The action kicks off in Saalfelden Leogang on Friday with the Cross-Country Short Track events – the first of a total of twelve World Cup decisions across three different mountain bike formats. Among the men, Christopher Blevins has been the dominant force this Cross-Country season. The American rider remains undefeated since early April, having won the last four races (XCO and XCC). With another XCC win on Friday, he could become the first rider ever to claim victory in the opening four rounds of this format in a single season. From an Austrian perspective, Max Foidl will unfortunately miss his home World Cup due to a collarbone fracture, as will Mario Bair, who had been set to compete in Sunday’s Olympic-distance race.
Among the women, Evie Richards and Puck Pieterse have claimed the Cross-Country Short Track wins so far this season. Richards, from the UK, scored a double victory in Brazil, while Dutch rider Pieterse triumphed in Nové Město. Austrian fans will have their eyes on Mona Mitterwallner, Laura Stigger, and Tamara Wiedmann in Friday’s short track sprints. In the U23 short track category, Carinthian rider Katharina Sadik has been turning heads, opening her season with impressive second- and third-place finishes in Brazil, followed by a strong fifth in Nové Město. Katrin Embacher is also seen as a top-ten contender.
All or Nothing in Downhill – It All Comes Down to the Day’s Performance
Downhill action also takes center stage on Friday with two qualifying runs. This season’s new two-stage qualification system is creating more excitement and fairness. After the first run (Q1), the 20 fastest men and 10 fastest women qualify directly for the final. In a second run (Q2), the remaining final spots are determined (10 men, 5 women). The previous “protection” rule is gone – meaning only the day's performance counts. A total of 30 men and 15 women will line up for the finals.
Favorites include Amaury Pierron and last year’s winner Loïc Bruni, who are battling it out in a fierce season rivalry. But competition is stiff: Canadian rider Jackson Goldstone made a stunning comeback last Sunday, claiming his third World Cup win after a long injury break. Austrian hopes rest on 2023 Leogang champion Andreas Kolb, who was already feeling confident during today’s training and posted the fastest time in the timed session: “The track is similar to last year. Great line choices, flowy, fun – it’s got everything.”
On the women’s side, local hero Valentina Höll is in the spotlight. After finishing second in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, she’s aiming for a Leogang hat-trick in front of her home crowd. Leading the overall standings is Brit Tahnée Seagrave, who scored a win in Poland and third place in France to earn key points. Young North American talents Gracey Hemstreet and Anna Newkirk are also showing consistent performances this season. Hemstreet recently made history with the first-ever elite women’s World Cup win for Canada.
WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Saalfelden Leogang 2025: More Than Just Racing
In addition to the races, fans can look forward to a diverse program of side events. A major highlight is set for Saturday evening (starting at 6:30 PM): the big Film Night, featuring exciting athlete interviews and a spectacular skydiving performance by Saalfelden native Peter Salzmann. The evening will include screenings of Grit & Glory (23 min) – a preview of the new Enduro docu-series – and the Jackson Goldstone film (50 min), presented by Red Bull and Shimano. Austria’s largest bike region – Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn – will take the spotlight during the Enduro competitions on Sunday. Fans can also look forward to a breathtaking Red Bull helicopter show on both Saturday and Sunday.
