After an Italian triple bill in Val di Sole - Trentino, Val di Fassa – Trentino and La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns to the Pyrenees with the UCI Cross-country and Downhill World Cups taking to the trails of Pal Arinsal, Andorra.

We look at everything you need to know about the Pal Arinsal – Andorra round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series races, including when the Cross-county Short Track (XCC), Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Downhill events are scheduled to take place, who is racing, and how to watch.

WHEN?

The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Pal Arinsal, Andorra starts with the Women Elite UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup at 09:45 (UTC+2) on Friday, July 11 and concludes with the Men U23 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup at 15:30 (UTC+2) on Sunday, July 13.

Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST):

Friday, July 11

• 09:45 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite
• 10:25 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite
• 11:20 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Women U23
• 12:00 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup | Men U23

• 10:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite
• 10:55 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite
• 12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior
• 12:20 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior
• 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite
• 13:20 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men Elite

Saturday, July 12

• 10:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite
• 11:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite

Sunday, July 13

• 09:00 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women U23
• 11:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Women Elite
• 13:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men Elite
• 15:30 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup | Men U23

WHERE CAN I WATCH?

There will be several ways to watch the action unfold at Andorra’s only UCI Cross-country and Downhill World Cups of the 2025 season.

The UCI Downhill World Cup Qualification day can be followed on live timing and across social media.

For the sixth UCI Cross-country Olympic, Cross-country Short Track and Downhill World Cups of the season, you can watch the Elite finals live anywhere in the world on one of the below channels or streaming services:

North America

• Canada – Flosports
• USA – HBO Max

South & Central America

• All Central and South American territories – MTBWS TV 

Asia

• Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – Eurosport
• China - Zhibo.TV (Only Elite Downhill races live)
• All other Asian territories – MTBWS TV

Oceania

• Australia – Stan Sport
• New Zealand – MTBWS TV

Africa

• All African territories – MTBWS TV

Europe

• Andorra – HBO Max, Eurosport, ATV
• Austria – discovery+, Eurosport
• Belgium – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max, Eurosport
• Bulgaria – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Croatia – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Czechia – HBO Max, Eurosport, CT Sport+ (only Elite XCO and XCC races live)
• Denmark – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Faroe Islands – HBO Max, Eurosport
• France – HBO Max, Eurosport and La Chaine L’Equipe (Only Women Elite XCO race live)
• Germany – discovery+, Eurosport
• Hungary – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Ireland – TNT Sports
• Italy – discovery+, Eurosport
• Moldova – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Montenegro – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Netherlands – HBO Max, Eurosport
• North Macedonia – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Norway – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Poland – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Portugal – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Romania – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Serbia – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Slovakia – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Slovenia – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Spain – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Sweden – HBO Max, Eurosport
• Switzerland – MTBWS TV , SRF/RSI (only Elite XCO and XCC races live online)
• Türkiye – HBO Max, Eurosport
• United Kingdom – discovery+, TNT Sports
• All other European territories – MTBWS TV

RIDERS TO WATCH

In Downhill, all eyes are on whether Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) can break Aaron Gwin’s (Gwin Racing) 13-year record for most back-to-back wins (four). The Canadian equalled Gwin’s 2012 accomplishment at La Thuile – Valle D’Aosta (Italy), and is dominant form – the 21-year-old also qualifying fastest at the last two rounds. 

Loris Vergier (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) came closest to keeping Goldstone out of the hot seat in the Italian Alps, and the Frenchman will fancy his chances in his team’s home race – the reigning UCI Downhill World Champion the most successful male rider on the current course, earning his rainbow stripes in the Pal Arinsal Bike Park’s race track last year, as well as winning his last UCI World Cup at the venue back in 2022.

Elsewhere, Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) can never be written off, Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) appears to be superhuman after finishing in the top 10 two weeks after breaking his collarbone, and wildcard entrant Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing - SR Suntour) was the last victor when the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series visited in 2023.

In the women’s competition, Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate) became the fourth different winner of the series in La Thuile. The German also won in Pal Arinsal – Andorra back in 2023, so will be eyeing first-ever back-to-back wins.

One rider to stand on the Andorran topspot more recently than Hoffmann is current series leader Valentina Höll. The Austrian secured her third rainbow jersey in the Pyrenees last August, and is looking to break a winless UCI World Cup record that stretches back to June 2024.

Other riders likely to contest for the podium include two-time UCI World Cup winner Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division), a resurgent Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea/FMD Racing) and winner in Val di Sole, Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team).

The Downhill action is the filling in a Cross-country sandwich, and both the XCC and XCO are nicely poised as each series enters its second half. 

In Friday’s XCC, it’s hard to look beyond Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Both riders have dominated the short track, winning every race that they’ve entered this year, with Blevins in particular out to set a six-in-a-row streak that is unlikely to ever be emulated. The pairs’ most likely challengers are the current UCI XCC World Champions Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli), but both specialists have been unable to handle the pace of the runaway winners.

On Sunday, things are likely to be a bit more competitive on Pal Arinsal’s high-altitude XCO course. In the mens’ racing, Olympic Champion Thomas Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) will line up for his first UCI World Cup of the season and is an automatic favourite on his de facto home track – the Brit basing himself in Andorra. Expect him to push current series leader Blevins, round one winner Koretzky and Val di Sole victor Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing), even if he won’t start from the front of the grid.

Another rider who can’t be overlooked is Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). The Swiss veteran has four wins to his name in Pal Arinsal - Andorra, and will be hoping for a fifth (and a record 37th overall) on his 130th start.

While there’s no Pidcock equivalent to shake things up in the women’s XCO, another ‘P’ – Pieterse – starts as favourite. As well as dominating the short track, the Dutchwoman has backed up her XCO UCI World Champion status, winning the last two rounds in Saalfelden-Leogang – Salzburgerland (Austria) and Val di Sole. She secured her rainbow jersey on the trails of Pal Arinsal - Andorra, so has shown she’s more than capable on one of the circuit’s most difficult courses.

Series leader Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Factory Racing) is the most likely to challenge Pieterse for the podium, while Anne Terpstra(Ghost Factory Racing) is an outside bet – the Dutch rider the most successful women’s rider at the venue with two UCI XCO World Cup wins.

Racing gets underway on Friday, July 11 in Pal Arinsal – Andorra.

Full schedule and event details are available HERE.