Wilier-Vittoria: UCI MTB World Series 2026, Round 5La Thuile - Preview

The UCI MTB World Series heads to Italy this weekend, and for the first time ever, La Thuile in Italy’s Aosta Valley will host a round of the series (3–5 July). Naturally, the Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team arrives highly motivated and eager to keep building momentum, boosted by the support of a home crowd that is sure to turn out in force.

A historic alpine resort in the Aosta Valley, La Thuile lies just a few kilometres from the French border, at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif and within easy reach of Chamonix, one of the world’s most iconic mountain sports destinations. While the venue hosted only downhill racing last year, 2026 marks its debut on the XCO calendar.

The cross-country course has been designed to make the most of its spectacular natural surroundings, featuring long open climbs and a combination of flowing bike-park-style descents and more traditional technical XCO sections. Among the standout features are a dramatic rock garden set to become one of the signature landmarks of the course, and a BMX-inspired section through the forest designed to reward technical skill, rhythm and precise bike handling.

For its home World Cup round, Wilier-Vittoria will line up with the same squad that competed in Lenzerheide. XCO World silver medallist Simone Avondetto, fifth in Switzerland and currently eighth in the overall World Cup standings, and Italian champion Luca Braidot will once again lead the team in the elite men’s race. They will be joined by Juri Zanotti, while Sofie Heby Pedersen, fresh from her double victory at the Danish National Championships, will represent the team in the elite women’s category.

In the U23 ranks, Gustav Heby Pedersen will be aiming for another strong result in the men’s race, while Canadian rider Ella MacPhee will target a top performance in the women’s competition. Elian Paccagnella remains sidelined as he continues to recover from mononucleosis.