeting a second victory of the campaign in front of a home crowd, while Aldridge arrives with podium momentum after his runner-up finish in Val di Sole.Racing gets underway on Saturday, September 19 in Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA).Full schedule and event details are available HERE.You can find where to watch all of the racing action live HERE.