UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cups are renowned for producing tight, technical races that tend to conclude with a sprint finish, but the rollercoaster nature of the Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria) course showed that there’s more than one way to win a race, as Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) proved. Pieterse demonstrated that she’s the in-form rider of the series, launching a move that caught her competitors off guard at the race’s halfway point. Despite the best efforts of Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing), it would be the race-winning attack, with Pieterse increasing her advantage on every loop to cross the finish line with a statement 16-second win. The victory was the reigning UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Champion’s second in the shorter format this series and the fifth of her career. In the men’s Elite, Blevins timed his attack to perfection, throwing the hammer down on the final ascent to put himself in the best position on track as he led entering the descent. Teammate Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) wasn’t going to contest the American for a sprint finish, while the earlier exertions of third-place Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) saw the British rider settle for the final podium spot. Blevins’ win makes him the first rider ever to win the first four UCI XCC World Cups of the season and sets him up to do the XCO-XCC double for the third consecutive time on Sunday – which would be another first. Before the Elites, it was the turn of the U23s on the up-and-down Saalfelden-Leogang – Salzburgerland course, and it witnessed first-time UCI XCC World Cup wins for the Swiss pair Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) and Elina Benoit (Lexware Mountainbike Team). PIETERSE GOES BACK-TO-BACK Puck Pieterse might have missed the first two rounds of the series to focus on the road, but the reigning UCI XCO World Champion is making up for lost time in the cross-country short track, clinching her second victory from as many starts in 2025. While the Dutch rider showed she had the edge in a sprint finish in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia), she employed different race tactics in Austria, going long and building an unassailable lead. Initially, it looked like Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing) was attempting the same race plan, rolling back the years and building a gap of six seconds by the end of the first lap. The Swiss rider was soon swallowed up by the chasing pack and would ultimately pay for her early efforts. South Africa’s Candice Lill took charge, but Pieterse was part of the seven-strong group as the lead exchanged hands for the next few laps. Lill would turn the screw on lap four, reducing the group to five riders – Pieterse, Richards, Maxwell and Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) – but Pieterse was about to take things up a notch. As then-leader Maxwell took on some fluids crossing the start/finish straight, the Dutch rider launched a searing attack that left her competition floundering. While the in-form New Zealander responded and was back on her wheel as they inched up the course’s mammoth climb, it was too much for UCI XCC World Champion and current series leader Richards, and Rissveds who had been gapped. As the track levelled out, Pieterse went again, and this time Maxwell couldn’t respond – the Dutch national champion riding off into the distance. First and second sorted, it became a battle for the final podium space, with a resurgent Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing) and Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) working together to pick off Richards and Lill. Koller would ultimately break local fans’ hearts though, attacking Mitterwallner on the crest of the climb and holding on to take third. Speaking at the end of the race, Puck Pieterse said: “It’s been good. It was a completely different short track to two weeks ago. Then it was way more cagey and ended in a sprint finish, and today it was like an XCO course so I went for it early. Normally after 10 minutes, riders start to get tired, so I tried to make use of that. “I’ve some good memories from Leogang. I won my first U23 World Cup here, so it carries good memories.” BLEVINS TIMES ATTACK TO PERFECTION TO CLAIM RECORD-BREAKING WIN Before the start of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Christopher Blevins hadn’t won a UCI XCC World Cup since 2022. Since the first race weekend in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) though, the American has been in a different league to everyone else, claiming all four rounds of the series (as well as two UCI XCO World Cups). The number one plate launched off the start line but was soon absorbed into the lead pack with Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team) and Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) taking charge. The pair wouldn’t stay there for long though – Schurter ultimately retiring and Andreassen finishing 33rd – as a 10-strong lead group formed, led by Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO). By lap three, Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) came to the fore – a position the Brit would hold deep into proceedings – while Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing), Schwarzbauer and two-time Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland XCO-XCC double winner Mathias Flückiger also showed some interest at the front. Each lap would experience a concertina effect – the rider leading over the start-finish straight seemingly having clear air behind them before the mass reassembled at the foot of the climb – and there became a slight lull in the racing, despite the fast and ferocious pace. Flückiger attempted to take the bull by the horns, attacking from distance on lap eight, but couldn’t shake Aldridge – the Brit back in front at the start of the penultimate lap. But he also had Blevins for company, with the American biding his time in the now four-strong lead group. Starting the final lap, Aldridge still held the lead and even appeared to have held off a Blevins surge on the last ascent of the lactic acid-inducing climb. But as it ramped up to its apex, the American showed why he hasn’t been beaten in the format this year, attacking again and taking teammate Vidaurre with him. The Specialized pair led into the final descent, and with the finish line in sight, there could only be one winner – Blevins maintaining his 100% record in 2025 and breaking records with it. Speaking at the end of the race, Blevins said:“ I’m just taking it race by race and focusing on my process. Right now, the process is working. That was the hardest one yet. Just look at that climb. Sometimes you’ve got to surf it and find the little pockets to shoot through. Sometimes the guys at the back are working harder than the guys at the front. But on a course like this, it’s max effort for 20 minutes and everyone is so strong. “Tactics here are more like how you’re pushing your body and how you’ll find that edge and go just to the tip of it every time, and then last lap it’s all out. I saved that final match and definitely burned it for the win. “The pressure is outside of you. It’s other people’s projections. I’ve been winning by just focusing on my process, the mental side of it, the emotional side of it, bringing the mind and body to the closest I could get to doing my best at every single race. You’re just focusing on the processes, you don’t really think about pressure.” DEBUT XCC WINNERS BENOIT AND TREUDLER PUT ON A SWISS SHOW IN U23 Elina Benoit (Lexware Mountainbike Team) recorded her debut win in the U23 UCI XCC World Cup in an attritional race. Bailey Cioppa had led proceedings for the opening two laps before Swiss privateer Monique Halter took up the mantle as the riders crossed the start/finish line at the end of lap three. Her compatriot Benoit was never far behind though, and as the pace started to ramp up, a group of seven formed led by Ella MacPhee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team). The Canadian finished third in Nové Město Na Moravě and would have considered herself the favourite with Isabella and Ava Holmgren absent – the twin siblings and winners of the first three U23 UCI XCC rounds not starting in Saalfelden-Leogang – Salzburgerland - but Benoit had other ideas. On lap six, Vida Lopez de San Roman (Trinity Racing) launched an attack that only Benoit could follow, and the pair had built a six-second buffer at the start of the final lap. The Swiss rider had kept something in reserve though, attacking again and soloing to the line. Lopez de San Roman would settle for second, while MacPhee recorded her second third-place finish in a row. Elina Benoit said: “I don’t understand how I did this. I just felt so good. I think it really was a track for me because I’m really good when it’s steep like this. I thought I’d try and it worked. “I’m more confident [going into Val di Sole]. The first races I did wasn’t so good – in Brazil it wasn’t good at all. In Nové Město it was much better and now I see my form has just got better so I’m really confident for the rest of the season” The men’s U23 race wasn’t as cagey as the women’s with Finn Treudler taking control in the third lap before launching an attack in the fourth that would put some serious space between him and the remaining riders. The Swiss rider’s advantage was never really in doubt, although Oleksandr Hudyma (KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team) might have caught him if he didn’t run out of time. The Ukrainian had a 21-second deficit on Treudler with three laps to go, but clawed back to within five seconds by the line. Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) completed the podium on a day to forget for previous overall leader Heby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team), who could only manage 14th. Speaking at the end of the race, Treudler said: “It was a really nice track for me. I knew I had a good chance today. I felt really good at the beginning and suddenly I had a gap in the third lap I think, and from then on it was just keep going until the finish line and I could extend my lead a bit during the race. At the end it got a bit smaller again and I really had to fight, but I’m super happy with the win. "I’m looking forward to Sunday now, and then Lenzerheide is one of my favourite tracks so it’s definitely a good confidence boost.” The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action continues at The Epic Bikepark tomorrow as the downhill riders take to the Speedster trail for the third UCI Downhill World Cup of the season.
The UCI Downhill World Cup rounds are coming thick and fast with riders taking to the start huts in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland (Austria) only five days after Loudenvielle-Peyragudes’ (France) Finals runs. Conditions were perfect in The Epic Bikepark with the sunbaked Speedster trail running fast and smooth throughout Qualifying, leaving the world’s best downhill athletes to focus on laying down rapid runs to make it through to tomorrow’s finals. The new qualifying format, where there are no longer protected rider spots, meant that there was still some jeopardy on course though, highlighting how competitive it is at the pinnacle of the sport. HÖLL FASTEST ON HOME SOIL Valentina Höll (YT Mob) hasn’t won yet this season – the first time the three-time UCI Downhill World Champion hasn’t clinched victory in the opening two rounds since 2022. But the 23-year-old is looking to right that wrong at her home UCI World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland, throwing down a blistering run in the first Qualifying round that no one could get within a second of. The winner of the last two UCI Downhill World Cups on the course, she has put herself in the best position to make it a hattrick tomorrow. It could have all been so different though, with Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) the fastest in the first split and marginally off of Höll’s pace in splits two and three before a big crash sent the Frenchwoman over the handlebars and resulted in a DNF. She was fortunate to walk away with only bruises but decided to sit out the rest of the weekend. Back on track, Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/5Dev) was the only rider to get close to the rainbow jersey, stopping the clock 1.096 seconds behind Höll. The American pinner has started the season strongly and will be targeting another podium finish to go with her second in Bielsko-Biała (Poland). Current series leader Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) meanwhile came third in the first Qualifying round, and, along with fifth-place qualifier Camille Balanche (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), is one of only two riders other than Höll who knows what it takes to win in Austria – the Brit clinching the top spot at the venue back in 2017. Sandwiched between Seagrave and Balanche was last week’s winner in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) – the Canadian youngster recovering from a slower start with a barnstorming bottom section to put herself in contention. Elsewhere, Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) and Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing – Tourne Campervans) needed the second qualifying round to make it through to finals. VERGIER SHOWS WORLD CHAMPION FORM WITH FASTEST QUALIFYING RUN In the men’s field, UCI Downhill World Champion Loris Vergier (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) recorded the fastest first qualifying round time, and the rainbow jersey will be the last man down the hill in tomorrow’s finals. The Frenchman is yet to win since he clinched the title in Andorra last August, but two seventh-placed finishes so far this season show he’s not far off piloting his new Commencal to a podium spot. The top five all came in within a second of Vergier’s run, with Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) recovering from 29th in the first sector to finish closest on course. The Brit recorded his first podium of the season by finishing third in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes and has clearly carried that form with him from the Pyrenees to the Alps. Series leader Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) meanwhile finished third, while his main rival in the overall standings, Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity), had a poor run by his high standards that was only good enough for 16th. Other notable highlights include last week’s winner Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) qualifying 14th, while the Canadian’s teammate Laurie Greenland (Santa Cruz Syndicate) made it through to his first finals of the year in 10th. Riders forced to take a second bite of the cherry and make it to finals via the second qualifying round include local favourite and 2023 winner Andreas Kolb (YT Mob), Oisin O’Callaghan (YT Mob), Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) and Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH). Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) will also have a chance to claim a record-extending fifth win at the venue – Saalfelden-Leogang - Salzburgerland the site of the American’s most famous victory in 2015, where he was somehow the fastest on course despite riding without a chain for the whole run. CLARK AND ZIERL FASTEST IN JUNIORS Oli Clark (MS-Racing) put in a storming performance in the men's Junior Qualifying – the New Zealander going fastest in every split to record a time that would have been good enough for fourth place in the men's Elite first Qualifying round. Overall leader Max Alran (Commencal/Muc-off by Riding Addiction) was second fastest on the hill, while last week's winner Bode Burke (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) missed out on a Finals run by finishing 33rd. Rosa Zierl (Cube Factory Racing) meanwhile put on a show for the home fans – the Austrian rider emulating her compatriot Höll by qualifying fastest. With Lina Frener (Norco Race Division) not racing in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland, Zierl will fancy her chances especially with third-place ranked rider Matilda Melton (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) not doing enough to qualify for tomorrow's Finals. The UCI Downhill World Cup Finals get underway tomorrow (Saturday, June 7) in Saalfelden-Leogang - Salzburgerland from 12:30 CEST with the women’s Junior finals. Find out how to watch here.
The iconic Austrian venue hosts a four-day festival of off-road racing this weekend, featuring all WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series formats. Located within Austria’s largest bike region, Saalfelden Leogang in Salzburgerland (Austria) has been a mainstay of the UCI Downhill World Cup series since 2010, and the scene of some of the sport’s most jaw-dropping moments – from Aaron Gwin’s chainless win in 2015 to Loïc Bruni and Valentina Höll’s wins last year. It has hosted the UCI Enduro World Cup since 2023, while three UCI Cross-country World Cups were contested on its trails between 2021-2023. THE KING OF COURSES Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland is located in the state of Salzburg, near the border with Germany in the heart of the Austrian Alps. The UCI World Cup takes place at The Epic Bikepark – one of Europe’s most renowned bike parks, which has trails suitable for anyone from first timers to professionals. The ‘Speedster’ trail is the home of the UCI Downhill World Cup. At 2.6km with 468m of descent, it is seriously steep, and combines fast, motorway jumps with tight, technical tree sections where line choice is key to coming out on top. The venue’s enduro stages meanwhile take in place Austria’s largest Bike Region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn trails, to give riders a truly energy-sapping test. The UCI Enduro World Cup will see athletes take on six stages during a gruelling 66.79km course featuring 5,030m of descent during the race stages. The first four stages are the same as last year, but the race will conclude with two short, sharp stages that are new to the UCI Enduro World Cup – Knappen (0.65km with 140m descent) and Lower Speedstar (0.65km with 160m descent). Finally, the cross-country Olympic (XCO) and cross-country short track (XCC) races will be contested on courses that blend wide, open slopes and tight, twisting forest trails packed with plenty of manmade features. ALL TO PLAY FOR AFTER EARLY ROUNDS The UCI Downhill World Cup is embarking on its longest season yet in 2025, with 10 rounds for riders to tackle between Bielsko-Biała (Poland) and Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada). After a fifth of the series, both the men’s and women’s competitions are perfectly poised with no one rider running away with proceedings. In the men’s, Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) are setting up a title battle to rival that of 2019, with only 40 points separating the pair – Pierron leading the charge having recorded back-to-back podiums and Bruni close behind after following up his dominant performance in Bielsko-Biała with a disappointing 15th in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France). But unlike 2019, it’s unlikely to be a two-horse race thanks to the triumphant return of Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate). The Canadian had to sit out the 2024 season with an injury but blew away the competition with his third UCI Downhill World Cup win last Sunday. Bruni knows what it takes to win in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland having won at the venue in 2024, but first place isn’t a guarantee for the Frenchman with plenty of riders vying for his overall crown. The women’s contest meanwhile has a 2018 feel with Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) topping the standings – adding a third place in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes to her win at the season opener in Poland. The Brit’s main challenge will come from Valentina Höll (YT Mob), who will look to pull out the stops in front of her home fans. But the pair will also face stiff competition from a duo of young North American pinners – Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) and Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/5Dev) – who have both made their strongest start to a season yet – the former claiming Her’s and Canada’s first Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup win in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. BOOKER AND LUKASIK BATTLE IT OUT WHILE CONOLLY’S IN CRUISE CONTROL Daniel Booker is living evidence that you don’t need the backing of a big team to win on the world stage. The Australian clinched his first UCI Enduro World Cup win at the season opener in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) but appeared to have let the occasion get the better of him when he followed it up with 95th in Bielsko-Biała (Poland). But the 25-year-old showed that his debut win was no fluke, besting the factory team riders once again in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes to make it two wins from three. Only Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) can better the privateer’s points tally in the overall – the Pole adding a third podium finish of the year last Saturday – and the pair’s contest for the overall is shaping up as a David vs Goliath battle. Lukasik finished third in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland last year, with the two riders who stood above him on the podium that day – Richard Rude Jr (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Alex Rudeau – not on the start list in Austria. But Booker has also shown form on The Epic Bikepark trails, finishing fifth in 2023. Other contenders for the top spot include Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), Charlie Murray (Specialized Gravity) and Jack Moir (YT Mob) – if the Australian can recover from a race-ending crash in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. The women’s field meanwhile is turning into the Ella Conolly show. The Brit won her first UCI Enduro World Cup in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes and is in the form of her life having already secured two second-place finishes. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) is her only likely challenger for the overall as we approach the series’ halfway point, with this year’s two other winners, Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing - Tourne Campervans) and Elly Hoskin not on the start list. BLEVINS APPEARS UNBEATABLE WHILE MAXWELL CONTINUES EARLY SEASON FORM Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) last lost a race on April 6, when the American had to settle for second behind teammate Victor Koretzky. In four race starts (two XCO, two XCC) since, he has a 100% winning record and has only finished off the top spot once this series. If he wins the XCC this Friday, he will become the first rider – man or woman – to win the opening four rounds of the XCC. Do another XCO/XCC double, and that will be three for the season and joint most-ever with Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Given his form, you wouldn’t bet against him achieving either feats – although he has never finished inside the top 20 in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland in the Elite class. In the XCO, Koretzky is likely to be Blevins’ biggest threat, but given how Specialized Factory Racing have used team tactics in previous rounds, if the American starts to build up a head of steam, expect the Frenchman to try and frustrate the chasing pack. Others in line to contest for the podium include Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) and 2023 winner Lars Forster (Thömus Maxon), while Forster’s compatriot and teammate Mathias Flückiger is a fan of Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland, having done the double at the venue in 2021 and 2022. While the women’s contest isn’t as clear cut, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) has shown she’s the rider to beat in 2025 with an XCO results card of 1st, 2nd and 2nd in the opening three rounds. The New Zealander has previous in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland too, having finished runner-up in the women’s U23 XCO race in 2023. Although Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) currently sits second in the standings, the Swiss rider hasn’t featured on the XCO podium since the opening round. Instead, it’s her national teammate Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) whose form is on an upward trajectory. Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia) winner Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC) meanwhile has home advantage – as she showed with her second place at the venue in 2023 – and like Flückiger, Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing) has also done the Austrian XCO/XCC double twice. In the XCC, Blevins and Koretzky have gone 1-2 all season, although it’s worth keeping an eye on Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) – the German improving his results at every round and sitting fifth in the overall standings. Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) meanwhile has only been beaten once all year by Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck). The Dutch rider will be lining up once again in Austria, so expect the pair to duke it out once more. Racing gets underway in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland on Friday with UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying followed by the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup – full schedule and events details are available here.
After four back-to-back weekends of racing, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns this weekend for the fifth consecutive time with Endurance and Gravity action as the UCI Cross-country Olympic, Cross-country Short Track, Downhill and Enduro World Cups all take to The Epic Bikepark parkours of Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland, Austria. We look at everything you need to know about the Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series races, including when the cross-country, enduro, and downhill events are scheduled to take place, who is racing and how to watch. WHEN? The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland, Austria starts with the UCI Downhill World Cup Qualifications at 12:30 (UTC+2) on Friday, June 6 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup at 15:00 (UTC+2) on Sunday, June 8. Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST): Friday, June 7 12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite 14:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior 14:40 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior 15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite 15:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men Elite 15:45 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U23 16:25 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U23 17:30 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite 18:10 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite Saturday, June 8 12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior 14:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite 15:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite Sunday, June 9 08:00 – UCI Enduro World Cup 09:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Women U23 11:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Men U23 13:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Women Elite 15:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? There will be several ways to watch the off-road action unfold at Austria’s only WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series venue of the 2025 season. For the UCI Enduro World Cup, there will be a course preview featuring the route and its key sections, practice day and race day video highlights on the official YouTube channel, key race moments on social media and live timings on the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website. Follow the UCI Downhill World Cup Qualification day on live timing and across social media. For the third UCI Downhill World Cup, fourth UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup and fourth UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup of the season, you can watch the finals live anywhere in the world. Both the men’s and women's Junior UCI Downhill World Cup races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, while the Elite finals will be shown on one of the below channels or streaming services: North America Canada – Flobikes USA – Max South & Central America: MTBWS TV Asia Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – Eurosport China – Zhibo.tv (only Elite Downhill races live) Other Asian territories – MTBWS TV Oceania Australia – Stan Sport New Zealand – MTBWS TV Africa Angola, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cape Verde, Cote d'lvoire, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial, Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger, Reunion, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini, São Tome and Principe, St Helena and Ascension, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Socotra, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Zambia - Supersport All African territories – MTBWS TV Europe Andorra – MAX, Eurosport Austria – discovery+, Eurosport and ServusTV ON (only Elite Downhill races live) Belgium – HBO Max, Eurosport and LN24 (only Men’s Elite XCO race live) Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max, Eurosport Bulgaria – Max, Eurosport Croatia – Max, Eurosport Czechia – Max, Eurosport and CT Sport Denmark – Max, Eurosport Faroe Islands – Max, Eurosport France – Max, Eurosport and La Chaine l’Equipe (only Women’s Elite XCO race live) Germany – discovery+, Eurosport Hungary – Max, Eurosport Ireland – TNT Sports Italy – discovery+, Eurosport Moldova – Max, Eurosport Montenegro – Max, Eurosport Netherlands – HBO Max, Eurosport North Macedonia – Max, Eurosport Norway – Max, Eurosport Poland – Max, Eurosport Portugal – Max, Eurosport Romania – Max, Eurosport Serbia – Max, Eurosport Slovakia – Max, Eurosport Slovenia – Max, Eurosport Spain – Max, Eurosport Sweden – Max, Eurosport Switzerland – MTBWS TV and SRF/RSI (only Elite XCO and XCC races live) Türkiye – Max, Eurosport United Kingdom – discovery+, TNT Sports All other European territories – MTBWS TV RIDERS TO WATCH The Epic Bikepark is home to some well-trodden paths for most Endurance and Gravity competitors – the Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland venue has been a mainstay on the UCI Downhill World Cup circuit since 2010, featured on the UCI Cross-country World Cup calendar between 2021-2023 and hosted the UCI Downhill and Cross-country World Championships in 2012 and 2020. Although it only made its enduro debut in 2023, the UCI Bike Region of Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland is sure to put on a show once more, with riders pushed to their limits on the testing, handcrafted trails. In downhill, Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) and Valentina Höll (YT Mob) won at the venue in 2024, but neither of the reigning overall title holders have had it their own way so far this season. Although Bruni won the series opener in Poland, a poor showing in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (where he finished 15th) means he enters this weekend on the back foot and sits behind friend and career rival Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) in the UCI World Cup Standings. Pierron appears back to his 2019 best, but the French pair will also have to contend with Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) – the Canadian clinching his third UCI Downhill World Cup on Sunday and the first since a season-ruining injury that ruled him out for the whole of 2024. Höll meanwhile is yet to win this season – the first time she hasn’t tasted victory in the opening two rounds since 2022. Her second in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes still makes her a favourite in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland, where she has won the last two editions, but the Austrian has a resurgent Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) as a clear title challenger – the Brit following up her win in the opening round with third place in France. Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Factory Racing) meanwhile got the win in the Pyrenees and will be looking to keep pushing her more established rivals this weekend. The men’s enduro competition is also hotting up nicely – Daniel Booker and Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) have shared the spoils at the first three rounds of the series. While Łukasik leads the overall, Booker’s two UCI Enduro World Cup wins prove that the privateer means business, and it will be interesting to see the David vs Goliath battle play out on Austria’s largest Bike-Region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn trails. Ella Conolly meanwhile has seized the initiative in the women’s enduro field. The Brit had finished second in the opening two rounds and it was no surprise that she took her debut UCI Enduro World Cup win in Loudenvielle in dominant style. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) is her closest challenger and will be looking to use her superior experience to try and halt Conolly’s dominance. Finally, three riders are in red-hot form in the Endurance formats – Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) leading both the men’s Elite XCO and XCC UCI World Cup Standings, while Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) lead the women’s Elite XCO and XCC UCI World Cup Standings respectively. Blevins’ teammate Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) sits in second in both UCI World Cup Standings and is the only rider to get the better of the American this year, while Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) and 2023 Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland winner Lars Forster (Thömus Maxon) should put up some resistance in the Olympic-distance race. Maxwell’s main competition meanwhile is likely to come from local favourite and last race winner Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC), reigning overall series winner Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) and UCI XCO World Champion Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – the Dutch rider also the only person to get the better of Richards in the XCC in 2025. Racing gets underway on Friday, June 6 in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland. Full schedule and event details are available HERE.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that 16 wildcard teams – eight cross-country and eight downhill – have been selected for round eight of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy) on June 20-22. While all eight teams who applied for a downhill spot secured a wildcard, it was a lot more competitive in the cross-country, with eight selected from 23 applicants – a record number for the new system. The majority of qualifying teams have already featured in the 2025 series, but there will be first appearances for two local outfits – one Gravity and the other Endurance. Abetone Ancillotti Vittoria Factory Team is a six-strong Enduro-focused team that blends the experience of Tommaso Francardo with the youth of Clarissa Carzolio – both of whom recorded top-20 finishes at the 2025 UCI Enduro World Cup in Pietra Ligure - Finale Outdoor Region (Italy). For Val di Sole, the completely Italian squad will be switching formats and attempting to beat the downhill specialists at their own game. CS Carabinieri – Cicli Olympia meanwhile is another all-Italian team making its 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut in the Endurance formats. A mainstay of previous series, it is led by UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup podium finishers Filippo Fontana and Daniele Braidot. Elsewhere, KTM Factory MTB Team and Lexware Mountainbike Team continue their 100% wildcard qualification record, while Goodman Santacruz, Rogue Racing – SR Suntour, Team High Country and Kenda NS Bikes UR Team do the same in downhill. The wildcard system has already shown its worth in downhill, with Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing – SR Suntour) securing fifth in the Men’s Elite UCI Downhill World Cup in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland). The flying Frenchman will be looking to seize any more opportunities he gets via his team’s wildcard spots. The 16 wildcard teams for round 8 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Val di Sole, Trentino are: UCI Cross-country World Cup BIXS Performance Race Team Carabinieri – Cicli Olympia KTM Factory MTB Team Massi Cabtech Racing Team Lexware Mountainbike Team Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret Trek Future Racing UCI Downhill World Cup: Goodman Santacruz Rogue Racing – SR Suntour Team High Country Kenda NS Bikes UR Team YT Racing Development The Alliance Future Frameworks Abetone Ancillotti Vittoria Factory Team
Canadian riders Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) and Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) proved their technical skills as they won the women’s and men’s Elite titles at round two of the UCI Downhill World Cup in Loudenvielle – Peyragudes (France), presented by FACOM. Hemstreet recorded her first UCI Downhill World Cup victory, while Goldston marked his return from injury to take a third Elite career UCI World Cup race win. It was also the first time two North Americans have won both the Men Elite and Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup races respectively on the same day since 1999. There was more history made for Hemstreet who became the first Canadian women to win a Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup. The cold and wet conditions experienced at the opening round in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała, Poland made way for warm, fast and dusty conditions in the French Pyrenees. While several of her competitors crashed out Hemstreet completed a fearless run to take her maiden victory. Goldstone won two Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cups during his maiden senior season in 2023. However, last season the young Canadian crashed into a tree and tore his ACL and MCL – ruling him out for the whole 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup series. Goldstone showed a masterful technique as he flew down the wooded slopes in the French Pyrenees. The men’s Junior events saw another North American winner in the form of Bode Burke (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) who carried the most speed into the finish to snatch victory. Meanwhile, Austrian Lina Frener (Norco Race Division) provided the most commanding win of the day in the women’s Junior category. GOLDSTONE COMPLETES ROAD BACK FROM INJURY WITH SKILLFUL DISPLAY Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) pushed the course limits to take his first UCI Downhill World Cup win since 2023. The 21-year-old, former Junior UCI Downhill World Champion survived a blustery top section and then used his technical ability to set a blistering time in the wood section. The UCI ‘DH World Cup’ trail was created especially for the 2023 UCI Downhill World Cup and dry and dusty conditions resulted in exciting racing. Former UCI Downhill World Cup winner Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) set the quickest time of the weekend of 3:16.1 to put pressure on those waiting in the starting house. The technical course took a host of early victims as Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS-Racing), Davide Palazzari (Rogue Racing – SR Suntour) and Luke Meier-Smith (Giant Factory Off-Road Team – DH) were amongst those who saw their hopes ended by mistakes. After missing last season through injury Goldstone survived the blustery top section and then found new lines through the woods to set the quickest time through the final two sectors to post a quickest time of 3:13.1 – almost three seconds faster than Williams. Four French riders were amongst the final five starters and provided hope of victory for the home fans. Nathan Pontvianne (Goodman Santacruz) pushed the bottom section to the limits and his time of 3:16.3 was good enough for fourth. UCI Downhill World Champion, Loris Vergier (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) struggled for speed throughout the course and he finished nearly four seconds back in seventh. Last year’s overall UCI Downhill World Cup victor, Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity), was quicker than Goldstone through the first sector before misjudging a ramp resulting in going 1.3 seconds behind. With time to find, Bruni was forced into mistakes and consistently lost time in the lower section to finish 15th. Final starter Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) went close to the leading time, but some small mistakes on the lower section resulting in him finishing runner-up a second behind and Williams was third. "It feels good to be back, I can’t believe that I won,” said Goldstone. “I really liked it and gave it everything in the bottom two splits. “I got into a really good zone, I wasn’t nervous for some reason. I had so much fun out of there. Amaury [Pierron] had me on my toes there, he had such a good run going but the last two splits really helped me there. I’m stoked to pull it off.” Talking about Canadian riders winning both the Elite events he added: “It’s huge for Gracey. I’m so stoked.” After two rounds a second-place finish for Pierron gives him the series lead just 40 points ahead of French countryman Bruni. HEMSTREET TAKES MAIDEN WORLD CUP WIN WITH FEARLESS RUN British rider Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing - Tourne Campervans) was the biggest-name who failed to qualify for the finals, but many more left the French course disappointed after crashes. Opting for full mud tyres on the slippery terrain, Swiss rider Camille Balanche (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing Team) sent a message to her rivals by setting an early leading time of 3:48.7. The dusty and rutted terrain caught a host of riders out, with Eleonora Farina (MS-Racing) one of those who came down heavily on the track. UCI Downhill World Champion Valentina Höll (YT Mob) showed formidable form as she mastered the slopes taking 1.8 seconds out of her rivals on the opening sector and increasing her advantage through each sector. Höll reached the bottom of the hill in a quickest time of 3:42.3 – over six seconds quicker than her nearest rival. Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) and Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) were amongst those who saw their hopes ended by mistakes on the technical course. Meanwhile, 2024 UCI Downhill European Champion Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) looked to be heading towards a podium place before also being flung off her bike after getting her tyre stuck in a rut. It was Gracey Hemstreet who would provide the ride of the day. Despite losing three seconds to Höll on the top section the Canadian came fighting back on the technical wooded part and took a three second lead at the finish - posting a quickest time of 3:39.1. Opening round winner Tahnee Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) was the penultimate rider to challenge the time and recorded the fastest opening split of the day. However, the fearless middle and bottom section of Hemstreet was too formidable, with Höll finishing second and Seagrave third. After two rounds Seagrave has a healthy lead of 116 points in the overall standings. “I can’t believe it,” said Hemstreet. “This has been a dream come true forever, and it has finally happened. "I just tried the death grip and went as fast as I could. I was a bit scared of the loose stuff but was fully pinned everywhere else. I was just cautious in those sketchy areas and then let it go on the rest. The triple at the top, I couldn’t hit it, I rolled it, it was hard.” FRENER AND BURKE SHOWCASE TALENTS TO WIN JUNIOR EVENTS Lina Frener (Norco Race Division) and Bode Burke (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) provided masterful performances in the Women Junior and Men Junior UCI Downhill World Cups. Burke recorded the quickest time in the final sector to win the men’s competition in 3:16.6. The American qualified in the middle of the pack and had to watch his rivals come close to his benchmark. New Zealand’s Tyler Waite (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) was quick starting on the open sections but lost vital time on the bottom half as he finished five hundreds of a second behind in second. Meanwhile, quickest qualifier Till Alran (Commencal-Muc-off by Riding Addiction) also suffered in the wooded latter stages and placed fourth, one place behind team-mate Max Alran. Heading into the third round of the series Max Alran has a slender five-point overall lead over Waite. “I’m so happy, I didn’t expect that,” said Burke. “I had a huge crash this morning. I’m so happy to get down. To do that was amazing for me. I took it easy in qualifying. Eleven seconds was going to be a stretch, but somehow it happened.” In the women’s Junior event, Frener was a convincing winner and posted the quickest time on three of the four course splits. Frener went seven seconds quicker than her qualifying time to post a winning mark of 3:50.2. Quickest qualifier Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) felt the pressure and needed to better her time from the previous day to take victory. The Kiwi went fastest at the first split before crashing out on a dusty left-hand corner to end her race challenge – eventually finishing fifth. It was an Austrian one-two as Rosa Zierl (Cube Factory Racing) joined Frener on the podium, while USA’s Matilda Melton (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) placed third. “It’s an incredible feeling,” said Frener. “I just get down and have fun on my bike. I changed some of my lines from qualifying.” Gravity and endurance riders will meet next weekend when the Whoop UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads to Saalfelden Leogang in Salzburgerland (Austria) from 6-8 June. Competition starts on Friday with the UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying followed by the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. The UCI Downhill World Cup final runs will take centre stage on Saturday, before the UCI Enduro World Cup and UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup concludes the action on Sunday.
Daniel Booker triumphed in a nail-biting back-and-forth with Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) at the UCI Enduro World Cup round in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes (France), presented by FACOM, as Ella Conolly underlined that she’s the woman to beat in a dominant showing at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Conolly took her first victory of the season by 40 crushing seconds over Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing), taking four stages out of five to put the rest of the women’s Elite field firmly in the category of also-rans. Things were tighter in the men’s Elite race though, as Booker led by only a couple of seconds with two stages to go before responding in fine style to take his second round of the season. Meanwhile both Lacey Adams (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) and Melvin Almueis extended their lead in the Junior standings with victory in Loudenvielle. The area’s popularity with both local and tourist mountain bikers meant the trail dirt was hard-packed, on a course where line choice was less important than riding the main line well. And in sharp contrast to last year’s mudfest, the hot and dry conditions ramped up descent speeds making particularly the tree sections even more intense. BOOKER BESTS ŁUKASIK AFTER FIVE-ROUND SLUGFEST Booker prevailed in an arduous men’s race that was the tightest of all four Elite and Junior enduro events in Loudenvielle, taking his second ever UCI World Cup round just a few weeks after winning his first in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy). Booker laid down a marker on Nabias, as riders started with arguably the toughest stage of the day - a 3.6km descent of 730 vertical metres that got steeper as the trail went on, sapping arm strength all the way. Booker edged out Alex Rudeau by two seconds, with round two victor Sławomir Łukasik a similar margin back in fourth, though the Pole would roar back on Privilege to take the overall lead by the narrowest of margins: 0.006 seconds. Booker was fifth on the stage as Matthew Walker (Pivot Factory Racing) pushed Łukasik closest with the top seven separated by 5.2 seconds on the stage, and miniscule time gaps on Six Pack left things as they were. So, it was all to play for on a super-steep 1,100m stage four that threatened either no time gaps or massive ones with plenty of incident potential, and it proved the decisive separation between the two favourites with Łukasik down in 11th and Booker claiming back all the time he’d lost on Privilege. That meant heading into stage five - the most technical of them all - Booker had seven seconds in hand over the rest of the field and he produced a champion’s ride to seal his triumph. Meanwhile Łukasik somewhat crumbled, losing 10 seconds (his biggest margin of the day on a single stage) and allowing Alex Rudeau to vault up into second place after he’d been pretty quiet since stage one. Even the flying Canadian Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) couldn’t stop Booker from taking his third stage of the day, while Łukasik at least has the consolation of retaining the overall leader’s jersey by 310 points from today’s winner. "Very exciting to get the win here, I never had a super standout result here but I’ve loved the trails every year,” Booker said. “Today even if I made mistakes I was still carrying speed, I was happy and the trails were running good so it was a great day, I was loving riding. "Nice to climb back up a bit, had a bit of drama in Poland so hopefully we can keep going with the first places.” CONOLLY CROWNED QUEEN OF LOUDENVIELLE-PEYRAGUDES Ella Conolly extended her lead at the top of the Women Elite UCI Enduro World Cup in comfortable fashion - or as comfortable as she could be pelting down five stages featuring an average downhill gradient of 20%. And she now has a victory to go with her overall superiority having been the bridesmaid to Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing - Tourne Campervans) and Elly Hoskin in Pietra Ligure and the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland). Conolly stamped her authority on proceedings right from the opening stage, beating Morgane Charre by 4.27 seconds on Nabias and the rest of the field by over 20. And with the opening two stages being the longest of the day, Conolly had an opportunity to virtually kill off the round by the end of Privilege. She took it, surging down the exposed hillside to finish another five seconds ahead of Charre while Nadina Ellecosta (Abetone Ancillotti Vittoria Factory Team) was third on the stage and overall in a tight battle for ‘best of the rest’. Stage three was a marked change to the start of the day, a short sharp dive through the trees that gave Charre the chance to fight back, she bested Conolly by a second while behind, less than four seconds separated third-placed Ellecosta and Estelle Charles in tenth. Conolly was back in business on Pourticou though, putting everyone except Charre and Ellecosta at over a minute behind as Winnifred Goldsbury took third on the stage. And neither Goldsbury nor anyone else could stop her on the final stage as Charre finished fifth but still claimed second overall while Conolly further extends her lead at the top of the standings. “The race was amazing, it was really cool to race here in Loudenvielle in the dry,” Conolly said afterwards. “It was a big contrast to last year and a big contrast to our previous world cup round in Poland. “My race day went pretty smoothly, I started really fast and had a bit of a slide, a little crash so decided to be a bit more calculated, a bit smoother through the race and pushed everywhere I could. Leading the world cup still, so happy with that.” ALMUEIS AND ADAMS EXTEND JUNIOR LEADS Melvin Almueis copied Conolly’s homework for the opening two stages of the men’s Junior race, building a commanding lead that he held to the finish line of Kern without being fastest on any of the three remaining legs. Almueis put 8.22 seconds into compatriot Hugo Marti Montessinos and almost 13 into Cooper Millwood who would ultimately be his closest challenger again, as in Pietra Ligure. The Kiwi pulled time back on Six Pack, gaining a couple of seconds on the top two, before Nacho Ballester Ferrer claimed a surprise win on stage four, beating Gabriel Sainthuile by only six tenths. Millwood returned to the top of the timesheets on Kern but Almueis knew he just needed to keep within range of the Kiwi and duly finished two seconds back to claim his second round of the season. Almueis said: “Loudenvielle was pretty good with the sun, it was better than Poland with the snow and I’m very happy to win here.” Lacey Adams led the women’s Junior standings before today without winning a round, but that spell ended as she scorched to victory in France, claiming four stages out of five and beating Lucile Metge by an eye-watering 54 seconds overall despite crashing into a tree. Only Metge’s Six Pack win by 1.7 seconds interrupted Adams’ dominance, as the Australian also claimed the majority of her victory margin (43 seconds) in the opening two stages to pad her overall lead. “The race was awesome, I enjoyed every stage,” Adams said. “The track’s running amazing and super-stoked with coming first, such a sick venue. I did have a little off on stage five, I just hit a tree and hit my knuckle but it was sweet, just kept riding.” They were following in the tyre tracks of another successful round of Enduro Open races on Friday in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes featuring 124 participants across various categories, including both enduro and e-enduro. Adams, Almueis, Conolly and Booker will return next weekend on a packed slate at Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland (Austria) featuring all disciplines of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series for only the second time ever, as cross-country and downhill riders will also be in attendance.
French riders will be last off the ramp in both the Men and Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup races in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes (France), presented by FACOM, as Amaury Pierron and Myriam Nicole were fastest in qualifying for Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction. After declaring she was ready to fight for the overall after winning round one at the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD) was three-quarters of a second up on Nicole’s time at the second of four intermediate splits, but her rival’s storming finish prevailed as the pair were separated by 0.208 seconds at the line. Pierron pipped Bielsko-Biała winner Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) by 0.154 seconds in Q1 while Loris Vergier (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) made it a home 1-2-3, crossing the line less than a tenth behind the reigning UCI Downhill World Cup champion. NEW FACES CONTINUE TO TOP UCI DOWNHILL WORLD CUP Only Bruni has topped multiple sessions so far in the UCI Downhill World Cup, as both the men’s and women’s Elite qualifying produced new leaders for the season. Pierron had a qualifying to forget in round one but made up for it with an inspired performance in the final and led until the closing stages when first Oisin O’Callaghan (YT MOB) and then Bruni overhauled him. He was made to fight hard again today but, on this occasion, beat his compatriot and the rest of the field with a time of 3:17.142, as Bruni was ahead by less than a tenth at the penultimate split. However, Pierron produced a scintillating final two sectors to claim top spot while many of the other standouts from round one failed to impress in France - O’Callaghan had a tough start and qualified tenth while Richard Rude Jr hit trouble in the middle of his Q1 run and then missed out in the repechage as New Zealand’s Tuhoto-Ariki (MS-Racing) won Q2. Valentina Höll continued her supringly slow start to the season - the reigning UCI World Champion and UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner was five seconds off Nicole’s pace and qualified seventh as there was a definite ‘best and the rest’ split in women’s qualifying. Sixth-place Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) was just over two seconds back from Nicole, as Grace Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) and Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) both produced rapid improvements from the final split to the finish to get within a second of Nicole’s pacesetting time of 3:42.771. Phoebe Gale (Orbea / FMD Racing) topped Q2 as Camille Balanche also survived the last-chance saloon, with Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing - Tourne Campervans) the biggest-name casualty. Nicole triumphed overall here 12 months ago so is looking to be the first rider to win back-to-back UCI Downhill World Cup rounds in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes while Bruni will equal Pierron’s 12 career wins in the series as his compatriot is only one away from drawing level with the legendary Sam Hill’s all-time tally, so there will be plenty at stake at the top of the ramp. ALL CHANGE AT THE TOP OF JUNIOR STANDINGS? Elina Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) has the chance to become the new rider to beat in the women’s Junior standings after she topped qualifying by 1.8 seconds from Rosa Zierl (CUBE Factory Racing) and overall leader Rosa Marie Jensen (Specialized Gravity) did not start. Jensen’s closest rival Lina Frener (Norco Race Division) will be sixth off the ramp after qualifying seven seconds back as only Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) prevented Hulsebosch getting a clean swap of fastest split times. And Til Alran (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) overcame a lighting start by New Zealand’s Oli Clark (MS Racing) to top the men's junior timesheets by less than a second, with his brother, teammate and overall leader Max Alran in third. Alran, Hulsebosch, Nicole, Pierron and the rest of the top qualifiers will return for the UCI Downhill World Cup finals in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes on Sunday, June 1, with Junior races kicking off at 10:50 CEST, followed by the Elite finals. Fans around the world can tune in live: the Junior UCI Downhill World Cup races will be streamed on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel. To find out where to watch the Elite finals in your region, click here.
Next week, UCI Enduro World Cup athletes will head to Saalfelden Leogang in Salzburgerland to join forces with the pros across Downhill and XC, for the biggest weekend on the WHOOP UCI MTB World Series calendar. During race day, they will tackle a 66.79km long course across 6 stages, including 2540m of climbing and descents of a whopping 5030m! For a more detailed look at the courses, you can check out the athlete interactive map. More information & tickets for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Saalfelden Leogang.
The dust hasn’t even settled from the Endurance excitement in Nové Mesto Na Morave (Czechia) and the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is back with the return of the UCI Downhill and Enduro World Cups in Loudenvielle – Peyragudes. presented by FACOM, the fourth of five back-to-back race weekends. France’s Loudenvielle - Peyragudes is the location, and riders will be hoping its revised early summer spot in the calendar means better conditions than 2024’s wet and wild trails. The Louron Valley spot made its UCI World Cup debut in 2023, having hosted events of the former Enduro World Series in 2021 and 2022. It’s easy to see why it’s become a staple of the season. Located within the French Pyrenees’ top riding spot, Loudenvielle - Peyragudes is a year-round riding heaven, offering more than 500km of trails and a fast and furious pro-line downhill track that descends 540m in 2.4km. PEARL OF THE FRENCH PYRENEES Loudenvielle - Peyragudes is the premier location for mountain biking in the whole of the French Pyrenees. Located near the border with Spain and a stone’s throw from Andorra, its tight and tree-lined trails have become a favourite of the world’s Gravity-leaning riders. The UCI ‘DH World Cup’ trail was created especially for the 2023 UCI Downhill World Cup by the local Lourdon Bike and Trail Park team and French downhill icon Romain Paulhan. Melding man-made features with the hillside’s natural contours, the result is one of the most exciting courses on the whole UCI Downhill World Cup circuit. The venue’s Enduro stages meanwhile take in the best trails of the Louron Valley. The UCI Enduro World Cup will see athletes take on five stages as part of a 43km course featuring 2,410m of descent during the race stages and 1,470m of ascent during liaisons. Only two stages remain from last year’s edition (although Privilege – 4.28km with 640m descent – was cancelled due to high winds), with Porticou and Kern returning from the 2023 edition, and a UCI Enduro World Cup debut for Six Pack. BRUNI AND SEAGRAVE IN CONTROL Reigning UCI Downhill World Cup overall champion Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) and 10-time UCI Downhill World Cup winner Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) are the riders leading the downhill charge but have points to prove this weekend with both failing to convert their fastest qualifying times into winning runs at Loudenvielle - Peyragudes in 2024. Benoît Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory) and Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) assured it was a red, white and blue celebration in front of a partisan home crowd last September, although the pair also have work to do if they are to secure repeat results, with both finishing 10th in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland) two weeks ago. In the Men Elite racing, Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction), Oisin O’Callaghan (YT Mob) and wild card qualifier Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing - SR Suntour) started the season strongly in Poland, while Richard Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) showed that he’s fast regardless of the format – the reigning UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner sat fourth in the Downhill standings. For Seagrave, Valentina Höll (YT Mob) is sure to want to make amends for her fifth-place last time out, while Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/5Dev) and Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) are the two other in-form riders. Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing - Tourne Campervans) shouldn’t be written off, either – last year’s UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner qualified third fastest in Bielsko-Biała before an incident-packed final’s run saw her slump to 14th. The Brit will also have fond memories of the venue, as it was where she clinched her 2024 title on the very last stage. LUKASIK TARGETS BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES WHILE CONOLLY SEARCHING FOR FIRST WIN Loudenvielle - Peyragudes delivered plenty of drama as host of the 2024 UCI Enduro World Cup’s final round. While the stakes aren’t as high this weekend, results and points scored this Saturday will still prove pivotal come the series’ end in August. In the men’s field, Richard Rude’s absence hasn’t dampened proceedings so far this season, and the American’s winning ways appear to have rubbed off on team-mate Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) – the Polish rider finally winning his first UCI Enduro World Cup in front of an adoring home crowd in Bielsko-Biala. The 31-year-old also finished second in the Pietra Ligure - Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) season opener and leads Jack Moir (YT Mob) in the rankings by 120 points. Lukasik will be hoping that his debut victory opens the floodgates in the Pyrenees, although he has never finished higher than seventh in the south of France. Moir meanwhile won both Enduro World Series rounds at the venue in 2021, so knows what it takes to pull together a winning ride in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes. Privateer Ella Conolly meanwhile currently leads the women’s field after securing back-to-back second places at this season’s opening two rounds. The Brit is still seeking her debut UCI Enduro World Cup win, and only Harnden and Elly Hoskin have stood between her and the top spot in 2025. Her closest rival in the overall, Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing), won at the venue in 2024 and is the most likely to push Conolly all the way on Saturday. Estelle Charles is another rider worth keeping an eye on – the Frenchwoman finished 10th in Bielsko-Biala and knows what it takes to tame Loudenvielle - Peyragudes’ trails having won the venue’s UCI E-enduro World Cup in 2024. Racing gets underway in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes on Saturday with the UCI Enduro World Cup Full schedule and events details are available here
After three consecutive weekends of racing, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series goes again this Saturday and Sunday with a Gravity feast as the UCI Downhill and Enduro World Cups take to the trails of Loudenvielle - Peyragudes, France. We look at everything you need to know about the Loudenvielle - Peyragudes round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Serie, presented by FACOM, including when the Enduro and Downhill events are scheduled to take place, who is racing, and how to watch. WHEN? The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes, France starts with the UCI Enduro World Cup at 8:00 (UTC+2) on Saturday, May 31 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup at 13:10 (UTC+2) on Sunday, June 1. Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST): Saturday, May 31 08:00 – UCI Enduro World Cup 12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite 14:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior 14:40 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior 15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite 15:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men Elite Sunday, June 1 10:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior 11:20 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior 12:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite 13:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? There will be several ways to watch the Gravity-packed action unfold at France’s first WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round of the 2025 season. For the UCI Enduro World Cup, there will be a course preview featuring the route and its key sections, practice day and race day video highlights on the official YouTube channel, key race moments on social media and live timings on the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website. For the second UCI Downhill World Cup of the season, you can watch the finals live anywhere in the world. Both the men’s and women's UCI Downhill World Cup Junior races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, while the Elite finals will be shown on one of the below channels or streaming services. Pre-show starts at 11:55 UTC+2, so set a reminder to join Ric McLaughlin live from the Pyrenees: North America Canada – Flosports USA – Max South & Central America All Central and South American territories – MTBWS TV Caribbean – Rushsports Asia Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – Eurosport China - Zhibo.TV All other Asian territories – MTBWS TV Oceania Australia – Stan Sport New Zealand – MTBWS TV Africa All African territories – MTBWS TV Europe Andorra – Max Austria – discovery+ Belgium – HBO Max, Eurosport Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max Bulgaria – Max Croatia – Max Czechia – Max Denmark – Max Faroe Islands – Max Portugal – Max, Eurosport, La chaine L’Équipe Germany – discovery+ Hungary – Max Ireland – TNT Sports Italy – discovery+ Moldova – Max Montenegro – Max Netherlands – HBO Max North Macedonia – Max Norway – Max Poland – Max Portugal – Max Romania – Max Serbia – Max Slovakia – Max Slovenia – Max Spain – Max Sweden – Max Switzerland – MTBWS TV Türkiye – Max United Kingdom – discovery+, TNT Sports All other European territories – MTBWS TV RIDERS TO WATCH The Lourdon Bike and Trail Park is a relatively new addition to the competition calendar for Gravity riders – the Loudenvielle - Peyragudes venue making its UCI World Cup debut in 2023, although it had hosted events in the former Enduro World Series in 2021 and 2022. The venue has already shown it can deliver on the biggest stage, and if last year’s racing is anything to go by, we’re in for another epic weekend of racing. In the Men’s Enduro competition, Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) finally got off the mark by claiming his first UCI Enduro World Cup win in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland). The 31-year-old had come agonisingly close in Pietra Ligure - Finale Outdoor Region (Italy), and will hope his debut victory two weeks ago is a sign of things to come this season. The Polish rider leads the overall from Jack Moir (YT Mob), who won twice at Loudenvielle - Peyragudes in the Enduro World Series days. Third-placed Gregory Callaghan has made his best start to a season since 2017, when he went on to win the third round, while UCI Enduro World Champion and 2022 Enduro World Series round winner Alex Rudeau returns having skipped racing in Poland. Privateer Ella Conolly meanwhile leads the charge in the women’s rankings, putting together back-to-back second-place finishes. She’s still targeting her first UCI Enduro World Cup win, but it seems to be only a matter of time now for the Brit. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) has also recorded two podium positions in 2025 with consecutive third places, and the Frenchwoman has previous victories in the Pyrenees – winning at the venue in 2024 and 2022. Bielsko-Biała winner Elly Hoskins meanwhile has raced twice in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes in the U21 category and already showed promise – claiming fourth (2023) and third (2024). In Downhill, Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) and Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) used all their experience to battle through difficult conditions in Poland and take their respective top spots in the rankings. While we’ve come to expect it from reigning overall winner Bruni, Seagrave looks back to her best and already appears at home on her new Orbea downhill rig. Both will be in contention in France, but there are a number of other riders trying to prevent them from making it two from two. Benoît Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory) is the only other rider to have won at the venue since its UCI World Cup debut in 2023 – the Frenchman going fastest last year. He finished 10th in Bielsko-Biała and will be looking at ways to squeeze more time out of his new Scott race bike. Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) and wild card Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing - SR Suntour) are some other local favourites looking to do it on home soil, while Richard Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Oisin O’Callaghan (YT Mob) will be attempting to spoil the partisan crowd’s party. Seagrave’s biggest threat is Valentina Höll (YT Mob). The most dominant force in women’s downhill over the last four years, the Austrian is a favourite of every race she enters and it’s a surprise when she doesn’t make the podium – like her fifth-place finish in Bielsko-Biała. Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/5Dev) and Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) are others worth keeping tabs on, as is Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing - Tourne Campervans) – the reigning UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner qualifying third fastest in her debut UCI Downhill World Cup only to finish 14th after an incident-packed finals run. Racing gets underway tomorrow, Saturday, May 31 in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes. Full schedule and event details are available HERE
The betting company will support the series not only at this weekend’s Loudenvielle-Peyragudes stop but also at the upcoming rounds in Morillon and Les Gets, in the Haute-Savoie region. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and OlyBet are proud to confirm a three-round agreement for the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. OlyBet, which launched in France in 2024, will support all three French rounds of the 2025 series. The partnership kicks off this weekend (May 30–June 1) at the Gravity double-header in Loudenville-Peyragudes and will continue in August with back-to-back race weekends in Haute-Savoie: the UCI Enduro World Cup in Morillon (August 22-24), followed by the UCI Downhill and Cross-country World Cups in Les Gets (August 28-31). OlyBet, which is part of the Olympic Entertainment Group, is a leading gaming and sports entertainment brand. The group partners with high-profile organisations and clubs across Europe, including Stade Toulousain, Paris Basketball, the World Snooker Tour and teams in both LaLiga and Serie A. Olympic Entertainment Group delivers unique fan experiences through a wide network of 135 casinos, over 100 sports bars, 5-star hotels, and several online platforms. The brand’s sponsorship activities also contribute to the development of local sports communities and emerging talent. OlyBet is a member of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) – the world’s leading operator-run integrity monitoring body – and collaborates with LaLiga to help protect the integrity of Spanish football. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “OlyBet is the market leader in sports gaming in the Baltics. Their partnership with the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series puts mountain biking on par with mainstream sports and marks what we hope will be the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration. Their investment is a clear signal that this sport resonates beyond its traditional audience and continues to attract a broader, more diverse, public”. Corey Plummer, CEO & Chairman, OlyBet Group, said: "OlyBet is known for sponsoring engaging sports entertainment, iconic events, and legendary artists. We are excited to partner with the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike Series to highlight the tremendous athletes and competitors in this sport and its sporting lifestyle. Passion for sports brings people together and we are looking forward to supporting that belief." The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series kicked off in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) in April, with a high-intensity Brazilian double-header to open the season for the endurance teams. This month, the action continued with the opening rounds of the UCI Enduro World Cup in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) and the UCI Downhill World Cup in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), as well as round three of the UCI Cross-country Olympic and Cross-country Short Track World Cups in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia). Next up: A full weekend of gravity-fuelled action in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) from May 30 to June 1. Live and on-demand coverage of every race is available through WBD’s channels and platforms including Eurosport (Europe) and TNT Sports (UK & Ireland) with streaming on Max, HBO Max and discovery+, as well as around the world through WBD’s broadcast partners.
Helmet-Mounted GoPro Cameras will showcase WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action from the rider’s perspective. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe is proud to confirm the continuation of its WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series partnership with GoPro. The American technology company continues as the Official Wearable Camera Supplier of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series for a third year. GoPro’s cutting-edge camera technology will deliver immersive live rider POVs from the world’s most intense mountain bike courses to fans across the globe. Top riders, such as Rónán Dunne, Jackson Goldstone and Valentina Höll and others, will give viewers an inside look with course previews, thrilling downhill runs, and exclusive content shared across WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and GoPro’s social channels, including GoPro Bike, throughout the season. GoPro is the ultimate POV camera for mountain biking with the mounting versatility and ruggedness to capture unique perspectives and impossible angles. GoPro's Emmy® Award-winning HyperSmooth video stabilization and durable, waterproof design deliver immersive footage, in any trail conditions. Learn more about GoPro’s mountain bike camera setups, including specialized mounts and accessories, here. “We are excited to continue our partnership with the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series,” said Rick Loughery, GoPro’s Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Communication. “GoPro is deeply committed to the mountain bike community and empowering riders to capture their incredible feats and the exhilarating essence of the sport in a way only GoPro can.” Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “We’re excited to welcome GoPro back for a third consecutive year as the Official Wearable Camera Supplier of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Fans can look forward to another season of immersive POV footage during our live broadcasts and on our social media channels.” The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series kicked off in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) in April, with a high-intensity Brazilian double-header to open the season for the endurance teams. This month, the action continued with the opening rounds of the UCI Enduro World Cup in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) and the UCI Downhill World Cup in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), as well as round three of the UCI Cross-country World Cup in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia). Next up: a full weekend of gravity-fuelled action in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) from May 30 to June 1. Live and on-demand coverage of every race is available through WBD’s channels and platforms including Eurosport (Europe) and TNT Sports (UK & Ireland) with streaming on Max/HBO Max and discovery+, as well as around the world through WBD’s broadcast partners. Main image credit: Keno Derleyn - COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF
Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC) benefited from a mechanical issue for Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to win the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup at Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ (Czechia), as Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) took glory in the elite men’s race. Across the weekend, the event welcomed 24,000 spectators, adding to the electric atmosphere on site. Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) made a brilliant return from her road campaign to win the UCI Cross-country Short-Track (XCC) World Cup on Saturday. The UCI XCO World Champion looked determined to double up on the weekend when taking an early lead and pressing the pace. But she suffered a puncture on lap three to drop back down the field. She made a charge back through the pack but could not sustain the effort and came home in 13th, 1:59 behind Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC). In the Elite Men’s race, all eyes were on Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) on his return to mountain bike action, but the Dutch star crashed twice on the start loop before pulling out. With no Van der Poel to worry about, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) showed his class as he kept himself towards the front of the race before stepping on the gas on the penultimate lap. The American celebrated with low fives with the crowd on the home straight, such was his dominance, as he doubled up after taking UCI XCC World Cup glory on Saturday. In the U23 action, Ella MacPhee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) emerged victorious in the Women’s UCI XCO World Cup, as Isabella Holmgren suffered a crash and there was a dramatic finish to the Men's race, as Paul Schehl (Lexware Mountainbike Team) beat Rens Teunissen van Manen (KMC MTB Racing Team) in a sprint finish. MITTERWALLNER RETURNS TO FORM AS PIETERSE’S DREAM OF WEEKEND DOUBLE DASHED Puck Pieterse’s dream return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action on Saturday turned to a nightmare 24 hours later, as a puncture ruined her chances of a weekend double. The Dutch star produced a blistering finish to win the elite women’s UCI XCC World Cup on Saturday, and looked good when taking an early lead in the XCO race, but things went wrong for her on the third lap of the Vysočina Arena, as a rear puncture sent her back through the pack. She was unable to make up the lost ground and came home in 13th behind Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC). Pieterse blasted off the line to secure a prominent position going into the first corner. Nina Graf (Lapierre Racing Unity) led her into the tech zone for the first time and held that position down the Visit Czechia Steps. 12 months ago, the roots were wet and treacherous, but the women’s race took place under a cloudless sky in 2025, and it was a smoother passage for the riders. Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) led a group of seven at the end of the start loop, as she stopped the clock at 6:24. Pieterse lifted the pace heading into the first lap and went to the front, followed by Rissveds and Graf. Reigning UCI XCO World champion found the ideal line through the Rock Garden section for the first time to put daylight between herself and the chasers entering the WHOOP Wall, but the gradient was so steep that even her was forced sideways on occasions during the ascent. Pieterse’s early attack caused time gaps further back, and the advantage afforded her the luxury of being able to pick the best lines through the technical sections. At the end of the opening lap, Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) and Candice Lill were the only riders in touch with Pieterse. The pattern of the race quickly developed, as Pieterse laid down the power on the climbs to gap her rivals. She got out of shape on the Rock Garden for the second time, but her strength rescued the situation, and it did not check her momentum. At the end of the second lap, Pieterse, Keller and Lill stopped the clock at 30:03, with over 10 seconds back to Rebecca Henderson (Orbea Fox Factory Team) and Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team). Rissveds, who was sick and missed Saturday’s XCC race, dropped through the field and stepped off her bike at the end of the second lap as the winner of the second race in Araxá failed to pick up any points. There was drama on the third lap, as Pieterse suffered a rear puncture in the Rock Garden shortly before the WHOOP Wall and she shipped 1:33 and 23 places after limping to the tech zone. At the end of the third lap, Keller, Lill and Maxwell formed a three-rider group at the head of the race, as Pieterse cut the gap to 1:16. Henderson and Mitterwallner joined the front three at the head of the race on the climb up the WHOOP Wall on the fourth lap. Pieterse made up ground and places rapidly after her tyre change, but her momentum stalled on the fourth lap and she stopped the clock one minute behind Maxwell’s leading time of 54:11. Mitterwallner pushed the pace towards the end of the fifth lap and crossed the line at 1:05.55, five seconds ahead of Maxwell, Lill and Keller. Pieterse missed a couple of bottles in the feed zone after her tyre change, and went backwards in the later stages to finish in 13th. Series leader Maxwell made her move on the final lap and gapped Mitterwallner but an error on a climb saw her bike get tangled in a piece of meshing marking the edge of the course. She had to unclip and lost the lead to Mitterwallner. Maxwell made a big effort to get back to the wheel of Mitterwallner on the WHOOP Wall, but was gapped again as the latter produced a brilliant final descent. Mitterwallner hit the home straight with a two-second lead and although Maxwell was closing all the way to the line, Mitterwallner held on in a time of 1:29.32 for her first win since 2023. Lill completed the podium, 25 seconds adrift of the top two. "I can’t really describe it," Mitterwallner said of her win, the first for Mondraker. "It has been a long time to be on the top of the UCI World Cup podium, and to do it in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravě, the most original place of cross-country. I have always dreamed of it, and I really can’t believe it. "The team worked super hard. It is never easy to start a new project, but everyone was super motivated. We are having a good time too." Maxwell came through from 25th for second and was delighted with her effort but rued the error on the final lap: "We got up to the climb and my pedal got wrapped in the meshing barrier, so I came off," she said. "It would have been alright, but I could not mount my bike quickly, so that was a bit of a shame”. “I am just super proud with the way I’ve been racing this year, super composed and knowing when to burn matches and when to sit back. I am really proud." BLEVINS ASSERTS DOMINANCE AS VAN DER POEL FAILS TO FINISH Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) continued his sizzling start to the season with his second UCI XCO World Cup win of the year. After a win and a second place in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil), the American extended his lead in the overall standings with a powerful display in Czechia. While it was a day in which Blevins celebrated up the home straight to highlight his dominance, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) had an afternoon to forget. The Dutch star returned to mountain bike action following a stunning spring campaign on the road that yielded wins at Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix. Arriving at Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ, Van der Poel’s stated aim was to work his way into top shape for a crack at the UCI World Championships. But his first dip in the water in 2025 did not go to plan as he crashed twice on the start loop before abandoning on the third lap. Starting in 32nd, Van Der Poel clipped handlebars when trying to pick his way through traffic and went into the netting. Things got worse for the Dutchman a short time later, as he hit the lip of a jump and went over the front of his handlebars. Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) led at the end of the start loop, while Van der Poel’s tumble left him down in 88th position. Aside from Van Der Poel, the favourites got through relatively unscathed as Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing), Blevins and Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team-XC) joined Schwarzbauer in a lead group, but Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) suffered a mechanical shortly after the tech zone and dropped through the field to come home in 40th place. Hatherly pushed on at the end of the first lap and took Schwarzbauer with him, with the duo stopping the clock at 15:26 - eight seconds ahead of a chase group led by Blevins and Koretzky - with Van der Poel down in 72nd, 88 seconds adrift of the leaders. A group of seven - Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division), Koretzky, Blevins, Hatherly, Schwarzbauer, Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team) and Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon) came together at the end of the second lap. Van der Poel was unable to make any inroads on the leaders and elected to pull out of the race on the third lap. The leaders’ pace dipped heading into the fourth lap, and it brought a host of riders into the picture, as Blevins, Koretzky and Martín Vidaurre formed a threatening three-man fighting force for Specialized. But defending overall champion Hatherly, in his first race of the season after a spell on the road, was in no mood to let Specialized control things and upped the pace on the fifth lap. Overall leader Blevins had a serious moment on the fifth lap, as he got out of shape, unclipped and did superbly to stay on his bike. After a spell of riders looking at each other, Vital Albin (Thömus Maxon) lit up the race on the sixth lap - taking Blevins with him, as Hatherly, Koretzky, Azzaro and Fabio Puntener worked hard to get back in touch going into the final couple of laps. Up the WHOOP Wall on the seventh lap, Blevins put down the hammer and the turn of pace opened up the race as no other rider could fashion a response. The American produced a supreme descent and entered the finishing straight for the penultimate time with an eight-second advantage. Taking the bell in a time of 1:16.09, Blevins led a chase group of six by 10 seconds, and there was no unity in those behind. Blevins took a number of looks over his shoulder but had a nine-second lead up the WHOOP Wall for the final time. A huge final effort was enough to sniff out the threat from behind and it enabled him to celebrate on the finishing straight, low fiving with the crowd, as he did the double at Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ. A superb three-man sprint for the podium saw Azzaro take second from Lars Forster (Thömus Maxon) - with Koretzky the man to miss out. "I have to say Nové Mĕsto means so much to me, means so much to the sport," Blevins said. "I’ve been here 11 years now, cried in the woods after bad races at Junior, cried after bad races at U23. I felt all the emotions after winning my first European World Cup in this iconic stadium. It is a beautiful day and I am really grateful." On his issue on lap five when he unclipped and almost came down, Blevins said: "That hurt in a spot you don’t want to hurt. I looked at Victor and he kind of shook his head at me as he saw the sketchy moment. These roots are pretty slick even when they are dry, and when I am on the limit I sometimes make mistakes. I am working on that. Thankfully I kept it up today, but had to just regroup and be as perfect as I can be every lap." MACPHEE SECURES BREAKTHROUGH WIN AFTER HOLMGREN CRASH Ella MacPhee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) won the Women’s U23 UCI XCO World Cup race, after series leader Isabella Holmgren suffered a crash in the Rock Garden. The Canadian rider took some time to get to her feet but was seen walking away - albeit holding her arm. With Holmgren out of the race, the door was open for a new name in top spot - and it was MacPhee who secured her maiden win. MacPhee and Fiona Schibler were towards the front throughout, and the former pushed the pace on the fourth lap. There was drama on the final lap as MacPhee unclipped on a climb after losing momentum. But she was ahead at the time and her error impacted Schibler who also had to get off and run up the remainder of the climb. MacPhee regrouped, pushed on up the WHOOP Wall for the final time, and got to the top with a three-second advantage. From there, MacPhee stormed away and stopped the clock 17 seconds ahead of Schibler, with Sara Cortinovis (Ghost Factory Racing) completing the podium. Victory coupled with Holmgren's failure to finish enabled MacPhee to move to the top of the standings. "I don’t have any words, it’s just crazy," MacPhee said. Asked for her thoughts on Holmgren’s crash, she explained: "I did not know Bella was out until I came through the feed. I don’t know what happened. I am really sorry and it is too bad to see her out and I hope she is okay." SCHEHL BEATS TEUNISSEN VAN MANEN IN SPRINT FOR FIRST UCI WORLD CUP WIN Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) went into the race as the rider to beat after taking both legs in Araxá. He led over the line after the start loop, albeit at a relatively sedate pace. It was a similar scenario to how his race played out in Brazil, and he adopted a similar gameplan by pushing the pace on the second lap. Rens Teunissen van Manen (KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team) went with Treudler, with a chunky gap to the chasers. While in Araxá, Treudler was able to ride away for wide-margin wins, he never looked comfortable and had no answer when Teunissen van Manen pushed the power. Blue sky from earlier in the day gave way to clouds and rain, which made the conditions far more difficult than during the earlier races. With conditions deteriorating, there were a series of tumbles - Alexander Woodford suffered a spectacular fall over his handlebars in the Rock Garden. Owen Clark had a tough day, as he dropped a chain when coming down near the feed zone and later suffered a crash through the rocks, while there was the sight of Alexandre Martins running to the tech zone with his tyre separated from his wheel. Treudler appeared to have an issue with his gears and was forced to get off and run on a series of occasions. He was unable to recover the ground lost to Teunissen van Manen and Schehl. Taking the bell, there was nothing to separate Teunissen van Manen and Schehl. Schehl was in front going up the WHOOP Wall for the final time, but Teunissen van Manen slipped past. The elastic did not snap and it boiled down to a sprint, with Schehl edging ahead in the final 50 metres and Treudler defying mechanical issues to take third and cement his position at the top of the overall standings. "I did not expect it," Schehl said. "I had a huge crash in the first round of the UCI World Cup, and had a big bruise and could not go on my bike for three weeks. The last three to four weeks getting back to training was like a rollercoaster. I really did not expect to win. I felt technically super strong but could not recover the whole time. The race felt amazing." After an incredible weekend of cross-country racing in Nové Město Na Moravě, which saw 24,000 spectators turn out to witness the action, the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series rolls on next weekend as the Gravity disciplines take centre stage in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, France, with round 2 of the UCI Downhill World Cup and round 3 of the UCI Enduro World Cup.
UCI Enduro World Cup athletes will join their downhill comrades in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes for the second all-gravity weekend of the season. They'll tackle some familiar trails across 5 stages, with a race totaling 43km, incuding 1470m of ascending and 2410m of decent. For a more detailed look at the courses, you can check out the athlete interactive map. More information & tickets for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Loudenvielle - Peyragudes, presented by Facom
Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) overcame a last lap dropped chain to make history in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series at Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ (Czechia). Meanwhile, Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) returned to mountain bike action in style to win the elite women’s UCI Cross-country Short-Track (XCC) World Cup. Cross-country action returned following a six-week break and the iconic Vysočina Arena course and provided XCC drama with a strong headwind on the finish straight resulting in close finishes. Thin gravel tyres were selected by a host of elite riders as the fast course resulted in close criterium style racing packed full of incidents. Blevins left it late to snatch a victory from team-mate Victor Koretzky to become the first rider to ever win the opening three UCI XCC World Cup rounds. Like the men’s race which followed the elite women’s event was an equally cagey affair with a large leading group coming into the last lap together. Fresh from her road racing exploits in the Spring Classics it was Pieterse who was quickest to take victory. Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) had a perfect UCI XCC World Cup record coming into the event but could not come past Pieterse at the line and had to settle for runner-up. Meanwhile, Canadian Ava Holmgren took her first ever XCC victory in the Under-23 category and ended the perfect record of her sister Isabella Holmgren. Ava paid tribute to the work of her sister who patrolled the chasing group before finishing second to keep her overall lead. Heby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) sprinted to victory following a tactical battle in the Under-23 men’s category. BLEVINS CONTINUES 100% RECORD WITH LATE CHARGE Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) produced a blistering finish to take his third win from as many UCI XCC World Cup events this season. The American had to overcome team-mate Victor Koretzky who launched his sprint early into a headwind finish. Blevins had to come back from last lap drama himself after suffering a dropped chain which shuffled him down the pack. Blasting away from the starting line, Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) showed his form. Not content with allowing the early pace to slow into the headwind Schwarzbauer regained control and took the wind at the front of the early leading group. French national champion Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division) was also amongst a tightly packed leading group before crashing heavily on a small set of jumps. UCI XCC World Champion Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) looked calm and composed as he monitored the front placings past the half-way mark. The pace eventually rose on the penultimate lap as Swiss rider Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) powered up the climb, but a large group of 28 riders came into the final lap together. Coming into the berm on the final lap a large crash midway inside the leading group ended the hopes of many. Meanwhile at the front Koretzky launched an explosive attack up a grassy climb but was followed by Colombo and Schwarzbauer. Koretzky continued his momentum on the finishing straight only for Blevins to come charging back through the leading group to take victory. “This one was definitely harder than the others,” said Blevins following his third UCI XCC World Cup win of the season. “I felt great, but I dropped my chain with a lap to go, right before the last climb, and the mindset just changes. “It was all out, the strategy out the window and I just gave it everything. I was really surprised as it was such a long finish into a headwind which really helped me, it was crazy. Talking about his tactics Blevins added: “It was just to stay safe, to not get into any dangerous situations even if it meant spending a little more energy. “I felt that I did that, rode defensively and waited for the last lap. Everything went to plan except I dropped my chain. It was my mistake; I had a bad shift over the logs.” Adding about having aerodynamic socks, helmet and riding gravel tyre, he added: “Gravel is getting a lot more like mountain bike and you get a lot of two-edge tyres. It is pretty funny to have gravel tyres in a mountain bike race, but they are so fast and work so well.” PIETERSE POWERS TO DOMINANT SPRINT VICTORY ON RETURN Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) showed her turn of speed as she powered away from her opponents to win in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ. In a cagey race, a strong second position for Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) extended her overall lead. After finishing on the podium in the opening UCI XCC World Cup of the season, Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) was missing on the start-line due to illness. Other pre-race favourites had difficult races as a tangle on a sweeping berm corner resulted in American Kate Courtney coming down and shuffled outside the top 20, while Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) was also caught further back after crashing. On her return to mountain bike racing Pieterse used the bunching into the headwind finish to her advantage to take the front. Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing) also showed her form with a quick descent at the front but was quickly caught by the large leading group. UCI XCC World champion Richards won the opening two UCI XCC World Cup rounds in Araxá, Minas-Gerais (Brazil) and battled throughout the opening half to maintain her position at the front. Heading into the final lap riders battled for position with 26 riders within five seconds of the lead. Pieterse also joined the fight for the lead and sprinted alongside Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon). However, it was Neff who took charged through to lead on the descent down to the finish. A headwind up the finishing straight resulted in a group of five riders coming together, before Pieterse launched her winning effort to win by a bike-length. Richards did enough to take second in a blanket finish and Linda Indergand (LIV Factory Racing) came through for third. Despite missing out on her third consecutive XCC win of the season Richards extended her overall lead of 220 points with a hard-fought second position. “It was a blast,” said Pieterse. “My start was not so good, so the first two laps it took me a while to move up. Luckily on the road section because of the headwind the peloton came to a standstill. I could move up and not leave the top three. “It was a bit different [to road racing] with the wide bars because now you are touching literally everybody if you want to move up. Apart from that I used my race-smart a bit by staying in the wheels on the parts where it was necessary.” HOLMGREN SISTERS DOMINATE AS AVA TAKES HER MAIDEN UCI XCC WORLD CUP TRIUMPH Ava Holmgren marked her return to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series by taking her first ever UCI XCC World Cup victory after fending off a late charge. Isabella Holmgren had a 100% record from the opening two rounds in Araxá, Minas-Gerais (Brazil) but allowed her sister to break clear in Czechia and she narrowly held on for victory. Away from the line it was Marta Cano (Trek Future Racing) who got the quickest start. However, it did not take long before the Canadian trio of Isabella and Ava Holmgren took the head of proceedings along with Ella Macphee (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team). Following her sister’s dominance in the opening two rounds it was Ava Holmgren who looked to stamp her authority and pulled out a slight margin over her rivals. Despite dominating the front of the race in the opening three laps with the top 10 positions separated by nine seconds, Ava Holmgren was persistent in her pressure and made her move on the fourth lap to pull clear once again, with her sister Isabella and fellow Canadian Macphee monitoring the chasing group. After 19 minutes of racing Ava Holmgren was keeping her lap times and had a slender lead of 11 seconds, before sister Isabella made her move to bridge across. The gap quickly disappeared and the Holmgren duo were once again joined by Macphee and Swiss competitor Anina Hutter. After missing the opening two rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Ava Holmgren also had to overcome sickness leading into the event. She said: “It was my very first UCI World Cup in Short Track. I had my sister racing with me and I owe a lot of credit to her, we played the tactic so well. I’ve been sick the whole week and wasn’t sure how I would feel, but it was good enough to stay away. Thanks to Isabella, she played it super-well and I owe this victory to her.” PEDERSEN BLASTS TO VICTORY AND OVERALL LEAD FOLLOWING CLOSE FINALE Heby Gustav Pedersen (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) sprinted to his first UCI XCC World Cup victory of this year’s World Series following a tactical battle in the under-23 men’s event. Pedersen thanked team-mate Elian Paccagnella for the victory as the pair worked together to catch lone attacker Rens Teunissen Van Manen (KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team) late in the event. With the top 34 riders separated by eight seconds it was all to play for following the opening three laps as Norwegian duo Sondre Rokke and William Handley patrolled the front positions. Manen and Pedersen were also present at the front, after finishing well in the opening two rounds. With 15 minutes of racing gone, the leading pack remained a large one with 26 riders within 10 seconds of the lead. After biding his time, Manen attacked for glory with two laps remaining and pulled out a three-second lead over Rokke, Pedersen, Paccagnella and Edvin Elofsson as the race behind fragmented. In the closing stages Manen was pulled back and Pedersen sprinted to glory, ahead of overall rivals Rokke in second and series leader coming into the event Paccagnella in third. With the race victory Pederson also took the overall U23 UCI XCC World Cup lead and is 10 points ahead of Rokke. “It was super-hard today,” said Pedersen. “Every time passing the finish line there were a lot of tactics and people coming from behind and coming to the front. It was like a washing machine all over. Rens [Manen] went with two laps to go and from then on it was a big chase. With my team-mate Elian [Paccagnella] we worked together and helped each other a lot, each pulling, and we caught up and it was a sprint. Short Track is 20 minutes all out, it’s just go, go, go.” Racing continues in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ (Czechia) tomorrow with the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is set to make his return to elite men's mountain bike racing after a strong campaign on the road during the Spring Classics. However, Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing) will be absent after suffering a broken collarbone during course recon on Friday morning. Sarrou also missed today’s XCC action. Sunday’s racing kicks off at 10:00 AM CET with the Women Elite UCI XCO World Cup, followed by the Men Elite at 12:00, then the U23 Women’s race at 14:00 and the U23 Men’s at 16:00. Live and on-demand coverage of every race is available through WBD’s channels and platforms including Eurosport (Europe) and TNT Sports (UK & Ireland) with streaming on Max, HBO Max and discovery+, as well as around the world through WBD’s broadcast partners. Both the Men and Women U23 UCI XCO World Cup races will be streamed live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel. Find full details on where to watch the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Nové Město na Moravě here.
Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing) will miss this weekend’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia) after breaking his collarbone. The Frenchman was on course recon when the incident happened on Friday morning. Sarrou had finished inside the top eight positions in both the previous two rounds in the UCI Cross-Country Olympic World Cup in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) resulting in a fifth placed position overall in the discipline coming into this weekend’s event. The weekend action starts in Nové Město Na Moravě with the cross-country short track action on Saturday followed by the UCI Cross-Country Olympic World Cup on Sunday.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is in full flow following back-to-back UCI World Cup rounds in May that saw the world’s best Gravity athletes take to the trails of Pietra Ligure - Finale Outdoor Region in Italy and Poland’s Enduro Trials of Bielsko-Biała. The action isn’t letting up yet either as we reach the halfway point of five consecutive race weekends and the return of the Endurance formats at Czechia’s Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ venue. We look at everything you need to know about the Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series races, including when the cross-country short track (XCC) and cross-country Olympic (XCO) events are scheduled to take place, who is racing and how to watch. WHEN? The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ, Czechia, starts with the Women U23 XCC at 9:50 (UTC+2) on Saturday, May 24 and concludes with the MenU23 XCO at 16:00 (UTC+2) on Sunday, May 25. Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST): Saturday, May 24 9:50 – UCI XCC World Cup | Women U23 10:30 – UCI XCC World Cup | Men U23 11:30 – UCI XCC World Cup | Women Elite 12:10 – UCI XCC World Cup | Men Elite Sunday, May 25 10:00 – UCI XCO World Cup | Women Elite 12:00 – UCI XCO World Cup | Men Elite 14:00 – UCI XCO World Cup | Women U23 16:00 – UCI XCO World Cup | Men U23 WHERE CAN I WATCH? You can watch all the action from the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ, Czechia, wherever you are in the world. Both the Men and Women U23 UCI XCO World Cup races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, but for all other races, tune in to one of the below channels or streaming services: North America Canada – Flobikes USA – Max South & Central America: MTBWS TV Asia Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – Eurosport Other Asian territories – MTBWS TV Oceania Australia – Stan Sport New Zealand – MTBWS TV Africa Angola, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cape Verde, Cote d'lvoire, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial, Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger, Reunion, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini, São Tome and Principe, St Helena and Ascension, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Socotra, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Zambia – Supersport All African territories – MTBWS TV Europe Andorra – MAX, Eurosport Austria – discovery+, Eurosport Belgium – HBO Max, Eurosport and LN24 (only Men’s Elite XCO race live) Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max, Eurosport Bulgaria – Max, Eurosport Croatia – Max, Eurosport Czechia – Max, Eurosport and CT Sport Denmark – Max, Eurosport Faroe Islands – Max, Eurosport France – Max, Eurosport and La Chaine L’Equipe (Live Men’s XCO only) Germany – discovery+, Eurosport Hungary – Max, Eurosport Ireland – TNT Sports Italy – discovery+, Eurosport Moldova – Max, Eurosport Montenegro – Max, Eurosport Netherlands – HBO Max, Eurosport North Macedonia – Max, Eurosport Norway – Max, Eurosport Poland – Max, Eurosport Portugal – Max, Eurosport Romania – Max, Eurosport Serbia – Max, Eurosport Slovakia – Max, Eurosport Slovenia – Max, Eurosport Spain – Max, Eurosport Sweden – Max, Eurosport Switzerland – SRF/RSI and MTBWS TV Türkiye – Max, Eurosport United Kingdom – discovery+, TNT Sports All other European territories – MTBWS TV RIDERS TO WATCH After April’s first two UCI XCO and XCC World Cup rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, a handful of riders have already made strong cases in their pursuit of the overall titles. In the women’s field, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) has been the surprise package, claiming her and New Zealand’s first Women Elite UCI XCO World Cup win in round one and following it up with second place six days later. The Kiwi already has a 100-point series lead over Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) – the 2016 Olympics gold medalist leading a chasing pack featuring Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli). The standings could get shaken up this Sunday though with XCO UCI World Champion Puck Pietrse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) making her 2025 series bow and reigning UCI XCO and XCC World Cup overall series winner Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) plotting a return to form after a disappointing round two in Araxá. For the men, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) tops both championships having finished first and second in the two UCI XCO World Cup rounds in Brazil, where he also took the two UCI XCC World Cup victories. The American is in the form of his life, and similar results in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ would see him build a significant lead after just three rounds. XCC UCI World Champion Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) isn’t used to playing second fiddle but has only been able to get the better of Blevins once this year, while their team-mates Martin Vidaurre Kossmann and Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) make it a four-rider shut out for the American manufacturer at the top of the standings. Jordan Sarrou (BMC Factory Racing), Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team-XC) and Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) are the best of the rest, with the Swiss G.O.A.T targeting a record-extending seventh win in the UCI XCO World Cup at the Czech venue. To do so though, he’ll have to get the better of Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – the Dutchman starting his first UCI World Cup since 2021 this weekend. The 2023 UCI World Champion in the road race, 2024 Gravel UCI World Champion and seven-time Cyclo-cross UCI World Champion is targetting an elusive XCO rainbow jersey this summer and gets his off-road campaign underway in Czechia. While road cycling commitments mean he’s unlikely to compete for the overall, expect the multi-discipline master to be a favourite of any UCI World Cup event he enters, including both races this weekend. Racing gets underway on Saturday, May 24 in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ. Full schedule and event details are available HERE.
Following back-to-back rounds of Gravity-fuelled action in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), this weekend sees the return of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ Cross-country contests after a six-week break as the Endurance competitions descend on Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ (Czechia). If April’s Brazilian double-header in Araxá, Minas Gerais was the season’s South American appetiser, then the third round is the start of the series’ European entrée. And it’s kicking off at an iconic spot – the Vysočina Arena course, an annual staple in the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup schedule every year since 2011, except in 2016 when it hosted the UCI Mountain Bike XCO World Championships. Two hours southwest of the Czech capital Prague in the region of Vysočina, Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ has built a reputation for fast, frantic racing, with huge support present around the course and in the start/finish straight’s grandstand arena. And this year is set to be no different. FAST AND FURIOUS COURSE Both the XCO and cross-country short track (XCC) races feature incredibly technical courses that take in the area’s picturesque forests and countryside before riders cross the start-finish line in front of the arena’s raucous grandstand. Punchy climbs are followed by fast, tricky descents and there’s little let-up for the riders. Nino Schurter’s (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) six XCO wins (including one at the UCI World Championship) make him the most successful men’s rider of all time in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ. While the G.O.A.T could extend his record this weekend, Tom Pidcock’s (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) run of four consecutive XCO wins will definitely come to an end – the Brit’s absence to ride the Giro d’Italia meaning there will be a different men’s XCO winner for the first time since 2020. ALL EYES ON VAN DER POEL AND PIETERSE Reigning XCO UCI World Champion Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) returns to mountain biking after a full Spring Classics season on the road where she didn’t finish outside the top 10, winning La Flèche Wallonne Féminine and podiuming at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes and Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition. Her team-mate Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is arguably the most eye-catching name on the start list though. The Dutchman hasn’t raced off-road since September 2023 and last lined up at a UCI World Cup at Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ in 2021. But with sights set on an illusive XCO title at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in 2025 and one eye on the Olympic Games in LA 2028, the multi-discipline star is adding flat bar racing to his racing program after four years predominately focused on the road. It’s not a foregone conclusion for Pieterse and Van der Poel. Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) is the woman to beat from the first two rounds, winning her first UCI XCO World Cup at the season opener in Araxá and following it up with second place six days later. Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) also looks back to her 2016 Olympic-winning best, while Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing), Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) are likely to be in contention in Czechia. The men’s competition meanwhile is the Specialized Factory Racing show – the American team’s riders occupying the top four spots in the XCO overall table. Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) is in the form of his life, almost completing a perfect double-header in Araxá with his second place in round one’s XCO race the only time he wasn’t on the top spot. Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) has carried his strong season-ending form through to 2025 and will push his team-mate every pedal stroke of the way. Others outside the Specialized stable worth keeping an eye on are record-holder and age-defier Schurter and Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) – the first-year Elite rider did the U23 XCO-XCC double in 2024. In the XCC, UCI World Champion Evie Richards has a 100% record this year and in previous Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ events – winning both UCI XCC World Cups at the venue in 2020. If she claims first this weekend, the Brit will equal Annika Langvad’s 2018 record of winning the opening three UCI XCC World Cup rounds. Again, expect Koller, Maxwell and Keller to be fighting the rainbow bands for the lead in the shortened format. In the men’s competition, Blevins and XCC UCI World Champion Koretzky went 1-2 at both races in Brazil, and the American could become the first rider to ever win the opening three rounds with victory in Czechia. But with 10 XCC wins to his name and red-hot form on the road and cyclo-cross bike this Spring, the most successful short-track rider of all time Van der Poel will fancy his chances. Racing gets underway in Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ on Saturday with the U23 UCI XCC World Cup. Full schedule and events details are available here.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that 16 wildcard teams – eight cross-country and eight downhill – have been selected for round seven of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland (Austria) on June 5-8. While all eight teams that applied for a Downhill spot secured a wildcard, only eight Cross-country teams were selected from 18 applicants. Most of the teams qualified via the new wildcard system will be making their second or third appearance in the series for their respective formats, but there will be a first appearance for Future Frameworks Team in the UCI Downhill World Cup. The newly formed sister squad to WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team Frameworks Racing/5Dev, is focused on up-and-coming talent and made up of first-year Juniors Jack McCredie and Zanna Logar, and second-year Junior Benny De Vall. Elsewhere, in Cross-country, KTM Factory MTB Team and Lexware Mountainbike Team continue their 100% attendance record so far in the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, while Goodman Santacruz, Rogue Racing – SR Suntour, Team High Country and Kenda NS Bikes UR Team do the same in downhill. One rider who has qualified via the wildcard system worth keeping an eye on is Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing). The American legend has four UCI World Cup victories at the Austrian venue during his storied career, including an iconic finals run from 2015 where his bike’s chain snapped when coming out of the start hut and he still somehow went on to win. The 16 wildcard teams for round 7 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang - Salzburgerland are: UCI Cross-country World Cup: KTM Factory MTB Team BIXS Performance Race Team Lexware Mountainbike Team Massi Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret Trek Future Racing Cabtech Racing Team Trinity Racing UCI Downhill World Cup: Goodman Santacruz Gwin Racing Rogue Racing – SR Suntour Team High Country Kenda NS Bikes UR Team YT Racing Development The Alliance Future Frameworks In addition to hosting round 4 of the UCI Cross-country World Cup and round 3 of the UCI Downhill World Cup, Austria’s largest bike region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn will also stage round 4 of the UCI Enduro World Cup, one week after a trip to Loudenvielle-Peyragudes in France.
