The Unno Horn could debut in the XCO World Cup in 2026

The Spanish brand Unno could star in one of the most talked-about comebacks to the MTB World Cup in 2026. According to several Italian media outlets, including Pianetamountainbike, the manufacturer founded by César Rojo is finalizing its return to the highest level of international competition and, moreover, it would do so in double: with a downhill team and another for XCO.

The Spanish brand UNNO could reach the XCO World Cup in 2026

In 2018, UNNO already had a factory team competing in the DH World Cup, but all signs point to the fact that this time the project would be much more ambitious, expanding its presence to Olympic cross country as well. If confirmed, it would mark a clear change in dimension for a brand historically associated with exclusivity and unconventional technical solutions.

In the paddock, there is already talk of a possible Unno Factory Racing, although for now there is no official confirmation regarding the name or the final structure. The idea, according to rumors, would be to have two squads, one focused on gravity disciplines and the other on XCO.

With the new access regulations to the World Cup, both UNNO teams would arrive as UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team, a category that fits perfectly with a project that, at least initially, would be built step by step. Even so, if confirmed officially, it would undoubtedly be one of the most attractive projects of the 2026 season.

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The same source indicates that Sara Cortinovis, the Italian U23 XCO champion, would be one of the first signings for the cross country team. The young Italian, coming from Ghost Factory Racing (a team that will completely change for the next season), would fit into a clearly development-oriented and future-focused approach, although for now there is no confirmation from the brand.

If Unno ends up debuting in the XCO World Cup, the choice of bike seems clear: it will be the Unno Horn presented this year. This is the brand's specific model for cross country, a dual suspension with 110 mm of travel front and rear, aggressive geometries, and a marked gravity DNA, capable of even mounting tires up to 2.6”.

The Horn represents a clear adaptation of Unno to the current XCO circuits, which are becoming faster and more technical, and on paper, it seems to be a platform perfectly aligned with the demands of the World Cup.

One fact that reinforces the warm reception that the Unno Horn has had in the market is that it has been hanging the "Sold Out" sign on the brand's official website for some time. All available configurations have sold out, a clear sign of the good reception the model is having and, in a way, of the technical success of the project.

For now, everything is moving in the realm of rumors, but the calendar plays in our favor, and in a couple of weeks, we should have some official confirmations with the start of the year.