Les Gets 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup: XCC Short Track Showdown
The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Les Gets, France, unfolded with intense Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) racing on August 21. The event showcased the world’s elite riders battling through challenging wet conditions on a 1.2 km circuit, with each race lasting approximately 20 minutes. (pinkbike.com)
U23 Women’s Race
The U23 Women’s race saw Valentina Corvi clinch victory with a time of 22:03, narrowly ahead of Monique Halter, who finished 4 seconds behind. Anina Hutter secured third place, just 5 seconds off the pace. The top five were rounded out by Lisa Kristine Jorde and Rafaelle Kellerman, who finished 10 and 21 seconds behind Corvi, respectively. (pinkbike.com)
U23 Men’s Race
In the U23 Men’s category, Gustav Heby Pedersen emerged victorious with a time of 21:43. Paul Schehl followed closely, finishing 3 seconds behind, while Benjamin Krüger took third, 5 seconds off the leader. Alix Andre-Gallis and Alejandro Garcia Vazquez completed the top five, finishing 6 and 13 seconds behind Pedersen, respectively. (pinkbike.com)
Elite Women’s Race
The Elite Women’s race was marked by fierce competition. Sina Frei of Switzerland, fresh off her European Championship victory, demonstrated her prowess by securing the win. She was closely followed by Jenny Rissveds and Alessandra Keller, who finished second and third, respectively. Evie Richards and Sofie Pedersen rounded out the top five, showcasing the depth of talent in the field. (cyclingnews.com)
Elite Men’s Race
The Elite Men’s race featured a thrilling contest between Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock. Van der Poel, returning to mountain biking after a successful Tour de France campaign, placed sixth in the 2025 Les Gets event and was using this race as preparation for the upcoming UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy. Pidcock, the 2024 Olympic and World MTB champion, remained undefeated in Nové Mesto and was a formidable opponent. The race was expected to be a closely contested battle between these two cycling titans. (cyclingnews.com)
Event Highlights
The XCC format, introduced by the UCI in 2018, serves as a placement round to determine the starting grid for Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) events. The 1.2 km circuit, completed over seven laps for women and eight for men, is designed to test riders’ speed and endurance in a short, intense race. The Les Gets course is renowned for its technical challenges and enthusiastic spectator support, adding to the event’s excitement. (lesgets.com)
For a visual overview of the Les Gets XCC course, you can watch the official course preview below:
XCC COURSE PREVIEW | Les Gets UCI Short-Track World Cup