June 18, 2025 – Following an action-packed weekend in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland, Austria, the UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads south to the renowned trails of Val di Sole – Trentino. While Enduro riders take a well-earned break, the world’s best Cross-country and Downhill athletes prepare for another fierce round of competition in Italy’s iconic mountain biking arena.
A Legendary Venue in the Italian Alps
Nestled in the heart of the Italian Alps, Val di Sole has long held a reputation as a mountain biking mecca. Since hosting the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2008, the venue has become a fixture on the World Cup calendar, thrilling fans and challenging athletes with its demanding courses.
This weekend, the UCI Downhill World Cup returns to the formidable Black Snake track. Widely considered one of the toughest in the series, the trail is infamous for its twisting, root-covered terrain and steep gradients. Spanning 2.1 kilometers with an average gradient of 24% and a vertical drop of 550 meters, the Black Snake tests even the most technically skilled riders—especially in wet conditions.
Meanwhile, the Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Short Track (XCC) races will push athletes through some of Val di Sole Bike Park’s most punishing climbs and descents. The 3.54-kilometer Olympic course, refreshed in 2024, remains a brutal test with 224 meters of climbing. The Short Track circuit, just 940 meters long, shifts the focus back to flat, fast-paced racing after the elevation-heavy challenge in Austria.
Pieterse Returns in Dominant Form
Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) may have missed the first two rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to concentrate on road racing, but she’s quickly made up for lost time. The reigning XCO World Champion claimed a commanding double victory in Cross-country Olympic and Short Track in the previous round, adding to her earlier XCC win in Nové Město na Moravě, Czechia.
Pieterse also has strong history in Val di Sole, finishing second in 2024 and winning in 2023 during her Elite campaigns. She enters the Italian round with confidence and momentum.
Her closest challenger could be Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), who has put together a consistent run with three straight second-place finishes following a win in the opening round. Other podium contenders include Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC) and Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO), both of whom have shown the form to take top honors this season.
Blevins Looks to Bounce Back in Trentino
On the men’s side, series leader Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) will be looking to rebound after a disappointing result in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland. The American struggled in challenging conditions and finished 17th—his lowest placing of the 2025 season and his first time outside the top two.
However, the competition will be fierce. Swiss legend Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team) leads the charge, boasting an exceptional record in Val di Sole with seven wins in nine starts. The remaining two were a second and a third. Schurter consistently raises his game for this venue and will likely put pressure on Blevins from the start.
Also in the hunt are Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) and Ondrej Cink (Cube Factory Racing), the only other male riders with World Cup wins in 2025. Koretzky withdrew from the Austrian round but will aim to make a strong statement as the season nears its midpoint. Cink, meanwhile, secured a milestone win in Saalfelden Leogang – Salzburgerland—his first XCO World Cup victory in 12 years. With confidence riding high, the Czech athlete could be poised to go two-for-two.
The Battle Intensifies in Italy
As the UCI Mountain Bike World Series rolls into its second leg of a three-week racing stretch in Italy, the stakes are rising. With athletes eager to solidify their standings and gain momentum heading into the heart of the season, Val di Sole promises intense action across all categories. Whether tackling the perilous descents of the Black Snake or battling for seconds on the revamped Olympic loop, riders will face some of the most punishing yet rewarding challenges of the year.
The countdown to another unforgettable weekend of World Cup mountain biking has begun.