Warner Brothers, the organiser of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, announced two new venues for the 2026 season during the summer break. The race series will start in PyeongChang, South Korea, for the first time next year. The winter sports resort, which already hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics, will organise both downhill and cross-country competitions. For the cross-country discipline, this will be the first time ever that a World Cup race has been held on the Asian continent. For downhill, it is the return to Asia since the last race in Arai, Japan, in 2001.
According to unofficial information, the race will take place at the beginning of May 2026 and could possibly be a night race with special lighting for the courses - a format that has already been successfully tested at the Enduro World Cup in La Thuile.
New venue in South Korea (XCC, XCO, DH)
XC short track, cross country and a downhill World Cup will take place in PyeongChang. An enduro race, however, is not planned. Although the venue is not known for World Cup-calibre cross-country and downhill courses, the existing infrastructure from the 2018 Winter Olympics and the mountainous terrain should provide good conditions. Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, emphasises the importance of this expansion:
Today we mark an exciting step in the continued development of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series with iconic new venues joining the calendar from next season. This underlines our commitment to promoting the sport while providing the best possible racing experiences for riders, teams and fans. - Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros.
Third North American stop in Utah (XCO)
With Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, another new venue for the cross-country races has been announced. This location also has a winter sports tradition and is set to host competitions during the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Soldier Hollow has already gained experience in mountain biking, having hosted the Pan American Championships in 2024. Together with the established stops in Lake Placid and Mont-Sainte-Anne in Canada, there will therefore be three North American races on the World Cup calendar in 2026. This geographical expansion underlines the organisers' ambition to present the sport globally and open up new markets.
Strategic expansion of the UCI World Cup
The addition of new venues in Asia and the expansion of the North American programme demonstrates the strategic direction of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. "For the first time ever, we are bringing the Cross-Country Olympic format to Asia - to a venue with proven Olympic credentials - which will herald the new season and connect new fans to the sport," explains Chris Ball. "Furthermore, the addition of one of the world's leading cross-country destinations in Utah reinforces our commitment to showcasing the sport at the highest level and I am incredibly proud to bring these partnerships to life. We can't wait to unveil the full calendar soon, which will excite fans around the world."
The full race calendar for the 2026 season has not yet been published. However, fans can look forward to seeing what other innovations and possibly a return to classic venues the World Cup calendar will have in store.
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Laurin Lehner
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