Anja Grossmann and Connor Wright are crowned 2026 Junior XCO World Champions

The 2026 MTB World Championship in Val di Sole has new Junior XCO champions. The Swiss Anja Grossmann and the Australian Connor Wright dominated the two races held on Thursday morning in Daolasa, securing their respective titles with wide margins over their pursuers.

Anja Grossmann is the Junior XCO World Champion: confirms her status as a favorite and completes the European-World double

The first race of the day gathered 70 Junior riders and ended with the result that many predictions pointed to. Anja Grossmann arrived in Val di Sole after being crowned European champion and proved once again that she is one of the great references of her generation.

The Swiss rider positioned herself at the front from the very beginning, although the Czech Barbora Bukovska managed to keep in touch for a good part of the start. At the end of the first lap, there were barely nine seconds between them. The difference began to grow from there.

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Grossmann found her rhythm and progressively increased her lead until the race was practically decided before the final lap. After four laps, the Swiss crossed the finish line first, setting the best time with 57:57 minutes. Anja Grossmann was crowned the new Junior XCO World Champion with 48 seconds ahead of Bukovska.

The French Agathe Vauchamp completed the podium at 1:26, while Nikoletta Bettina Kiss and Mariachiara Signorelli took fourth and fifth places.

With this victory, Grossmann adds the world title to the European Championship and the national championship won this same season.

Top 10 Junior Women's XCO World 2026

1. Anja Grossmann (SUI) — 57:57
2. Barbora Bukovska (CZE) — +48"
3. Agathe Vauchamp (FRA) — +1:26
4. Nikoletta Bettina Kiss (HUN) — +2:42
5. Mariachiara Signorelli (ITA) — +3:18
6. Lise Revol (FRA) — +3:56
7. Daniela Gaviria Ramirez (COL) — +4:20
8. Lou-Anne Halter (SUI) — +4:44
9. Giorgia Pellizotti (ITA) — +4:46
10. Adina Daubner (GER) — +4:46

The Australian Connor Wright is crowned Junior XCO World Champion

The men's race had a similar development, although the main protagonist in this case was Connor Wright. The 18-year-old Australian confirmed in Val di Sole his progression as one of the most interesting young riders of the moment.

After a more grouped start, Wright began to make a difference in the second of the five laps. His lead continued to increase from that moment on, and the battle for the title turned into a race for the other two podium spots.

Wright crossed the finish line first after 1:00:09, with 1:16 minutes over Michael Hettegger.

The Austrian took silver, while the Swiss Marwan Barhoumi completed the podium at 1:43. Daan Bakelaar was fourth, and the European champion Mathieu Ghibaudo had to settle for fifth place.

Wright is having a particularly outstanding season both on and off the mountain bike. The Australian competes in various disciplines and recently joined the Tudor Pro Cycling development team, another indication of the potential he is showing at just 18 years old.

Top 10 Junior Men's XCO World 2026

1. Connor Wright (AUS) — 1:00:09
2. Michael Hettegger (AUT) — +1:16
3. Marwan Barhoumi (SUI) — +1:43
4. Daan Bakelaar (NED) — +1:59
5. Mathieu Ghibaudo (FRA) — +2:10
6. Noa Filippi (FRA) — +2:24
7. James Climo (NZL) — +2:34
8. Michael Ortner (AUT) — +2:37
9. Leonardo Bernardes de Castro Filho (BRA) — +2:39
10. Niko Terho (FIN) — +3:12

With the Junior titles already distributed, the Val di Sole World Championship program continues this Thursday afternoon with the Sub-23 and Elite Short Track races.