Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea / FMD Racing) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) defied appalling conditions in the Szczyrk Mountain Resort (Poland) to claim the opening round of the UCI Downhill World Cup in sensational style. Bruni triumphed by a nail-biting 0.156 seconds over Oisin O’Callaghan (YT MOB), redemption for the Frenchman who lost out by an even tighter margin last year in Bielsko-Biała to another Irishman, Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH), and won a race to recover from a collarbone injury just to compete in Poland. The 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner was the last rider down the starting ramp to round out a fraught day that featured plenty of spills to match the thrilling finish, and he produced an almost perfect run to depose O’Callaghan who looked set for victory. Seagrave put the women’s elite field on notice, announcing this is the first step in a tilt at the overall title after struggling with her own injury problems in recent years, as only Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing / 5DEV) could get anywhere close to her. SEAGRAVE CONQUERS SNOW AND THE FIELD It was a sign of the challenging conditions facing riders in Poland that Veronika Widmann (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) was the first woman to make it down the course in one piece as the third starter. Lisa Bouladou (Goodman Santa Cruz) hit trouble just before the flat section, and Phoebe Gale (Orbea / FMD Racing) lost traction after slipping on a boardwalk bridge at the top. Utah-born Newkirk set the benchmark immediately after Widmann, powering (and at times scooting) into the lead a staggering 17 seconds quicker than the Italian. Only four other riders finished within ten seconds of Newkirk as a first UCI World Cup win looked more and more likely with Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Gloria Scarsi (MS Racing) all came and went in slower times - the latter rocking a belt-driven gearbox chasing the €100,000 prize for winning a round on that equipment. However, the dream died when Seagrave entered the snowstorm. Riding the route as if it were dry, the Brit was fastest through the opening three time checks and though she lost time on the tail end of her run and nearly went over her handlebars at one stage, it was still enough to set a scorching time of 3:34.340. Reigning UCI Downhill World Cup champion, Valentina Höll had no answer for YT MOB - lacking the aggression of Seagrave she finished in fifth at seven seconds down on the tenacious 29-year-old Brit. “Because of the conditions my brakes weren’t working very well so I think that helped,” Seagrave said. “You’ve just got to make the best of it, I kept pumping the brake to make it work. I had a little sketchy moment at the end because I forgot to do that, but glad I managed to put it together. “I don’t think it’s too early [to think about overall], I feel the healthiest I have been and I’m back from a series of horrible injuries. I’ve had a couple of years to get back into it and I’m ready to give it my all again.” BRUNI EDGES OUT O’CALLAGHAN BY NARROWEST OF MARGINS The fight between Bruni and O’Callaghan came right down to the wire with the Frenchman losing a second between the last two intermediate time checks, then clinging onto his tenth of a second advantage to avoid a second agonising defeat in as many years in Poland. Staying on the bike proved half the battle with a host of riders hitting the deck while they sat in the green on the timing screens, the slightly improved weather conditions for the men’s race cajoling more risks and the corresponding rise in incidents. Danny Hart (Norco Race Division) rolled back the years to set the first competitive time of the day but it was Amaury Pierron(Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) who was the story until the final stages. The sixth starter of the afternoon blew the rest of the field away with a time of 3:05.675 and would go on to finish third as the only other rider within a second of Bruni. For over an hour, it looked like it’d be even better. Plenty started stronger than Pierron but whether it was Benoit Coulanges’ dropped chain for Scott Downhill Factory or Ronan Dunne, Andreas Kolb (YT MOB), Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing - SR Suntour) and Luca Shaw (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) all losing control while ahead, no one could put together the complete run. Lachlan Stevens-McNab went the same way for Trek Factory Racing DH in arguably the most dramatic fashion of all as he was ejected from his bike midway through the course - the second year in a row he’s bit the dust while on track for the lead. Richie Rude (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) was perhaps the closest to besting Pierron before O’Callaghan’s run, carrying some outrageous speed through the tightest sections of the Polish course on his return to Downhill after winning back-to-back Enduro UCI World Cup titles. This season the American has switched his focus to the pure gravity discipline, like 2024 women’s overall UCI Enduro World Cup winner Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) who qualified third but bottomed out on her final run and finished half a minute adrift. Rude had no such trouble, igniting the competition with his hair-raising run that finished just seven tenths behind Pierron. The Frenchman was finally overthrown by ‘Double O’ though, O’Callaghan producing a magical run and celebrating joyfully as he crossed the line and saw he’d moved into first - a position he kept until the very last run of the day as Bruni proved inevitable. “Last season was a bit stinky with finishing so close to the win,” Bruni said. “I didn’t think I had it in me with the offseason a bit complicated and the weather being so far from my favourite conditions but I just kept on riding.’’ “To me it was not so perfect, it was really rough, and I was getting caught off guard with the braking. I just had to give everything.” With this podium Loïc Bruni equals his hero, Nicolas Vouilloz, with 44 career trips to the rostrum though he was quick to play down his own achievements compared to the French legend. O’Callaghan added on watching Bruni’s run: “It definitely gets the heart racing more than the run. Woah it was tight, I was on the edge of the seat but good start, can’t complain really.” ALRAN AND JENSEN SET THE PACE IN JUNIORS Max Alran (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding) showed he still reigns supreme in Men’s Junior UCI Downhill World Cup, but was pushed all the way by a new crop of challengers led by Tyler Waite (Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team). Last down the ramp, Alran skated home just eight tenths ahead of Waite while Oli Clarke (MS-Racing) made it a Kiwi double-podium while another compatriot took fourth place - Waite’s teammate Jonty Williamson. Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / 5DEV) had a disappointing first round of the year, trailing home tenth after the UCI World Championship qualified second, but he was still only seven seconds back in a compact field led by Alran. Alran said: “Really stoked, not the easiest run but made it to the bottom first so really happy. What a way to start the season! The bike worked good, vision was good, so yeah… really happy.” With defending UCI World Champion and UCI World Cup overall winner Erice van Leuven (Norco Race Division) still recovering from a crashthat returned multiple broken bones, the Women’s Junior category was up for grabs and it was Denmark’s Rosa Maria Jensen who laid down the first marker of the season. “I just won my first UCI World Cup! I’m starting to believe it now, it’s the best day of my life, I’m so so happy and to be here with the team and family is something I’ll never forget,” Jensen said. Jensen was the class of the field, beating Lina Frener and Eliana Hulsebosch by five seconds ahead of Van Leuven potentially returning next time out in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes. The French Pyrenees will host another gravity double-header in a fortnight’s time, after three home riders took victory in 2024. However, before that, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads to an iconic stop in Nové Město Na Moravě. The Czech staple of the European leg will feature the return of the UCI Cross-country Olympic and Short Track World Cup competitions that got started in such dramatic fashion in Araxá, Brazil as Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing), Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Evie Richards (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) will look to defend or even extend their overall leads from May 23-25.
Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) and Elly Hoskin secured their first Elite wins in the second round of the UCI Enduro World Cup at the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland). Lukasik was dominant throughout the five stages of the Men's race, while it was a more dramatic affair in the Women’s race as Hoskin claimed victory after Raphaela Richter crashed out. LUKASIK DAZZLES ON HOME TURF Lukasik made an early statement of intent, being fastest on stage one. The Polish rider posted a time of 4:30.014 - and he never relinquished his advantage. The Yeti / Fox Factory Team rider finished over three seconds ahead of Gregory Callaghan on stage one. Plenty of eyes were on Daniel Booker who went into the second race of the season off the back of a win in the opening event at Pietra Ligure. He came from behind to secure victory in Italy, but there was never any sign of a repeat in Poland after he came home in fifth on the first stage of Cygan, 6.312 seconds behind Lukasik. In a show of strength, Lukasik was quickest on stage two. On the Dziabar trail, which had the largest vertical drop at 485m, he clocked a time of 6:27.456. Louis Jeandel (Lapierre Gravity Collective) was second on the stage, 1.519 behind Lukasik, and his run was enough to catapult him up from third to second after two stages. Booker lost further ground and dropped to 11th after two stages, over 22 seconds adrift of Lukasik, while Callaghan went from second to fourth - with Jack Moir (YT Mob) climbing to third. Lukasik, who was narrowly beaten into second in the opening race of the season, extended his advantage by securing first place on stage three, albeit by only 0.511 from Marco Osborne of the United States. Jeandel retained second place overall but saw his deficit increase to over 11 seconds, while Callaghan returned to the top three - 11.439 behind the leader. It was another disappointing stage for Booker, who came home in 13th on the Debowiec trail to drop over 30 seconds behind Lukasik in 11th. Stage four did not go to Lukasik as he was overshadowed by Moir, who took the top spot on the DH+ trail with a time of 3:23.138. Lukasik took 14th on the stage, 8.332 behind Moir, and it left him with an advantage of 4.846 over Callaghan going into the final leg. Any thoughts of Lukasik cracking on Stary Zielony were quickly snuffed out, as he produced a strong performance to take second on the stage, with Moir again topping the timing sheets. Lukasik’s overall time of 23:26.591 was enough for victory over Moir by 6.040, with Callaghan completing the podium in third. It was an afternoon to forget for last week’s winner, as Booker finished in 95th. Race winner Lukasik said: “It was crazy. I still can’t believe. It was a really stressful day, but finally I got the win. It was a great day, but a really stressful one. The home crowd was so crazy. I am so stoked.” HOSKINS SHINES AS RICHTER SUFFERS MISFORTUNE There was drama in the Women’s UCI Enduro World Cup race, as Raphaela Richter crashed out from the lead going into the final leg which allowed Hoskin to take her first race win. Germany’s Richter won the first stage and followed that up in the fourth, but her hopes of victory were dashed as she came down with what was reported to be a dislocated shoulder. Richter was locked in a tense battle with Hoskin for the top spot, but the German’s departure allowed the Canadian to coast home. Ella Conolly of Great Britain took the fifth stage in a time of 4:40.328, which was narrowly ahead of Hoskin. Despite missing out on the fifth stage, Hoskin had the final say as her combined time of 26:46.980 was good enough for the race win by a comfortable margin of over 45 seconds from Conolly. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) took third place, 51.854 off the winner. No other rider got within a minute of Hoskin. Race winner Hoskin said: “It was really fun day out there, really mucky and slippery. There was no snow, which was a little bit different from practice, but I managed to enjoy it and I think people had a lot of fun out there. I certainly did.” JUNIOR ACTION AND ENDURO OPEN Tommy Bougon led home a one-two for France in the Men’s Junior UCI Enduro Enduro World Cup. Bougon was never out of the top four at any stage on the course and found pace on the run for home as he clocked a winning time of 25:17.223. Last week’s winner Melvin Almueis took second, 2.393 behind Bougon, while third went to New Zealand’s Cooper Millwood. Victory in the Junior Women’s event went to Slovenian talent Nezka Libnik, who came home in a time of 29:08.568. Lacey Adams, from Australia, was second in a time of 29:40.007, with American Chloe Bear in third. A total of 115 riders took part in the Enduro Open event, testing their fitness, racing skills, and on-the-fly bike fixes on the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała—the same weekend and terrain as the UCI Enduro World Cup. The event wasn’t limited to Enduro bikes, with dedicated E-enduro categories that pushed both riders and their battery-assisted machines to the limit. HÖLL AND BRUNI SET THE PACE IN BIELSKO-BIAŁA UCI DOWNHILL WORLD CUP QUALIFYING In the opening round of the 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup in Bielsko-Biała, Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) posted the fastest times in qualifying, picking up right where they left off last season. Höll surged from third place after the early splits to finish first with a time of 3:39.203, ahead of British riders Tahnee Seagrave and Harriet Harnden. In the Men’s race, Bruni climbed from ninth at the first split to secure the top spot with a time of 3:08.648. Amaury Pierron, who briefly led, ran into issues before the finish and had to push hard in Q2 to secure a place in Sunday’s finals—alongside other top contenders who also had to battle their way through, making for an incredibly exciting and high-stakes Q2 session. In the Junior Qualifying, Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) topped the Women’s field, while France’s Max Alran(Commencal/Muc-Off), the 2024 overall series winner, set the fastest time among the Junior Men. The UCI Downhill World Cup finals in Bielsko-Biała will take place on Sunday, May 18, with the Junior races starting at 11:30 CET, followed by the Elite finals. Fans can catch all the action live, with Junior finals 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. The Enduro field takes a well-earned pause to rest and recharge before the third round of the UCI Enduro World Cup, set to take place in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, France, from May 30 to June 1.
In a flashback from the past and indicator of what could be to come, Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) set the fastest times in Downhill qualifying on the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała. Höll and Bruni were the dominant forces in the 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup season, and showed they are ready to fight for glory again with strong performances at the start of the opening weekend of the campaign. Höll produced a stirring finish in Women's Downhill Q1. The Austrian found herself in third after the opening split, as Tahnee Seagrave (Orbea / FMD Racing) set the pace. British rider Seagrave held sway after the first three splits, but defending UCI Downhill World Cup champion Höll found pace between the third and fourth timing checks. After taking the lead at the fourth split, Höll powered away to cross the line in a winning time of 3:39.203. Seagrave crossed the line in second, 1.566 behind Höll. Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans), switching from Enduro to Downhill, made it a two-three for Britain, as she came home in a time of 3:41.290 for third place. Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) was the winner at Bielsko-Biała 12 months ago, and she took sixth place behind Höll. Of the 32 starters, there was only one DNF at the Szczyrk Mountain Resort in southern Poland, with Jolanda Kiener failing to get to the fourth split. BRUNI MAKES STATEMENT OF INTENT Men’s 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup champion Bruni threw down an early marker with victory in Q1. The French rider was only ninth at the first split but made relentless progress. He hit the front at the third split, only for his fellow French rider Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off By Riding Addiction) to go faster at the fourth split. Pierron had an issue on the run to the finish, coming home in 79th, as Bruni stopped the clock in a time of 3:08.648. Oliver Davis of Trek Factory Racing DH took second, 1.359 behind Bruni, with Ryan Pinkerton (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) completing the top three. After his issue in Q1, Pierron had to push hard in Q2 to qualify for Sunday's final. He came home in fifth in Q2 to advance to the finals. Like Amaury Pierron, several top riders who didn’t make it through Q1 were back on track for Q2, where they had to push hard to earn their place in Sunday’s finals — making for an incredibly exciting and high-stakes qualifying session. JUNIOR QUALIFYING In the Junior Qualifying, Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) topped the Women’s Qualifying, while France's Max Alran (Commencal/Muc-Off By Riding Addiction), the 2024 overall series winner, set the pace in the Men's Qualifying. The UCI Downhill World Cup finals in Bielsko-Biała take place on Sunday, May 18, with Junior racing kicking off at 11:30 CET, followed by the Elite Men and Women finals. Fans around the world can tune in live: both the Men’s and Women’s 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.
Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Team), Camille Balanche (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) and Harriet Harden (Aon Racing - Tourne Campervans) share their thoughts ahead of the UCI Downhill World Cup in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała, Poland, while Dan Booker and Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) assess their chances ahead of the second UCI Enduro World Cup. The start of the downhill season is almost upon us in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, and riders are ready and raring to go after a long seven months since they last went racing in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. The off-season can be a time for change – whether that’s new bike or component setups, training routines or, in some cases, whole new teams – and things can therefore be hard to predict until we get a clear idea of who’s up to speed in qualifying. One rider who tried to minimise change during the break is Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing). The Irishman has kept everything consistent, even if an injury in February did disrupt his pre-season preparation for a couple of weeks. And, as last year’s UCI Downhill World Cup winner in Bielsko-Biała, he goes into this weekend with added confidence. Speaking at the pre-race press conference, Dunne said: “I was really happy with the off-season. I’m a bit more prepared this year and more used to the bike than last year. We have the bike pretty similar to how we ended the season last year so it was a lot easier. [The off-season] was more riding and speed-wise rather than messing around with set-up and trying all these different things. “I got injured, but it wasn’t too bad. I had a few weeks off the bike and then back on for about a month and a half. Everyone has had big injuries in this sport. I wasn’t going to miss any races because I knew I’d have time to come back to build up speed, so I wasn’t too worried about it. It was the first broken bones, so it was a good experience. “The [Bielsko-Biala] track is basically the same layout as last year and I loved the layout last year. I’m not going to be messing around too much with lines this weekend. I’ll be sticking to what I know.” At the other end of the off-season change scale is Camille Balanche (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing). The 2020 UCI Downhill World Champion made the move from Yeti/Fox Factory Racing after her old team Dorval AM Commencal shut at the end of the 2024 season. The Swiss rider spent most of last year battling with the symptoms of a head injury suffered in 2023 but feels back to her best and has one eye on a home UCI World Championships in Champéry, Valais in September. Speaking at the pre-race press conference, Balanche said: “Everything is new – new team, new bike, new mechanic, new coach. It’s motivating and exciting, [but] it’s a lot to learn and adapt to. “I’m completely healthy again and I could train as much as I wanted so I’m totally fit. Last year was challenging. I still had symptoms, but I didn’t know where they were going to come. Sometimes it worked out not bad, sometimes it was just a disaster – especially mentally to know when I could push and when I couldn’t really ride much. It was super hard, but I was just happy to be there still. This year is different. I’ve had a really good off-season since last December, so I’m super stoked. “[UCI World Championships] is an objective, but I’ll get to it when it comes because it’s in September. UCI World Championships at home is the dream and the best but it’s far away so I want to focus now on the first UCI World Cup and think about that a bit later. “I did really well [in Bielsko-Biała] last year so it must be a track that suits me. I had an advantage because it was brand new, and I feel like I can adapt really fast to a new track.” Another rider who went through a big change in the off-season was Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing – Tourne Campervans). The Brit switched to Reece Wilson’s new outfit after racing all her life for Trek and the 2024 UCI Enduro World Cup overall series winner is also primarily focusing on downhill, rather than enduro, for the 2025 season. That didn’t stop her from racing and winning in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) last weekend though. Speaking at the pre-race press conference, Harnden said: “I don’t mind change. I quite like the idea and fun of trying something new and discovering what’s out there and figuring out what works for you. “The focus is definitely on the downhill. I spent a lot more time on my Gamux Sego this winter and that’s practically all I’ve ridden. I only got a few rides in on [the Nikolai] before the race last weekend. I didn’t get a chance to properly bed her in, but we definitely put in the miles last week. I’m looking forward to riding that a bit more throughout the year and getting it really dialled for the UCI World Champs in Switzerland. “I really enjoyed the two days of racing [in Pietra Ligure]. My first-ever Enduro World Series event was a two-day race in 2019 so it’s cool to be able to go back to that and enjoy it as a more established enduro rider. I think that’s what enduro is – a big day and adventure and just enjoying being out in the mountains – we certainly did that last weekend.” “I think [Grit & Glory] is going to be a great way to show some behind-the-scenes and let people feel like they’re more part of the action. I’m excited to see how it’s going to come out. I’m not going to be a part of Enduro so much, so I’ll be following along as much as all the fans.” It’s not just the downhill athletes who are in action this weekend though, with the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała also hosting the second round of the UCI Enduro World Cup. Riders have only had a short turnaround window after last week’s season opener in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy), and a debut victory still hasn’t sunk in for Men’s Elite winner Dan Booker. Speaking at the pre-race press conference, Booker said: “I don’t really feel like it’s sunk in yet because I’ve been so busy since it happened. Since I crossed the line at the race it’s been flat out, travelling all the way up here. My focus has pretty much gone straight into this race. Maybe when we have the break after this round, it’ll sink in a bit more. “I’m just going to take this year race by race and do the best I can. I’m super happy on the [privateer] set-up I’m on at the moment, so I’m not really looking to make an impression to any other teams. I want to do it for myself and hopefully it would be great to bring another person on board – whether that’s a mechanic or someone just to help out with errands – but that’s the only thing I’d change. “There are some really tough parts about the way that I run the program, especially on days like today in practice – my bike’s sitting muddy in the back of the car, and I’ve got to go and wash it! But when the conditions are good, you feel a lot of freedom running your own program, so I enjoy it.” The man Booker pipped to first place last week, Slawomir Lukasik, was humble in defeat and believes that the level of competition in Enduro means that even home advantage counts for little on the Enduro Trails of Poland during tomorrow’s finals. Speaking at the press conference, Lukasik said: “I was so stoked to see [Dan] in first place. The battle was really tight. It’s even better for the sport and those who follow the race. [There is a home advantage] but it’s not as big as people think. I think the level of the sport is pretty high – all of the top 20 guys can ride really fast on that kind of track without losing speed.” Watch the full press conference HERE.
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series has already witnessed the opening rounds of the cross-country and enduro formats, with three race weekends full of nail-biting, unpredictable racing in Araxá – Minas Gerais (Brazil) and Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy). This weekend, downhill joins the action alongside the second round of the UCI Enduro World Cup in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), and fans can expect more of the same in the gravity-fuelled formats. A MODERN CLASSIC The Beskid Mountains venue in southern Poland hosted rounds of the UCI Downhill World Cup and UCI Enduro World Cup for the first time last year, and instantly became a modern classic. Its Enduro Trails network was already renowned in this corner of Europe for its steep, technical and natural terrain, while its new downhill course delivered on its pro debut with its blend of jumps, technical features and wood sections. Riders were also treated to a warm welcome from the thriving local mountain bike community, with passionate Polish fans stationed on every jump, berm, rock garden and drop. The downhill course is broadly the same, while the UCI Enduro World Cup features a new stage from last year – the final 2.31km Stary Zielony – with the remaining stages reshuffled in order. In total, athletes will take on five stages during a 37km course featuring 1,320m pedal ascent (and 440m gondola) and 1,609m of descent. FIRST-ROUND FORM FINDER The opening round of the UCI Downhill World Cup is always difficult to predict, with riders coming off a long off-season that could have included a switch in team and bike set-up, recovery from injury or operation, or simply seven months without racing. Reigning overall series champions Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) and Valentina Höll (YT Mob) will line up as favourites with points to prove – both having missed out on the top spot last year in Bielsko-Biała. But Bruni and Höll face stiff competition from a chasing pack of riders that’s more competitive than ever. For Höll, Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) is the most intriguing opposition in Poland. The reigning UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner has switched formats for 2025 and is focusing on downhill, but still found time to dominate the first UCI Enduro World Cup round of the season in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) last weekend. Other likely challengers for Höll include last year’s victor in Bielsko-Biała, Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), Nina Hoffman (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing). Bruni meanwhile hasn’t gone between the race tape since Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada) last October, but few would bet against the Frenchman being in contention for the win on Sunday. Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing) was the only rider to get the better of Super Bruni in Poland last year, but a resurgent Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off By Riding Addiction), format-switcher Richard Rude Jr (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) and wildcard qualifier Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) could all stand between the Frenchman and the top spot this time out. A POTENTIAL HOME WINNER Before Sunday’s Downhill final, there’s the small matter of the second UCI Enduro World Cup to be decided on Saturday. Slawomir Lukasik’s (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) wait for a debut win goes on – the Pole missing out by an agonising 0.374 seconds to Daniel Booker in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region – but he will be hoping home advantage can help give him the edge in the Beskid Mountains. Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity) spoiled the Polish party in 2024, but with Richie Rude focused on downhill, that’s one less challenger for Lukasik to contend with. In the women’s field, there will definitely be a different winner from last year – Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) having retired from full-time racing at the end of 2024. With first-round winner Harriet Harnden also switching formats to downhill in Poland, the competition is wide open. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) has UCI World Cup-winning experience on her side, but Ella Conolly showed consistency in Pietra Ligure to put herself into contention, while fourth-placed finisher Raphaela Richter was the only rider other than Harnden to win a stage in Enduro’s heartlands. Racing gets underway in Enduro Trails Bielsko-Biała on Saturday with the UCI Enduro World Cup – full schedule and events details are available here.
After an iconic UCI Enduro World Cup season opener in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy), the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series keeps the Gravity action coming this weekend with downhill also joining the fray in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała, Poland. We look at everything you need to know about the Bielsko-Biała round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, 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 Bielsko-Biała, Poland, starts with the UCI Enduro World Cup at 8:00 (UTC+2) on Saturday, May 17 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup at 14:00 (UTC+2) on Sunday, May 18. Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST): Saturday, May 17 08:00 – UCI Enduro World Cup 12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying 1 Women Elite 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying 1 Men Elite 14:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying Women Junior 14:40 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying Men Junior 15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying 2 Women Elite 15:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualifying 2 Men Elite Sunday, May 18 11:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior 12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite 14:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? There will be several ways to watch the Gravity-packed action unfold in Poland. 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 first UCI Downhill World Cup of the season, you can watch the finals live anywhere in the world. Both the Men Junior and Women 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. Pre-show starts at 12:45 UTC+2, so set a reminder to join Ric McLaughlin live from Poland: North America Canada – Flobikes USA – Max South & Central America All Central and South American territories – MTBWS TV Caribbean – Rushsports 2 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, Eurosport Austria – discovery+, Eurosport Belgium – HBO Max, Eurosport Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max, Eurosport Bulgaria – Max, Eurosport Croatia – Max, Eurosport Czechia – Max, Eurosport Denmark – Max, Eurosport Faroe Islands – Max, Eurosport France – Max, Eurosport, L’Équipe Live 2 (OTT) 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 Türkiye – Max, Eurosport United Kingdom – discovery+, TNT Sports All other European territories – MTBWS TV RIDERS TO WATCH The Bielsko-Biała venue made its UCI World Cup debut last year and instantly became a rider and fan favourite. Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing), Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity) and Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) won their respective events in 2024, but few would predict an exact repeat in Poland this weekend. In the Men’s enduro competition, Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) is the rider to watch. The 32-year-old Pole led in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region last weekend until the final stage, when Daniel Booker’s searing final run saw the Australian leapfrog him at the last, meaning Lukasik missed out on his first UCI World Cup win by less than a second. It was a similar story in Bielsko-Biała last year too, and he will be hoping he can use home support to his advantage in getting over the line. Lukasik won’t have it easy though. While team-mate and 2024 UCI Enduro World Cup overall series winner Richard Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) will be focusing on downhill this weekend, reigning UCI Enduro World Champion Alex Rudeu, Jack Moir (YT Mob) and 2024 UCI E-Enduro World Cup overall series winner Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) will all be in contention. The Women’s Enduro competition is also wide open with last year’s winner Isabeau Courdurier not racing and Pietra Ligure’s fastest rider Harriet Harnden (AON Racing – Tourne Campervans) focused on downhill. Morgan Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) has the experience, but Ella Conolly has also started 2025 strong with a second-place finish in Italy. In Downhill, the reigning WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall winners Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) will be aiming to get their title defences off to a strong start while hoping to make amends for missing out on the top spot in Poland last year. Harnden is Höll’s most interesting competition and it will be intriguing to see how the Enduro rider handles a different format, while Nina Hoffman (Santa Cruz Syndicate), Cabirou and Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) can all lay down race-winning runs. In the Men’s Elite, Rude is another format-crossing rider worth keeping an eye on, while downhill purists Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) and Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Racing Addiction) mean it’s not a foregone conclusion for Super Bruni. Racing gets underway on Saturday, May 17 in Bielsko-Biała. Full schedule and event details are available HERE.
The Dutchman returns to Cross-country mountain biking for the first time in almost two years with more off-road racing planned later this season. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has confirmed that he will be competing at next weekend’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Nové Mĕsto na Moravĕ, Czechia. The 30-year-old last completed a mountain bike race in 2023 at the Paris 2024 test event, while his last UCI World Cup was in Nové Mĕsto na Moravĕ in 2021. Before this, he was a regular at UCI World Cups between 2016 and 2019, winning 10 Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and three Cross-country Olympic (XCO) races. The Dutchman has predominantly focused on road cycling and cyclo-cross over the last four years though, winning UCI World Championships in both and claiming iconic victories in the Spring Classics and a Tour de France stage. But he signalled a return to cross-country mountain bike was on the cards in 2025, with an elusive UCI XCO Mountain Bike World Championship a target for this year as he builds towards a potential tilt at a gold medal at the LA 2028 Olympic Games. His team, Alpecin-Deceuninck, announced on X that he would line up at Nové Mesto before turning his attention back to the road and the Tour de France. They also teased that he would return to off-road racing after July, with a detailed program to be announced at a later date. Van der Poel arrives in Czechia in great form, having claimed his third consecutive Paris-Roubaix title in his most recent race. His victory concluded a strong Spring Classics campaign that included wins at E3 Saxo Classic and Milan-Sanremo and a third-place finish at the Tour of Flanders. The multi-discipline master will also have fond memories from Nové Mesto in 2021, having won the XCC race and finished second in the XCO. The man who stopped him doing the XCC-XCO double, Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), won’t stand in his way either as he’s competing on the road at the Giro d’Italia.
The Canadian sustained a fractured finger during a training ride in the Czech Republic and will miss the opening Downhill round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Poland. Kasper Woolley (YT Mob) is recovering from a fractured finger he injured during a training ride in the Czech Republic earlier this week. The 26-year-old was gearing up for his first UCI Downhill World Cup of the year having switched formats from Enduro in the off-season but is now set to miss this weekend’s racing in Bielsko-Biała and the could potentially be sidelined for Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France), Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria) and Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy). In a press release from YT Mob, Woolley said: “My goal is to be back in 4-6 weeks. The fracture is very small, but it’s unfortunately in the joint, so it’s not something I can just tape up and push through. It’s a huge bummer to miss the first race. I actually have been struggling with tendinitis in this same hand all winter long, and it was finally all coming together. I definitely was not feeling anywhere close to 100% ready for this first race, but the plan was to just get some racing under my belt and be ready for Loudenvielle. I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but with lots of races this season, I’m looking forward to showing what I can do. We wish Kasper a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him in action this summer.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that six wildcard teams have been selected for the second Downhill round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series that will take place in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) on May 30-June 1, presented by FACOM. Four of the teams will be making their second appearance in this year’s series, while there are first starts for The Alliance and Gwin Racing. All six outfits are crammed full of up-and-coming talent, but five-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall champion Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) is the highest-profile rider yet to qualify through the new wildcard system. The 37-year-old showed he still has what it takes to compete in the Elites after returning from injury at the end of the 2024 season, qualifying for finals last time out in Loudenvielle and finishing 12th in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. While he has only gone between the race tape twice this year in domestic races in the US, third and fourth-place finishes are evidence that he shouldn’t be overlooked in the Pyrenees. Gwin is joined by compatriot Gavin Tomlinson and Canadian Michael Delesalle – both of whom are making the step up to the Elite class in 2025. The Alliance meanwhile is made up of three promising riders from the southern hemisphere. New signing Jackson Connelly has recorded the trio’s biggest result to date, finishing 25th at the 2023 UCI World Cup in Snowshoe (USA), while James MacDermid has been with the team for three years but is yet to qualify for an Elite finals run. Ursula Summers completes the outfit, with the 16-year-old making her UCI World Cup debut in France. Elsewhere, well-known names to qualify via the wildcard system include Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing - SR Suntour), Thomas Estaque (Goodman Santacruz), and 2019 Junior Men’s UCI Downhill World Champion Kye A’Hern (Kenda NS Bikes UR Team). The six wildcard teams for round 6 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Loudenville-Peyragudes are: Goodman Santacruz The Alliance Rogue Racing – SR Suntour Kenda NS Bikes UR Team Team High Country Gwin Racing In addition to hosting round 2 of the UCI Downhill World Cup, Loudenvielle-Peyragudes will also stage round 3 of the UCI Enduro World Cup, following the season opener in Pietra Ligure - Finale Outdoor Region (Italy), and round 2 in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, from 16–18 May.
Daniel Booker waited until the last possible moment to take an outlandishly dramatic first UCI Enduro World Cup round by less than a second at the 2025 season opener, while Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) proved she’s still the woman to beat with a commanding triumph in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy). Booker had led only once across the first six stages as first Jack Moir (YT Mob), then Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) appeared in pole position to take the first UCI Enduro World Cup round of the season. But entering the final stage trailing Łukasik, Booker produced a blistering four minutes of descending to put all the pressure on the Pole who came up short by just three tenths of a second, with UCI Enduro World Champion Alex Rudeau in third. Harnden enjoyed a much more straightforward route to victory as she picked up where she left off last season despite shifting her focus to the UCI Downhill World Cup in 2025, finishing 24 seconds ahead of fellow Brit Ella Conolly. Conolly was in contention until the 3.5km Fedeli alla Linea trail on stage five that featured almost 700m of elevation drop and also proved pivotal in the Juniors - Harnden finished almost half a minute ahead and won the final two stages for good measure. Misfortune hampered two very finely poised Junior races, as overnight leaders Melvin Almeuis and Lucile Metge completed a French double on a UCI Enduro World Cup round featuring a new two-day format going back to the discipline’s more adventurous routes. 0.37 SECONDS: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GLORY AND DEFEAT FOR BOOKER Having worked so hard to build a lead over Łukasik, Booker and the rest of the chasing pack including surprise struggler Richie Rude (Yeti / Fox Factory Team), Moir threw it all away on the first stage of an unpredictable day two of the men’s race. Moir didn’t enjoy the same cushion as Harnden overnight having won his brace of stages by an aggregate of 1.3 seconds - Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) bounced back from a disaster on Isallo Extasy to win Dolcenera - yet was clearly the rider to beat holding a four-second lead over Łukasik. However, that all went up in smoke on the 1.9km Spillpietra trail within view of the sparkling Mediterranean, as Moir finished a stunning 14 seconds adrift of Rudeau, as Booker took up the Australian standard at the front by finishing as runner-up and moving into first place overall. Last year’s UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner Rude signalled a return to form in fourth - and he’d finish on the podium in the three remaining stages despite the damage to his chance of winning the round being done on day one - and Łukasik and Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti / Fox Factory Team)’s competitive showings kept them in contention ahead of the all-important stage five. Fedeli alla Linea catapulted Łukasik back into first as Gilchrist claimed the stage with the Pole putting valuable seconds into Booker and Moir - the latter of whom failed to produce the major resurgence he needed to get back into contention - setting the stakes perfectly for the short, sharp final double-header. Łukasik was the man to beat on stage six giving himself an advantage of 2.7 seconds over Booker ahead of the finale, which proved once again that the theme of this men’s race was impermanence. Beginning Armuin half a minute before the Pole, Booker flew down the course with the best time of the day and didn’t have to wait long to find out if he’d done enough - Łukasik crossed the line 33 seconds later meaning he lost out on victory in Pietra Ligure by an agonising 0.374 seconds. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I reckon later on it will, but feels pretty amazing. It was a tough race, two-day races you really had to try and conserve your energy where you could, such long physical stages as well,” Booker said. “Maybe Saturday I felt a bit stronger but then today I felt like I was holding onto it. To come from behind and win feels amazing. I’ll go for a swim, get some gelato then pack up and get to Poland. Really looking forward to it.” HARNDEN OUTLASTS CONOLLY AND CHARRE While Harriet Harnden didn’t have things all her own way on day one, losing out on the opening stage to Ella Conolly (Cannondale Enduro Team), she surged back to hold a comfortable nine-second lead over her compatriot by the end of stage three with Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) the only other rider within touching distance overnight. The bulk of Charre’s time loss came on the tough Hiroshima Mon Amour stage that also cost Connolly 12 seconds, and Harnden didn’t let up entering day two as she doubled her lead across the opening two stages. Only Conolly could hang with the reigning overall UCI Enduro World Cup winner down Spillpietra, before the 27-year-old was decisively shaken off on the longer Fedeli alla Linea. In the trail area built around the 19th-century Forte Tortagna, Harnden fortified her lead with another nine seconds while behind, the larger gaps between Conolly, Charre and fourth-place Raphaela Richter began to settle the fight for the remaining podium positions. At only a kilometre in length, stage seven was unlikely to provide large enough time gaps to shake up that order unless a rider crashed, though that didn’t stop Harnden giving it everything to claim another stage win and on her way to securing the Pietra Ligure round. Richter recorded her best result of the weekend in finishing runner-up on Armuin, within a quarter of a second of Harnden, as Conolly and Charre both finished comfortably in the top ten to confirm their places on the podium. Another top five finish for last year’s U21 overall winner Simona Kuchyňková capped an up-and-down, but ultimately promising weekend for the CUBE Factory Racing prospect while Nadine Ellacosta (Abetone Ancillotti Vittoria Factory Team) ensured there was Italian representation in the top 10 on home trails. However, none of them were close to dethroning Harnden, who said: “I wasn’t expecting that, I was just coming for some fun and downhill’s the focus next week. This was just a fun start to the season. I just enjoyed riding my bike, I wasn’t overthinking stuff. It’s nice to know I still have the feeling of how to race Enduro and I’ve not lost it over the winter. “After yesterday I wasn’t sure, it was still super tight. Nine seconds can go in a flash but then after I started riding good this morning I was pretty confident I was in a good place.” ALMEUIS AND METGE HOLD OFF DETERMINED CHALLENGERS The Men’s Junior race was the tightest of all, heading into day two in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region as Melvin Almeuis led Gabriel Sainthuile by just 0.336 seconds after three incredibly tight stages produced three different winners with New Zealand’s Cooper Millwood also getting in on the action. Millwood was the first rider to lay down a marker on Spillpietra, winning by five seconds from Almeuis while Sainthuile dropped his biggest chunk of time in the round so far, hemorrhaging four seconds to the overall leader. As was a theme in Italy though, Fedeli alla Linea was the critical stage as Almeuis stamped his authority on the competition. A mechanical for Sainthuile contributed to him losing 12 minutes and dropping him to dead last while time gaps to the riders who did have a clean run also exploded - Almeuis took his second stage win 19 seconds ahead of Millwood with Italy’s Matteo Falcini (Abetone Ancillotti Vittoria Factory Team) the only other rider within a minute of the domineering Frenchman. Millwood took the final two stages by a second and three to secure his runner-up spot but was never a threat to Almeuis overall, while the sailing was even plainer for fellow French junior Lucile Metge in the Women’s Junior race. Metge bounced back from defeat on Isallo Extasy to finish day one with a two-second advantage over Elise Porta (Lapierre Gravity Collective), and that gap barely changed on stages four and five as the pair picked up a win each by the narrowest of margins. However, Porta unravelled on stage six as Chloe Bear (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) led the consistent Metge and Porta failed to finish on Armuin marking a disappointing end to such an enthralling tussle that promoted Lacey Adams (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) to second overall and Bear onto the podium. That rounded out a successful curtain-raiser for the European WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series leg of the season that also saw the Enduro Open races held on Saturday in Pietra Ligure, featuring 205 participants across various categories, including both Enduro and E-enduro. Metge, Almeuis, Harnden and Booker don’t get much time to celebrate though with the Pietra Ligure competition kicking off a run of five WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series rounds on consecutive weekends. Next week, the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała sees the first Gravity double-header of the season as Enduro returns on 17 May, before the UCI Downhill World Cup opener takes centre stage on 18 May in Poland.
Jack Moir (YT MOB) was the surprise package on an adrenaline-filled opening day of the revamped UCI Enduro World Cup in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) as he took control of the men’s elite race against favourite and reigning overall winner Richie Rude (Yeti / Fox Factory Team). The spiritual home of Enduro provided the perfect setting for the discipline to return to its roots with seven stages spread across two days, that extended schedule putting more emphasis on the adventure, exploration and self-sufficiency that make the Gravity-based format such a hit. However, that shake-up couldn’t upstage the unflappable Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) in the women’s elite race as the reigning UCI Enduro World Cup winner stamped her authority over a new season of the competition. And as JT Fisher (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) and Simona Kuchyňková graduated to the elite ranks, there were new pacesetters in the juniors with Melvin Almueis and Lucile Metge in pole position for day two. Picture: © FOR Nicola Damonte MOIR STEALS THE LIMELIGHT ON OPENING DAY Ahead of the event, Jesse Melamed appeared the favourite to capitalise if Rude became unstuck having won here two years ago and also beaten the 2024 overall winner in Squamish last month. But Melamed hit major trouble on the opening stage as the final starter and finished dead last on Isallo Extasy, as instead Jack Moir and Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) set the pace over the opening 5.9km. The towering 50-metre beech forests providing a backdrop for the opening salvos couldn’t have contrasted any more with the microscopic difference at the top as Moir led Łukasik by less than half a second before riders embarked on a tough, pioneering transition to the start of stage two with Daniel Booker and UCI Enduro World Champion Alex Rudeau the next best challengers. Picture: © FOR Nicola Damonte Hiroshima Mon Amour served up more of the same as Rude struggled and even a rain shower couldn’t stop Moir, as the Australian stretched his overall lead to a more comfortable three seconds and his compatriot Ryan Gilchrist moved into the top five. Melamed found redemption on the medieval streets of Radzi village, winning on a Dolcenera stage that highlighted the best of old and new in Pietra Ligure as the most recent trail zone added to the extensive Finale Outdoor Region network. The margins were extremely tight once again on the 1km stage as Dmitri Tordo missed out by less than half a tenth with Moir and Booker also finishing within a second of the Canadian meaning Moir holds a lead of 4.2 seconds overnight ahead of Łukasik, with Rude 20 seconds adrift. Picture: © FOR Nicola Damonte HARNDEN LEADS CONOLLY IN BRITISH ONE-TWO Despite an initial wobble, Harriet Harnden had no such trouble showing she remains the rider to beat in the women’s elite category. Ella Connolly sprung a surprise on Isallo Extasy, beating both Harnden and Morganne Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) by over four and one second respectively, though that proved to be a false dawn as her fellow Brit came roaring back on Hiroshima Mon Amour with a huge margin of victory. Connolly still finished second as Charre arguably lost out the most, coming in almost 20 seconds back and behind Winnifred Goldsbury, before Simona Kuchyňková announced herself to the elite ranks on Dolcenera. Last season’s U21 overall winner finished third, ahead of Charre and within three seconds of the all-conquering Harnden as Connolly was the bridesmaid yet again - though not quite by the same hair’s breadth as in the men’s stage. A tough start for Kuchyňková means she’s likely out of the running for the overall win with Connolly 9.8 seconds away from Harnden and Charre the only other rider within half a minute, meaning day two already looks like a three-horse race for the first victory of the season. Picture: © WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series JUNIOR RACES REMAIN FINELY POISED The race to lead the men’s junior standings overnight went right down to the wire thanks to Gabriel Santhuile’s stage three win helping to evaporate the monster seven-second advantage Melvin Almueis had held earlier in the day. The Frenchman dominated the opening stage but saw his wings clipped over the next two stages as Santhuile finished just 0.336 seconds behind overall, with stage two victor Cooper Millwood in third. Meanwhile Lucile Metge is in pole position in the women’s junior despite finishing last on Dolcenera - Elise Porta (Lapierre Gravity Collective) was quickest there and on Isallo Extasy but a torrid stage two cost her 18 crucial seconds. 205 riders took to the startline in the Enduro and E-Enduro Open events held across the four stages that the elite and junior riders will tackle on day two in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region. The action continues tomorrow with Enduro the sole focus this weekend in Italy, kicking off a run of five consecutive weekends of WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series thrills and spills. Harnden, Moir, Metge and Almueis will defend their overall leads across four stages on Sunday including the fearsome Fedeli alla Linea, featuring almost 700m of elevation drop over just a 3.5km trail.
UCI Enduro World Cup athletes will be in Bielsko-Biała, Poland on the 16-18 May, for the second round of the season. This one day race at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series takes the athletes on some of the regions best enduro trails, across 5 stages. They will be challenged with 1320m of climbing (plus an additional 440m via gondola), followed by descents of over 1600m in stages that range from 1.85km (DH+) to 3.6km (Dziabar). For a more detailed look at the courses, you can check out the athlete interactive map.
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns this weekend with the first Gravity event of the year – Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) hosting the opening round of the UCI Enduro World Cup. The racing in Italy kicks off five back-to-back weekends of off-road action in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series that also takes in the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ (Czechia) and Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (France) before concluding with a four-day festival in Saalfelden Leogang-Salzburgerland (Austria) between June 5-8. But Enduro is the sole focus this weekend in Pietra Ligure and sees the format return to its adventurous roots with the racing spread over two days and seven unique stages. It’s hard to think of a better location to launch the 2025 UCI Enduro World Cup – the wider Finale Outdoor Region regarded as the spiritual home of the endurance-focused Gravity format. CLASSIC CURTAIN RAISER After the success of last year’s season opener in Finale Ligure, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns to the Italian Riviera for the format’s 2025 curtain raiser – albeit slightly along the coast in the direction of France in the seaside town of Pietra Ligure. The Finale Outdoor Region is something of a mountain bike Mecca and for three decades, the hills to the north of the coastal town have been a hive of activity, spawning a series of trails across the exposed limestone that are now world-renowned. This year, the UCI Enduro World Cup will delve further into the chocolate box selection of technical natural features and adrenaline-fuelled downhill sections, while splitting the race across two days allows athletes to explore and become fully immersed in the area’s natural beauty as they take on seven stages during an 83km course featuring 4,200m of descent and 3,200m of pedal ascent. Although the days are split fairly evenly in terms of distance, ascent and descent, the racing kicks off with two sizeable stages (Isallo Extasy, 5.9km, 940m; Hiroshima Mon Amour, 5km, 730m) meaning the chance for big-time splits from the off. FAVOURITES IN PIETRA Last year, Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) recorded wins in the Men’s and Women’s Elite UCI Enduro World Cup in Finale Ligure, securing crucial points on their respective journeys to the UCI Enduro World Cup overall titles. Although Rude and Harnden announced that they would be switching formats and focusing their attention on the UCI Downhill World Cup this year, both of the reigning series champions are on the start sheet in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region after being swayed by the prospect of two days of racing in Enduro’s heartlands. The pair go into the weekend as favourites, but there are plenty of other Enduro-only riders who will be looking to stake their claim to the title at the first race of the season. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) is likely to be Harnden’s main challenger on the north Italian coast. The Frenchwoman won Pietra Ligure’s last UCI Enduro World Cup in 2023, which featured four of this weekend’s seven stages. Others likely to be vying for a podium spot include privateers Ella Conolly and Raphaela Richter – the former finishing third in Finale Ligure last year, while the latter won two out of six stages en route to fourth spot in 2023. In the Men’s Elite, Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV) was victorious in Pietra Ligure in 2023, and the Canadian has already got the better of Rude in 2025 at April’s Squamish Enduro. Jack Moir (YT Mob) and Martin Maes (Orbea FMD Racing) have also tasted success in this corner of the Mediterranean coast, while Enduro’s first UCI World Champion, Alex Rudeau, will be hoping the rainbow bands bring him race-winning speed on the trails of Finale Outdoor Region. HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION Race content will be available across the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ official platforms, including the official YouTube channel, website, and social media profiles. Fans can catch up with the action from Pietra Ligure with: A course preview featuring the route and its key sections Practice day and race day video highlights Key race moments on social media Real-time race updates via live timing on the official website Racing gets underway in Finale Outdoor Region on Saturday – full schedule and event details are available here. Pictures: © FOR Nicola Damonte
WHOOP, the human performance company and title partner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, introduces WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG — two next-generation wearables designed to unlock a new approach to personal health and longevity. Paired with a redesigned WHOOP experience, the devices offer 14-day battery life in a sleeker, seven percent smaller form - and introduce category-defining features, including Healthspan with WHOOP Age, Heart Screener with on-demand ECG, Blood Pressure Insights, and more. “This isn’t just a product launch. It’s a new chapter for WHOOP and for our members.ˮ said Will Ahmed, WHOOP Founder & CEO. “Weʼve taken everything weʼve learned over the past decade and built a platform to help our members perform and live at their peak for longer. Weʼve held nothing back.ˮ Trusted by many elite riders competing in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including stars like Mathieu Van der Poel and Puck Pieterse, WHOOP has become a go-to platform for monitoring performance, recovery, sleep, and training metrics. As a leading brand in the world of sports — and particularly within cycling — these new WHOOP devices mark a significant step forward in how wearable technology helps professional and amateur athletes optimize performance and tailor their lifestyles based on real-time physiological insights. NEW HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE IN-APP FEATURES Healthspan with WHOOP Age: a powerful new way to quantify your physiological age and slow your Pace of Aging. Developed in partnership with Dr. Eric Verdin, CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, this feature uses 9 different metrics linked to long-term health to calculate your WHOOP Age and Pace of Aging. This feature is not available for users under the age of 18. Heart Screener with ECG: an FDA-cleared ECG feature that allows reading to be taken anytime, from your wrist — and shared directly with a healthcare provider. The Heart Screener detects signs of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), a leading cause of stroke, and provides Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications (IHRN) for greater peace of mind. This feature is not intended for users with known arrhythmias other than AFib or users under 22 years old. It is not recommended for users with a cardiac pacemaker, ICDs or other implanted electronic devices. This is a medically regulated feature and is not currently available in every region. Blood Pressure Insights: A patent-pending technology that delivers daily blood pressure insights, right from your wrist. Get estimated systolic and diastolic readings and learn about how blood pressure affects wellbeing and performance. Blood Pressure Monitor is not a medical device and cannot diagnose or manage medical conditions. It does not provide medical advice. Always consult your doctor for health concerns and never delay or modify medical care based on its information. Womenʼs Hormonal Insights: WHOOP goes beyond cycle tracking to deliver science-backed education and personalized insights on how hormonal shifts influence recovery, sleep, stress, and performance. Menstrual Cycle Insights should not be used for birth control or fertility tracking. The ovulatory phase indicators are estimates only. Menstrual Cycle Insights is not a medical device and cannot diagnose or manage medical conditions. It does not provide medical advice. Always consult your doctor for health concerns and never delay or modify medical care based on its information. Sleep Performance Update: Unlock better nights and better days. The reimagined Sleep Score delivers a more accurate reflection of sleep quality, helping members recover more effectively and show up stronger each day. Comprehensive Fitness Tracking: From daily steps and VO₂ Max to Muscular Strain during strength training and 145+ supported activities, members can now optimize fitness for both performance and long-term health outcomes. HARDWARE, REIMAGINED FOR PERFORMANCE AND PRECISION: Precision Sensors. Smaller Design. Greater Power. WHOOP 5.0 and MG pack more technology into a 7% smaller form factor. Enhanced sensors capture data 26 times per second, while a redesigned processor delivers 10x more power efficiency — enabling richer insights without sacrificing battery life or comfort. 14+ Day Battery Life. New Wireless PowerPack: 14+ days per charge across WHOOP 5.0 and MG hardware. Now, members with their device alongside the new Wireless Powerpack have access to a full month of battery life. Wireless PowerPack is offered with Peak & Life Memberships. Wired battery pack available on One. Elevated Accessories: Complete the experience with a new line of WHOOP accessories — including the new LeatherLuxe, crafted from genuine Italian leather for our most premium look and feel yet. 24/7 Wearability: WHOOP remains the only wearable thatʼs truly wearable — designed for 24/7 use across multiple locations on the body. Powered by WHOOP Body and AnyWear™ technology, WHOOP technical garments seamlessly integrate with your device to capture data with unmatched precision — no matter your sport, lifestyle, or movement.CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE: To make these innovations even more accessible, WHOOP is also introducing three new membership tiers. These tiers empower WHOOP members to choose the hardware device, features and pricing that make the most sense for them: WHOOP One: Professional-grade fitness insights. WHOOP Peak: Advanced health, fitness and longevity insights designed to help you perform at your peak, longer. WHOOP Life: The most powerful WHOOP ever, delivering medical-grade health and performance insights. To learn more or start a one-month free trial, visit whoop.com and connect with WHOOP on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
The eight-part documentary series will follow all the action from the UCI Enduro World Cup during the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season, providing an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of mountain bike’s hardest formats. Today, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports announces a brand-new eight-part documentary series Grit & Glory: Enduro Mountain Bike Racing, premiering in August 2025. The docuseries will give viewers an exciting and intimate glimpse into the world of professional enduro mountain bike racing, following a select group of elite athletes as they battle it out in the UCI Enduro World Cup on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series circuit. Each 23-minute episode will capture the highs and lows of one of mountain bike’s most gruelling racing formats – which combines the fitness of cross-country with the descending skills of downhill – and tell previously untold stories of the athletes and teams, revealing the passion, rivalry, and personal struggles, in a mixture of action-packed race footage and exclusive behind-the-scenes access. After starting with an explainer episode “What is Enduro Mountain Bike Racing?”, the following seven episodes will each focus on a different UCI Enduro World Cup round throughout the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Kicking off at the season opener in Pietra Ligure - Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) and concluding with the finale in Morillon, Haute-Savoie (France), viewers will get a true understanding of the diverse and challenging terrains tackled at each race weekend, as well as the preparation and strategy that goes into competing at the top of the burgeoning mountain bike format. The docuseries will showcase Enduro racing in a whole new light and will be exciting to watch for fans who have been with enduro since its inception as well as new viewers discovering its unique culture and grittiness for the first time. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “The expansive nature of the UCI Enduro World Cup makes live race coverage a real challenge—but Grit & Glory gives us the unique opportunity to capture the raw essence of this adrenaline-fuelled format. “Across eight episodes, we’ll take audiences closer to the action than ever before, revealing the intensity, determination, and grit of the athletes through powerful storytelling. From high-stakes descents to emotional highs and lows, the series will shine a spotlight on Enduro’s most compelling moments as we look to continue to grow excitement and awareness around mountain biking.” The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series began in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil) last month, with a high-intensity UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-country Olympic (XCO) double-header. The UCI Enduro World Cup will kick off this week in Pietra Ligure-Finale Outdoor Region, Italy from 9 – 11 May. All the action from the UCI Enduro World Cup will be available through the official platforms of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including the YouTube channel, official website, and social media profiles. Fans will have an in-depth look at every round, beginning with a Course Preview that showcases the route and its key features. As riders take to the track, the Practice Day highlights will provide behind-the-scenes footage of them testing lines and getting comfortable with the terrain, whilst Race Day will deliver high-energy, unfiltered highlights that capture the intensity and atmosphere of the competition on race day. Key moments are shared across social media, and fans can follow live timing on the official website for real-time race updates.
From July 9 to 13, Andorra will become the epicenter of top-level international mountain bike as Pal Arinsal hosts the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Pal Arinsal is gearing up for the 10th edition of the UCI World Cup, taking place from July 9 to 13, 2025. Tickets are available on the official website, with three options: 1-day, 3-day, or 5-day passes. The event will once again make Andorra a key stop on the international calendar, hosting the world’s best riders in the Cross-country (XCO), Short Track (XCC), and Downhill (DHI) disciplines. Spectators will be able to enjoy the show from designated viewing areas in La Caubella and Fontanals, with access to lifts, shuttle buses, and transportation services connecting key points of the circuit. This year, the lower section of the Pal Arinsal Bike Park will remain open during the competition days, offering an extra activity option for mountain biking enthusiasts who want to combine sport and action. Children up to 6 years old can enter for free, as long as they are accompanied by an adult and carry identification. Season pass holders of Grandvalira Resorts (Andorra Pass, Nord Pass, and Bike Pass) will enjoy free access to the World Cup during the event, at no additional cost. Inclusive access for all People with functional diversity will have free access to the event. Each attendee may be accompanied by one person, who must purchase their own ticket. To manage their entry and receive all relevant accessibility information, they can contact the organization at accessibilitat@palarinsal.com. Buy tickets: https://events.palarinsal.com/en/palarinsalandorra/tickets
The German cleaning equipment and pressure washer specialist signs deal that sees it become the Official Cleaning Partner (water-based cleaning solutions) for five rounds of this year’s Series. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and Kärcher are proud to confirm a five-round agreement for the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The 90-year-old German cleaning specialist becomes the Official Cleaning Partner (providing water-based cleaning solutions) for five rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, starting at the UCI Downhill and Enduro World Cup in Bielsko-Biała (Poland) on May 16-18. It will reprise its partnership a week later in Nové Město Na Moravě (Czechia) and will also partner UCI World Cups later in the season in Saalfelden Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria), Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy) and Lenzerheide (Switzerland). Established in Winneden, Germany in 1935, Kärcher developed the first European hot water high-pressure cleaner in 1950. Today, the family-owned company is a world-leader in cleaning technology and employs a team of 17,000 people in 85 countries. At the heart of its focus is sustainability, with its products and services aiming to help prolong and maintain everything they interact with, ensuring a benefit to the environment and the community they work in. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “Kärcher is synonymous with cleaning technology excellence, and to have the iconic company come on board for five rounds of this year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is hopefully the start of a long and fruitful partnership between the German manufacturer and WBD Sports.” Bernd Rützler, Executive Vice Presidents Marketing & Brand Management at Kärcher, said: “We’re delighted to join the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series as the Official Cleaning Partner. Mountain biking, with its passion and energy, resonates strongly with Kärcher, and we’re proud to contribute our sustainable cleaning technologies to these world-class events. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase how our solutions can support both performance and environmental responsibility”. The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series kicked off in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil), with a high-intensity Brazilian double-header to open the season for the endurance teams. Next up: the first round of the UCI Enduro World Cup in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy), from May 9–11, followed by the launch of the UCI Downhill World Cup season on the Enduro Trails of Bielsko-Biała (Poland), May 16–18. 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 and discovery+, as well as around the world through WBD’s broadcast partners. More information on where to watch the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season is available here.
The first UCI Enduro World Cup of the year is just around the corner and here's your first look at the two-day course in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region. Day one will see the athletes take on 57km across three stages; whilst on day two, the four stages are slightly shorter at 42.9km, but with an extra 278m of climbing! 😅 The course is set for two big days out at the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region. For a detailed look at the courses, you can check out the athlete interactive map.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, promoted by WBD Sports, marked Earth Month by spotlighting some of the key initiatives that form part of its 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports has signed the UCI Climate Action Charter. Every April, over 190 countries come together to celebrate Earth Month — a global moment dedicated to raising awareness and driving action to protect our planet. At its core, Earth Month is a call for reflection and change: a time to spotlight environmental challenges, inspire individuals, communities, and organisations to act. To mark the occasion this year, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and its global promoter, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe, are proud to highlight some of the key initiatives that will form the foundation of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy in 2025. UCI CLIMATE ACTION CHARTER As a long-standing partner of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), WBD Sports has officially signed the UCI Climate Action Charter, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable development across the sport and its Events business. By aligning with the Charter, WBD Sports reinforces its dedication to reducing its environmental footprint while championing the bicycle as a powerful symbol and instrument of climate action. The Charter outlines a series of key commitments, including the measurement and reporting of emissions linked to WBD Sports’ activities and events, the adoption of science-based reduction targets, a transition towards renewable energy wherever possible, waste reduction through circular economy principles, the implementation of sustainable procurement practices, the prioritisation of low-carbon transport solutions, and the protection of biodiversity. This pledge reflects WBD Sports’ dedication to driving meaningful change across its operations and contributing to a more sustainable future for the sport. TRACKING IMPACT WITH OXYGEN SOLUTIONS WBD Sports will also be partnering with Oxygen Solutions (formerly known as 261PI), one of the two service providers which in 2023 helped the UCI launch the UCI Sustainability Impact Tracker, the first online platform designed to help cycling stakeholders measure and understand their environmental and social impact. Oxygen Solutions will assess and monitor the impact of WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series events across key areas such as waste management, sustainability practices, and diversity and inclusion. Four rounds of the series (Saalfelden Leogang in Salzburgerland, Val di Sole in Trentino, Les Gets in Haute Savoie and Mont-Sainte-Anne) will benefit this season from a tailored framework designed to support and enhance their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts. As a result, Oxygen Solutions will provide detailed reports to stakeholders including local organisers, partners, and host regions, offering valuable insights to drive continuous improvement. SUSTAINABILITY TAKES ROOT IN ARAXÁ As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, WBD Sports actively encourages all event stakeholders to take meaningful action — from small everyday changes to large-scale initiatives — that contribute to lasting environmental impact. In this spirit, and during the opening rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá, Minas Gerais (Brazil), WBD Sports participated in a tree-planting campaign led by the Local Organising Committee and the City of Araxá with support from the Planning and Sustainable Development Institute (IPDSA), the Araxá Cycling and Adventure Sports Association (ACEAA), and the local non-profit Casa do Pequeno Jardineiro. The number of trees planted was determined through a technical assessment of emissions, factoring in everything, from air travel to local event logistics. In 2024, Araxá’s debut year on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar, 1,000 native trees were planted in a partnership with Projeto Plantar — setting a strong precedent for continued environmental action. Representatives from the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series management team — including Simon Burney (Head of Sport for Cycling Events at WBD Sports) — joined riders Alex Malacarne (Brazil), Gustavo Xavier (Brazil), Catalina Vidaurre (Chile), Ignacio Gallo (Chile) and Agustín Durán (Argentina) in supporting this initiative. “Our goal was to ensure the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series left a legacy. This is just one of several actions that show the event goes beyond competition. It inspires, transforms, and plants the seeds of the future,” said Rogério Bernardes, local organiser of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “We commend the efforts of our Local Organising Committees for embracing and driving sustainability, and we are proud to support and take part in initiatives like this — turning climate commitments into concrete, on-the-ground impact. “Our commitment to sustainability within the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continues to grow, marked by two major milestones: the signing of the UCI Climate Action Charter and our partnership with Oxygen Solutions. Through these collective efforts, we aim to drive meaningful, lasting change — within the sport and beyond.” David Lappartient, UCI President, said: “The UCI is delighted to welcome WBD Sports as our newest UCI Climate Action Charter signatory. Our objective when we launched the Charter in 2022 was to unite cycling’s stakeholders to reduce our sports’ emissions and support the global fight against climate change. It is fantastic to see WBD Sports implement its ambitious CSR strategy, embedding sustainability into the delivery of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.” In 2024, the Events division of WBD Sports Europe achieved a prestigious ISO20121 certification, which approves the structured framework that sees sustainability integrated into every aspect of its event management practices, with the aim of reducing the environmental and social impact of the large-scale international events that are promoted while maintaining their economic viability.
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and Saalfelden Leogang go together like downhill racing and chainsaw noise, or Cross-country and lycra. It’s only natural that Austria’s mountain bike mecca in the Pinzgau region once again welcomes the UCI World Cup circuit – for the 13th time overall. From 6 to 8 June 2025, the world’s top mountain bikers will compete in Cross-country, Downhill, and Enduro events at the Epic Bikepark Leogang, part of Austria’s largest bike region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Fans can expect not only thrilling racing, but also a full weekend of entertainment – from a bustling Teams and Expo Area and athlete signing sessions to exciting side events for all ages. UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup and UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup After a year’s break, the endurance riders of Cross-country racing are returning to Saalfelden Leogang, making this the season’s first triple-header. Sunday’s action features the Olympic-format race (XCO) on a four-kilometer course in the Epic Bikepark. In 2023, Puck Pieterse (NED) and Lars Forster (SUI) claimed the top spots. As of now, Samara Maxwell (NZL) and Christopher Blevins (USA) lead the overall standings. Local heroes Laura Stigger, who finished third in both 2022 and 2023, and Mona Mitterwallner, who finished second in 2023, are both eager to end up high on the podium this time around. But the Cross-country action already kicks off on Friday evening with XCC races at the base of the Asitzbahn gondola. Two years ago, France dominated the podium with wins by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Jordan Sarrou. This year, however, the field is wide open: Evie Richards (GBR) and Christopher Blevins took the opening rounds in Brazil. What happens next in Nové Město Na Moravě and Saalfelden Leogang is anyone’s guess. Downhill – Will Vali Höll Make It a Triple? Bruni, Kolb, or the Young Guns? For reigning overall UCI World Cup winner and UCI World Champion Valentina Höll, the Saalfelden Leogang round has become something of a homecoming fairy tale. After some early struggles on this track, the Saalbach native now aims for a third straight win on home soil. On the men’s side, the “Speedster” course – 2.5 kilometers of pure adrenaline – has recently been conquered by Loïc Bruni and Andreas Kolb. Both the French UCI World Champion and the Austrian fans’ favorite are among the top contenders again, but rising stars like Jackson Goldstone and Ronan Dunne could shake up the standings. Enduro – A New Fixture in Saalfelden Leogang’s UCI World Cup Line-Up Now in its third edition, the UCI Enduro World Cup is fast becoming a permanent highlight in Austria’s biggest bike region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. This year’s route covers roughly 70 kilometers and six timed stages, taking riders from the Epic Bikepark Leogang via Asitz peak to Saalbach and back again. For the first time, the Enduro race will be held on Sunday. 2024 champions Isabeau Courdurier (FRA) and Richie Rude (USA) won’t compete this year, leaving the competition wide open for some new stars. More Than Racing: A Full Weekend Experience for Everyone While over 1,000 athletes deliver peak performances on the trails, more than 20,000 expected visitors can enjoy a packed schedule of entertainment in Saalfelden Leogang. The large Expo Area features top brands showcasing the latest gear, and the Teams Area offers behind-the-scenes insights into the daily life of elite racers and technic freaks can have a peek at the team mechanics getting the riders’ weapons dialed for UCI World Cup racing. Several parties will keep the vibes high throughout the weekend. A major highlight is the spectacular Red Bull helicopter show that will wow the crowd with jaw-dropping aerial maneuvers. All this is made possible by the dedication of over 400 volunteers. A free, secured bike parking zone next to Hotel Rivus allows visitors to cycle to the venue with peace of mind, and frequent shuttle buses between Saalfelden and Hochfilzen make it easy to reach the event area. Those arriving by public transport will find Saalfelden Leogang well-connected via major hubs like Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich, and Klagenfurt. Free public transportation within the federal state of Salzburg is included in the event ticket. Standard and VIP Tickets for this one-of-a-kind MTB weekend are available now. Be quick – they’re always in high demand and tend to sell out fast. Families can also take advantage of a special deal: from 1 to 31 May 2025, every adult ticket purchase includes a 50% discount on a child’s ticket (Standard or Standard incl. gondola). Race program Friday, 6 June: UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup (U23 and Elite) UCI Downhill World Cup Qualifications (Junior and Elite) Saturday, 7 June: UCI Downhill World Cup Finals (Junior and Elite) Sunday, 8 June: UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) (U23 and Elite)UCI Enduro World Cup A detailed timeline can be found here. All further details about the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang can be found at www.mtb-weltcup.at and within the official event app. Can’t make it to Saalfelden Leogang in person? Full broadcast details can be found here.
