The Great Expansion: UCI Adds New Venues for 2026 World Series
The UCI Mountain Bike World Series is getting a serious global upgrade for 2026. The calendar will feature 14 race weekends across three continents and nine countries. It is expanding its reach with new venues that have strong Olympic pedigrees. This isn’t just about adding new places to ride, it's about pushing the sport into fresh territory. Riders will get a chance to compete on tracks they’ve never seen before. It’s the kind of shake-up that gets us stoked.
The Return to the West and Beyond
The big news dropped recently, confirming that the series will include new stops in Soldier Hollow, Utah, and PyeongChang, South Korea. For the first time in 25 years, the World Cup is returning to Asia, with South Korea hosting both Cross-country (XCO, XCC) and Downhill (DHI) races at the MONA YongPyong venue, which previously hosted the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. This is a huge move to tap into the Asian market and a nod to a truly global competition. The downhill course in PyeongChang is expected to be a fresh challenge for riders, and we're pumped to see how they tackle it.
On the home front, the series is returning to the American West in a big way. The cross-country races will take place on the high-altitude trails of Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. This venue is no stranger to world-class competition, having hosted the 2024 Pan American Mountain Bike Championships. With its unique terrain and preparation for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games, Soldier Hollow is a perfect fit for a series always chasing the best and gnarliest lines. Riders like Nick Clark and other TGR athletes have shredded trails in the Wasatch before. Now, fans get to see the best of the best take on that same high-desert chunder.
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Ripping the New Circuits
The new UCI schedule for 2026 is an absolute banger, and it's not just about the new locations. It's a clear sign that the sport is evolving, bringing the best riders to more diverse terrain than ever before. The series keeps its classic European venues, but now with a fresh global twist. The Downhill stop in Whistler is a massive win for fans and riders alike, bringing a legendary course back into the spotlight. The season finale in Lake Placid, New York, will cap off what's sure to be a wild season of racing. This is more than just a calendar update; it's a major step for the sport, expanding its reach to new destinations. The UCI and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports are committed to expanding the series to new destinations, ensuring that the best athletes in the world are competing on a global stage. We're ready for it.
