UCI XCO World Cup: Spectacular Berta Doubles Up in Soldier Hollow as Vidaurre Produces Stunning Comeback Victory

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.

The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series has never been afraid to break new ground, and with just three rounds remaining in the 2026 season, two new venues are set to make their UCI World Cup debuts, including Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah (USA).Soldier Hollow will welcome the Endurance athletes for the penultimate rounds of the UCI Cross-country World Cup, presented by SCOTT Sports. With both the Men Elite and Women Elite overall titles still hanging in the balance across the cross-country Olympic (XCO) and cross-country short track (XCC) formats, riders and fans can expect two days of all-out racing and an unforgettable UCI World Cup debut for Utah's iconic venue.While Soldier Hollow is new to the UCI World Cup circuit, it is no stranger to elite-level competition. The venue hosted biathlon and cross-country skiing events during the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games and will once again play its part on the world stage when it hosts competitions at the 2034 Olympic Winter Games.Beyond its Olympic pedigree, Soldier Hollow has established itself as a premier summer destination for mountain biking and outdoor recreation. It sits at the heart of a state deeply woven into the fabric of the sport, with Utah's legendary riding destinations, including Moab and Zion, helping to shape mountain bike's global identity.Located approximately 50 miles southeast of Salt Lake City within Wasatch Mountain State Park, the venue's sandy terrain and exposed landscape will provide a distinctive challenge in this year's series. The course is built on Utah's characteristic red soil, which becomes extremely hard-packed and fast in dry conditions but can quickly turn sticky and slippery when wet, adding an extra layer of unpredictability for riders.Both courses have been purpose-built to deliver fast, flowing racing while maximizing the spectator experience. Thanks to the openness of the venue, fans can follow almost 90% of the action from a single vantage point. Riders, however, will face a sterner test, with the renowned Hard Line rock garden demanding precision, commitment and exceptional bike-handling skills.The XCO course measures 4.2km and features 178m of elevation gain, while the XCC course measures 1.2km with 34m of elevation gain.RISSVEDS AND FREI LEAD THE CHARGE AS BATTEN EYES HOME GLORYJenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) had a near-perfect year as the 2025 UCI XCO World Champion. The Swede has finished outside the podium just once all season, placing fourth in La Thuile - Valle d’Aosta (Italy), while claiming five UCI XCO World Cup victories, three of them in 2026. However, after finishing seventh at the 2026 UCI XCO World Championships, Rissveds knows there is still work to do if she is to finally secure the overall title.Standing in her way is a rider whose momentum continues to build race after race. Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) followed up her dominant UCI XCO-XCC World Cup double in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), with victory at the UCI XCO World Championships, adding the rainbow jersey to an already stellar season. As Rissveds’ closest challenger in the standings, the Swiss rider will arrive in Utah determined to keep the title fight alive.Rissveds currently leads Frei by 282 points and needs to leave Soldier Hollow with a 330-point advantage to clinch both her first overall UCI XCO World Cup title and the first for Sweden. With every position carrying valuable points at this stage of the season, expect the pair to be locked in battle across both days of racing in Utah.While the overall title appears destined to be decided between Rissveds and Frei, there will be no shortage of contenders for victory in Soldier Hollow. Local hero and Olympic silver medallist Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) will be eager to deliver a standout performance on home trails, while fellow American Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) will also be looking to shine in front of a home crowd.Meanwhile, Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) continues to be a consistent force at the sharp end of the field, and the resurgent Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) arrives with growing momentum after a strong return to form, making her a genuine threat heading into the penultimate round of the season.ALL EYES ON MARTIN, BUT THE BATTLE IS FAR FROM OVERLuca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) arrives in Soldier Hollow with one hand firmly on the Men Elite overall title. The Frenchman can now only be caught mathematically by Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), Bjorn Riley (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team), Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC). However, with Boichis turning his focus to road racing for the remainder of the season and the other three trailing by more than 550 points, Martin is firmly in the driving seat heading into the penultimate round.That does not mean the racing will lack intrigue. A victory in Utah would be the fourth UCI XCO World Cup win of Martin’s career, drawing him level with mountain biking legend Bart Brentjens on the all-time winners list.The home crowd, meanwhile, will be hoping for a different outcome. American stars Bjorn Riley and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) headline a strong contingent looking to deliver a statement performance on home soil, while a host of riders will see Soldier Hollow’s unique terrain as an opportunity to upset the established order and fight for victory.THE XCC BATTLES REACH BOILING POINTBoth UCI XCC World Cup overall titles remain very much up for grabs with two rounds still to race.In the Women Elite category, the battle once again comes down to Sina Frei and Jenny Rissveds. Frei currently holds an 80-point advantage and could secure the overall crown before the season finale, but only with a near-perfect result in Soldier Hollow and an unusually subdued performance from Rissveds. Given the form both riders have shown throughout the year, another intense head-to-head showdown looks likely.The Men Elite title race has become equally compelling following the absence of newly crowned UCI XCC World Champion Adrien Boichis, whose switch to road racing has left the fight for the overall wide open. As a result, a captivating duel has emerged between Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), with just 46 points separating the two Frenchmen.Martin has an opportunity to wrap up the overall title in Utah, but the permutations remain complex and far from straightforward. More realistically, Soldier Hollow is shaping up to be a crucial chapter in a battle that appears destined to go down to the wire. With every point carrying added significance, expect Martin and Azzaro to be bar-to-bar throughout the Short Track race as they look to seize the initiative heading into the final round of the season.WILDCARD TEAMS READY TO MAKE THEIR MARK IN SOLDIER HOLLOWThe following wildcard teams have been confirmed to compete in the UCI Cross-country World Cup in Soldier Hollow: KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Massi, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros - Youngstars, UNNO Factory Racing, Bike Team Solothurn and Pivot Cycles OTE.Among the wildcard entries, Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) is one of the names to watch. The German could leave Soldier Hollow as the overall winner of both the U23 UCI XCO and XCC World Cups if results fall his way this weekend.Schehl is far from the only wildcard rider making an impact this season. Katrin Embacher (KTM Factory Team) strengthened her grip on second place in the Women U23 XCO overall standings with a podium finish in Les Gets, while Tom Perrin (SUNN Factory Racing) is closing in on a maiden top 10 overall finish in the Men U23 category. Thömus Akros - Youngstars siblings Monique and Nicolas Halter will line up in their respective U23 XCC races wearing the coveted rainbow jersey as reigning UCI World Champions. Meanwhile, Fiona Schibler (Bike Team Solothurn) sits fourth in the Women U23 XCO standings with second place still within reach, and Ian Ackert (Pivot Cycles OTE) arrives in Utah after a season highlighted by a string of top five finishes in the Men U23 ranks.Racing at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Soldier Hollow, presented by SCOTT Sports, gets underway on Saturday 19 September with the UCI XCC World Cup. Full schedule and event information are available here.