Wilier-Vittoria: UCI MTB World Championships 2026,Val di Sole - Preview

Riding the wave of an outstanding weekend in Les Gets, the Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team is finally ready for the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. The Worlds always bring an extra level of excitement and motivation, but this time there is something even more special for the Wilier-Vittoria riders: the support of a home crowd in Val di Sole. Racing gets underway tomorrow, Wednesday 26 August, and runs through Sunday 30 August.

The heart of the cross-country action will be Daolasa di Commezzadura, a well-established venue on the international mountain bike scene. The XCO circuit is approximately 3.5 kilometres long, with 150 metres of elevation gain per lap, combining demanding climbs, forest sections, roots, rocks and the venue’s signature rock garden. For the World Championships, the course has been made more compact: several short climbs and descents have been combined into a single trail, while the final section now features a pump-track segment, a new climb and two drops made of wood and stone. The finish area has also been redesigned, with a longer and more visible finishing straight.

The Short Track will use a shorter, tighter layout designed to produce fast and fiercely contested racing. Its configuration around the four-cross area and fan zones will also give spectators an excellent view of the action, with almost the entire race visible from the finish area.

The Wilier-Vittoria riders will race aboard the brand-new Wilier URTA Ultimate, officially unveiled to the public just a few hours ago. Almost the entire squad will be representing their respective national teams, with only Elian Paccagnella missing. Simone Avondetto, who has looked particularly strong in recent races, will lead the Italian charge, alongside Luca Braidot, fresh from his impressive comeback in Les Gets, and Juri Zanotti, who will be the first Wilier-Vittoria rider in action in Wednesday’s Team Relay.

The Danish jerseys will also be well worth watching. Sofie Heby Pedersen will line up in the Elite women’s races, while her brother Gustav Heby Pedersen will compete in the U23 men’s category. Gustav, in particular, arrives in Val di Sole in outstanding form and full of confidence after his XCC-XCO double victory in Les Gets, making him one of the riders to watch closely this week.

And keep an eye on Ella MacPhee too. Racing in Canadian colours in the U23 women’s category, she heads into the World Championships with every reason to set her sights on a medal.