UCI Downhill World Cup: Höll and Iles Deliver Epic Performances to Clinch Victory in Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland

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

The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series kicks off in style this weekend with South Korea’s MONA YongPyong set for a historic season opener.The venue will see the first-ever Asian UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cups in the formats’ histories, while it will host only the fourth UCI Downhill (DHI) World Cup on the continent, and the first in 25 years. If that wasn’t enough, the tracks, terrain and conditions will provide complete unknowns for the majority of the field – all of whom will be keen to make strong starts to their 2026 series.From course information and how and who to watch, here’s all you need to know ahead of the MONA YongPyong UCI World Cup.ENTER THE UNKNOWNSouth Korea’s largest and oldest ski resort, and a venue of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, MONA YongPyong transforms in summer into a trail network worthy of hosting the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and the world’s best athletes.Located 186km east of Seoul, the bike park offers a mix of fast, technical Cross‑country and All Mountain trails that wind through dense woodland and open terrain. For this event, a brand‑new Downhill track has been purpose‑built, combining high‑speed open piste sections with wide, off‑camber forest terrain, punctuated by a series of large jumps.After a long off-season, these new trails are set to challenge riders in both the Endurance and Gravity fields. As a completely new venue, athletes will need to learn the respective courses from top to bottom. For many, it will also be their first time racing in Asia, and specifically in South Korea, which will involve getting to grips with different terrain and climate conditions.Vali Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), the defending UCI Downhill World Cup champion, welcomed the unpredictability of the venue: “It’s cool that there’s a brand‑new track that nobody could pre-practice on, it’s very rare nowadays that riders don’t get to ride the track in advance, especially for the first round of the season, so it’s going to be super exciting.”Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing), who enjoyed a strong finish to her 2025 campaign with 8 UCI World Cup wins across XCC and XCO, also highlighted the appeal of racing somewhere new: “I’m always excited for new venues and new places. Change is good. I appreciate changes in the World Cup”.WHEN IS THE MONA YONGPYONG UCI WORLD CUP?The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in MONA YongPyong starts with the Women’s U23 UCI XCC World Cup at 10:35 (UTC+9) on Friday, May 1 and concludes with the Men’s UCI XCO World Cup at 15:30 (UTC+9) on Sunday, May 3.All key timings for race weekend can be found HERE.WHERE CAN I WATCH?There will be several ways to watch the action unfold at Asia’s only Cross-country and Downhill UCI World Cups of the 2026 season. Mountain bike fans can enjoy live coverage of the Elite UCI XCO, XCC and DHI World Cup Finals anywhere in the world.Europe:Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / EurosportIreland – TNT SportsUnited Kingdom – HBO Max, TNT SportsCzechia – CT Sports (Only Elite XCC, Elite Downhill and Women Elite XCO races live)Switzerland, Liechtenstein – HBO Max (full coverage) and SRG/RSI (Only Elite XCC and XCO races live)Asia:Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand - Eurosport WorldSouth Korea – Eurosport World (full coverage) and KBSN (Only Elite Downhill races live)Oceania:Australia – Stan SportNew Zealand : MTBWS TVNorth America:Canada – FloSportsUSA – HBO MaxSouth & Central America: Direct TV (LATAM) and MTBWS TV (all other territories)Africa: MTBWS TVFor more information, visit the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series official website to check availability in your location.The men’s and women’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup races will also be available on HBO Max (in all available territories) and MTBWS TV via subscription. Follow the UCI Downhill World Cup qualification day on live timing and across social media.RIDERS TO WATCH:RISSVEDS TO RESUME DOMINANCE?While the 2025 UCI XCO World Cup overall was won by Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), it was her rival Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) who appeared to be in the form of her life at the season’s conclusion. With Maxwell taking a season-long sabbatical, the reigning UCI XCO World Champion and Rio 2016 gold medalist becomes an automatic favourite at every round, but it will be interesting to see if she has been able to maintain that momentum over a long, seven-month off-season.There will be a number of riders looking to halt the Swede’s string of back-to-back wins with Evie Richards (Trek-Unbroken XC) the most likely contender. Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) would have been an obvious pick, but the Swiss rider has decided to skip the South Korean round to recover after winning the Absa Cape Epic. Richards meanwhile finished 2025 with back-to-back UCI XCO World Cup podiums, highlighting how she has added Olympic-distance duration to her explosive XCC attributes.BLEVINS THE RIDER TO BEATChristopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) had a record-breaking 2025 and the American will do well to match his results, which included three XCO-XCC doubles throughout the series. The reigning UCI XCO World Cup overall winner will be the rider to beat in South Korea and has shown already in his career that he tends to start seasons strongly – finishing second at the opening round in Araxá (Brazil) in 2025 and winning 2024’s curtain raiser in Mairiporã (Brazil). He will be without two of his main rivals and teammates in Asia – Victor Kortezky (Specialized Factory Racing) absent due to injuries and Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) currently racing in the Tour de Romandie. It won’t be a foregone conclusion for Blevins though, who will face competition from his other teammate and second-place finisher in last year’s overall Martín Viduarre Kossman (Specialized Factory Racing), Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing), and Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing), the Swiss young gun making his step up to the Elite ranks after dominating the Under 23s.RICHARDS AND BLEVINS TARGETTING STRONG START IN XCCBefore Sunday’s Cross-country Olympic action, there’s Friday’s Cross-country Short Track race for riders and fans to sink their teeth into. Again, it will be the usual suspects in contention for the win and superior starting spots in the XCO – Richards and Rissveds in the women’s competition, and Blevins, Martin and Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) in the men’s – but there will be a number of other riders looking to stake their claim and capitalise on any confusion caused by a new course.Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) both managed it back in 2024 at Mairiporã and Araxá respectively. Prior to that, Mathias Flückiger (Thömus maxon) came out on top at the inaugural XCC in Pal Arinsal (Andorra) back in 2022.ALL EYES ON HOW HÖLL COPES WITH NEW SETUPVali Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) had a successful 2025 by her high standards – adding a fourth consecutive UCI Downhill World Championship and fourth UCI Downhill World Cup overall title to her burgeoning collection. But the 24-year-old didn’t have it all her own way. Despite successfully defending her overall crown, she had to show grit, grinding out consistent top five finishes and winning just one UCI Downhill World Cup all season, which came in October’s penultimate round in Lake Placid Olympic Region, New York (USA). The off-season has also seen her switch teams to Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres – meaning a change in bike and management – so it will be interesting to see how she fares in the first Asian UCI Downhill World Cup in 25 years.Höll’s single win in 2025 wasn’t just a reflection of her own form, but also of the rising competitiveness in the female field – the likes of Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing), Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division) and Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing) ready to pounce on any mistake from the Austrian.GOLDSTONE VS BRUNI RETURNS FOR ROUND TWOJackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Loïc Bruni’s (Specialized Gravity) battle for the 2025 UCI Downhill World Cup overall turned into an absolute epic – the Canadian securing his first title when defending champion Bruni was unable to start the final race run of the season due to injury. With Bruni back to full fitness, fans can expect their duel to resume from the off in Saturday’s finals, although there is added competition this year that means we might have more than a two-horse race on our hands.Max and Till Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC OFF by Riding Addiction) and Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) are some of the most exciting riders to make the step up from the Junior ranks. It’s also worth keeping an eye on Luke Meier-Smith (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - DH) – the Australian showing he’s a quick learner on new courses with a win at Lake Placid Olympic Region’s Downhill debut, and in good form having recently been crowned Oceanian Continental Champion.WILDCARD TEAMSThe following wildcard teams have also been confirmed to compete in MONA YongPyong: UCI Cross-country World Cup: Bike Team Solothurn, Trinity Racing, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Rouvy, BH-Wallonie MTB Team, UNNO Factory Racing and Massi.UCI Downhill World Cup: Outlaw Intense Racing, Crestline Speedshop, Team High Country, Pivot Factory Racing, The Alliance Racing and Stoic Racing.Most of them featured throughout the 2025 series, but Outlaw Intense Racing, Crestline Speed Shop, Stoic Racing and UNNO Factory Racing will all make their UCI World Cup debuts. The debutants are all predominantly youth-focused and their riders will be competitive in the Junior (Downhill) and Under-23 (Cross-country) ranks.Pivot Factory Racing will field a more experienced five-rider lineup that includes the 2026 American UCI Continental Champion Roger Viera, New Zealand national champion Jenna Hastings, multi-time top 10 UCI World Cup finisher Bernard Kerr, and exciting North American prospect Dylan Maples. Elsewhere, the likes of Team High Country and The Alliance Racing will look to build on their regular top 10 finishes in the Junior ranks from 2025.Racing gets underway in MONA YongPyong on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and event details are available here.

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.