The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series opened somewhere new; South Korea’s MONA YongPyong hosted the first cross-country short track World Cup of the season. Riders went from the off-season straight into race pace.
Canadians stack the U23 women’s race
If there was a Canadian highlight, it came from the women in the U23 category. Canada had three riders inside the top 10. And they were all within seconds of each other.
Ella MacPhee had the best placing of the day with a sixth place finish. She was just 41 seconds off the win. Marin Lowe followed one second back for a seventh place finish. Rafaelle Carrier rounded out the Canadian group in 10th.
The winner was Makena Kellerman of the United States, ahead of Italy’s Valentina Corvi and Switzerland’s Elina Benoit.
Men’s U23
The U23 men’s race was equally as tight. Spain’s Thibaut Fraucois Baudry took the win. Denmark’s Gustav Pedersen was back by a single second and Germany’s Paul Schehl another second back in third.
For Canada, Ian Ackert delivered a strong ride, finishing in 10th, just 18 seconds off the win. Maxime St-Onge ended up in 27th.
Elite women grind through the pack
In the elite women field, Switzerland’s Sina Frei took the win in 23:20. Britain’s Evie Richards took second and Italy’s Martina Berta took third.
For Canada, Jennifer Jackson was the top finisher in 13th, continuing to show she’s a strong contender in a very stacked field.
Emilly Johnston finished further down coming in a respectable 24th place.
Elite men go all-in
France’s Mathis Azzaro took the win. Beating Simone Avondetto, with Dario Lillo back in third.
For Canada, Carter Woods delivered the top result, crossing the line in 19th.
It was not a headline finish, but in a field this deep, it keeps him well inside the mix heading into the XCO.
Unfortuntaly, after a solid performance Cole Punchard DNF’d with a flat tire, when he was in about ninth place.
Early signals
It is still early. One race, one course, one set of conditions.
Canadian riders are present across categories. The U23 women are stacked. Woods is within reach in elite men. Jackson is holding position in a tight women’s field.
Nothing decided. Everything in play.
And with XCO still to come, the short track results are just the first piece of the weekend.
The season has started.
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