Round 2 of the 2026 WHOOP UCI MTB World Cup heads to the Czech Republic this weekend as the series makes its first European stop at the iconic Vysočina Arena in Nové Město na Moravě. After the drama and mud of the Korean opener, the Bohemian pine forests offer a very different challenge - loamy trails, tight technical sections and the kind of atmosphere that has made this venue the most beloved on the calendar.
Full Schedule
Thursday 21st May
18:00 - XCC Women Junior
18:35 - XCC Men Junior
Friday 22 May
17:15 - XCC Women U23
18:05 - XCC Men U23
Saturday 23 May
09:00 - UCI Junior Series Race: Men
11:20 - XCC Women Elite
12:10 - XCC Men Elite
14:00 - XCO Women U23
16:00 - XCO Men U23
Sunday 24 May
10:00 - UCI Junior Series Race: Women
12:00 - XCO Women Elite
15:00 - XCO Men Elite
All times Central European Time (Prague).
The Big Story - Pidcock and Pieterse Return
The two biggest names in the sport are back. Tom Pidcock and Puck Pieterse are both confirmed for Sunday's XCO races, transforming an already compelling weekend into one of the most anticipated rounds of the season.
For Pidcock, this will be his first World Cup since winning in Andorra last July and his first time back at Nové Město in nearly two years. The Briton has an extraordinary record here — he has won every elite XCO race he has contested at this venue, taking four successive victories between 2021 and 2024. On Sunday he will be looking to equal Nino Schurter's record of five wins at the Czech venue. His spring road season included a stunning sprint at Milan-San Remo and a stage win at the Tour of the Alps — form that suggests he arrives in good shape.
Pieterse returns after a strong spring on the road — she posted second places at La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège before turning her attention back to the trails. She won the XCC here in 2025 and has an XCO victory at the venue too.
Mathieu van der Poel has been mentioned as a possibility, but nothing's confirmed yet. He is sure to be targeting the MTB World Championships in Val di Sole later this season.
Women Elite - Frei vs Pieterse
Sina Frei arrives off the back of a perfect Korea weekend - XCC and XCO victories in difficult muddy conditions. She will be the rider to beat. But Pieterse changes everything. The former world champion has won here before and has an explosive style that suits this fast, technical circuit.
Jenny Rissveds - reigning World Champion and pre-season title favourite - will be eager to make her presence felt after Korea. Evie Richards, second in the Korean XCC, is another name to watch on terrain that suits her aggressive riding.
Men Elite - Pidcock vs Lillo
Dario Lillo announced himself to the elite World Cup in emphatic fashion at the Korean opener, winning in the mud for what was reportedly Switzerland's 80th elite men's XCO World Cup victory. Now the 23-year-old Giant Factory rider faces the ultimate test of his credentials — a dry, fast circuit and a returning Pidcock who has never lost here.
Mathis Azzaro won the XCC in Korea before a disastrous tyre change in the XCO cost him all his time. He arrives with a point to prove. Charlie Aldridge took a brilliant third in Korea for Britain and will be looking to build on that result on a course where he has performed well previously.
Defending overall champion Christopher Blevins does not start, having broken his collarbone in a training crash before the Korean XCO.
Although Mathieu van der Poel is on the start list, his team has confirmed he will not race.
Junior Racing
Nové Město is the only World Cup venue to also host Junior XC racing, making it a landmark weekend for the next generation. Junior Men race on Saturday morning with Junior Women on Sunday morning - both integrated into the full World Cup programme alongside the elite fields.
The Venue
The Vysočina Arena and its surrounding pine forest trails sit just outside Nové Město na Moravě in the Czech Highlands. The circuit is renowned for its loamy, rooty character - grippy in the dry, unforgiving when wet. Several signature technical sections have become famous among regular visitors, and the course's natural flow makes it one of the best for spectating anywhere on the calendar. The 2025 edition attracted 24,000 spectators over the weekend. With good weather forecast for the weekend, conditions should be fast.
Follow the Race on the XCOMTB App
The XCOMTB app is now live on the App Store. Get live standings, full results, race previews and push notifications for every round of the 2026 World Cup — all in one place. The Race Predictor will open soon for Nové Město — pick your XCO podium before Sunday's races and compete on the leaderboard.
Download free: XCOMTB on the App Store
How to Watch
Coverage is available via the UCI MTB World Series website and app, with full broadcast details by country at ucimtbworldseries.com/watch. Full results, reaction and reports will be published on XCOMTB.COM throughout the weekend.