The 2026 season kicks off with a milestone: Pyeongchang in South Korea will host the first Cross Country and Short Track World Cups in Asia as well as the first UCI Downhill World Cup on the continent in 25 years. According to Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, Pyeongchang, known as the venue for the 2018 Winter Olympics, offers the perfect backdrop for the start of the new season with its challenging terrain and first-class infrastructure.

Another highlight of the series is Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah (USA), which will host the short track and cross-country races as part of the North American leg of the series. Soldier Hollow has already proven itself at the 2024 Pan American Mountain Bike Championships and will also play a role at the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Winter Olympics.

Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: "The new venues mark an exciting step in the evolution of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. For the first time, we are bringing the cross-country format to Asia and bringing the sport to new fans. Bringing Utah into mountain biking as one of the world's leading cross-country destinations underscores our commitment to showcasing the sport at the highest level."

The exact dates for the World Cup events in South Korea and the USA will be announced in the coming weeks as part of the full WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2026 calendar.

ucimtbworldseries.com