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If you haven’t yet secured your tickets to get trackside for the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup, then why not join us in Fort William with a single day travel package on either Saturday 4th or Sunday 5th May?   New for this year at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William, you can choose fuss-free return travel from either Glasgow or Edinburgh with Citylink buses, taking you in and out in one day with a Ride & Entry ticket package.   Departing from either Edinburgh bus station, or Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station, the service will run directly to the Nevis Range venue (so no need to join the park & ride shuttle service), with event entry included as part of the ticket package for just £45.    We’re committed to offering as many fans as possible the chance to experience the thrill and excitement of the 2024 downhill season opener. Don’t miss out on this discounted Citylink travel package, providing direct return travel to the Nevis Range event venue from either Glasgow or Edinburgh.   Details: Departure points: Choose from either Edinburgh bus station or Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station Direct service: skip the park & ride shuttle service! Citylink buses will take you directly to the event All inclusive: Your ticket includes event entry (no gondola), and discounted return travel, all for just £45. Timings: see ticket details for bus departure and return travel times   Tickets are now available for convenient single day return travel and entry to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William, so don’t miss out!                

Two adrenaline-pumping elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup (XCO) events rounded out the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series double header in Brazil in style this Sunday, as the USA’s Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) and Simon Andreassen (Cannondale Factory Racing) recorded wins in Araxá, in Western Minas Geras State. Following tight battles in the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup (XCC) events on Saturday, the sun shone on the final day of racing action as the XCO races took place in front of a jubilant crowd of local fans, on a dynamic cross-country course that encouraged fast-paced, attacking racing throughout. The women’s race concluded with a battle royale between XCC winner Batten and last week’s XCO winner, Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental), with a huge final lap from Batten being the difference between the two in the end. A dramatic and breathless men’s race saw five men battling all the way to the finish line. An assured performance from Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) fell apart as he suffered a mechanical on the final lap. BOLD BATTEN DOUBLES UP IN ARAXÁ A chaotic opening to the women’s elite XCO saw the lead change hands several times as numerous riders struggled with issues on the climbs and over the roots section, with the resulting traffic impacted the rest of the field. The race kicked off at a frantic tempo and once the dust settled a trio of riders were able to detach themselves from the rest – the Swiss Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) who was also active during the early stages of Saturday’s XCC, Germany’s Linda Indergand (Liv Factory Racing) and winner of the XCC, Batten. Heading into lap two, the three had been caught by a group of chasers and eight moved clear with a group of six giving chase a short way back. Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental), victor in last week’s XCO in Mairiporã, instigated an attack, and the second group were almost able to claw back the deficit, but a lively Keller attacked again, taking Batten and Rissveds with her. The USA’s Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), the second-place finisher in Mairiporã, closed in on them, and following her, Liv Factory Racing teammates Indergand and Canadian Jennifer Jackson joined them to swell the lead group to six. French champion Loana Lecomte (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) was forced to abandon the race after an incident left her in some distress. Meanwhile, the quartet of Keller, Batten, Rissveds and Blunk were able to find space once again and Keller continued to push the pace at the front, riding an aggressive race, but it was Rissveds who was able to briefly find a gap, attacking up the climb at the end of lap 4 to move into the solo lead. An error on the first climb on lap 5 for Rissveds saw her lead evaporate though and the quartet came together once again. It was a yo-yo effect after that, with Rissveds and Batten opening a gap, and Blunk and Keller clawing their way back. It became a race of strategy, as the riders sized one another up on the penultimate lap, and heading into the final lap it was game on, with any one of the four still in with a chance. It was Batten who hit out first, and once again she and Rissveds pulled clear, a gap that increased when Blunk was forced to dismount on the climb. It came down to a head-to-head between the two, but Batten attacked once again and this time her gap proved unassailable, Rissveds finally realising the American had the measure of her, as Batten carved out enough of a cushion to be able to enjoy her first elite level XCO win as she rolled across the line. Rissveds came in second, with Blunk third, and Keller and Anne Terpstra (Ghost Factory Racing) of the Netherlands rounding out the podium in fourth and fifth respectively. Speaking after the race, Batten said: “It’s crazy. I have no words. You train so hard all winter but to put it all together on race day when it’s so tactical like that, I just had no idea what was happening, so to pull it off feels insane, and for both Savilia and me this is a huge year, for the Olympic Games, so yeah, a pretty good day. “That second last lap was weird, it was hard to read, I know Jenny pulled a good attack on me with one lap to go last weekend, so when I was leading that second last lap, I was like, ‘oh no, she’s going to do it to me again,’ so I tried to settle in and just wait until it’s time; and I tried to read it right, I kind of went a little bit early, but luckily I was able to hold out on Jenny’s attack, because that was a big one, I was barely able to hang onto that. “Honestly thank you so much to my team, the people that make this possible because this really is a team sport and I’m so grateful for that and everybody that puts in the work so that we succeed, so thank you so much.” ANDREASSEN TRIUMPHS AFTER FINAL LAP DRAMA  It was total carnage on the first lap of the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup (XCO) Elite men’s race, and last week’s winner, the USA’s Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) came off worst in the chaos, dropping into dead last position in the race. Further up the field, the rest grappled with the climbs and the roots section, with some riders choosing to run or being forced to dismount, and it was the XCC specialists who used their power to take advantage of the frenetic early pace, with UCI World Champion, New Zealand’s Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and German rider Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) and Switzerland’s Mathias Flückiger (Thömus maxon), among those to lead the charge heading into the second lap. There was a shuffling of positions on lap 2, with France’s Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC) taking control of the pace and Switzerland’s Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) right on his wheel, exactly 14 years since his first XCO win. There was nothing to separate a sizeable group of riders heading into lap 3 though, with the top 20 separated by only just over 20 seconds. With his teammate Blevins trying to work his way back through the pack, Chilean champion Martin Vidaurre was next to push on at the front of the race, and he was the first to open up a time gap, flying through lap 3 to lead by over ten seconds going into lap 4 with a chase group of six riders. Led by Gaze, they tried to reel him back in, though he made it tough for them, surging clear again with one last burst of energy before he was finally closed down in lap 5. Gaze and yesterday’s XCC winner, France’s Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) took the race on from the front after that, and the lead changed hands on more than one occasion as the leading group grew to ten riders on lap 6, but Dane Simon Andreassen (Cannondale Factory Racing) set a brisk pace at the front which began to stretch out the group. Cannondale took control, exchanging Andreassen for South African Alan Hatherly in the lead, but it didn’t last long, as Koretzky struck out with two attacks on lap 7 to move into the solo lead of the race, and by the time he began the penultimate lap he had a 14 second cushion over a chasing group of four riders: Sarrou, Hatherly, Andreassen and Switzerland’s Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). A small error at the peak of the final climb could have knocked Koretzky, but though he regained his composure and pushed on into the final lap, a dramatic incident saw him suffer a mechanical, forcing him to dismount and fix his chain as the chasers flew past him, spearheaded by Colombo, but despite the setback, Koretzky put in a big effort and was able to rejoin the group heading for the final. Andreassen launched a decisive attack late on in the lap, but he wasn’t able to distance Colombo or a resurgent Koretzky, and it came down to a hectic sprint for the line, with Andreassen too strong for Koretzky and the rest, recording his debut UCI World Cup victory at elite level XCO. Koretzky finished second, Hatherly third, Colombo fourth and Sarrou in fifth. Koretzky leads the overall standings after two races. Blevins recorded an incredible comeback, returning from last position in the race on lap 1 to finish in 23rd. After the race, a somewhat shellshocked Andreassen said: “That was nice to win a World Cup again, to be honest I haven’t thought too much about it yet. It been a few years since I won a World Cup and I will take a moment to soak it in.” Koretzky said: “I had really good legs today, I tried to go with a few laps to go, and I was good on the last lap but unfortunately I had a mechanical, I dropped my chain almost at the top before the roots section. “I made a huge effort to close the gap and I was completely empty. I am sad but at the same time I’m happy with my shape, so congrats to Simon, he was strong, he did a huge sprint, it was amazing to be on his wheel in the last straight. I’m very happy and looking forward to the next part of the season. Even if I had a mechanical, I am still here.” BÖHM UNDEFEATED IN BRAZIL It was a race of three riders in the women’s U23 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, but in the end, Germany’s Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) remained undefeated, winning four races out of four across the first two rounds of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Brazil. The USA’s Madigan Munro (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) was first to strike, her confidence on the course allowing her to open up a gap on lap one, though Böhm was immediately on her case, with Canadian Emily Johnston (Trek Factory Racing) and Italy’s Valentina Corvi (Santa Cruz Rockshox Pro Team) following her to form a chasing group. They bridged to Munro then all four come together heading into the third lap. But though Munro impressed in the early stages with her command of the parcours, she faded fast under the increased pace from Böhm, dropping quickly back to fourth position as the German piled on the pressure from the front, and on lap 4 she pushed on leaving Johnston and Corvi behind. They dug in on the fifth lap, but on the final lap, the undefeated Böhm proved her quality and consistency, leaving her rivals behind, to seal the deal on a perfect Brazilian trip. Böhm: ‘Emily and Valentina made it really tough for me today, I just tried to be the first one to go into the downhills so that I can ride my own pace and to recover a little bit because the climbs are so tough I needed the time in the downhills to recover. “It’s so crazy, I never thought that I’d start a season like that and I really can’t wait to race in Europe.” Like Böhm, the trip to Brazil resulted in a perfect record for the USA’s Riley Amos, as he scored victory in the men’s U23 XCO event a day earlier, to add to his wins in the XCC in both Araxá and Mairiporã, and his XCO win in Mairiporã. Amos won despite an aggressive race from Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing), who finished in second place. Brazilian rider Alex Malacarne (Trinity Racing MTB) secured a stunning third place to send the home crowd wild and ensure the second day of the weekend would end in a huge party. SERIES HEADS BACK TO EUROPE After a truly memorable opening two rounds, the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads back to Europe, and next the destination is Fort William in Scotland, UK, where the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup kicks off, revisiting the venue where the UCI World Championships were decided in 2023. Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic plays host to the next UCI Cross-country World Cup, on the weekend of 24-26 May. With over a month of training and a selection of other riders returning to competition in Europe, the UCI World Cup races could have a very different complexion, heading ever closer to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) wrapped up yet another perfect weekend in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, sealing victory in the U23 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup (XCO) in Araxá on Saturday, following his win in the U23 UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup on Friday. It marked the second double victory for the American following his 100% record in Mairiporã on round one last weekend. Amos took the race on from the front, but just like last week, found resistance from Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) and Luca Martin (Orbea Factory Team), and the three were joined by Bjorn Riley (Trek Future Racing) to form a quartet of leaders who opened a significant gap to the rest of the field. Treudler was not content to race as part of a group though and he attacked from the front and rode as solo leader for much of the first lap. But the American duo of Amos and Riley dropped Martin and closed in on Treudler on lap two to form a trio, with a chasing group of four riders around 12 seconds distant heading onto the third circuit. Amos and Treudler traded blows on lap four, and dropped Riley, who linked up with Brazilian rider Alex Junior Malacarne (Trinity Racing MTB) to form a chasing pair, though the home rider proved stronger as Riley faded towards the end of the race. At the front it was a straight head-to-head duel between Treudler and Amos. Amos launched into the lead heading onto the penultimate lap and had a nine second cushion going into the final lap. He rode with confidence to take the win, with Treudler securing second and Malacarne delighting the home crowd to finish in third. Bjorn Riley and the Swiss rider Luke Wiedmann (Thömus Maxon) rounded out the podium in fourth and fifth respectively. After the race Amos said:  It was so hard. It never gets any easier, Finn was riding so strong today. He was climbing so much better than all of us, so it was everything I could do to just dangle on his wheel, and then I honestly felt a little bit better with two laps to go. I saw my opportunity and went for it and I was lucky enough that it worked out. But Finn is amazing, Alex rode an amazing race, so I just got lucky, they were all on it today. I was struggling to hold the wheel for the first half of the race, and then Finn finally eased up a little bit and I got a little recovery. But I saw where maybe I was a little bit stronger and knew where to be into the downhill to create a little time. I was trying to push into the downhills, blowing out my pedals just barely hanging onto the bike, clipping my derailleur on some rocks, I was on the limit the whole race. I’m just happy it worked out and I made it to the finish line. Thanks for bringing us to Brazil, I loved it out there!

Day two of the second round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series featured the men’s and women’s elite UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup and with wins for Haley Batten and Victor Koretzky, and a second place for Christopher Blevins, it was another day of celebration for team Specialized in Brazil. Hot on the heels of a hugely entertaining weekend in Mairiporã, the second round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series also took place in Brazil, in the town of Araxá in Western Minas Geras region, and marked the 40th UCI Mountain Bike Short Track World Cup race. On an exciting and varied course, the riders put on a show, with plenty of tail whips on display on the jump series and some explosive, attacking racing. BATTEN THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET The women’s short track (XCC) saw Italy’s Chiara Teocchi (Orbea Factory Team) and Switzerland’s Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) quick off the mark to battle it out for the early lead on the short opening lap, before the US native Batten showed her intention with an early move to the front, following her strong showing in last week’s UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup in Mairiporã. On lap one, Swiss Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), Brit Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) and Swede Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental) gathered at the front of the race, but the bunch came back together heading into lap two. Keller was determined to take the race on and hit the front once again, but a well-timed attack from American Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) on the steep section of the course saw the lead change hands once again. The importance of positioning heading into the climb could not be underestimated, and it was never more evident than on lap 4, as Batten, Richards and Keller rode shoulder-to-shoulder on the lead-up to the ascent. Batten and Richards came out on top, with Keller falling on her way up and holding up Rissveds and more. The mishap worked in favour of Linda Indergand and Kate Courtney (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team); the Swiss and the American took advantage of the chaos to close in on Batten and Richards, the latter of which took the lead for the first time in the race. The quartet had a small gap as they moved into the final lap, but a huge attack from Batten took the others by surprise, and with Batten flying out into the lead, Indergand passed Richards on the climb to move into second. Batten crossed the line to take her first victory on the season, four seconds ahead of Indergand. Blunk out-sprinted Keller to take third place, with Richards crashing just shy of the finish line, only able to come in ninth. Following the race, Batten moves into the lead in the overall standings, with Richards in second, and Keller third. Speaking after the race, Batten said: That course was really tricky, positioning was so key, but it was really hard to execute because the swarm was just constant throughout the race, so sometimes I took the front maybe a bit more than I should have. But I felt really strong and I just tried to be smart about my effort and the key lap. That last lap I knew was crucial and that’s what I train for. I train to win, and I think it’s just about executing when it gets to the races. I was just trying to read Evie’s body language and the riders around me and figure out when was the moment, and sometimes you just have to go as hard as you can. It worked out really well. I knew that final grass section would be hard to pass so as long as I could just keep it together to the end, I knew I had a good chance of taking it away. KORETZKY SCORES WITH SPEED AND STYLE It was another fast and furious battle among a huge group of contenders in the men’s elite UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) World Cup. Chilean Martín Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing), who played a major role in last week’s race, led the bunch off at the head of the group, but it was Britain’s Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) who put in an explosion of power on the start loop to take the lead, his ferocious pace meaning he was in the perfect position to hit the steep climbing section first. No sooner had Aldridge opened a small gap though, he crashed, wiping out on the dirt track to lose his lead, and around 16 riders pushed on in his stead in a bunch led by Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC). Just behind the race leaders, last week’s winner, UCI XCC World Champion Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck), lurked menacingly, along with nine-time overall champion Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). Schurter had a troubled start to the Series, crashing in the Cross-country Olympic (XCO) race last Sunday in Mairiporã, as he seeks his tenth overall victory. It was the Dane Simon Andreassen (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Frenchman Victor Koretzky who looked liveliest on lap two though, both moving up on the climb to take the front of the race. Going into lap two however, a big bunch grouped together again, and it was last week’s second place rider Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) who took control, leading for a sustained period. Heading into the penultimate lap, Koretzky and Sarrou both looked poised to make a move, but it was XCO winner in Mairiporã Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) who struck, surprising his teammate Koretzky and the rest as he maximised his output on the climb. While Sarrou moved briefly into the lead with an injection of pace, it was the Specialized duo who finally put paid to Schwarzbauer, as they struck almost simultaneously to take control of the race. The final time up the climb, Blevins hit out for home, with his teammate Koretzky chasing him down and a sizeable gap opening up to the rest of the field. The two teammates duked it out for victory head-to-head, and coming onto the final straight Koretzky put in a burst of speed as Blevins looked the other way, and the Frenchman rode to his first victory of the 2024 season. Blevins cruised in in second place, with South African Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory Racing) coming through in third. With that victory, Koretzky moves into the lead in the overall standings, with Gaze in second and Schwarzbauer third after two races. Koretzky said: It was full gas till the finish line. Chris was super strong, and he did an amazing job for the final, but because it was super-fast at the end, for me it was easy on the wheel compared to him. We are happy to both be on the podium, it’s amazing for Specialized team again. Haley won for the girls, I won for the men, Chris finished second, so it’s super nice, and the atmosphere here in Brazil is amazing. We enjoyed it a lot, I can’t wait for tomorrow. Christopher Blevins said: Victor was smart, he set me up perfectly for that climb. I went by him on there, looked back… and he’s like a cockroach, he doesn’t die. There are so many moments where he's like, ten metres back, and then he'll close the gap. So, I knew he was going to come back to me. BÖHM AND AMOS UNBEATEN IN U23 Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) and Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) both continued to dominate the U23 ranks in the U23 UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup on Friday. The German launched an early attack and took Canadian Emily Johnston (Trek Factory Racing) and another German, Carla Hahn (Lexware Mountainbike Team) clear with her, but she once again showed her strength to take the win, with Johnston second and Hahn third. In the men’s race the American Amos beat his compatriot Bjorn Riley (Trek Future Racing), making it a one-two for Trek teams on the podium. Like Böhm, Amos put on yet another superior display after victory in both UCI XCC and XCO World Cups in Mairiporã last weekend. Switzerland’s Luke Wiedmann (Thömus maxon) finished third.

After an unforgettable opening weekend in Mairiporã, the second round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series kicked off in Araxá in Western Minas Gerais region on Friday afternoon. The second of two Brazilian rounds of the Series got underway with the U23 UCI Mountain Bike Cross-country Short Track World Cup events.  Kira Böhm’s perfect Brazilian adventure continued with a win in the women’s race. The German rider for Cube Factory Racing secured her second win in consecutive short track races, and her third win of the Series so far after also taking victory in the Cross-country Olympic event in Mairiporã. Böhm launched an attack with two laps to go, and only Canada’s Emily Johnston (Trek Factory Racing) and her compatriot Carla Hahn (Lexware Mountainbike Team) were able to go with her. In the end she was able to strike out for the line four seconds clear of Johnston, with Hahn finishing third.  With her second victory, Böhm extends her lead in the overall standings, with Johnston moving into second after she improved in her fifth-place finish in Mairiporã. American Madigan Munro (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) rises into third. Speaking after the race, Böhm said:  It was a tough today. We were all together until I did the attack on the uphill, because I know I’m good right now at the uphills. But Johnston and Carla could follow me with one lap to go. I was so empty up there. The last 30 seconds were so tough for me. I'm super happy that I could win again today. I was really looking forward to the race. It's so much fun to race with the girls. It's super tough, but also fun. Böhm was not the only rider to continue their winning streak in Araxá. Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) took victory in the men's race ahead of his countryman and Trek teammate Bjorn Riley (Trek Future Racing). Amos took the race on from the start, attacking on the first lap to test his competitors, before settling into a steadier pace and biding his time. He was too strong for the rest in the final though, surging clear to seal his second win in two races, and improve his lead at the top of the overall standings. Switzerland’s Luke Wiedmann (Thömus maxon) took third spot. While Amos retains the lead, Riley moves into second on the overall standings, and Swiss Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team-XC) consolidates his third position. Amos said:  I had a great start and then focused on controlling the pace. But all those guys were really fresh and kept the speed high. I knew if I was patient, they would hurt towards the end, and I just had to wait my turn. I have the confidence from last week and I know I have the fitness, so I’ll just keep trying to do every little thing right and go for it.  When you know you can win and you're really hurting it also makes you doubt like. It's a blessing and a curse for sure. On whether he was capable of winning every race, Amos said:  I sure hope so. I’ll keep working for it and keep trying to do my system right. I love racing with these guys and love being in Brazil. Every one of them hopefully. Tomorrow sees the U23 men take on the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup event, ahead of the women on Sunday. Following the total domination across both races for both Böhm and Amos in Mairiporã, expectation on the two current series leaders to continue their rich vein of form will be sky high.

The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns this weekend with Araxá, Brazil hosting the second round of the UCI Cross-country (XCO) and Short Track (XCC) World Cup seasons and concluding the back-to-back Brazilian doubleheader. WHEN? The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Araxá, Brazil starts with the U23 Women’s UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup round at 14:00 (UTC-3) Friday, April 19 and concludes with the Men’s Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup at 15:30 (UTC-3) on Sunday, April 21. Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-3 (EST+1/BST-4/CET-5): Friday, April 19       14:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U23       14:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U23  Saturday, April 20        12:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite        12:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite        15:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U23 Sunday, April 21        10:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U23        13:15 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite        15:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men Elite WHERE CAN I WATCH? You can watch all the action from round two of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Araxá, Brazil wherever you are in the world. Both the men’s and women's UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup U23 races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, but for all other races, tune in to one of the below channels or streaming services: North America Canada – Flosports USA  – Max   South America* Argentina – Claro Brazil – TNT Sports YouTube Channel Chile – Claro Colombia – Claro Peru – Claro   Oceania/Asia Australia – Stan China – Zhibo.tv New Zealand – Staylive   Africa* South Africa – Staylive   Europe* Austria – Eurosport, discovery+ Belgium – Eurosport Czech Republic – Eurosport, Czech TV Denmark – Eurosport France – Eurosport, L'Équipe Germany – Eurosport, discovery+ Hungary – Eurosport Ireland – discovery+ Italy – Eurosport, discovery+ Netherlands – discovery+ Norway – Eurosport Poland – Eurosport Portugal – Eurosport Romania – Eurosport Spain – Eurosport Sweden – Eurosport Switzerland – Eurosport, SRF United Kingdom – Eurosport, discovery+   Rest of world – Staylive   RIDERS TO WATCH Although a handful of last year’s top contenders didn’t make the trip to South America, it didn’t dampen the Mairiporã season opener’s explosion of colour, noise and unpredictable bar-to-bar racing. This weekend is set to be no different, and while Mairiporã was a great indicator of who has had a good off-season, there will be several riders looking to make amends in Araxá. Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental) will be aiming to do the Brazilian double in the women’s UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, while Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) will be doing their utmost to stop the Swede taking the win for a second weekend in a row. In the men’s, only five seconds separated the top five in Mairiporã, Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) pipping Victor Koretzsky (Specialized Factory Racing) and Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) to the line. But you should never rule out Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) – the 10-time UCI World Champion keen to put last week’s crash on the second lap behind him. In the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup, Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing Pirelli) is the rider to beat in the women’s field after a dominant performance in Mairiporã. For the men, Koretzky will be looking to get back to the top of the podium after Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck) broke his three-strong winning streak.   Full schedule and events details are available HERE. You can find where to watch all of the racing action live in Araxá HERE.

The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2024 will return to Saalfelden Leogang in 2024. From 7 to 9 June, the  UCI  Enduro (EDR & E-EDR) and Downhill (DHI) World Cup will stop by the Epic Bikepark Leogang and Austria's largest bike-region Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Of course, last year's champions – local heroes Vali Höll (YT MOB) and Andreas Kolb (Continental Atherton) will be there, determined to defend their respective wins. The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series got the 2024 season off to a successful start last weekend in Mairiporã, Brazil, with the UCI Cross-country World Cups. The first UCI Downhill World Cup event in Fort William is also a mere 16 days away. Time to already take a first look at the Epic Bikepark Leogang, too, where the best of the best downhill and enduro riders will compete for valuable World Cup points about one month later. As usual, all eyes will be on the "Speedster" downhill course, whose finish area at the Asitzbahn cable car station will be the center of the action – just like last year: Vali Höll and Andi Kolb made history here in June 2023 with the first joint Austrian victory in the elite women's and men's races - on home soil to boot. At the same time, the organizers are also looking forward to welcoming the enduro athletes back to Saalfelden Leogang for their second UCI World Cup season.   After what happened last year, my anticipation is of course huge. The home UCI World Cup event in Leogang is a highlight for me every year anyway. The best thing is racing in front of a home crowd and feeling that extra kick that you only get at home. Overall, I'm really looking forward to the season. I want to be more consistent than last season and also fight for the Overall UCI World Cup title. Andreas Kolb (Continental Atherton)    The home UCI World Cup in Leogang has always been something special for me. My family and friends are there and the home crowd always has my back. That means great anticipation, but also a lot of pressure at times. The first two times in particular, it was like being under a spell. Fortunately, last year it finally all just clicked. The fact that Andi also won the men's race made the whole thing even better. As far as I'm concerned, I wouldn’t mind to just have it like that again this year. I am really looking forward to it. Vali Höll (YT MOB)  Schedule: Friday, 7 June: UCI Enduro World Cup Finals  Saturday, 8 June: UCI E-Enduro World Cup Finals UCI Downhill World Cup Qualifications (Juniors & Elite)  UCI Downhill World Cup Semi Finals (Elite) Sunday, 9 June: UCI Downhill World Cup Finals  Tickets for this top-class bike weekend are available online and as we know from experience, are highly sought-after. It is worth being quick!   Of course, the event weekend will not only feature thrilling racing action, but will also once again score with exciting side events, concerts, parties, a large expo, signing sessions and much more. For more information on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Saalfelden Leogang, visit www.mtb-weltcup.at. If you want to help making the event as sustainable as possible, here’s what you can do.  All those who cannot attend the thrilling action from Saalfelden Leogang onsite, can follow the final race live on different channels. More information on where to watch which race is available here.

The second round of this year’s UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cups rolls into Araxá in Western Minas Gerais state (Brazil), and if the opening round in Mairiporã is anything to go by, fans are in for another festival atmosphere. Six hours north of the season opener in Mairiporã, Araxá is famous for its mountains, waterfalls and a world-renowned spa. While nothing will be relaxing about the racing this weekend, its technical course should mean more bar-to-bar action like we were treated to last time out. Its slightly far-flung location will also attract the hardest of hardcore mountain bike fans, so expect another carnival of colour and noise on every inch of the course. HOME ADVANTAGE Although Araxá is making its UCI World Cup debut, it celebrated two decades of UCI-level international racing in April 2023. Both the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) course are cut directly through a forest, combining flat, high-speed sections with fast, gravity-fuelled descents. Conditions have their part to play too – the fast-rolling red clay transforming into a slippery mud bath when wet. It’s a completely new venue for most of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series riders though, meaning home advantage could come to the fore for the championship's Brazilian contingent. Local hopes will be pinned on Brazilian national champion Karen Fernandes Olimpio and Ulan Bastos Galinski (Caloi Henrique Avancini Racing) in the women’s and men’s cross-country. Although the pair finished 29th and 20th respectively in Mairiporã, prior experience in Araxá could come to the fore on Sunday. CLOSE CONTESTS The opening weekend in Mairiporã produced some of the closest contests in memory, so picking favourites for Araxá is a fool’s errand. In the elite women’s UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, 2016 Olympic champion Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental) used her experience to bide her time until the final lap, putting down the hammer and pulling away from Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) and Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) to open an unassailable lead. We’d be surprised if her competitors allowed her to repeat the counterattack in Araxá, but never rule out the 29-year-old Swede doing a Brazilian double. In the elite men’s UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup, the top five in Mairiporã were separated by just five seconds, while the lead changed constantly throughout the race. Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) ultimately took the win, but his teammate Victor Koretzky and the Swiss rider Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) could have easily taken the top spot. All three are ones to watch in Araxá, while you can’t rule out Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) who will be looking to make amends after a fall on the second lap ended his chances in Mairiporã. In the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup, Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing Pirelli) will be the woman to beat after a dominant display in round one, while in the men’s, reigning UCI World Champion Samuel Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck) will be looking to make it two from two in South America. Racing gets underway in Araxa on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track U23 racing – full schedule and events details are available here.

Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental) and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) put in assured performances in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Mairiporã, Brazil on Sunday, taking wins in the elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup events.   Rissveds played the long game, allowing the American duo of Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) to battle for supremacy while she saved her watts for the final lap.   In the men’s race, fans were treated to one of the closest and most unpredictable battles in recent memory, as thirteen riders headed into the final lap with nothing to separate them. Specialized delivered a supreme team performance with three on the podium, as Blevins rode his way through the field to claim just the second UCI World Cup victory of his career.  RISSVEDS EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF IN THREE-UP BATTLE   After a win in the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup on Saturday, it was Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) who was able to use her front row gridding to full effect at the beginning of the women’s elite cross-country Olympic World Cup. The Brit applied pressure from the start, and her brisk early pacesetting had an impact on the start loop, with just a small selection of riders able to stay with her, including Batten, Rissveds, and Kate Courtney (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team), as many more were caught up on the early climb and forced to dismount.  Moving into the first full lap though, a selection of riders closed the gap to the leaders and a sizeable bunch led the race until Chiara Teocchi, riding her first season for the Orbea Factory Team, took matters into her own hands. The multiple former Italian national champion moved through decisively and under her sustained pressure, Richards, Courtney and more were distanced, as Teocchi drew out a lead group of five. It didn’t last long though, as the American duo of Batten and Blunk attacked Teocchi on lap two, and moved clear of the rest to form a leading duo. It was the Swedish rider Rissveds – gold medallist at the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro – who was eventually able to bridge the gap to the leading pair on lap three, with Teocchi and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), chasing in fourth and fifth place respectively. The front trio remained locked together into the fourth lap, as further back, reigning Olympic champion Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) picked riders off one by one as she worked her way through the pack towards the front of the race. Batten attacked on the climb towards the end of the fourth lap, and though Rissveds was able to make her way back to the American, her compatriot Blunk dropped back. She finally clawed her way back on the final lap only to see her countrywoman Batten accelerate again as she tried to drop Rissveds.  But Rissveds counter-attacked and surged clear of the chasers. Behind her, Batten suffered a late crash on a berm, allowing Blunk to move back into second. Rissveds raised her arms over the line 27 seconds ahead of Blunk who sealed second place. Batten rolled over the line in third. Teocchi was overjoyed as she finished fourth and Neff capped a fantastic comeback to finish in fifth and round out the podium.  After the race, Rissveds said:  It felt really good, I raced last weekend on the exact same course, and I was a little bit too excited. My goal was to feel the flow on the trails and to stay patient, so I had that in mind the whole race. Then Haley tried to attack me a few times on the last lap, but I still felt really strong and knew I still had some power left in my legs.  What I’m most happy about is that Kelsey [Urban], my teammate and best friend, did really well. She’s been struggling a lot with her health, she skipped half a season last year, and she’s been working so hard to come back. She’s killing it and I’m so happy for her.  Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) It was an incredible race, super hard, but I couldn’t be happier. It’s been a busy spring, I’ve been trying to race with high competition to get ready for these early UCI World Cups and qualify myself for the Olympics, so it’s been a huge amount of work over the last three months. I feel like I’ve never been so committed to the process, and to have it pay off today, I can’t really explain it.  Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing):  Honestly, I think I was one of the strongest today, and I didn’t race like I should have. I think I got a little too eager and excited. You can’t just ride away from the best riders in the world. I learned a lot today, it’s good to know I’m strong and it’s just making sure I actually execute the way I need to.  SPECIALIZED DELIVER MASTERCLASS IN THRILLING ENCOUNTER Dry, dusty conditions and moody skies did not diminish the heat and humidity for the men’s elite race, which nonetheless began at a frenetic pace. Heavy traffic and a few errors on the early climbs caused major issues on the start loop, with knock-on effects reverberating throughout the pack as many riders were forced to dismount. The impact was a huge spread of riders across the course.  Teammates Martín Vidaurre and Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) took advantage of the chaos to forge clear, and heading into the first full lap, seven riders had a small gap on the rest of the field. More riders tried to close in on the leaders but the Frenchman Koretzky, winner of both the UCI Cross-country Olympic and Short Track World Cups in Les Gets in 2023, maintained a strong pace and, as the second lap began, the lead group had been whittled down to six. Swiss Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) took control with Koretzky and Vidaurre close behind, and France’s Joshua Dubau (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) worked his way steadily up to join them.   The quartet had almost 20 seconds on the rest of the field moving into lap three, and they worked together well into lap four, with a chasing group of three striving to make contact, including New Zealand’s Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck), winner of yesterday’s UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup event; Frenchman Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC) and Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing). Blevins stormed past Gaze and Sarrou to close the gap to the leaders, to make three Specialized riders at the front, and Gaze and Sarrou were able to make the bridge to swell the leading group to seven heading into lap five. The group only grew as the race reached the business end though, with seven more chasers briefly making contact, but the original four still maintained their presence at the front of the race with a narrow gap over Gaze, Blevins and Sarrou heading into lap six.  After a long period of relative stalemate, Colombo put in an acceleration but it was not enough to move clear of the chasers who closed the gap once more and with even more riders joining the pursuit, the leading group numbered thirteen riders heading into the final lap.   The decisive attacks had to come, and it was a two-pronged drive from teammates Vidaurre and Koretzky that kicked off the action, but it wasn’t enough to drop the challengers. Specialized had a third option though, and as soon as he had the space, Blevins sprung away and quickly opened a gap, with Colombo in pursuit. The chase was not enough however, and in exactly one hour and thirty minutes, Blevins wrapped up an  incredible victory, his second in the UCI World Cup circuit, with Koretzky sprinting to second ahead of Colombo in third. The Specialized riders celebrated as Vidaurre made it three on the podium for them, coming in fifth, with Jordan Sarrou pipping him into fourth position.  It was a bad day for Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team), however. The Swiss rider, who won last year’s overall title and leads the all-time standings for most UCI Cross-country World Cup victories, crashed early in the race and was only able to finish in 35th position, 2:47 off the pace of Blevins.  Blevins said: It’s so surreal, I’m just kind of in a daze right now. This sport’s just so beautiful and when you’re on days like this, there’s no place I’d rather be in the world. I had a really bad day yesterday, and I think it’s a lesson. In this sport you’ve just got to listen to your body, you can always get more out of it than you think. We’ve dreamt about a day like this as we are all on the same team. I don’t know if this has happened in mountain bike history, three in the same team on the podium? I love these boys; I love this team around me. I didn’t think today could be my day but you’ve just got to always believe in yourself and anything is possible. Brazil, you’re awesome, hope we come back every year.   Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing):  It was super tactical race today, we managed it really well. We won the team overall, it’s amazing, and we can wait now for the next weekend. I’m so proud of Chris as he’s had two super tough years and now he’s back on the front and on the podium.  Third-placed Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) said:  I really worked super hard this winter throughout my injury, and I’m super stoked to be back on the podium fighting for the victory until the last lap. It’s a shame, but Blevins was super strong. I tried everything that I could.  AMOS AND BÖHM DOUBLE DELIGHT IN U23 UCI CROSS-COUNTRY OLYMPIC WORLD CUP Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) and Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) both scored a double victory in the U23 UCI Cross-country World Cup events. After Amos’ commanding victory in the men’s event on Saturday, the women’s event began with a strong start for the Swiss Ginia Caluori (Wilier-Victoria Factory Team XCO), pursued by Böhm and the Emily Johnston (Trek Future Racing). They formed a leading group of three, on the start lap, with the field already scattered along the track in small groups.   The trio stayed together for the first two laps, taking turns on the front and adding distance between themselves and the chasers, Valentina Corvi (Santa Cruz Rockshox Pro Team) and Madigan Munro (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli), the latter recovering from an early crash. On the third lap, Johnston lost touch with the other two leaders and shortly after, Böhm used the short climb to her advantage to open a gap to Caluori in second. From there she continued to inject pace and put the hurt on her pursuer, but Caluori was unfazed and came back for a final lap head-to-head. In the end though it was Böhm who proved her strength, moving clear of Caluori and taking victory by 11 seconds, with Johnston finishing in third.  Böhm said:  Thank you so much. I'm so, so happy. I never thought I would be so strong today. I know that I have a good shape right now. In the short track race it wasn’t a surprise to me but today I’ve surprised myself a little bit.   OPENING WEEKEND IN MAIRIPORÃ DEEMED A ROARING SUCCESS  Global promoter of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, WBD Sports, would like to thank the race organisation at Mairiporã for a hugely successful event, and for kicking off the series in style.   Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said:  The event was extremely well attended, with an incredible 25,000 spectators throughout the weekend. The locals proudly represented the passion that the Brazilian fans have for the sport of mountain biking. The course was challenging and varied and produced some spectacular, unpredictable, and thrilling racing throughout the weekend, showcasing the beauty of the Brazilian racing scene Fabio Caldeo, CEO of the Arena iMTB & iMTB Festival, said: We’re proud of the outcome. We’re happy to be opening our home to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. This is the result of months of hard work and commitment from a dedicated team and I just want to thank them all.  The second round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series takes place next weekend, 19-21 April, in Araxá, in Western Minas Gerais state, Brazil. 

The U23 men rounded out day two of competition in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Mairiporã, Brazil with an unpredictable, combative race, which saw the lead change hands several times in the early stages.  Finn Treudler (Cube Factory Racing) and Luca Martin (Orbea Factory Team) forged clear on the start loop, and it was Martin who took control of the race, moving to the front ahead of a group of 8 chasers, before Treudler launched his own attack before the end of lap one. Martin, Amos and Bjorn Riley (Trek Future Racing) were able to reel in the Swiss to form a lead group of four riders, which then became three when Treudler dropped back.   The Frenchman Martin led the trio with the two Americans on his wheel for a long period, but Treudler fought his way back on to make it a quartet once more partway through lap three. From there, Amos rode clear and powered away, and slowly extended his advantage, as small gaps began to open between the chasing trio. It was Bjorn Riley who broke free of the chase group to launch an attack on the penultimate lap and he began to claw back the deficit to his senior teammate, but Amos held firm, showing strength and tenacity to seal the win and a perfect weekend of racing.  Amos said after the race:  I'm so happy. Those boys made me work for everything, I’m just so over the limit. But I had the gap. So  we just have to keep pushing all the way to the line. I had blown up so hard and was so empty. But when you have the lead, you can't do anything but keep fighting for it.   When I got the gap, I was a bit lucky. I just moved around Luca, and they had a little fumble, just like crossed wheels behind me so I just had a tiny gap. And then it kind of stayed between, five and 15 seconds for the whole rest of the race. When you're in that position, it just hurts so bad because you can see him the whole time and you know he wants it just as bad as you and is digging and digging. But it's always a pleasure to battle with Bjorn [Riley], he works so hard. We've all worked so hard. And we're just best mates, so I’m happy for him and happy to go one-two with him for the USA Today.  You can catch the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup tomorrow, here's the schedule:  Sunday, April 14 All times are UTC-3 (EST+1/BST-4/CET-5): 10:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U23 12:15 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite 14:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men Elite

The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series began in scintillating style with two explosive races in Mairiporã, Brazil on Saturday. Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) and Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck) got off the mark with commanding performances, but while Richards was able to stamp her authority on the women’s elite race with a decisive solo strike for the line, Gaze was forced to work all the way the finish in a nail-biting finale in the men’s race. Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) threw down the gauntlet with an aggressive and fearless performance in the women’s elite UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup in Mairiporã, Brazil. The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series kicked off amid warm and sticky conditions in Mairiporã, with 29-degree temperatures and 80% humidity. The bunch were clustered together in the early part of the race, led by Martina Berta (Santa Cruz Rockshox Pro Team), who used her front row gridding to her advantage to make a strong start. Berta was pursued by Evie Richards and Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental). The bunch remained compressed for the first two laps, with the pump track and the sharp descent drawing out the best bike handlers and stretching out the race before they gathered once again as they headed into the climb. Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) used the descent to gain a small gap, then led a big bunch as Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), moved into the lead on the second time around the pump track. Keller maintained her lead through the lap, but as the bunch compressed again, Rebecca Henderson (Primaflor Mondraker Racing Team) took control.  It was on lap 3 that the field finally started to stretch out and gaps opened up, with the primary aggressor the 2018 UCI World Champion Kate Courtney (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). Courtney moved clear, chased by Richards, with Rissveds and Neff next on the track.  The winning move came on lap 5 however, as Richards attacked Courtney and moved through on the pump track to take the lead, and immediately opened up a gap to Courtney and Neff, which continued to grow as she attacked the descent and powered on over the flat sections of the course. With Keller trying to make up the deficit, and Courtney tiring, there was not enough momentum in the chase and Richards won with seven seconds over Henderson in second and Keller in third.  Richards said: “It started off in quite a big group and then a couple of different girls went on the front and pushed and Kate [Courtney] made an attack, and I happened to be on her second wheel, and I just pushed with the attack. I think she faded a bit at the top of one of  the climbs and I came out of the descent with a lead and I just kept going at that speed really, just maintained the gap. I'm really pleased to start the season like that.  “I think you always have to improvise. We talked a lot about strategies and what would happen if different people attacked so I was well prepared going into it and was happy with that.” Speaking about the conditions, Richards said: “It’s really hot. Especially when the UK has literally been grey for six months straight it’s definitely a step up from the UK but it's nice as well. It's good to get some sunshine and some vitamin D on the body.” UCI WORLD CHAMPION MAKES A STATEMENT IN MEN’S SHORT-TRACK It was a battle of the short-track powerhouses in the men’s race as UCI World Champion Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won a last-gasp victory after a thrilling battle with Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV XCO). As the lights turned green, Schwarzbauer immediately launched into pole position and was already able to open a small gap between himself and the rest, looking calm and in control. In the early part of the race Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon), Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC), and Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) were the closest to the German, but with Sam Gaze moving through quickly in the rainbow stripes, Schwarzbauer was relentless, powering into the turns and trying to ensure the pace stayed high.  Schwarzbauer continued to hold the front of the race with around nine riders chasing a few seconds behind, and the rest already spread out along the track. Koretzky attacked and took the lead for a short while, but in an aggressive run up the climb towards the pump track Schwarzbauer used his physicality to break through to the front again, followed by Martin Vidaurre (Specialized Factory Racing). The pair took a small gap heading off the descent, and Vidaurre moved into the lead, with Schwarzbauer and Gaze bearing down from behind. Gaze exerted his authority for the first time on lap 5, but Schwarzbauer counter-attacked in the same place heading into the pump track and a stalemate followed heading into lap 7 as the riders collectively caught their breath. It was all business on the final lap though, as the frontrunners came back together again, and though Sarrou cut in to take second position briefly, when Gaze attacked the climb, he took an unassailable lead.  In a breathless last few moments of action, Koretzky tried to attack at the expense of his teammate Vidaurre but it was too little too late – Gaze powered over the line to make a clear statement about his form heading into an Olympic season. Schwarzbauer hailed Gaze as he crossed the line in second, with Vidaurre third after a courageous performance. Gaze spoke after the race: “It’s been a really difficult couple of weeks, it was really hard to focus on my job at some points, but I’ve come out here and put together a good performance. The start was super critical for me and a lot of the time I don’t get lucky, but I have to say I got lucky in the start loop, and then from there it was just trying to recover  best I could before moving forward. The heat is such a factor here, it feels like I’ve swallowed a glass full of glass. I’m super happy, good signs for the next two weeks, happy to have a good start.  “Luca [Schwarzbauer] is a great guy, we found a bit of partnership, just trying to keep the speed how we wanted it. There’s a big advantage racing from the front and as soon as I got there, I realised the advantage they had, so we tried to keep it and then to be honest, I really didn't think it was possible to do the sprint. I was completely on the limit, but obviously everyone else was too. That’s short track racing.” Runner-up Luca Schwarzbauer said: “It was surprisingly nice track. Honestly, during the recon I thought it’s not super nice with the pump track, I thought it's gonna hurt a lot. But in the end it was very nice and controlled, and I had Sam on my side; we are not teammates but at least Canyon teammates and we could help each other a little bit in the end, I also did not attack him 100%. I don't know who was the strongest but in the end, I'm super happy to provide that finish picture for Canyon together with Sam and super happy because I was not 100% sure about my form. I was motivated but I didn't feel the big weight on my shoulders yet. Last year I realised, when the weight is huge, I can perform but it's also a lot of stress, so I'm happy that I could also perform with a little bit less stress but it's only the first race of the season.” Third placed finisher Martin Vidaurre: “Finishing third here in Brazil is just amazing. A lot of Chilean fans are here, so it's different to be here. It took me a while to be on the podium, like a year. So it's good to trust in the process and good to be back on the podium. I'm just so happy.  “I'm not in a hurry. I still enjoy my training, I enjoy being a racer, I don’t like to rush it too much so I just trust my work and keep going because I just love the sport.” WINS FOR BÖHM AND AMOS IN U23 CROSS-COUNTRY SHORT TRACK The UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) U23 World Cup events took place on Friday, with wins for Germany’s Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) and Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli). Böhm broke free from the field to power to a decisive solo victory, with Americans Madigan Munro and Sofia Waite battling it out for second position, with Munro victorious in the sprint for the line.  The men's race was a much tighter affair, but Riley Amos was able to carve out a small gap between himself and the chasers heading for the line. Swiss Dario Lillo and Norwegian Sondre Rokke finished second and third, two seconds behind the American.  

The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series got underway with the first of two races in Brazil on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup U23 events in Mairiporã, in hot and humid conditions. In the women's event, Germany’s Kira Böhm (Cube Factory Racing) was able to break free from the field to power to a decisive solo victory.  Americans Madigan Munro and Sofia Waite battled it out for second position, with  Munro (Trek Factory Racing) winning the sprint for the line. The only rider from the home nation to make the podium was Giuliana Salvini Morgen in fourth, and Canada's Emily Johnston rounded out the top 5. Böhm said:  I'm really super, super happy. I had a bad start, but in the second lap, I was in the front, and then I just kept going. And then I was alone. I thought I have to keep going hard. The track was really fast and also tough on the pump track. And a short downhill. But it was a fun track. I did heat training at home. I think it was a good thing to do. I also drank a lot of water and cooled down. So, in the race, it was good. The men's race was a much tighter affair, and it was victory for Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli). Amos was able to carve out a small gap between himself and the chasers heading for the line. Swiss Dario Lillo and Norwegian Sondre Rokke finished second and third, on the same time, two seconds behind the American, while Bjorn Riley and Luca Martin completed the podium spots, a few seconds adrift of the leaders. Amos said:  You don't win very often so when you do, you just treasure it every time and just to start this way. I knew last week I had some good form finally after a long winter and to keep proving it today is great and now to put the legs up and rest for tomorrow's big show. It's very rare when you don't need to have some sort of patience and save energy in short track. It's always way more work on the front. And when it's high speed, the wind matters a lot more. So yeah. Always having patience. And when you finally decide to go all in, really just believing in yourself and committing everything to it, that’s how you get it. Thank you, Brazil for bringing us here. It's awesome to see some good crowds and hopefully, even bigger ones tomorrow. The top finishers bolster their grid allocation ahead of the weekend's Cross-Country Olympic U23 World Cup races which take place on Saturday for the men, and on Sunday for the women. You can find where to watch all of the racing action live in Mairiporã HERE.

We look at everything you need to know about the Mairiporã round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series races, including when the men’s and women’s Cross-country Olympic and Short Track events are scheduled to take place, who is racing and how to watch. WHEN? The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series kicks off today in Mairiporã, Brazil with the U23 Women’s UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup round at 14:00 (UTC-3) Friday, April 12 and concludes with the Men’s Elite UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup at 14:30 (UTC-3) on Sunday, April 14.  Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-3 (EST+1/BST-4/CET-5):   Friday, April 12 14:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U23 14:25 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U23  Saturday, April 13 12:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite 12:35 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite 14:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U23  Sunday, April 14 10:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U23 12:15 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite 14:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men Elite   WHERE CAN I WATCH? You can watch all the action from the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season opener in Mairiporã, Brazil wherever you are in the world. Both the men’s and women's UCI Cross-country World Cup U23 races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, but for all other races, tune in to one of the below channels or streaming services:   North America Canada – Flosports USA  – Max   South America* Argentina – Claro Brazil – TNT Sports YouTube Channel Chile – Claro Colombia – Claro Peru – Claro   Oceania/Asia Australia – Stan China – Zhibo.tv New Zealand – Staylive   Africa* South Africa – Staylive   Europe* Austria – Eurosport, discovery+ Belgium – Eurosport Czech Republic – Eurosport, Czech TV Denmark – Eurosport France – Eurosport, L'Équipe Germany – Eurosport, discovery+ Hungary – Eurosport Ireland – discovery+ Italy – Eurosport, discovery+ Netherlands – discovery+ Norway – Eurosport Poland – Eurosport Portugal – Eurosport Romania – Eurosport Spain – Eurosport Sweden – Eurosport Switzerland – Eurosport, SRF United Kingdom – Eurosport, discovery+ Rest of world – Staylive   RIDERS TO WATCH While defending women’s UCI Cross-country overall champion Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and the reigning men’s UCI World and Olympic champion Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) won’t be lining up in Brazil, the field is still stacked with explosive talent. Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon), Loana Lecomte (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) and Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) are amongst the favourites in the women’s Cross-country, while Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) will be looking to repeat his win from the last time the UCI World Cup visited Brazil in 2022. In the UCI Cross-country Short Track, Keller and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing Pirelli) are the riders to watch in the women’s field. For the men, it’s hard to look beyond Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) – the Frenchman the proud owner of a 100%-win record for the last three UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cups. Racing gets underway today in Mairiporã. Full schedule and events details are available HERE. You can find where to watch all of the racing action live in Mairiporã HERE.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe partners with OTT platform provider Staylive, a Spring Media Company, to increase the distribution and availability of its flagship cycling and motorcycle owned-promoted events globally. This collaboration will unite and spread the passion for some of the most exhilarating sports events, including the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, with a highly anticipated 2024 season kicking off this week in Mairiporã, Brazil. Fans will also be treated to a calendar filled with other live events, highlights, and associated shoulder programming, which includes the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC), FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) and UCI Track Champions League.   Founded in 2013, Staylive is a Swedish streaming solutions company that delivers over 1,000 live sports events per week to a global audience. Its streaming platform powers governing bodies, federations, leagues, and sporting clubs worldwide. This agreement builds on the extensive reach of the WBD Sports events’ portfolio focused on cycling and motorcycling action. Matt Parker, CCO of Staylive, said:  Partnering with WBD Sports for this historic season of cycling and motorcycling events is a testament to Staylive's technical capabilities and commercial expertise. We are immensely proud to work with and alongside industry powerhouse, WBD Sports, as they secure new and innovative ways to maximise content distribution and reach. This collaboration highlights our ability to meet the high technical demands of streaming world-class sports events, while enhancing the fan experience across the globe. Trojan Paillot, SVP Sports Rights Acquisitions and Syndications at WBD Sports Europe, added:  Our partnership with Staylive demonstrates the commitment of WBD Sports in serving sports fans around the world with premium and diverse content from leading sports formats and properties. Through this partnership, we are not just distributing sports content, we are creating a more accessible and immersive experience for fans, no matter where they are. This is a prime example of how we’re increasing our ability to meet the evolving needs of our audience and to bring them closer to the sports they love. Fans can watch the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series on Max, Eurosport and discovery+ as well as across several local and national broadcasters. With this agreement the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action and other WBD Sports owned-promoted events are now also accessible on Staylive through pay-per-view and subscription packages in markets independent of exclusive WBD platforms and broadcast partnerships. To find out where you can tune into the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series wherever you are in the world, visit our Where to Watch guide. Experience the excitement of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and watch it live on Staylive by clicking here!

The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will now be available to viewers in Australia with all the action live and exclusive on Stan Sport. Launched in 2015, Stan is an over-the-top streaming service that offers unlimited access to thousands of hours of entertainment.   With the two Enduro opening rounds raced on home-soil, Australian Elite athletes had a great introduction to the Series last season. Luke Meier-Smith (GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM – EDR), Daniel Booker (NUKEPROOF SRAM FACTORY RACING) and Connor Fearon (FORBIDDEN SYNTHESIS TEAM) swept the Enduro podium in Maydena. In the endurance rounds, Rebecca Henderson (PRIMAFLOR MONDRAKER GENUINS RACING TEAM) took the third podium spot for Cross-country Olympic in Val di Sole (Italy) as she did in Cross-country Short Track at the last two events of the season in Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada) and Snowshoe (USA). In the downhill races, Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV), one of the most well-known Aussie riders, will be back for the 2024 season.    Ben Kimber, Stan Director of Sport said:  We are thrilled to be partnering with WBD Sports to bring the expanded WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to fans in Australia for the first time ever. We know viewers will enjoy following the Aussie riders returning for the 2024 Series and will also have a keen eye on the endurance rounds ahead of Paris 2024.   Trojan Paillot, SVP Sports Rights Acquisitions and Syndications at WBD Sports Europe, said: We are thrilled to partner with Stan Sport to bring every race of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to fans in Australia. This season marks the largest expansion of international mountain bike for many years featuring six new venues across three continents, totalling 15 event weekends. With the accessibility and diverse offerings of the Stan Sport streaming platform, we can deliver all these events to Australia's passionate mountain biking community, whilst furthering our mission to expand mountain bike’s global fanbase.   The opening round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series takes place in Mairiporã, Brazil this week (12-14 April) for the Endurance rounds. The Gravity competition will get underway in Fort William, Scotland from 3-5 May.     To catch all the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action, fans in Australia can sign up to Stan Sport HERE.

Today Michelin, the world’s leading tyre manufacturer, is announced as a main partner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series until, at least, the 2028 season.   This collaboration between Michelin and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports, two industry leaders with innovation at their cores, represents a formidable alliance, poised to yield impactful outcomes.   As a new main partner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Michelin will receive prominent branding at all 15 race weekends across three continents, including one exclusive on track naming section, amongst other benefits.   ESTABLISHED CYCLING PEDIGREE  Michelin has a strong heritage in cycling and created the first modern bicycle tyre in 1891*. For over 130 years, the brand has continued to be a mobility pioneer, building an impressive global reputation for quality, innovation, and performance. While achieving great success as a long-time technical partner of motorsport, Michelin is bringing its expertise back to mountain biking, where it already offers a complete range of tyres, developed using the latest technology. During the 2024 season, several previous UCI World Cup podium finishers will be competing with Michelin tyres, including stars such as Camille Balanche (Downhill), Benoît Coulanges (Downhill) and Hugo Pigeon (E-Enduro). Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said:  We are excited to welcome Michelin, a universally recognised brand and industry leader, as our new partner for the 2024 season and beyond. By joining forces with a pioneering partner with sustainability and innovation at its core, we are confident that we can take mountain biking to even greater heights and will support Michelin in helping it to reach even greater audiences worldwide. Edouard de Peufeilhoux, President of the Michelin Two-Wheel Business Line, said: Michelin is delighted to be associated with the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. We can't wait to see the world's top riders fight for supremacy on our tyres in such a wide variety of spectacular, world-class disciplines. The performance of the new MICHELIN DH Racing Line has been boosted thanks to exclusive innovations that will bring a real plus in Downhill events. Michelin is a firm believer that competitive sport is the perfect arena to accelerate innovation, so our involvement in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stands out as a great opportunity to work on the development of even higher-performing and longerlasting MTB tyres for tomorrow.   The new partnership between Michelin and the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series perfectly aligns with the Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) mission – outlined in its Sustainability Policy and Climate Action Charter – to make cycling one of the world's most sustainable sports. In 2019, Michelin reinforced its ‘all-sustainable’ approach which strives for the best balance between human, environmental, and economic priorities. Cycling plays a key role in achieving this balance by offering an eco-friendly and lowcost mode of transport that also benefits the health and wellbeing of populations.   In tandem, event promoter and organiser WBD Sports recently achieved the ISO20121 certification for its commitment to sustainable event management. This certification approves the structured framework that integrates sustainability into their event management practices.   Thanks to a ground-breaking long-term partnership between WBD Sports and the UCI in 2023, all mountain bike major formats were unified under a single brand for the first-time, forming the UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Last year was the first season WBD Sports took full control of the global broadcast, promotion and organisation of the Series with its coverage of the sport reaching more fans than ever before.   The new season of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series begins with the first round of the UCI Cross-country World Cup in Mairiporã, Brazil on 12 April.    *First detachable tyre created by Michelin in 1891 during the Paris-Brest-Paris race.

VIP tickets are now available for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William, where guests can enjoy the ultimate weekend of downhill mountain bike racing in style with single day and weekend VIP ticket packages. VIP guests can enjoy the thrill of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series whilst indulging in a premium buffet and open bar from the hospitality suite, with exclusive views of the racing and unrivalled live TV coverage to follow along and immerse yourself in all the action from the world’s best downhill riders. The hospitality suite boasts complimentary WiFi and premium gifts are also included as part of the VIP package on offer.   Join us for an unparalleled weekend of luxury and excitement at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William from 03-05 May. VIP packages are available for £260 per day or £480 for the entire weekend — book now and experience the ultimate weekend of mountain bike racing in style!   

After a long, six-month wait, the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is set to get underway in Mairiporã, Brazil for the first race of the season this weekend. And if the last time the UCI World Cup visited Brazil is anything to go by - the 2022 season opener in Petropolis – the riders can expect a carnival atmosphere as passionate local fans line the course and bring some Latin American noise. Although it hasn’t featured in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series before, Mairiporã won’t be new to some of the field, having hosted high-level cross-country races since 2019, including last week’s UCI Class C1 race at the MTB Festival. An hour north of the centre of São Paulo on the South American country’s south coast, it’s the first of a Brazilian Cross-country double header – the first time a country has hosted back-to-back UCI Mountain Bike Cross-country Olympic World Cup (XCO) races at different venues since Canada (Bromont and Mont-Sainte-Anne) in 2009. Up next is another new venue, with the mountainous Minas Gerais region’s Araxá hosting round two a week after the dust has settled at Mairiporã’s Arena iMTB Bike Park. FIREWORKS GUARANTEED  The Mairiporã course is designed to promote overtaking and close racing, making it a fitting location for the opening UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) races of the year – if one thing’s for sure, fireworks are guaranteed. The first race after a long off-season can make picking favourites for the race difficult, but in the women’s Cross-country, Austrian Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing Team) and Frenchwoman Loana Lecomte (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) are likely to resume their battle for supremacy.  Meanwhile in the men’s field, Switzerland’s Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) is still the man to beat. The 37-year-old won the last time the UCI World Cup came to Brazil in 2022 and claimed his ninth title at the final race of the 2023 season in Mont-Sainte-Anne. Despite strong challenges by Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC) and Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon) Schurter appears to defy aging, using his years of experience to overcome riders more than 10 years his junior, as seen in a third-place finish at the 2024 Absa Cape Epic. Two riders who won’t be making the trip to South America include the 2023 women’s UCI Cross-country Olympic overall champion Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and reigning men’s UCI World and Olympic Champion Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers), who have both decided to focus on the road instead.  Local fan favourite Henrique Avancini also won’t be lining up in Mairiporã having retired at the end of last season but will be on site supporting the team that bears his name, Caloi Henrique Avancini, is filled with Brazilians ready to shine on the world stage. In the Cross-country field, reigning overall champ Pieterse’s absence opens the door for the likes of Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing Pirelli) to steal an early advantage in the women’s competition. In the men’s, Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) finished the 2023 season with a hat-trick of victories, so will be aiming to stretch his hot streak across seasons to make it four wins in a row. Racing gets underway in Mairiporã on Friday. Full schedule and events details. Find where to watch all of the racing action live in Mairiporã.

The final grains of sand are rumbling about the bottom of the hourglass – it’s nearly time to go racing yet again at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. And what a year it’s stacking up to be. For the Endurance stars there’s the small matter of Paris 2024 on the horizon and for the Gravity riders there are new venues aplenty.   But who are the riders in the pack’s crosshairs? Who are the ones that they all want and  need to beat? Here are the most dominant names heading into this brand-new season.   Valentina Höll (The YT MOB) DHI (average finishing position last season: 3rd)  The pre-season favourite did a number on her rivals and despite the late surge of Marine Cabirou (Scott DH Factory) it more often than not felt like the only rider capable of stopping Vale was Vale herself. An off-season switch to familiar surroundings (she had competed for six seasons on a YT already) will do little to tarnish her starting this season as the favourite in the Elite women’s field.   Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) DHI (average finishing position: 8th)  The Elite men’s title race was a frenetic affair in 2023 with only one rider (Jackson Goldstone, Santa Cruz Syndicate) winning more than once and three out of seven races going the way of first year elites. But when you are as experienced and as wily as Loïc Bruni, you can use that diffuse spreading of the points to your advantage. The Frenchman won the overall title, his third, with many fans now salivating the resumption of hostilities between Bruni and his great rival, Amaury Pierron (Commencal MucOff by Riding Addiction), this season.    Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) XCC, XCO  The biggest XC breakthrough since the 29in wheel, Pieterse made 2023 her own. She won the first XCO of the year in the Czech Republic. She added to that in Austria and Italy and then refused to drop below seventh place in either XC format anywhere else. A cyclocross femme fatale, Pieterse is one of the big Olympic favourites this season heading into Paris. There’s speculation that she’ll miss the opening rounds in Brazil to compete in the road classics but Puck is one of those athletes that should she be in attendance at any race she’ll be counted amongst the favourites.     Nino Schurter (Scott SRAM MTB Racing) XCC, XCO  ‘Only’ two UCI World Cup wins for Nino last season in XCO races in Lenzerheide and Val di Sole Trentino, but what a season and what a force. Still. The former was an exhibition display of just how untouchable the 37 year-old still is and sealed him the wins record of 34 UCI XC World Cups. Perhaps more worryingly for his competitors it’s the newly-found relaxed air around Schurter these days – he seems to be a rider content in winning titles over a season and not having to bulldoze every round.     Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV) XCC (average finishing position: 3rd)  Three XCC wins and an almost omnipresence at the front of both XCC and XCO races saw Luca Schwarzbauer lay claim to being one of the breakthroughs of last season. He boasts unreal reserves of power couple with a singularity of focus which few can match. Schwarzbauer’s presence at the front of both formats is now well established, once he starts converting them into wins he will be a real danger man.    Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) EDR (average finishing position: 2nd)  Four wins and then never finished outside of the top four for the rest of the year – that was the story of Isabeau Courdurier’s dominant 2023 campaign. It saw her seal her third Enduro overall title which put her deservedly into the history books. A win this season would put her in a class of one. She has openly talked about targeting the new UCI Enduro World Championships title and then potentially stepping away from the sport to start a family. Courdurier’s clarity of goal could make her even harder to stop than before.    Richie Rude (Yeti Fox Racing Shox) EDR (average finishing position: 4th)  Rude was never outside of the top 10 all season and grabbed one win in Derby before three further podiums. His previous overall titles came by ways of steamroller-like dominance of the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Last time out may not have featured just as many top steps but the relief having come so close to that third crown so many times since was palpable. A top 20 performance on the downhill bike to round out last year in Mont Sainte Anne may be enough to tempt the big man from Connecticut back into the ring this time out.      Flo Espiniera (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) E-enduro (average finishing position: 1st)  One of the most dominant performers of last season with no fewer than three out of five wins, Espiniera has been a beacon of success for the Spanish brand, Orbea. E-enduro remains perhaps the toughest place to win a UCI World Cup thanks to the meteoric pace of technical development in the sport. The Chilean who calls Whistler home will be back to take on 2024 and will remain the rider to beat.    Fabien Barel (average finishing position: 8th)  We’ve all done it. We’ve all got carried away on holiday and ended up taking something further than we meant to. Fabien Barel, two time UCI DHI World Champion, entered the opening round of the last season as ‘something to do’, won it and then, well, one thing lead to another and he ended up winning the UCI E-enduro World Cup overall. Just standard Fab stuff. Just another page in the history books. If he commits to falling down the same rabbit hole this season then he may take some stopping.    Lejla Njemčević (Alle Bike) (average finishing position: 2nd)  A win and two second places all but guaranteed Lelja the title with run round to go but she still clocked a fourth at the final stop in Snowshoe, WV. Njemčević’s exploits last season were one of the big good news stories of the season as she became the first person from Bosnia and Herzegovina to win a UCI World Cup race and then title. Often pugnacious and searingly open in her post-race interviews, she won a lot of fans last time out and will be hopeful of defending that title this season.  Fabian Rabensteiner (Willier-Vittoria Factory) XCM (average finishing position: 5th)   Rabensteiner snatched the title by boxing clever throughout the season having secured his one and only victory in Nove Mesto na Morave at round one. Without doubt he did it the hard way with a few titanic fight backs thrown into the mix but to win a UCI XCM World Cup, never mind a title, is far from easy. A fifth place alongside teammate Samuele Porro at the ABSA Cape Epic will not have been the top step he will have coveted but may just be fuel for the fire for the season opener.  Don’t forget that we are only a couple of weeks away from the opening round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series getting underway in Mairiporã, Brazil 12-14 April. Find out more here. 

Benoit Coulanges pursues his dream of victory in this second episode of Until the Line. Faced with a dip in results and difficulty with managing the pressure, despite obvious speed, Benoit did not want to miss his chance again. As if by destiny, it was in Les Gets, on a track he loves the most that he achieved that first World Cup win that he wanted so bad!  Come ready to ride, and join us in Fort William 03-05 May. Tickets are on sale now.  Crédit : @commencalbikesFilm & Edit : @dorian.jouvenal