The 2026 XCO World Cup season did not ease into things. It dropped straight into a mud bath.
Heavy rain turned the opening round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series into a slow-motion grind on Saturday, where traction was optional and running was often faster than riding. Through it all, Switzerland’s Sina Frei and Dario Lillo came out on top, each earning their first career XCO World Cup wins.
Frei times it right in elite women’s battle
Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds looked to repeat her performance in last year’s Mont Sainte Anne race, opening a 25-second gap on the first lap. But the effort caught up to her. Sina Frei clawed her way back, dropping Savilia Blunk before linking up with Rissveds and American Madigan Munro at the front.
Behind that front group, Canada’s Jennifer Jackson quietly put together one of the more controlled rides of the day. The Orbea Fox Factory Team rider was at the front of the race during the entire day and ended up with an impressive fourth place. A great first round for Jackson.
A race decided as much on foot as on bike
The course dictated everything.
Riders slipped out in groups, with crashes often triggering chain reactions on the descents. Running lines became the fastest option in key sections, turning the race into a hybrid of cross-country and cyclocross.
Frei credited patience and equipment for the win after finally breaking through.
“Finally,” she said. “Patience was crucial for sure today, and for me it was important to try and ride my own race.”
It showed. While others forced moves early, Frei waited, managed the chaos and executed when it counted.
Canadians grind through opening round
Jackson led the Canadian effort in the elite women’s race.
Emilly Johnston ended up in 41st place.
On the men’s side, Cole Punchard was looking strong, early in the race. Sitting in the top ten on lap number one, but a rear flat changed that. Incredibly, he lost about ten places, but slowly worked back to the front, resulting in a seventh place finsih. And incredible round for Punchard. If he can get through a race without a mechanical, he’s strong enough to be right a podium contender.
Gunnar Holmgren ended up in 38th place with Tyler Orschel in 39th.
Carter Woods ended up in the pits with a bleeding nose at some point, before finighin in 51st place.
A season that starts the hard way
There are easier ways to open a World Cup. This was not one of them.
The first-ever XCO World Cup stop in Asia…
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