UCI Enduro World Cup: Drama to the Very End as Conolly and Gilchrist Triumph in Aletsch Arena-Bellwald

The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series has been one for the ages with the first nine rounds serving up brand new venues, the return of fan favourites and adrenaline-packed racing across cross-country, downhill and enduro.While the dust settles on the first half of the series, riders and fans alike get a chance to take a break and reset over the northern hemisphere’s summer before ramping things up again as they build towards the final rounds.With all four formats’ overall titles in the balance, it’s all still to play for in the race to become a 2026 UCI World Cup overall winner. From tight tussles to seemingly foregone conclusions, here’s the state of play as the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series pauses for its summer break.UCI XCO WORLD CUP: MARTIN AND RISSVEDS ON THE MARCHLuca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) have been two of the most consistent riders in the Cross-country Olympic (XCO) format of the last 12 months, and both carried their strong form from the tail end of the 2025 season into this series.Rainbow jersey-wearing Rissveds hasn’t finished outside the top three all year and her XCO-XCC double at the last round in Pal Arinsal (Andorra) demonstrated the Swede’s dominance. Her lead in the overall over second-placed Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) stands at 347 points, so could afford to skip a round and remain in top spot.If results go her way, Rissveds could wrap up a first UCI XCO World Cup title as soon at the next round in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), but the reality is that she will have to wait until the penultimate round at new UCI World Cup venue Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA).Martin had been showing a similar level of consistency to Rissveds, but the Frenchman finished outside of the top two for the first time this year in Andorra, rolling home in 22nd. Although it didn’t affect his place at the top of the standings, the winner in Pal Arinsal, Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), managed to shave more than 200 points off of Martin’s lead. Only 130 points separate the duo, and with both often found duelling it out at the front of proceedings, expect the title to go to the wire in Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA).In the Under 23, Valentina Corvi (Canyon XC Racing) is the runaway leader in the women’s standings and is unlikely to be caught, while despite his dominance, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) only holds a 103-point lead over Thibaut François Baudry (Canyon XC Racing) in the men’s U23.UCI XCC WORLD CUP: FREI AND BOICHIS HOLD SLENDER SHORT TRACK LEADSThings are a bit tighter in the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup standings, where Specialized’s Frei and Boichis hold slender leads.Although Frei started the series strongly with two wins in the first third rounds, the momentum appears to have shifted in the direction of second-place Rissveds who has won back-to-back rounds and sits only 30 points behind the Swiss rider in the standings. The summer break could have come at a good time for Frei though, with it providing a chance to reset and go again in defence of her lead.Teammate Boichis meanwhile is in the ascendancy. Despite skipping the opening round of the series, the Frenchman has amassed 960 points in five rounds, leapfrogging early season leader Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) who’s yet to finish higher than eighth after starting the year so strongly with back-to-back wins in MONA YongPyong (South Korea) and Nové Mĕsto Na Moravé (Czechia).Boichis’ 116-point lead in the series and form should stand him in good stead, but with Martin lurking only four points behind Azzaro in third and Pal Arinsal winner Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team) only 222 points off of first, there’s still time for things to be shuffled before the season end.The story in the U23 is the same as in the XCO standings, with Corvi and Schehl both leading their respective categories. Corvi’s advantage over Bloeme Kalis (KMC Nukeproof MTB Racing Team) isn’t as commanding as in the Olympic distance, but back-to-back XCC wins show that the Italian is the clear favourite, while Schehl’s five consecutive wins should be enough to hold off François Baudry.In the UCI Cross-country World Cup team standings, Specialized Factory Racing lead the way thanks to strong performances from Boichis, Frei and Laura Stigger, and with Christopher Blevins close to his best and Victor Koretzky still to return from an injury that has ruled him out of the series so far, it’s unlikely that second-place Canyon XC Racing will be able to close the 547-point gap, even with Rissveds’ red-hot form.UCI DOWNHILL WORLD CUP: HÖLL IN CONTROL, WILLIAMS AND ILES FILLING BRUNI’S SHOESThe UCI Downhill World Cup are complete contrasts. In the women’s field, Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) is on course for another coronation, while Jordan Williams and Finn Iles are keeping Specialized Gravity on top despite team-mate Loïc Bruni’s long layoff.Höll can complete her fifth UCI Downhill World Cup title as early as Les Gets, with the Austrian holding a 553-point advantage over team-mate Lisa Baumann. Her five wins from six rounds this series mean she can even afford to not finish on the top spot and still win before setting foot in North America for the final two rounds, but knowing Höll, she will be challenging for maximum points from now until the end of the series.The Specialized Gravity team-mates Williams and Iles lead the way in the men’s field, but with just 63 points separating them, it’s a much tighter affair. Both have two wins to their names this series and are stepping out of the shadow of Loïc Bruni. With three rounds to go, there are still plenty of other riders within mathematical contention, but Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP), Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) and reigning overall winner Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) are the most likely to challenge.In the Junior class, it’s a reversed situation to the Elites. In the Men Junior, Jonty Williamson (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) has built a seemingly unassailable 111-point lead over Sacha Gabriel Brizin (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), while only 25 points separate Alehta Ostagaard (Canyon DH Racing) and Lina Frener (Norco X Adidas Race Division) in the Women Junior standings.COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction lead the UCI Downhill World Cup team standings, although Canyon DH Racing reduced the Andorran team’s advantage to 48 points in Pal Arinsal. Vali Höll’s Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres sit a further three points back in third, while fourth-placed Specialized Gravity will still fancy their chances despite being 119 points in arrears – particularly if Bruni returns to action as soon as Les Gets, Haute Savoie.UCI ENDURO WORLD CUP: CONOLLY AND RODGERS WITHIN REACH WITH ONE ROUND TO GOBefore the Cross-country and Downhill double header in Les Gets, there’s the small matter of the UCI Enduro World Cup series finale in Morillon, Haute-Savoie. And after the last round in Aletsch Arena-Bellwald (Switzerland), both titles remain on the line in the French Alps.Ella Conolly continued her dominance of the women’s field in Switzerland, adding a third win of the series to put her within reach of defending her overall title. Her 170-point lead over Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project) means the privateer needs to just finish sixth in Morillon to make it back-to-back series. Pugin is nailed on for second place whatever happens, while Raphaela Richter and Winnifred Goldsbury can still challenge Elly Hoskin for third.Lief Rodgers meanwhile is having a memorable second season in the Elite men’s class, and the Canadian privateer finds himself in first with an 82-point advantage over Adrien Dailly (Speed Project). Rodgers’ fortunes were boosted after then-series leader Alex Rudeau was disqualified in Aletsch Arena-Bellwald but with 250 points still up for grabs, it’s mathematically possible for anyone in the top six (including fourth-placed Rudeau) to overhaul Rodgers, who needs to finish on the podium to guarantee the title.In the Junior class, Hugo Marti Montessinos clinched the Men Junior class last time out in Aletsch Arena-Bellwald, while 25 points separate Nežka Libnik and Romy Williams (Speed Project) in the Women Junior.While privateers might lead the individual standings, in the UCI Enduro World Cup team standings, Speed Project capped off its dominant season by mathematically securing the overall team title with one round to spare. Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team remain second overall, while Abetone Vittoria Nencini Sport Factory Team completes the top three.

Overall men’s series leader Alex Rudeau is out of the UCI Enduro World Cup round at Aletsch Arena-Bellwald on a bruising day one, alongside third and fourth-placed women Raphaela Richter and Winnifred Goldsbury.Rudeau broke his rear wheel navigating a rock garden at the end of stage 1 and was disqualified for unauthorised access of the Technical Assistance Zone, and unauthorised replacement of a marked component.That leaves Leif Rogers primed to take over the series lead with the Canadian sitting fourth overnight at 10.9 seconds behind Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), while Ella Conolly edges closer and closer to clinching back-to-back titles as she boasts a 26-second lead at the halfway stage.Richter and Goldsbury both dropped out of the event for medical reasons, with Elina Frei and Hugo Marti Montessinos setting the pace in the junior races.RUDEAU OPENS DOOR TO ROGERS AND DAILLYAt first glance, Rudeau finishing stage 1 in 11th at 14.5 seconds back appeared far from disastrous given he arrived in Switzerland boasting an 85-point lead at the top of the elite men’s standings. However, news of his disqualification sent shockwaves around the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and gave a huge carrot to all his rivals at the top of the standings.Fresh from his maiden elite UCI World Cup win in La Thuile-Valle d’Aosta, Raphaël Giambi was the early pacesetter but an issue on stage 2 cost him over half a minute and handed the initiative to Łukasik. The defending champion has endured a difficult season but he finished in the top five of every stage to eke out a 2.3-second lead over fellow Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team rider Ryan Gilchrist.Łukasik only topped the timesheets on one stage but with Giambi and Rogers both struggling with consistency, he will be the man to beat on day two.Adrien Dailly is the other man within 10 seconds of the Pole and he has an outside shot of leaving Switzerland with the overall lead if Rogers comes unstuck tomorrow, which features the tougher, steeper trails after longer energy-sapping rides on day one.CONOLLY ON THE BRINK AFTER DOMINANT DAY ONEWhile a big-name casualty shook up the elite men’s standings, DNFs for Richter and Goldbury helped Conolly tighten her grip in the elite women’s overall. However, the Brit deserves even more credit for a dominant performance in Aletsch Arena-Bellwald as she blew away her remaining rivals.With second-placed Simona Kuchyňková (Cube Action Team) also absent, Conolly immediately jumped out to a 15-second lead on Alpine Rodeo, the first of three long winding stages.UCI Enduro World Champion Elly Hoskin hit back on Blueberry Trail and Glaciara Trail but Conolly stayed in touch, then fired herself back to the front on the shortest stage of the day as Hoskin came unstuck, losing 13 seconds in just 1.5km.The Canadian remains Conolly’s closest challenger while Nadine Ellecosta is in line for a podium place in Switzerland, though the elongated gaps at the top of the women’s standings means neither rider is set to move up any positions.Kuchyňkova’s absence means Conolly is set to clinch the UCI Enduro World Cup with a round to go as long as she can stay on her bike tomorrow, though anything can happen on the technical trails of Aletsch Arena-Bellwald.The hardest stage of the weekend comes early on day two with Lord of the Rims (Extended Cut) featuring 725m of descent in just a 4.9km course, while the untested Into the Wild trail on the penultimate stage will be a fresh test for the exhausted riders.CONTRASTING FORTUNES FOR JUNIOR LEADERSThe gap at the top of the junior women’s standings is tightening after Nežka Libnik had a disastrous stage 3, losing 15 minutes to a puncture and opening the door to Romy Williams (Speed Project).Elina Frei leads by 2:38.950 on home trails as Williams was outclassed by the Swiss rider on every stage but looks set to finish ahead of Libnik as long as she finishes day two. However, Emily Skeie-Lebreux’s failure to finish stage two means Libnik is still on course to pick up 40 points and hold onto her overall lead.It was contrasting fortunes for the junior leaders as Hugo Marti Montessinos took a giant step towards clinching the overall title. Entering Aletsch Arena - Bellwald with an 80-point advantage at the top of the standings, a podium finish for the Frenchman would secure the junior men’s title ahead of the final round in August and Marti Montessinos is 12.9 seconds ahead after day one. His closest challenger Tommy Bougon is out too, so it looks like it would take a miracle to deny Marti Montessinos.The action reaches its climax tomorrow in Aletsch Arena–Bellwald with four more stages to close out the penultimate UCI Enduro World Cup round of the season. The final stage will be broadcast live on-site, with fans also able to follow the action on a delayed-live basis via subscription on MTBWS TV, in all markets where the streaming service is available.

This weekend, Enduro riders will be tasked with tackling the trails of Aletsch Arena - Bellwald (Valais, Switzerland) – host of the 2025 UCI Enduro World Championships.While it might only be mid-July, we’re now entering the crucial phase of this year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. With only two UCI Enduro World Cups remaining, every stage, position or point could make all the difference and titles could be won or lost in the blink of an eye. Ella Conolly and Alex Rudeau lead their respective standings, but if this season has proved anything, it’s that there is a long line of riders ready to pounce when the opportunity arises.This is also the penultimate round of the Enduro Open, giving amateur riders the opportunity to take on the same course as the UCI Enduro World Cup stars across two intense days of racing.EPIC, DESCENT-HEAVY DAYS OUTAletsch Arena – Bellwald is back in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar after a year off in 2025 to host the rainbow jersey events.The UCI Enduro World Cup takes place on its extensive trail network. Situated in the alpine-forested foothills of the mesmerising Alestch Glacier – the largest in the Alps – riders and fans can expect amazing scenes around every berm and bend.Athletes will take on eight stages over two days of action that total 80.5km of riding and 5,974m of descent.Day one is the marginally longer of the two and features more pedal climbing during liaisons. Riders kick off with returning favourites Alpine Rodeo, Blueberry Trail and the longest stage of the day, Glaciara Trail – which features 637m descent over 3.9km. The final stage is a new inclusion for the UCI Enduro World Cup – the 1.5km Time Travel – which is followed by a chunky 12km ride back to the event village in Fiesch.Day two might be shorter on paper, but with the exploits of day one already in their arms and legs, riders will have literal and figurative mountains to climb on some of the region’s most iconic trails and new additions. After embarking on Cow Safari, riders face the prospect of Lord of the Rims (Extended Cut) – at 4.9km with 725m descent, the longest and toughest trail of the weekend. New inclusion Into the Wild adds an element of unknown to the penultimate stage, while the finale Back to the Roots sees athletes race to the race village finish line in what could be a tight conclusion to proceedings.CONOLLY AND RUDEAU IN CONTROL BUT NOT OUT OF TOUCHElla Conolly and Alex Rudeau are leading the overall standings and their consistency so far in 2026 means that the pair look to have a firm grip on their respective titles. They aren’t out of sight though, and the redistribution of points for the 2026 series means that both riders’ advantage is slimmer than what it might have been in previous years.Reigning champion Conolly’s 920 points from two wins and two second places solidifies her as the favourite to retain her title. But the Brit only holds a 70-point advantage over second-place Mélanie Pugin (Speed Project), who herself won UCI Enduro World Cup in Val di Fassa - Trentino (Italy) – the only other two-day round that athletes have faced so far this year.While Conolly’s form suggests she will be on the podium as a minimum – the privateer hasn’t finished outside of the top three at a UCI Enduro World Cup since Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland (Austria) in June 2024 – if Pugin can finish above her in Switzerland, it would leave the title finely balanced ahead of the season finale in Morillon, Haute Savoie (France) in August.Other than Conolly and Pugin, Winnifred Goldsbury is another rider to watch – the New Zealander and winner in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland looking to bounce back after crashing in practice in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy) and missing the round. Reigning UCI Enduro World Champion Elly Hoskin also has previous history at the venue, having won her rainbow stripes here last year.The men’s field is just as tight, with 2024 UCI Enduro World Champion Alex Rudeau only holding an 85-point lead over fellow privateer Lief Rodgers, while La Thuile-Valle d’Aosta winner Raphaël Giambi (Speed Project) is only 104 points off the top spot in third.Rudeau’s consistency is what has kept him at the top of the standings since the first round, which he won in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France). He finished fourth in Alestch Arena - Bellwald during last year’s UCI Enduro World Championships and will be hoping to equal or improve on that to go into the short summer break with a lead in the overall title.Canadian Rodgers is yet to win a UCI Enduro World Cup but is on the cusp of his debut victory, while Giambi could leapfrog Rodgers in the standings if he finishes above him again.One rider yet to match his previous form is reigning UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing), but if he can propel himself to the top of the podium for a second time this season and other results go his way, he would still be in with a shot of retaining his title.HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION Race content will be available across the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ official platforms, including:A detailed course preview highlighting the route and its key sections and video highlights from both practice and race days on the official YouTube channel.Key moments shared on social media (@uci_mtbworldseries)Live timing on the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website and via the official app, which will also feature live blogging with key updates throughout the event.A highlights programme will be broadcast on Eurosport and TNT Sports next week and available on streaming platform HBO Max on demand.The final stage of the UCI Enduro World Cup in Aletsch will be broadcast live on-site, with fans also able to follow the action on a delayed-live basis via subscription on MTBWS TV, in all markets where the streaming service is available.ENDURO OPEN RETURNSWith demanding, steep, technical and wild trails, Aletsch Arena & Bellwald will push riders of all abilities to their limits. Through the Enduro Open, participants have the opportunity to test themselves on the very same trails and on the same days as the sport’s elite, dropping in just hours ahead of the professionals. Once they cross the finish line, they can stay on to watch the pros race and directly compare their times with the world’s best.To further enhance the competitive experience, new age categories and a pairs category have been introduced, allowing for tighter groupings and more meaningful racing. Registration is also open for the final round in Morillon (Haute‑Savoie, France) with full details available here.Racing gets underway in Alestch Arena - Bellwald on Saturday – full schedule and event details are available here.