A high-voltage XCO World Cup in Andorra 2025 arrives to close the first half of the season

From July 11th to 13th, the MTB World Cup lands in Pal Arinsal (Andorra), one of the most demanding and spectacular venues on the calendar, to compete in the Cross-country (XCC and XCO) and Downhill (DHI) events just before the six-week summer break. A weekend of pure MTB in the Pyrenees.

Schedule and where to watch the XCO/XCC World Cup in Andorra 2025

As usual, the elite races can be followed live through the MAX digital platform and on Eurosport. And, of course, you can follow the minute-by-minute live coverage of the XCO events for free on brujulabike.com.

Friday, July 11th – Short Track (XCC)

• 17:30 – Elite Women Short Track
• 18:10 – Elite Men Short Track

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Sunday, July 13th – Olympic Cross-country (XCO)

• 11:30 – Elite Women XCO
• 13:30 – Elite Men XCO

The Pal Arinsal circuit: the altitude challenge

Located in the heart of the Pyrenees and very close to the border with Spain, the Pal Arinsal Bike Park is located between 1550 and 2560 meters above sea level, with over 60 km of trails, 30 different lines, and a vertical drop of over 1,000 meters. Since 2008, it has been a classic for Downhill and since 2013 also for XCO, having hosted three UCI World Championships, the latest in 2024.

The Andorran circuits are considered among the toughest of the season. The short and explosive climbs through forests, the dry and technical descents, and the added difficulty of competing at altitude make this event a true physical and mental test for the world's best.

Last year, Pal Arinsal was the stage for the XCO and XCC World Championships. Victor Koretzky and Evie Richards won the Short Track, while Alan Hatherly and a spectacular Puck Pieterse, who wore the rainbow jersey for the first time, were crowned in the XCO.

Top contenders for winning the XCO in Andorra 2025

Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is the top favorite for the weekend. World champion on this same circuit last year, she has achieved doubles in Nove Mesto and Val di Sole, and her form is close to perfection. Anything other than a victory would be a surprise.

Alongside her, Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford) arrives as the overall leader and the most consistent of the year. We also cannot forget names like Jenny Rissveds (Canyon), South African Candice Lill, Laura Stigger (Specialized), or Jennifer Jackson (Orbea), who could easily fight for the podium.

A high-voltage men's race

In the men's category, Specialized Factory Racing is the team to beat, with Chris Blevins, Martin Vidaurre, and Victor Koretzky as the main contenders for the podium. But all eyes will also be on the British Tom Pidcock (Q36.5), who despite starting from the back of the grid, has already shown that he can climb back and win in these conditions.

Other names to watch out for are Swiss Fabio Püntener, revelation of the year, British Charlie Aldridge, French Mathis Azzaro, and David Valero (BH Coloma) who knows the circuit well, performs well on it, and has been preparing rigorously for this event for weeks.