The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Les Gets, France, showcased the rising talents of the U23 cross-country (XCO) circuit. Held on August 22, the event featured intense races that highlighted the competitive spirit and skill of emerging riders.
Women’s U23 Race:
Italian cyclist Valentina Corvi, representing Canyon XC Racing, clinched victory in the Women’s U23 race with a time of 1:14:16. Swiss rider Anina Hutter secured second place, finishing 35 seconds behind Corvi, while Austrian Katrin Embacher of KTM Factory MTB Racing completed the podium, trailing by 1 minute and 39 seconds. (canadiancyclist.com)
Men’s U23 Race:
In the Men’s U23 category, Danish cyclist Gustav Heby Pedersen of Wilier Vittoria emerged victorious with a time of 1:11:53. German riders Benjamin Krüger and Paul Schehl, both from Lexware MTB, claimed second and third places, respectively, with Krüger finishing just 2 seconds behind Pedersen and Schehl 17 seconds adrift. (canadiancyclist.com)
These results underscore the high level of competition and the promising future of these athletes in the world of mountain biking.
For a visual recap of the Men’s U23 XCO race, you can watch the official UCI Mountain Bike World Series video below:
Les Gets Men’s U23 XCO World Cup | UCI Mountain Bike World Series