UCI Mountain Bike World Championships 2026: Stars in action and how to watch live

The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will take place between 26-30 August in Val di Sole, Italy. 

This will be the fourth occasion the Italian destination has welcomed cyclists for this event, having also hosted in 2008, 2016, and 2021. 

It will bring together the world’s best riders to compete for rainbow jerseys across five specific disciplines: Cross-Country Olympic (XCO), Cross-Country Relay (XCR), Cross-Country Short Track (XCC), E-Mountain Bike (E-MTB), and Downhill (DHI). 

These will be further split across ages: Elite, Junior, and U23.

Val di Sole is known for its brutal climbs and technical descents, including the renowned ‘Black Snake’ downhill route. With some of the best riders taking on enthralling courses, it is set to be another unmissable five days of action. 

Read on for the full schedule, how to watch, and which stars will be on show across the women’s and men’s races. 

2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships: Stars in action

Tom Pidcock is in the fold for this year’s spectacle, aiming to replicate the kind of form that saw him clinch top spot in XCO three years ago. A two-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time World Championship medal winner in mountain bike, across three categories, the 27-year-old Brit is an obvious contender. 

South Africa’s Alan Hatherly is on the start list, looking to retain his XCO jersey from last year when he earned the rainbow jersey. He’ll also be in the mix for XCC, looking to upgrade the bronze he won in this race two years ago. 

Also competing in those two races is Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel, who made his return to the mountain bike scene lately. He will be an intriguing watch based on how well he adapts from road racing, aiming to build on his bronze from 2018. 

The 22-year-old Jackson Goldstone, a downhill specialist, will be another name eagle-eyed viewers will be looking out for. As the defending champion, the Canadian has racked up more than 20 medals of varying colours since bursting on to the scene five years ago. 

On the women’s side, Dutch rider Puck Pieterse is an obvious XCO standout. She has already clinched gold at the World Championships two years ago and will be on the start line for Cross-Country Olympic and Cross-Country Short Track. At 24, she boasts a plethora of experience across mountain bike, cyclo-cross, and road making her a formidable competitor.

Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds brings calm and experience to the start line, along with Olympic acclaim. The 31-year-old was last year’s champion, adding to her growing list of accolades, and is well suited to Val di Sole’s technically demanding courses.  

Valentina Höll, another rider aiming to defend their rainbow jersey from 2025’s outing, is a headline act when it comes to the downhill. It is a discipline she has been dominant in, with the Austrian striking the perfect balance of raw speed and composure. She’ll face stiff competition from a stacked DHI field.

READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/uci-mountain-bike-world-championships-2026-stars-full-schedule-how-to-watch