World’s Best Gather for Endurance and Gravity Quadruple Header at Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) today announce that the 2026 UCI Enduro World Cup will be the final season of Enduro under the current UCI World Cup structure.The decision reflects a shared belief that each mountain bike format has its own unique characteristics, community and development pathway, and that long-term success requires an approach tailored to its specific needs and ambitions. WBD Sports and the UCI believe that Enduro’s future will be best served through a structure designed specifically around the format’s unique identity, one that offers greater flexibility in its operating framework, more room for innovation and a stronger focus on participation and community engagement.For over a decade, the Enduro World Series (EWS) and WBD Sports, have played a key role in helping drive the growth, professionalisation and international reach of Enduro, both at elite and amateur levels. Together with athletes, teams, organisers, partners and fans, they have helped elevate the format to new heights, broadening its reach and strengthening its position within the mountain bike landscape. Since Enduro’s integration into the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, the format has benefited from increased visibility and exposure as part of a broader mountain biking platform.Among the most significant milestones of this period was the launch of the UCI Mountain Bike Enduro and E-Enduro World Championships in 2024, cementing Enduro’s place on the sport’s biggest stage. While the UCI Enduro World Cup concludes at the end of the 2026 season, the UCI Mountain Bike Enduro and E-Enduro World Championships will continue and take on even greater significance as the pinnacle events of the format. The UCI World Championships will become the focal point of the global Enduro calendar, bringing together the sport’s best athletes and serving as the flagship celebration of the Enduro community.The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike Enduro and E-Enduro World Championships will take place in the Finale Outdoor Region (Liguria, Italy) from 16 to 18 October, bringing the world’s leading riders to what is widely regarded as the spiritual home of Enduro.The format’s future on the world stage is also secured for 2027, with Enduro and E-Enduro confirmed as part of the UCI Cycling World Championships in Haute-Savoie, France. Among the venues selected for this landmark event is Morillon and the Grand Massif region, fresh from hosting last week’s 2026 UCI Enduro World Cup finale, which attracted more than 500 professional and amateur riders. In 2027, the French destination will once again welcome the world’s best Enduro athletes as they compete for the sport’s most prestigious title and the iconic rainbow jersey.While the path forward is still being defined, conversations are underway among the venues, organisers and stakeholders who have helped shape the sport over the past decades. Drawing on their deep understanding of Enduro and its community, they are exploring new opportunities to ensure its continued growth and long-term sustainability, while staying true to the values that have made Enduro unique: participation, adventure, creativity and a shared passion for the ride, where the journey is every bit as important as the result. This includes initiatives such as the integration of Enduro Open side events at selected WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series weekends.By giving Enduro the freedom to continue evolving on its own terms, this transition represents the beginning of a new chapter for a discipline with a rich heritage, a passionate community, and many more stories still to tell.

After a six-week summer break, the cross-country and downhill contingents of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series return to action this weekend with a delicious double header in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France).The French Alps venue is one of the most iconic in mountain bike’s history and has been welcoming the Gravity format on and off since 1996. It’s been a staple of the UCI World Cup since 2019, including the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, and is renowned for its passionate, partisan French crowd. Next year, it’s also due to host the rainbow jersey races once again as part of Haute-Savoie’s 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships.Located in the heart of the Portes de Soleil mountain resort, close to the Swiss border, both formats take place at the Les Gets bike park. The park has 128km of trails across 23 different tracks and three ski lifts to help riders experience everything the park has to offer.The UCI Downhill World Cup takes place on the venue’s Mont-Chéry UCI World Cup track – a 2.2km course that features 571m of descent and a maximum gradient of 43.8°.The UCI Cross-country World Cup races, meanwhile, take on a custom trail that has its start/finish straight at the resort’s main hub. The UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup course is 3.55km long (140m elevation gain), while the UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) course is 1km long (43m elevation gain).Beyond the racing, Les Gets has a packed schedule of fan activities and entertainment throughout the week. The festivities get underway on Thursday, 20 August, with the Team Presentation at the Village Fan Zone in front of Les Gets Town Hall.Fans can also take part in a treasure hunt around the venue alongside WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series mascot Roki, attend autograph sessions with WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stars or enjoy the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series trophy exhibition throughout the weekend.Open from Friday to Sunday, the Village Fan Zone will offer something for visitors of all ages, from souvenir medal-colouring workshops for children and an immersive virtual reality MTB experience to a personalised event photobooth. Live music, entertainment, film screenings, concerts and a host of other activities will ensure there is plenty to enjoy away from the racetracks.WILDCARD TEAMS SET TO JOIN THE ACTION IN LES GETSBefore diving deeper into the main storylines and key riders to watch this weekend, here are the wildcard teams that have been confirmed to compete in Les Gets, Haute-SavoieUCI Downhill World Cup: Crestline Speed Shop, Outlaw Intense Racing, Pivot Factory Racing, Team High Country, The Alliance, Stoic Racing.UCI Cross-country World Cup: KTM Factory Team, Lexware Mountainbike Team, Massi, Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret, SUNN Factory Racing, Thömus Akros - Youngstars, UNNO Factory Racing, Bike Team Solothurn.Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) remains the standout wildcard contender, with the German carrying an impressive nine-race winning streak across the Men’s U23 UCI XCO and XCC World Cups. In Downhill, wildcard teams also made their mark in Pal Arinsal - Andorra, where Bode Burke (Crestline Speed Shop) secured a second place in Men’s Elite qualifying before suffering a DNF in the finals. On the women’s side, Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory Racing) delivered the best wildcard result with a fifth-place finish in the Women’s Elite race.RISSVEDS CLOSES IN ON OVERALL CROWN, MAXWELL MAKES COMEBACKIt’s been a memorable season in the rainbow jersey for Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing), and as the Swede prepares to wear the 2025 UCI World Champion’s colours for the final time at Les Gets, another victory could leave her with one hand firmly on the overall title with two rounds remaining.Rissveds arrives in France full of confidence after claiming maximum points in Andorra with a dominant XCC-XCO double. As one of the most successful riders ever to race in Les Gets, where she also completed the double in 2025, she knows exactly what it takes to triumph on the iconic French Alps course.Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) remains Rissveds’ closest challenger in the overall standings, while Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) will look to carry her outstanding form through the summer break. The Italian backed up her maiden UCI XCO World Cup victory in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta (Italy) with a runner-up finish in Andorra and will be eager to continue her momentum.Another major name returning to the spotlight is Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech). Jointly tied with Rissveds as the most successful rider in Les Gets, Pieterse lines up for her fifth UCI World Cup appearance of 2026 after a summer that saw her claim the Queen of the Mountains polka dot jersey at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.Meanwhile, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) makes a highly anticipated return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The reigning overall UCI XCO World Cup champion is back on the start line after a ten-month sabbatical and will be keen to make an immediate impact in one of the season’s most prestigious rounds.VAN DER POEL RETURNS AS MARTIN AND BOICHIS RENEW TITLE FIGHTLuca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) endured a rare setback in Pal Arinsal, with the overall UCI XCO World Cup leader finishing 22nd and missing out on a top-two result for the first time this season. Despite the disappointment, the Frenchman remains firmly in control of the standings on 1,419 points.However, his lead over compatriot Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) was cut to 130 points after Boichis delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend, finishing second in the UCI XCC World Cup before claiming victory in the UCI XCO World Cup.Les Gets could provide the perfect opportunity for Martin to bounce back. The French venue was the site of his breakthrough UCI XCO World Cup victory in 2025, and he will be eager to rediscover that winning form on home soil. Yet with Boichis continuing to impress across multiple disciplines, the battle for the overall crown is far from settled.Adding even more intrigue to the weekend is the return of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech). The Dutch superstar swaps the road for the mountain bike as he begins his build-up to next week’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy), where he will aim to complete a unique set of rainbow jerseys across cross-country, road cycling and cyclocross.Fresh from winning the final stage of this year’s Tour de France, van der Poel will make his first mountain bike race appearance of 2026 in Les Gets. The 31-year-old is also beginning to turn his attention towards the LA 2028 Olympic Games, making his return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series one of the biggest storylines of the weekend.RISSVEDS, FREI AND VAN DER POEL HEADLINE XCC ACTIONAdrien Boichis’ consistency in the short track has allowed the Frenchman to establish a commanding lead in the UCI XCC World Cup standings, despite competing in only five of the six rounds so far this season. Yet all eyes will be on one rider in Les Gets: Mathieu van der Poel.The most successful men's short track rider in history returns to the format for his first UCI XCC World Cup appearance since 2021. Chasing an 11th career victory, the Dutch superstar also has the chance to become the first male rider to win more than one UCI XCC World Cup race in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie.Boichis is unlikely to make life easy for van der Poel, however. The current overall leader has been one of the standout performers of the season, while Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) and Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) have both demonstrated they have the speed and explosiveness required to win in the fast-paced format.The Women's Elite race promises to be equally compelling. Just 30 points separate Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) and Jenny Rissveds at the top of the standings, with both riders having claimed two victories apiece in 2026. Momentum, however, appears to be on Rissveds’ side. The Swede won in Les Gets last season and will be aiming for a third successive UCI XCC World Cup victory almost exactly a decade after her unforgettable Olympic gold medal triumph in Rio on 20 August 2016.Among those looking to disrupt the battle at the front are Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Premier Tech), both capable of challenging for victory on their day. Meanwhile, reigning UCI XCC World Champion Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) boasts the strongest record of any rider on the Les Gets short track course, having amassed one win, two runner-up finishes and a third place at the French venue.HÖLL ON THE VERGE OF OVERALL GLORY IN LES GETSValentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) is enjoying the most dominant season of her career and arrives in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie in formidable form ahead of the final three UCI Downhill World Cup rounds and next week’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.The Austrian has won five of the first six rounds this season, surpassing her own record for the most victories in a single campaign. Another win in Les Gets would see her move onto 17 Elite UCI World Cup victories, drawing level with Sabrina Jonnier as the third most successful female downhill rider in history.Victory on Saturday would also secure Höll’s fifth overall UCI Downhill World Cup title with two rounds still remaining. Even if she falls short of the top step, she could still wrap up the crown this weekend provided she maintains a lead of at least 500 points over her nearest rival in the standings.The rest of the field may take some encouragement from one statistic: despite her dominance elsewhere, Höll has never won an Elite UCI World Cup race in Les Gets, with a third-place finish in 2025 standing as her best result at the Haute-Savoie venue. Ready to capitalise on any opportunity are the only other winners on the circuit this season, Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / TRP), Höll’s teammate Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), and local favourite Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing). With one victory and two runner-up finishes in Les Gets, Cabirou boasts the strongest record of any Elite Women rider at the venue.The Women’s Junior category is also set to make history this weekend, with 41 riders entered for qualifying, the largest field since the category was introduced in 2017. The impressive number reflects the remarkable growth of women’s downhill racing in less than a decade.Among those to watch is Cassandre Peizerat, who will race as a guest rider for COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction. The 17-year-old Frenchwoman may come from an alpine skiing background, but she has already proven her ability to excel on two wheels, finishing third in Les Gets in 2025 and claiming another podium in La Thuile earlier this season. As part of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series regulations, teams are allocated two guest rider entries per season, with any points scored by those riders contributing to the Team Standings.10-WAY TUSTLE FOR MEN’S DOWNHILL TITLEIf 2025 was a two-horse race between Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity), then this series is turning into a 10-horse one with three rounds to go and only 393 points separating series leader Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) and 10th placed Till Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction).With Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) ruled out through injury, Williams will look to keep Specialized’s momentum going after the team’s four wins from the opening six rounds. But with no one rider dominating with consistent results, it’s set to go to the wire with plenty of twists and turns still to come.There are a number of riders out to spoil the Specialized party. Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) is the most successful current rider at the venue, and will have the backing of the iconic partisan home crowd as he targets his third win in Les Gets, while last year’s winner Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) is set to make his first start of 2026 after recovering from an injury that has ruled him out so far this season.Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP) is another to watch – the American already tasting success in his first Elite season and a winner at the venue in the Junior class in 2024 – while Jackson Goldstone could still make a late surge to defend his title if he pulls together another winning record like that seen in 2025.Racing gets underway in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and events details are available here.

The 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup season has been nothing short of epic from start to finish. From brand new venues, debut wins and numerous record-breaking rides, the opening six rounds have rivalled last year for adrenaline-fuelled entertainment.Fortunately for fans and riders, there are still three UCI Downhill World Cup rounds to go, including a new venue in Whistler, British Columbia (Canada). Before athletes cross the Atlantic though, there’s the small matter of a UCI World Cup round at the iconic Les Gets, Haute Savoie (France), and the UCI World Championships in Val di Sole,Trentino's (Italy) legendary Black Snake track.Ahead of the resumption of racing, Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity), Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity), Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP), Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) and Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) sat down with WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series talent Josh Carlson to share their thoughts on the season so far and hopes for the remaining rounds.ASA VERMETTE: “IT’S A DREAM DEBUT”It didn’t take long for Asa Vermette to get his account up and running in the Men’s Elite class as the 19-year-old American won on his UCI Downhill World Cup debut in MONA YongPyong (South Korea).“It's been insane. I mean, basically a dream debut and I couldn't ask for anything better,” he said. But while he described his first win as ‘crazy’, he points to Lenzerheide (Switzerland) as his standout moment from the season so far.“When Anna [Newkirk] won her first race and I got on the podium, it was such a good day for the team. We both did what we needed to do – she got her first win, I was in the box. That was one of the best days for us for sure.”He pointed to the team atmosphere and the guidance of five-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner Aaron Gwin (Frameworks Racing / TRP) as a big influence – “he's done it so many times and won so many races, and he's so knowledgeable about it in ways that I didn't really even think of, so it's cool to learn from him” – adding that “you can’t perform without being happy off the bike”.With three rounds to go, he sits third in the overall, 126 points behind series leader Jordan Williams, but Vermette isn’t fazed.“To win my first one and get on the podium twice was honestly not a shock, but I was surprised how it came so fast. Now that I'm in the fight for the overall, it's crazy, so I'm just going to try to keep it as consistent as possible and try my best.“You have to be consistent every weekend and you can’t afford too many mistakes. I had two races where things went pretty badly, and that put me a long way back. It’s all part of the learning process, but it’s pretty cool to be in this position.”LISA BAUMANN: “I’VE WORKED HARD TO REACH THIS LEVEL” Lisa Baumann is another rider who has come to the fore in 2026 and finds herself second in the overall behind team-mate Valentina Höll. While the women’s field is a lot less close than the men’s and Baumann is unlikely to overhaul Höll’s advantage, the Swiss rider is still happy with her progress.“My goal was to be on the podium this season, so I’m really happy to show that I'm a bit more consistent than last year,” she said. “I've worked hard to reach this level, and I still need to work harder to get that first win. But Vali [Höll] shares a lot with me, whether it's line choice or race experience, and she's a real role model.”Looking ahead to Les Gets Baumann is targeting a fourth podium of the season and hopes to experience the “crazy” atmosphere: “Everyone wants to be on the podium there because the vibe is insane.”FINN ILES: “THERE’S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD”Finn Iles finally ended a 1,407-day wait for victory in Saalfelden Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria), before backing it up just a week later with a second win of the season in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). While his campaign has featured both highs and setbacks since then, the Canadian heads into the final three rounds refreshed, motivated and excited by what lies ahead.“After a break, it's really easy to find that motivation again. Spending a week or two off the bike helps you rediscover that feeling. There's a lot to look forward to at the end of the season, with a World Cup in my hometown of Whistler and then two rounds in North America. That's going to be amazing. I'm just really excited for what's to come.”Iles credits much of his resurgence to the work Specialized Gravity put in over the winter, as well as the influence of 10-time UCI World Champion Nico Vouilloz, whose arrival has brought a fresh perspective to the team.“I've been part of the team for 12 years now, and one thing we've always done really well at Specialized Gravity is work hard together during the off-season. I spent a lot of time riding with Jordan [Williams] in Portugal and at some pre-season races in New Zealand, and I think that work created the foundation for the entire season.“We came into the year ready to go. The success we had during that four-race stretch was the result of everything coming together at the right time. We had some bad luck early in the season with punctures for me and Jordan [Williams], and Loïc [Bruni] getting injured, but we found our form when it mattered most. We've worked incredibly hard to get here, and that's created a really strong culture within Specialized Gravity.”Currently second in the overall standings, 63 points behind team-mate Jordan Williams, Iles remains firmly in the title hunt. Yet there is one event on the calendar that carries a significance beyond championship points: the UCI World Cup debut in Whistler, British Columbia (Canada).“I've wanted a World Cup in Whistler since I was a kid, so to finally have one there, and to be able not just to race it but to be competitive, is going to be incredible. I'll do everything I can to put on a good show for the fans and, hopefully, take the win”.VALENTINA HÖLL: “WINNING IS SUCH A GOOD FEELING”Valentina Höll is enjoying one of the most dominant campaigns of her career. The four-time UCI Downhill World Champion and four-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner has claimed victory in five of the six rounds contested so far, underlining her status as the benchmark in the Women’s Elite field.The 24-year-old attributes much of her success to her move to Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres ahead of the 2026 season, where a new environment and the support of teammate Lisa Baumann have helped her reach another level.“The Commencal is really suiting me well, and the team, plus having Lisa as my teammate, definitely helps me a lot. It's super fun in the team, and when the atmosphere is that good, it's easier to perform at your best. It's been a huge few months of racing with a lot of emotions, both mentally and physically, that come with performing and winning.”Yet despite producing arguably the strongest season of her career, Höll admits the demands of consistently competing for victory have taken their toll. After falling ill at the start of the summer break, she realised just how exhausting life at the top can be.“All the pressure and emotions are quite fatiguing,” she explained.For Höll, the challenge is no longer chasing victories, but managing the expectations that come with winning so often.“I didn't expect to be so tired after every race weekend. Last year, I was always on the podium but never winning, and that gave me extra motivation to improve. Now, I wake up feeling exhausted, and sometimes I'm more nervous going into the next round because I don't want to lose that winning feeling.“I guess it's part of the game. It's a different position to be in, but it's not one I'd want to change.”JORDAN WILLIAMS: “EVERYBODY’S SO CLOSE” While Valentina Höll has established a commanding lead in the Women’s Elite standings, the battle for the Men’s Elite overall title remains wide open. Jordan Williams heads the rankings, but with the top 10 riders still mathematically in contention, the championship fight is far from settled.“Everybody’s so close. I don’t think anyone has had a really consistent season,” said Williams. “Last year we saw Jackson [Goldstone] on the podium almost every race, and apart from Loïc [Bruni], there was a clear gap to the rest.“This year has been different. I had a puncture in Korea, and in Leogang I pretty much lost my weekend after crashing before qualifying. I was really sore, so on race day I could only cruise down and pick up whatever points I could. It’s funny how close we all are despite nobody having a smooth season, but that’s what makes it exciting. It’s shaping up to be a great finish to the year.”Williams believes a key factor in his progress this season has been the influence of 10-time UCI World Champion Nico Vouilloz, whose experience and guidance have helped him navigate the highs and lows of a tightly contested championship battle.“When you’re in the start gate, whether you’re feeling good or bad, Nico knows exactly what’s going through your head,” Williams explained. “He really believed in me and encouraged me to push in qualifying at Leogang, where I ended up sixth. Finals day was much more difficult and I just had to manage the situation.“After that weekend I was fifth overall and only picked up around 70 points, but after the summer break Nico told me: ‘Look at the gap you have in the standings. If you hadn’t raced in Leogang, you probably wouldn’t be leading the overall right now.’”That advice reinforced the importance of salvaging points on difficult weekends, a lesson that could prove decisive as Williams heads into the final three rounds holding a slender 63-point advantage over Specialized Gravity team-mate Finn Iles.