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Superstar Slovakian suffered heart arrhythmia during early season Cross-country race and has undergone a procedure which has cleared him of any abnormalities. The spike in his heart rate was suffered during the Internationales Chelva GSport Challenge in Spain.  La Gazzetta Dello Sport reported the story initially citing claims that the 34 year-old’s had rocketed to 200 beats per minute whereas his maximum sits at 190bpm. Sagan posted an update from his hospital bed which stated: The athlete is fine. An internal electrophysiological study was carried out, which excluded any supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmia of pathological significance. A subcutaneous event recorder has been implanted which will allow the future monitoring of the athlete. The procedure was carried out by Professor Antonio Dello Russo - Director of the Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic of the Marche University Hospital - and by his team, with the presence of Dr. Roberto Corsetti - the athlete's trusted cardiologist.La Sirezione Aziendale  Sagan expressed hopes of being back on his mountain bike imminently and he may well have to be if his hopes of qualifying Slovakia for Paris 2024 are to remain alive. Amongst his sizeable achievements, Peter Sagan became the first rider to win the points leaders green jersey at the Tour de France on seven consecutive occasions alongside three UCI World Championship titles.  There isn’t long to wait ahead of the opening round of the UCI Cross-country World Cup at the debut venue of Mairiporã, Brazil 12-14 April.   

France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Ineos Grenadiers) has won her second pre-season race of the year at the Shimano Supercup Massi in Banyoles, Spain, on Sunday. The 32 year-old from Reims has her sights firmly fixed on the only major title missing from her bulging palmares; the gold medal at Paris 2024. The reigning UCI Cross-country Short Track and Olympic World Champion took victory ahead of her old sparring partner, Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing), by over one minute at the Spanish race which is seen by many as one of the unofficial starting pistols of the Endurance season.  Neff, who is the reigning Olympic Champion from Tokyo 2020 will have been buoyed by her performance. Her last win was a double at the UCI Cross-country World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec in 2022 but many are tipping her low key (by her standards) 2023 season as belonging to a considered run-in to 2024. The USA’s Savilia Blunk (RockRider Ford Mountain Bike Pro Team) was third.  In the Elite men’s race, Victor Koretzky (Specialized Racing) took victory on the fast, flowing Spanish course ahead of Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC). Koretzky clocked four wins at the end of the 2023 season and looks to be rolling into the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series campaign in similar form. Titouan Carod was third.  There isn’t long to wait ahead of the opening round of the UCI Cross-country World Cup at the debut venue of Mairiporã, Brazil 12-14 April.  

Mountain biking is a sport born from competition. Just as soon as cruiser bikes were first shod with knobbly tyres and slung into Californian fire road turns somebody started a clock. Enjoyed by millions all over the world in their leisure time as a way to get outdoors and to spend times with friends and family it remains, for a small few, about pushing themselves to their very limits. The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is the pinnacle of mountain bike racing and encompasses every format of the sport in its Gravity and Endurance categories.The UCI Enduro and E-Enduro World Cups are one of the most complete challenges a mountain bike racer can face and feature opportunities to race all over the globe. Making the jump from amateur to professional in any sport is a daunting proposition but with the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series there is a clear pathway to help athletes live their dreams, full-time via our Enduro and E-Enduro pathways. Racing at Elite level gives athletes the chance to put themselves on the big stage and attract the attention of UCI teams and other sponsors to enable them to make the transition to the pro ranks.  Here are a couple of examples of the 25 rounds across 21 different countries where points can be won in the open racing categories to earn qualification to UCI World Cup level: 17-19 May 2024 | Enduro of Bielsko-Biala | Bielsko-Biala, POL The second round of the UCI Enduro and E-Enduro World Cup will be a historic one with the series travelling to eastern Europe for the first time. The Enduro Trails network is one of the most famous in the country and provides seemingly endless tree-lined possibilities. The Polish mountain bike scene is thriving and many are predicting one of the warmest welcomes of the year.  31 July - 04 Aug 2024 | American National Championships | Zirconia, NC USA Ride Rock Creek Mountain Bike Park has been announced by USA Cycling not just for 2023 but for 2024 as well. The USA is rapidly becoming one of the biggest hot beds of young talent when it comes to mountain bike racing. Both Endurance and Gravity are booming in the States and so the race(s) in Zirconia, NC promise to be amongst the biggest and well-attended on the calendar.  01 December 2024 | Philippine National Championship | Guimaras Island, Iloilo PHI Known locally as the mango capital of the Philippines, Guimaras is an island situated just south of Ilolio. Guimaras Bike Paradise is one of the most complete, challenging and stunning trail networks in the area and has already hosted Cross-country Marathon and Enduro national championships.The criteria for participation in the UCI Enduro World Cup is detailed in Chapter 1 of the UCI World Cup Rulebook. The rulebook is your indispensable guide to everything that you need to do to compete at the highest level.  Here’s a link to the UCI Enduro and E-Enduro World Cup Qualifier calendar. Entries for all six rounds of Open Racing (which are all qualifier events) will open soon.    

Reigning UCI Cross-country Olympic World Champions, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Tom Pidcock, both of the Ineos Grenadiers squad, have won their opening mountain bike races of the season at Shimano Supercup Massi La Nucía. This season will see the pair compete for Olympic gold in Paris in the summer in their respective elite categories. For Ferrand-Prevot it was a towering 45.5sec victory ahead of Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) in second and Savilia Blunk (Rockrider Ford Racing Team) in third. The Pinarello of her teammate Pidcock would taste victory by 25.58secs ahead of Sam Gaze (Alpecin Deceunick) and David Valero Serrano (BH Coloma Team).  Cross-country Olympic is the only mountain bike format to be featured in the Olympic Games and so its biggest stars often tailor their training programs to peak for the summer games. Pidcock remains one of the biggest multi-format talents to ever grace cycling as a whole and, should he take to the start line in Paris, will be counted amongst the favourites. For Ferrand-Prevot, Olympic gold remains just about the only major accolade missing from her palmares.  You can watch all the action from the opening round of the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup in the brand-new venue of Mairiporã, Brazil 12-14 April. 

20 February 2024 – London, UK | The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports announce that WHOOP, the human performance company, will serve as the title sponsor of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series for the next three seasons.The rebranding of the series to WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series marks an extension of the landmark partnership that began in 2023, the inaugural season of the new-look series, where it collected cutting-edge biometric data from athletes during races via its wearable devices.WHOOP Live enabled the presentation of these analytics during Warner Bros. Discovery’s on-screen coverage, adding extra value to live content from the series: the data enhanced race commentary, analysis, and storytelling from the in-studio teams, allowing audiences to better connect with the sport and its riders by gaining a deeper understanding of what it takes to perform at Elite level.  INVALUABLE INSIGHTSWHOOP metrics provide members with a comprehensive understanding of their body’s dynamics by showing what’s happening and why. In 2023, mountain bike stars such as Puck Pieterse (2023 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup overall winner) and Loïc Bruni (five-time UCI Downhill World Champion and triple UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner) wore WHOOP devices that provided detailed insights into their performance before, during and after each race. During the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Series, this information helped riders and coaches to improve their preparation and devise race strategies, and also enabled broadcasters to provide more informed commentaries.In its second year providing these insights, the WHOOP data will be more in-depth and will further enhance the narrative of the sport, from both the athletes’ and the broadcasters’ perspective.  EXPANDED ROLE IN THE CYCLING WORLDThe expanded role of WHOOP as title sponsor of this international mountain bike series further solidifies its standing in the cycling world. In addition to continuing to provide rider data, it will now receive prominent on-site branding at all 15 race weekends in 10 countries across Europe, North and South America in 2024. The WHOOP data will also be key to Warner Bros. Discovery’s coverage of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series on Eurosport, discovery+ and Max*. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: “Game-changing insights from WHOOP into rider performance have already helped to elevate mountain bike to a whole new level by bringing fans closer to the sport and its athletes than ever before.We are excited to welcome back WHOOP in a new, larger role as the title sponsor of the now called WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to aid our ongoing mission to support the continued growth of the discipline amongst new fans and to propel mountain biking into a new era.Jeremy Powers, Director of Sports Marketing at WHOOP, retired professional cyclist, Cyclo-cross National and Pan American Champion said: We’re very excited to continue our work with the UCI, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports and the Mountain Bike World Series. Mountain bike is an incredible discipline of cycling that is accessible and fun for everyone. WHOOP is a unique tool, that can be worn by anyone, including the best athletes in the world, to help them learn more about themselves so they can be their best on and off their bikes. By supporting the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, we’ll be part of creating lasting memories for fans. WHOOP will help push mountain bike to the next level through an innovative broadcast experience, showcasing in-depth biometric data through our all-new WHOOP Live integration. This technology showcases the feat of performance displayed by these athletes. We cannot wait to kick off this season in Brazil and showcase mountain biking to the world through this truly unique partnership.In 2023, thanks to a ground-breaking long-term partnership between the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports, major mountain bike formats were unified under a single calendar 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. WHOOP is currently offering a one-month free trial to help everyone start their journey. To learn more about WHOOP please visit www.whoop.com.

The 2023 UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup season kicked off in the Czech Republic in Nové Město na Moravě, before heading to the Italian Riviera, Finale Outdoor Region. The UCI Mountain Bike World Series Festival Haute-Savoie was up next before the series crossed the pond to Snowshoe WV, for the final round.It was an action-packed debut for perhaps the toughest UCI Mountain Bike World Series format. Lelja Njemčević (Alle Bike) took Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first ever UCI World Cup win and eventual title whilst the Italian, Fabien Rabensteiner (Willier-Pirelli Factory Team), clinched a hard-fought elite men’s title.The UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup returns for 2024 and features the following stops:• Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic: May 24-26• Haute-Savoie, France: June 29-July 7• Lake Placid, USA: September 27-29Don’t forget that you can follow all the action from the UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup right here as well as on the UCI Mountain Bike World Series social media channels.

The five-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall title winner, Aaron Gwin, has announced he will make his return to racing aboard Crestline Bikes. The deal with the fledgling Southern Californian company will see Gwin work towards part ownership of the brand whilst taking care of their race program under his Gwin Racing banner.The Gwin Racing roster also boasts promising youngsters Seth Sherlock and Mike Delesalle who will kick their respective Gravity seasons off at the opening UCI Downhill World Cup in Fort William, Scotland.Being a part of a bike brand as an owner is an absolute dream of mineGwin stated on his Instagram page. He will be competing on the brand’s RS 205 VHP frame with a suite of components that are largely carried over from his previous Intense Factory Racing outfit.The San Bernardino native won UCI Downhill World Cup overall titles in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017. He’s also an eight-time US National Champ and currently boasts 20 UCI Downhill World Cup wins – just three away from the record holder, Greg Minnaar (Norco Factory Racing)Tickets for the opening round of the UCI Downhill World Cup 03-05 May in Fort William, Scotland are on sale now.

The UCI Downhill World Cup squad, Commencal Schwalbe, have added Australia’s Olly Davis to their existing roster of Spain’s Pau Monoyo and America’s Austin Dooley ahead of the opening round of the year in Fort William, Scotland.  Davis' name was one linked to several big name teams after a superb 2023 season which saw him crack the elusive elite men’s top 10. He had a superb run of form to kick off the second half of the year when he finished 11th in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, 7th in Snowshoe, WV, and 15th in Les Gets at the UCI Mountain Bike World Series Festival Haute Savoie.  I’m very grateful to be riding for Commencal Schwalbe for the next two years! I have already spent some time with the team and I can say it is full of great people who all share the same goals. We have the best brands supporting us and I’m super excited for this coming season! Oliver Davis, Commencal Schwalbe All eyes will be on the opening round of the Gravity side of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series when it gets underway in Fort William, Scotland 03 – 05 May. Tickets are on sale now.  

Continental Atherton MTB Race Team’s, Andreas Kolb, has broken his radius during a pre-season riding trip to New Zealand. The 27 year-old took to social media to admit that he was returning home to undergo more scans but was hopeful that it was ‘only’ a break to one of the two larger bones in his left forearm.  Kolb stunned the world of downhill racing when he took a debut home win at the second round of the 2023 UCI Downhill World Cup season in Austria. His victory not only cemented him as the first Austrian elite men’s winner in Leogang but also backed up Valentina Höll’s triumph in the elite women’s category.  A silver medal at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Fort William followed later in the summer for Kolb behind his teammate, Charlie Hatton. He would finish the season fifth in the UCI Downhill World Cup overall to cement a coming-of-age season for the big man from Schladming. Many of the top UCI Mountain Bike World Series pro’s head to the southern hemisphere, New Zealand in particular, for pre-season training camps. The opening round of this season’s UCI Downhill World Cup kicks off in Fort William, Scotland 03 – 05 May. Tickets are available here. 

Come and join us! The ultimate weekend of mountain bike racing kicks off with the opportunity for school children of all ages to experience the very best the sport has to offer, on Friday 3 May. As the world’s fastest mountain bike racers get set to return to Fort William, the Nevis Range is set to inspire future generations of mountain bike talent with an unforgettable Schools Day event. Alongside Nevis Range we’re inviting school children from across the country to share a day to remember, with a unique introduction to the world of downhill mountain biking.  Students and budding young mountain bikers can look forward to riding the UK’s only mountain gondola, taking in breathtaking views as they ascend Aonach Mor, before getting up close with the world’s best mountain bikers tearing down the famous Nevis Range track.  It’s an incredible opportunity not to be missed! Come and see international superstars like Vali Höll and Super Bruni, as well as home-grown fan favourites like Tahnée Seagrave and 2023 UCI Cycling World Champion, Charlie Hatton, as they prepare to go head-to-head with the world’s best for the first time this year at the opening round of the UCI Downhill World Cup.  So why not get your school involved with a day of mountain biking inspiration? To join in the Schools’ Day action ahead of the world-famous mountain bike event, all you need to do is contact Nevis Range to reserve a place for your school.   Email worldcup@nevisrange.co.uk to secure a day of mountain biking inspiration, as all eyes are on Fort William for the 2024 downhill season opener. Don’t hang around as spaces are limited. Please note – schools are required to provide their own transport and food as part of the schools’ day event.  

David Campos, Pierre de Froidmont, Anne Tauber and Luca Martin. These are the visible faces of the Orbea Factory Team. They're the ones who stand on the podium, who steal the spotlight at the start line and who work every day to be the best version of themselves when they put on a bib. But you're less likely to know Pierre Lebreton, François-Xavier Durand, Andres Garcia or Andrej Vrcon... They are only part of the greater Orbea Factory Team staff.Each member of the team is a key piece in a machine that only works when all its parts work together and at maximum performance. In addition, the support of the riders' families is fundamental, providing them with indispensable backing. This is the only way to excel in the most competitive MTB environment in the world.Following the Orbea Factory Team throughout a whole season in the World Cup allows us to discover how a team lives from the inside. The intense preparation that goes into competing to the maximum in the 20 minutes of a Short Track or the 90 minutes of an XCO race. Days of preparation at home, long trips and hours and hours of work on each circuit. It allows us to see that behind every athlete there is a person with their ups and downs, and that, despite appearances, MTB is not an individual sport.In this documentary you will see how the new Orbea Oiz returns to the most important podiums in the world and how having a bike as light as the Orbea Alma is still essential to adapt to the fastest circuits on the calendar.This was the year of the debut of Oquo wheels in the World Cup and the result could not have been better. It has been the validation that, even in the most demanding environments, they are a guarantee of reliability. Along with Hiru kits, Met helmets and 226ERS nutrition, key in the daily life of our bikers, all the brands that surround this project have also shown commitment and involvement in line with the needs of a World Cup team.You can catch the Orbea Factory Team at the opening round of the UCI Cross-country World Cup in Brazil starting off in Mairiporã 12-14 April.

2024 UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup to feature three rounds  The season finale will take place in the brand-new UCI Mountain Bike World Series venue of Mt Van Hoevenberg – Lake Placid (USA) Entries for open racing categories will open soon for all three rounds Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) are excited to announce the dates and venues for the UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup 2024.  The season kicks off with an Endurance staple and a classic venue; Nové Město na Moravě in the Czech Republic on 24-26th May. A rider favourite thanks to its fast-flowing, technical trails, Nové Město na Moravě has been on the UCI World Cup calendar since 2011 and was the cross-country marathon season opener last season.  After that, the second race of the 2024 season will take place in the stunning surrounds of the Haute-Savoie, France, on 29th June – 7th July. The mountainous region in the Alps of eastern France boasts some of the best mountain bike riding in the world and last year saw the cross-country marathon race take place around the trails of Morzine. This will be the second consecutive season that Haute-Savoie will host all formats of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The 2024 details and locations of the Haute-Savoie racing schedule will be announced soon.  The cross-country marathon season finale will take place in the brand-new UCI Mountain Bike World Series venue of Mt Van Hoevenberg – Lake Placid in Northern New York State on 27-29th September. The event will be a huge moment for the UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup as it combines the east coast’s mountain biking scene and America’s passion for endurance events.  Last season, it was fantastic to be trackside to see the return of the UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup first hand. It’s positive not just for teams and riders but also fans all over the world. The venues on the calendar this season have been selected not just because of their fantastic courses but also because of the passion and expertise of the local teams and the amazing scenery they offer. Simon Burney, Head of Sport for Cycling Events at WBD Sports  Cross-country marathon is a mass start format that brings racers to the start line of a 100 km course: an epic test of both body and bike alike with professional and amateur competitors taking part in a gruelling battle to see who can finish first.  Anyone can participate and challenge the pros. More details and the entries’ procedure for open racing categories will be available soon for all three rounds on the official UCI Mountain Bike World Series platforms. The 2024 calendar will mark the second year in a ground-breaking partnership between the UCI and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports, which sees WBD Sports take on the broadcast, promotion, and organisation of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, utilising their extensive global reach to help grow the sport worldwide.  

Denmark’s Cross-country National Champion, Sebastian Fini Carstensen (Lapierre Mavic Unity Team) has announced that he will partner Switzerland’s reigning UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup overall title holder, Nino Schurter (Scott SRAM MTB Racing). The eight-day ABSA Cape Epic stage race (17-24 March) is competed as a pair with many WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series racers having taken part over the years. Last year’s men’s race was won by Christopher Blevins (Specialized Racing) and Matthew Beers (Toyota Specialized Ninety One). The women’s race was won by Vera Looser and Kim Le Court, both of whom are UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup regulars. The former collected Namibia’s first ever UCI World Cup win in Morzine, Haute-Savoie.  Our goals are clear, to have fun, race as hard as possible and have the luck on our side to conquer one or more stages during the 8 days.Sebastian Fini said in his announcement.  I’m really excited to start the ABSA Cape Epic this year, and even more with Nino. I’m sure we are a great match. I’m looking forward to racing hard, smart and achieving our goals for the race. I’m sure the race can make me stronger, and I want to use it for that as well. This season is important with many races and also the Olympics as a target - so it’s crucial to keep that in mind as well.The pair will also be representing the World Bicycle Relief Foundation, a charity who support social mobility and empowerment through bicycles in developing nations. The pairs custom-painted race bikes will be auctioned off at the end of the event with all proceeds going to the charity.  The first round of the Endurance side of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is set to take place in Mairiporã, Brazil 12-14 April.  

Switzerland’s Dario Lillo has announced a move to Giant Factory Off-Road ahead of the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The 21 year-old Lilo was one of the dominant forces in the 2023 UCI Cross-country World Cup and did the fabled double when he won both Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-country Olympic (XCO) at his home round in Lenzerheide at the start of the campaign.  Lilo came under pressure however from Trinity Racing’s Adrien Boichis, Trek Factory Racing’s Riley Amos and new Giant Factory Off-Road teammate, Carter Woods as the season wore on. The latter Canadian talent would pip him for a top three in the overall at the last race of the season in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec.  Woods will join Boichis in the Elite class in 2024 and the pressure will be on Lilo to make good on the promise he showed at the start of the new season to repay the faith of his new employer.  The UCI Cross-country World Cup gets underway with back-to-back rounds in Brazil starting off in Mairiporã 12-14 April.   

In the age of the mass migration back to high pivot suspension designs with some UCI Downhill World Cup race bikes boasting more idler wheels than there are days of the week, one design has remained constant; the YT TUES.  The carbon fibre TUES broke cover underneath then-YT MOB employee, Aaron Gwin, back in 2018 and will enter its seventh topflight season being piloted by another great champion, Vali Höll. Höll’s announcement last week that she would be joining the YT MOB felt oddly like smaller news that it actually was. This was largely because the Austrian winning machine had already spent six seasons aboard a YT at the start of her career.  In terms of context, the YT TUES, a bike which won a UCI Downhill World Cup as recently as last summer in Snowshoe, WV, remains virtually unchanged over a period which has seen three derivatives of the venerable Santa Cruz V10 come and go. An equal number of Commencal Supreme’s have evolved within the same timeframe.  It’s an interesting time for the obsessive bike nerds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in that there seems to be a quiet parting of the ways between the old alliances of componentry brands amongst many of the factory teams. Amongst the most notable is the fact that Höll’s new TUES race bike will run RockShox suspension whilst her teammates, Oisin O’Callaghan and Sian A’Hern, will be equipped with Fox Racing Shox products. This is thanks to YT’s eclectic ‘Uncaged’ approach that allows team riders to spec whatever components they desire in the pursuit of the perfect set-up.  Vali’s suspension is a pick of the top-shelf offerings from RockShox; a Boxxer Ultimate fork and a Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil rear shock fitted with a 425lb spring. This is inclusive of a full SRAM suite of componentry for the transmission and brakes. The other two YT MOB machines will be running TRP components. It’s notable that both machines remain identical in spec whilst Vali’s is slightly more bespoke.   Vali’s bike is sporting an Ochain active spider, the brainchild of Italy’s Fabrizio Dragoni. It’s a component inspired by Aaron Gwin’s chainless win in Leogang 2015 and is designed to eliminate the chains influence on suspension performance. This is another feature that O’Callaghan and A’Hern don’t seem to have ticked the box for. Interestingly, it’s not a carry over from her Trek Session either so may be indicative of her attempting to make the YT platform feel more akin to the high pivot Trek.  All the YT MOB machines are rolling on Continental tyres. The German brand’s Kryptotal is proving to be one of the most popular choices for UCI DH World Cup racers and for Vali it will be a familiar component having carried her to UCI World Championship and overall titles last season.   Finally, Vali has opted for Renthal’s FatBar 35 alloy handlebar with a 20mm rise and 760mm width coupled with the same brand’s Integra stem (50mm length) and Ergon’s GDH Team grips by way of a cockpit set up. The latter brand also takes care of her saddle with the lightweight SMD2 Pro Ti (Team). Whether or not Höll’s arrival has been designed to spearhead a fresh YT DH race machine remains to be seen but there’s no doubting that the crisp, svelte, ‘yep, that will work’ lines of the TUES platform remain those of a race-winning thoroughbred, despite their increasing age. Don’t forget that you can see Vali Höll in action aboard her new YT MOB TUES at the opening round of the UCI DH World Cup in Fort William, Scotland 03-05 May. Tickets are on sale, now.  

Austria’s Valentina Höll has announced that she will be racing for the YT MOB in 2024 having left the RockShox Trek Race Team at the end of last season. Last year saw the 22 year-old bring home both the UCI Downhill World Cup overall title alongside successfully defending the UCI World Champion’s rainbow stripes.Höll has history with YT having signed her first professional contract with them back in 2013 as a 13 year-old. Over the next six years she racked up two UCI Junior World Championship titles and a UCI World Cup overall title.It’s amazing to come back into the family. I feel at home, and I can see how hyped YT is to push the race team. The next couple of years will be rad. The TUES was definitely easy to get used to. It’s the bike I learned my basics on and made some great memories within juniors. I’m happy to tackle something new. I could have stayed in my comfort zone and kept doing what I’m doing, but I think I’m at a perfect age where I can try something new and make the next step.Vali Höll, YT MOBRider reunions are rare. They don't often return to a brand, which makes this homecoming even more special. It means a lot to us both. I'm stoked to continue the history we already created together. Welcome home, Vali!Markus Flossmann, Founder and CVO of YT IndustriesFour UCI World Cup wins went Vali’s way, last season. She will join Oisin O’Callaghan and Sian A’hern as the YT MOB look at upping their challenge for the team's overall title. Interestingly, the announcement came with the added detail that she will be running RockShox suspension whilst the rest of the squad will use Fox Racing Shox suspension, as they did last season.You can see Vali Höll take on her first for the YT MOB at the opening round of the UCI Downhill World Cup at Fort William, Scotland 03-05 May. Tickets are on sale, now.

Spectator tickets for the UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William on sale Thursday 25 January 2024 The event will host the 2024 season opener for the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup The event takes place from the 3 – 5 May 2024 at Nevis Range Mountain Experience, Fort William, Scotland Spectator tickets for the UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William are available to purchase from 10:00 GMT, Thursday 25 January.The world’s fastest mountain bike racers will return to Fort William for this year’s opening round of the UCI Downhill World Cup on May 3 - 5. Purchase your spectator tickets now!Following on from the success of last year’s UCI Cycling World Championships, Fort William is where the biggest names in downhill will meet for the first time in 2024. The event at the Nevis Range Mountain Experience is the only opportunity to see athletes from all over the world go head-to-head on British soil. Riders will be roared on by the home crowd who were sent through the roof by Charlie Hatton’s (Continental Atherton Race Team) home win at the UCI Cycling World Championships last summer. His gold medal in the elite men’s race on home soil aped that of Scotland’s Ruaridh Cunningham’s legendary Junior title win on the same track in 2007. Cunningham will return to Fort William this season as Head of Gravity for WBD Sports and had this to say: This years running of the UCI World Cup in Fort William is set to be one of the biggest in its history, for a lot of reasons. It's such a physical and unforgiving track and to have it opening the season, in front of that famous crowd, will be incredible. As a proud Scot and someone who was lucky enough to have had success there, I know how it feels to be in that finish bowl and I can't wait for race day 2024!Ruaridh Cunningham, Head of Gravity, WBD Sports EventsEach year, tens of thousands of spectators line the course under the shadow of Ben Nevis, as the Outdoor Capital of the UK plays host to a crowd like no other on the circuit. Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said:Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and it is great to have the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup back in Fort William following the success of the Mountain Bike Downhill at last year’s inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships. As one of the must-see events on the Scottish sporting calendar thanks to the atmospheric crowds and iconic Nevis Range venue, the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series is one not to be missed.Tickets to join the ultimate weekend of mountain bike racing in Fort William are available from Thursday 25 January, are as follows: TicketAccessWeekend Ticket (Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 May 2024)Access to the Event Village, track and Nevis Range gondola  Family Weekend Ticket (Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 May 2024)Access to the Event Village, track and Nevis Range gondola for two adults and two children Adult Single Day Gondola (Saturday 4 May 2024)Access to the Event Village, track and Nevis Range gondola on Saturday 4 May Adult Single Day Gondola (Sunday 5 May 2024)Access to the Event Village, track and Nevis Range gondola on Sunday 5 May  Child Single Day Gondola (Saturday 4 May 2024)Access to the Event Village, track and Nevis Range gondola on Saturday 4 May  Child Single Day Gondola (Sunday 5 May 2024)Access to the Event Village, track and Nevis Range gondola on Sunday 5 May Adult Single Day (Saturday 4 May 2024, no gondola access)Access to the Event Village and track on Saturday 4 May  Adult Single Day (Sunday 5 May 2024, no gondola access)Access to the Event Village and track on Sunday 5 MayChild Single Day (Saturday 4 May 2024, no gondola access)Access to the Event Village and track on Saturday 4 May  Child Single Day (Sunday 5 May 2024, no gondola access)Access to the Event Village and track on Sunday 5 May  To find out more go to our Fort William event page or follow @mtbws_fortwilliam to stay up to date with all the latest event information. Taking place from the 3 - 5 May 2024, the UCI Mountain Bike World Series Fort William is the official season opener for the UCI Downhill World Cup and is supported by EventScotland, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Highland Council. Secure your tickets to be trackside at the biggest UK race of the year.

The 2023 season of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series was undoubtedly one for the history books! Fierce battles and dominant performances filled the year with excitement and 'edge of your seat' racing that not even the brightest minds could've ever predicted. Sit back and enjoy the 2023 season recap of nail-biting racing across the globe from the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup.

Rónán Dunne has become the latest big name to announce that he has signed to race the 2024 UCI Downhill World Cup for Mondraker Factory Racing.The Irishman notched a second place in Snowshoe, WV last season to confirm himself as one of the very fastest riders in the world. Dunne's name was one of the most talked about during the off-season with many insiders touting him as departing Continental Nukeproof as early as the final round of last season in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec.Mondraker Factory Racing announced last week that they would be confirming their three-rider squad over the next seven days. Dunne joins the 2023 UCI Downhill Junior World Cup overall title holder, Ryan Pinkerton, as the second of those. The name third is to be announced in the coming days.Don't forget to stay tuned to the website for all the latest team and rider news as we get ready to go racing at round one in Fort William, Scotland 03-05 May.

The 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Series felt at times like it was attempting to boast more news stories than the combined efforts of the last decade. The racing was fast and frenetic, right from the off in Nové Město na Moravě in Czechia. In both the Cross-country Olympic and Cross-country short track overall title races bright, new stars tussled with the big named establishment and visiting super-talents.   Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) battled the previous double overall title holder Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon Swiss Mountain Bike Race Team) right to the final round. Whilst in the elite men’s title stakes, Nino Shurter (Scott SRAM MTB Racing) did battle with just about everyone including Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV), Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) and Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon Swiss Mountain Bike Race Team).  On the off chance that you missed last season’s racing we’ll not go into details suffice to say that you can now catch up on all of 2023’s unrivalled UCI Mountain Bike World Series season from the comfort of your own sofa. Don’t forget that the first round of this year’s Endurance race schedule gets underway in Mairiporã, Brazil 12-14 April.