The World Cup reviews the 20 teams licensed for 2026 and 2027: this is how the map of XCO and XCC looks

The organization of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series announced a week ago the 20 Endurance teams that will have World Series status and that guarantees them participation in the nine rounds of the 2026 World Cup in XCO and XCC. This group mixes large factory structures, established projects, and several teams entering with wildcards, but together they ensure a very high-level grid from the first event of the calendar.

Ten teams with a two-year license

The ten best teams in the UCI 2025 ranking have received a two-season license, which guarantees their presence until 2027 without relying on invitations.

Specialized Factory Racing returns as a reference after a dominant 2025. Blevins achieved a historic double in the overall standings of XCO and XCC, while Koretzky defended his world crown in Short Track. The team is completed with established riders like Haley Batten, Sina Frei, and Laura Stigger, as well as young talents like Martin Vidaurre Kossmann and Adrien Boichis.

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The second place in the ranking went to Decathlon Ford Factory Racing, driven by the consistency of Samara Maxwell in the women's overall of XCO. However, the New Zealander has announced a sabbatical year in 2026, which will require Savilia Blunk and Joshua Dubau to take on a more prominent role.

In Canyon XC Racing, the XCO world champion Jenny Rissveds faces the season after finishing 2025 in great shape. Alongside her, Luca Schwarzbauer will seek to regain his best form, and young Valentina Corvi will continue in the U23 category as the current U23 overall winner.

Cannondale Factory Racing also stepped up, with Charlie Aldridge achieving his first World Cup victory in Mont-Sainte-Anne and Luca Martin adding wins in XCC and XCO in his elite debut. Additionally, the team benefits from the experience of Jolanda Neff, who has just completed a preseason competing in cyclocross.

Thömus Maxon leads the Swiss block with XCC world champion Alessandra Keller accompanied by Mathias Flückiger and Lars Forster. Meanwhile, Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team rejuvenates its elite structure with the arrival of Ella Macphee and Gustav Pedersen alongside Simone Avondetto and Luca Braidot.

One of the uncertainties lies with the Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team, which faces its first campaign without Nino Schurter but with the new signing of Fabio Puntener, the current number 2 in the UCI ranking, who will join Filippo Colombo, Bjorn Riley, and Emily Johnston.

The Orbea Fox Factory Team solidifies its project among the best in the world with a team full of national champions: Bec Henderson (Australia), Jennifer Jackson (Canada), Simon Andreassen (Denmark), and Pierre de Froidmont (Belgium).

Completing the group with a biannual license is Cube Factory Racing, with Finn Treudler as a reference after his U23 dominance, and BIXS Race Team, which consolidates its definitive leap after previously competing through wildcards.

Annual license: big names and new projects

Five teams have obtained a one-year license, and among them, the most notable case is that of Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC, home of the two-time XCO world champion Alan Hatherly. Its multidisciplinary calendar prevents continuous presence in all rounds, but each participation represents a real chance of victory.

In the renowned Trek - Unbroken XC, Evie Richards will defend her title in the XCC overall, while Vlad Dascalu returns to the structure.

Also entering with an annual license are Origine Racing Division (with Mathis Azzaro as the main figure), KMC Nukeproof MTB Racing Team, and Lapierre PXR Racing (a project that integrates several riders from Ghost such as Anne Terpstra, Nicole Koller, and Caroline Bohe, alongside Anton Cooper and Tobias Lillelund).

In this context, the disappearance of Ghost Factory Racing after 15 years on the circuit stands out, a move that has reconfigured part of the transfer market.

The five wildcards that complete the grid

The UCI has granted five full-season invitations that also confer World Series status in 2026.

Among them is BH Coloma Team, which secures a spot after ranking as the 16th best team. Also participating will be Liv Factory Racing, Mondraker Factory Racing XC, BMC Factory Racing, and Alpecin-Premier Tech.

This group guarantees the presence of high-profile riders such as Mathieu van der Poel, Puck Pieterse, Mona Mitterwallner, Jordan Sarrou, and Loana Lecomte.

The 2026 World Cup will kick off on May 1 at the UCI Cross-country World Cup with the event in MONA YongPyong (South Korea), the first World Cup MTB event on Asian soil in 25 years.