UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

[jmdirt]

Spoiler:




J. Riss

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJxhZ48mX0Q

 

[jmdirt]

Throwback Thursday: The Legendary Leigh Donovan’s Racing Legacy - Mountain Bike Action Magazine

Leigh Donovan is the only woman inducted into the BMX, Mountain Bike, and U.S. Bicycling Halls of Fame. From world titles to coaching, her influence continues to shape cycling today.

mbaction.com

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Throwback Thursday: The Legendary Leigh Donovan’s Racing Legacy - Mountain Bike Action Magazine

Leigh Donovan is the only woman inducted into the BMX, Mountain Bike, and U.S. Bicycling Halls of Fame. From world titles to coaching, her influence continues to shape cycling today.

mbaction.com

Another successful cyclist who should be better well known; but as we know, the cycling media is road biased, and non road legends don't get the respect they should.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

For the first time, the XCO World Cup arrives in Korea

South Korea will host the first test of the World Cup with a full weekend of competition in XCO, XCC and DHI, something unprecedented on the continent.

en.brujulabike.com

Pyeongyang, South Korea to kick off the 2026 MTB World Cup - and another US round in Soldier Hollow, Utah.......
Interesting news, but rumoured elsewhere.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Many thanks for posting.
What do you think this means, extra races, or two existing for the chop?

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Well Lake Placid is in the 2nd year of a 3-4 year contract, so we'll get 2 US World Cups - which is probably right, as US manufacturers are a large part of the sport - and Lake Placid isn't far from Monte Saint-Anne, so 3 North America rounds is a good thing in my view.

I've no idea about other rounds, and it would be a shame to lose Araxa in Brazil, as it's produced some exciting racing, and has an enthusiastic crowd.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Anuncian cifras récord de audiencia y asistencia en lo que va de Copa del Mundo de MTB 2025

Según Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, la WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series ha superado los 56 millones de visualizaciones, con más de 250.000 fans asistiendo a las pruebas en directo

esmtb.com

The MTB World Cup 2025 breaks audience and attendance records in the middle of the season

The round held in Val di Sole - Trentino (Italy) has been the most viewed in the history of the series, with almost 15 million views.

en.brujulabike.com

Record audiences for the MTB World Cup.........

 

[jmdirt]

For the first time, the XCO World Cup arrives in Korea

South Korea will host the first test of the World Cup with a full weekend of competition in XCO, XCC and DHI, something unprecedented on the continent.

en.brujulabike.com

Pyeongyang, South Korea to kick off the 2026 MTB World Cup - and another US round in Soldier Hollow, Utah.......
Interesting news, but rumoured elsewhere.

I rode at Soldier Hollow in the late '90s and it was a standard Nordic affair. It was substantially improved for the '02 Olympics. My understanding is that it has also improved over the years as a mountain biking venue.

A 6 hour drive to watch a WC...If it fits into my life I'll head down.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Rumours on mtbr that MSA is going to be dropped from the schedule.........
Those who pay the $$$$$ will get the events - the historical venues are going to be in danger if they don't have the $$$$$. It's the same model as motorsport; history means nothing if new venues show the $$$$$

 

[Axel Hangleck]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoqAsO547co


MBUK interview with Charlie Aldridge......

 

[jono]

Ava and Isabella Holmgren re-up with Lidl-Trek. Isabella's press release mentons being happy to be continuing with her mix of road and MTB (no mention of continuing with cyclocross... 😢) which I take as a a good sign.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Re-signing them is no brainer; talented across multi disciplines. I'm sure they'll dip in and out of CX when it suits their schedule, but I don't think it's a major target for them. To be honest, there's enough proof that Isabella is a climber - and CX isn't a discipline that favours climbers - far too few courses with any decent climbs in - and those that have them are usually unrideable due to muddy conditions.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

End of an era......

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/nino-schurter-announces-lenzerheide-will-be-his-final-world-cup-race.html

Llegó el final, Nino Schurter anuncia su retirada

Nino Schurter, el campeón más laureado de la historia del MTB, ha anunciado su retirada. El suizo pondrá fin a su carrera este 2025, despidiéndose en el Mundial de Crans-Montana y en la Copa del Mundo de Lenzerheide, ante su público.

esmtb.com

Nino Schurter retires: mountain biking comes to an end of an era

With his goodbye, Nino Schurter leaves an impossible void to fill in XCO competition. The Swiss will hang up his race number on September 21, 2025 in...

en.brujulabike.com

Redefined what a XC racer was all about; technically & tactically, as well as the physical side. I can't see anyone ever coming close to his records.

 

[jmdirt]

End of an era......

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/nino-schurter-announces-lenzerheide-will-be-his-final-world-cup-race.html

Llegó el final, Nino Schurter anuncia su retirada

Nino Schurter, el campeón más laureado de la historia del MTB, ha anunciado su retirada. El suizo pondrá fin a su carrera este 2025, despidiéndose en el Mundial de Crans-Montana y en la Copa del Mundo de Lenzerheide, ante su público.

esmtb.com

Nino Schurter retires: mountain biking comes to an end of an era

With his goodbye, Nino Schurter leaves an impossible void to fill in XCO competition. The Swiss will hang up his race number on September 21, 2025 in...

en.brujulabike.com

Redefined what a XC racer was all about; technically & tactically, as well as the physical side. I can't see anyone ever coming close to his records.

When I watched his video yesterday it made me sad (from a selfish standpoint obviously).

Ride on N1no!

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I remember years ago on BBC radio's old cycling podcast , Bespoke, and Nino was described as "the greatest cyclist you've never heard of" - I don't think much has changed. The cycling media are still far too road focused, and there is still some old school snobbery towards MTB.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

mvdp riding in les gets...

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Calendar for 2026; not only no Monte Saint-Anne, but no Brazil or Val di Sole.........

Filtrado el calendario de la Copa del Mundo de MTB 2026, llega Whistler como sede de DH

El calendario de la Copa del Mundo de MTB 2026 arranca en Corea del Sur y añade Utah, Whistler y La Thuile como nuevas sedes, mientras desaparecen las dos pruebas iniciales de Brasil.

esmtb.com

The 2026 UCI World Cup calendar ahead: the first post Nino Schurter

We have had access to the UCI MTB World Cup 2026 calendar, a series that will start again in May after eliminating the Brazil races.

en.brujulabike.com

 

[Wyndbrook]

I thought Val di Sole was the worlds venue nest year.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Yes, it is; it doesn't seem that long since they last had Worlds (2021). While it's not quite as bad as CX, there does seem to be a regular rota of MTB Worlds venues.....

 

[jono]

Rissveds and Aldridge win the short track events.

For me main event Sunday, does MVDP keep the rubber side down? If so, where does he finish? Place your bets.

 

[Ripper]

Rissveds and Aldridge win the short track events.

For me main event Sunday, does MVDP keep the rubber side down? If so, where does he finish? Place your bets.

Aldridge showing some really good power and tactics today!

 

[Axel Hangleck]

As in the Euros a few weeks ago, Rissveds looks in great form - and is one for the Worlds, especially as it's a technical course. And like last year, the Cannondale boys look to have hit form late in the season.....
Great to see another British rider getting an Elite win......but behind Charlie I'm not sure the cupboard is too full.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

For me main event Sunday, does MVDP keep the rubber side down? If so, where does he finish? Place your bets.

Well to carry on with the horse racing terms, here's his recent XCO form, with the most recent at the end: 7-2-DNF-DNF-28-DNF. Even so, his odds will be pretty short, as we know he is capable if things go right. His last win was 6 years ago, in Lenzerheide.

 

[stonerider]

Well to carry on with the horse racing terms, here's his recent XCO form, with the most recent at the end: 7-2-DNF-DNF-28-DNF. Even so, his odds will be pretty short, as we know he is capable if things go right. His last win was 6 years ago, in Lenzerheide.

MvdP's problem is over confidence in his limited XC skills. He had built up some skills once but the bikes have changed a lot since he stopped riding the MTB for a long time to concentrate on road. He needs saddle time on the MTB to regain those skills. Has he done the needed training on the MTB since dropping out of the TdF? I don't think he should go for the win and instead he should just concentrate on not crashing out on the first lap and try to actually finish an XCO race.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Yeah, I'd agree with that - I've said before he should have done a lower level XCO somewhere in Europe just to get the feeling back; something Pidcock used to do before a World Cup.

I wonder of anything is up with Puck; disappointing in the Tour Femmes, and was never in contention in the Short Track........is all the racing finally catching up, as they wondered on the coverage.