While it might seem like the cycling spotlight belongs to the road racers and Grand Tours during the spring and summer, the one-day classics and three-week marathons aren’t the only action happening on two wheels.
The calendar actually is filled with countless opportunities for athletes in other disciplines to compete in top-tier events, and one of those competitions is right around the corner.
The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will take place Aug. 26-30 in Val di Sole, Italy, and riders in five categories will battle for medals and coveted rainbow jerseys.
Whether your allegiance is to the mountain bikes, or you just love thrilling races and national pride, you won’t want to miss the live coverage from Italy. And we’re about to tell you why.
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Fans in the United States and Canada can watch three full days of competition on FloBikes and the FloSports app (Aug. 27, 29 and 30).
The 2026 Mountain Bike World Championships will feature Cross-Country Olympic (XCO), Cross-Country Team Relay (XCR), Cross-Country Short Track (XCC), Downhill (DHI) and Electric-MTB, with the participants divided by age and gender.
Three finishers in each race will represent their countries on the podium, and each world champion will earn a rainbow jersey to wear until the next MTB World Championships.
This year’s visit to Val di Sole is the area’s fourth opportunity to play host, along with 2008, 2016 and 2021. The inaugural MTB Worlds took place in Durango, Colorado, in 1990.
With a full slate of races and events happening throughout August, including the final Grand Tour of the year, the 21-stage Vuelta a España from Aug. 22-Sept. 13, what makes the Mountain Bike World Championships a can’t-miss event?
The Mountain Bike World Championships Is Ever-Changing
Even if you’ve been a longtime follower of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, the event is ever-changing, new stars are emerging, amazing venues are visited and revisited and the competition never disappoints.
Mountain Bike Worlds was held for the first time (under the UCI umbrella) in 1990, with cross-country Olympic and downhill as the featured disciplines. Medals were awarded in both for men and women, as well as a junior downhill competition.
Five countries medaled in the inaugural edition, and the host nation topped the medal table with four gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Canada and Great Britain were the next-closest, earning two medals each.
Different competitions have come and gone over the years, including a mountain bike marathon, dual slalom and more, though some have become part of their own, or other, world championships.
The original races, however, remain part of the foundation of the MTB World Championships and have been contested every year.
Amazing Views And Challenging Terrain In Host Country Of Italy
Val di Sole is a hotbed for mountain biking and a popular destination for recreational riders, the world’s top competitors and everyone in between.
During the warmer months of the year, the area frequently welcomes professional and world-level races where entrants all hope to charm the infamous “Black Snake,” one of the toughest and most demanding downhill tracks in the world.
However, it’s just a small part of the vast Val di Sole BikeLand, which offers unforgettable biking opportunities for riders of all disciplines, ages and skill levels.
There area has two bike parks, 35 kilometers of bike paths, skill spots, pump tracks for beginners, more than 20 routes and over 300 kilometers of trails for mountain biking and a handful of steep and challenging hills for those who prefer road racing.
For tourists in general, Val di Sole offers beautiful scenery, mountain views, lush forests, rafting on the Noce River.
Obviously, viewers at home won’t be able to be able to breathe in the crisp mountain air, but they certainly can kick back and enjoy the stunning backdrop, while being amazed by the talent and skills of the best mountain bikers from across the globe.
Who knows, perhaps watching from thousands of miles away will create FOMO for the fans at home, and they’ll want to make the trip next time a major event is held there. The setup is convenient for athletes and fans, and it allows everyone to enjoy all aspects of the experience and diverse agenda without having to change locations.
Check out the course map for each discipline here.
Mountain Bike World Championships Is About National Pride
Besides the types of bikes and the layout of the courses, another difference between the MTB World Championships and La Vuelta is that riders at the MTB Worlds are there representing their home nations and federations, rather than riding for specific teams.
At the 2025 Mountain Bike World Championships, held in Switzerland, riders from 21 counties took home medals. France topped the list with 19 overall and was followed by Canada (eight) and the United States (six).
The 27 gold medals up for grabs last year were earned by 10 countries – Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, New Zealand, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.
No matter where you come from, there are few things more special than seeing someone from your homeland stand atop the podium while your national anthem is played. And, with the next Olympics still a couple years away, this a perfect opportunity to get out your country’s flag and your favorite national gear – and cheer your head off.
Though the official entry list for the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships has not yet been revealed, countries are beginning to announce who will be representing them in Italy.
You Get To Watch The Best On The Planet Do Their Thing At The MTB World Championships
Like any sport, mountain biking has its stars, and having five disciplines at one event means more specialists or getting to see some incredible versatility.
A perfect example is Canada’s Isabella Holmgren, who took home two gold medals at last year’s World Championships. She won the U23 Cross-Country Short Track and Cross-country Olympic events.
She’s still just 21, but her success already spans cyclo-cross, mountain biking and road racing. Most recently, she finished seventh overall and claimed the white jersey for the best young rider at the 2026 women’s Giro d’Italia.
There also are many more established competitors who have crossed back and forth between the different styles of riding, including Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel, who actually is a rider of all trades. He has found success in cyclo-cross, mountain biking, gravel events and road races.
France’s Julian Alaphilippe emerged as a cyclo-cross standout around 2010 and started his road racing career a couple years later.
On the women’s side, French star Pauline Ferrand-Prevot showed her versatility by becoming the first rider to hold the road, cyclo-cross and mountain bike world championships at the same time.
Other names that would be familiar to mountain biking fans and those who follow the Grand Tours and other road races would be Tom Pidcock, Peter Sagan and Marianne Vos.
Vos is a multi-time cyclo-cross world champion, a gravel world champion, stage winner at all three Grand Tours and a three-time GC winner at the Giro d’Italia.
Among the riders to potentially keep an eye out for at the 2026 MTB World Championships are Holmgren, South African crossover star and two-time defending champion in the men’s Cross-country Olympic Alan Hatherly, reigning men’s Cross-country Short Track winner Victor Koretzky of France and 2025 men’s Enduro champion Richard Rude Jr. of the United States.
However, until the team members have been announced for the participating countries, it’s all just blind speculation and anticipation at this point. You’ll have to tune in to see it all unfold.
There’s No Shortage Of Drama And Adrenaline At The MTB World Championships
You don’t have to be an expert in the nuances of mountain biking or the 35-year history of the Mountain Bike World Championships to appreciate the excitement, drama, speed, adrenaline, strategy, danger and skill that go into a downhill run against the best riders in the world. Or the endurance required to outlast accomplished veterans and up-and-comers alike.
The top competitors each country has to offer will be racing each other or the clock, and with so many races and days of competition, there will be an abundance of thrills and spills.
Will France’s Loïc Bruni be back in action after a recent crash to see if he can hold his own on Black Snake?
Will Switzerland’s Nino Schurter be back to claim a record-extending 11th Cross-country Olympic title? He won in Val di Sole in 2016 and 2021.
No matter how many times the competitors may have seen the terrain, things easily could’ve changed. The smallest split-second decision could make all the difference. Weather could play a factor. A tiny lapse in concentration could spell disaster. A fearless maneuver could determine the next world champion.
How To Watch The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
For viewers in the United States and Canada, the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will be streaming on FloBikes and the FloSports app on Aug. 27, 29 and 30.
Highlights, race replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms.
What Are The Categories For The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships?
XCO – Cross-Country Olympic
- Men Elite – Ages 23 and over
- Men Under 23 – Ages 19 to 22
- Women Elite – Ages 23 and over
- Women Under 23 – Ages 19 to 22
- Men Junior – Ages 17 and 18
- Women Junior – Ages 17 and 18
XCR – Cross-Country Team Relay
- Mixed Team – Ages 17 and over
XCC – Cross-Country Short Track
- Men Elite – Ages 23 and over
- Women Elite – Ages 23 and over
- Men Under 23 – Ages 19 to 22
- Women Under 23 – Ages 19 to 22
DHI – Downhill
- Men Elite – Ages 19 and over
- Women Elite – Ages 19 and over
- Men Junior – Ages 17 and 18
- Women Junior – Ages 17 and 18
E-XC – Electric Cross-Country
- Men – Ages 19 and over
- Women – Ages 19 and over
2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Broadcast Schedule
*All Times Eastern
Thursday, Aug. 27
- 11:35 a.m.–12:16 p.m. – Women Elite Cross-country Short Track
- 12:20–1:55 p.m. – Men Elite Cross-country Short Track, followed by podiums
Saturday, Aug. 29
- 7:10–9 a.m. – Women Elite Downhill
- 9:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. – Men Elite Downhill TOP 40, followed by podiums
Sunday, Aug. 30
- 6:50–8:35 a.m. – Women Elite Cross-country Olympic
- 9:05–11:45 a.m. – Men Elite Cross-country Olympic, followed by Elite Women/Men podium
2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Complete Schedule
*All Times Eastern
Wednesday, Aug. 26
- 4 a.m. – Women Elite E-MTB Cross-country
- 5:30 a.m. – Men Elite E-MTB Cross-country
- 11 a.m. – Mixed Team Relay
Thursday, Aug. 27
- 3:30 a.m. – Women Junior Cross-country Olympic
- 5 a.m. – Men Junior Cross-country Olympic
- 9:30 a.m. – Women U23 Cross-country Short Track
- 10:30 a.m. – Men U23 Cross-country Short Track
- 11:45 a.m. – Women Elite Cross-country Short Track
- 12:30 p.m. – Men Elite Cross-country Short Track
Friday, Aug. 28
- 4:30 a.m. – Women Junior Downhill – Qualification
- 10 a.m. – Women Elite Downhill – Qualification
- TBA – Men Junior Downhill – Qualification
- TBA – Men Elite Downhill – Qualification
Saturday, Aug. 29
- 3:15 a.m. – Women Junior Downhill – Final
- 4 a.m. – Men Junior Downhill – Final
- 7:20 a.m. – Women Elite Downhill – Final
- 9 a.m. – Men Elite Downhill – Final
Sunday, Aug. 30
- 3 a.m. – Women Under 23 Cross-country Olympic
- 5 a.m. – Men Under 23 Cross-country Olympic
- 7 a.m. – Women Elite Cross-country Olympic
- 9:15 a.m. – Men Elite Cross-country Olympic
The time difference from Italy (CEST) to Eastern Daylight Time is six hours.
Who Were The Winners At The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships?
Men’s Events
- Cross-Country Marathon – Keegan Swenson, United States
- Downhill – Jackson Goldstone, Canada
- Electric Cross-Country – Jerome Gilloux, France
- Electric MTB Enduro – Adrien Dailly, France
- Enduro – Richard Rude Jr., United States
- Pump Track – Eddy Clerté, France
- Cross-Country Short Track – Victor Koretzky, France
- Cross-Country Olympic – Alan Hatherly, South Africa
Women’s Events
- Cross-Country Marathon – Kate Courtney, United States
- Downhill – Valentina Höll, Austria
- Electric Cross-Country – Anna Spielmann, Austria
- Electric MTB Enduro – George Swift, New Zealand
- Enduro – Elly Hoskin, Canada
- Pump Track – Sabina Košárková, Czech Republic
- Cross-Country Short Track – Alessandra Keller, Switzerland
- Cross-Country Olympic – Jenny Rissveds, Sweden
Mixed Relay
- Mixed Cross-Country Team Relay – France
Under-23 and Junior Events
- Men Under-23 Cross-Country Short Track – Adrien Boichis, France
- Men Under-23 Cross-Country Olympic – Finn Treudler, Switzerland
- Men Junior Cross-Country Olympic – Lucas Teste, France
- Men Junior Downhill – Max Alran, France
- Men Junior Enduro – Melvin Almueis, France
- Women Under-23 Cross-Country Short Track – Isabella Holmgren, Canada
- Women Under-23 Cross-Country Olympic – Isabella Holmgren, Canada
- Women Junior Cross-Country Olympic – Maruša Tereza Šerkezi, Slovenia
- Women Junior Downhill – Rosa Zierl, Austria
- Women Junior Enduro – Nežka Libnik, Slovenia
Why 2026 Is Finally Tadej Pogacar’s Vuelta a España Year
Tadej Pogačar is returning to the Vuelta a España for the first time since 2019, when he won three stages and finished third overall as a 20-year-old.
Now, he comes back as the biggest rider in the sport.
We break down why 2026 is finally the right year for Pogačar’s Vuelta return. If he wins, he completes the set of all three Grand Tours.
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