The XCO World Championship is presented with the great showdown Van der Poel VS Pidcock as the main attraction

The two great references of multidiscipline cycling will once again face off on a mountain bike. The organization of the 2026 MTB World Championship in Val di Sole has confirmed during the official presentation of the event that they expect Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel to be on the starting line of the Short Track (XCC) and the Olympic Cross Country (XCO), a matchup that promises to become one of the major attractions of the international calendar.

Val di Sole is already anticipating the great duel between Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel at the XCO World Championship 2026

The world event will take place from August 26 to 30 in Daolasa di Commezzadura (Italy), a venue that is already part of MTB history after hosting the World Championships in 2008, 2016, and 2021, and which this year will once again bring together the great stars of the discipline.

The most awaited reunion after the Tour de France

In the case of Mathieu van der Poel, the event also marks his return to Val di Sole for the first time since 2019, when he achieved one of the most memorable victories on the circuit by decisively defeating Mathias Flückiger and then-world champion Nino Schurter.

For Van der Poel, this World Championship also represents an important step in his return to mountain biking. After opting out of competing in XCO before the Tour due to minor discomfort during training, it has already been announced that the Dutchman will undertake a small MTB campaign with the main goal of fighting for the rainbow jersey again and continuing to accumulate points for the Olympic gold competition in Los Angeles 2028.

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On his part, Pidcock will arrive with at least one XCO victory this season, which he achieved in Nove Mesto. It is still unknown whether the Brit will compete earlier in the World Cup in Les Gets.

The first battle between the two will take place on Thursday, August 27, in the Short Track (XCC) event. The elite men's race will start at 18:30, after the U23 competitions and the elite women's event. In addition to the world title, the XCC will have strategic importance, as it will determine the starting positions for the Olympic race on Sunday.

The main event will arrive on Sunday, August 30, with the XCO World Championship. The elite men's race will kick off at 15:15 and will once again feature a spectacular lineup. In addition to Pidcock and Van der Poel, the organization expects reigning world champion Alan Hatherly, American Christopher Blevins, and the strong new French generation led by Adrien Boichis and Mathis Azzaro.

Among the women, the main favorites will be Jenny Rissveds, Puck Pieterse, Laura Stigger, or Sina Frei.

The World Championships in Val di Sole will award a total of 17 rainbow jerseys across five disciplines: Olympic Cross Country (XCO), Short Track (XCC), Team Relay, Downhill (DH), and e-MTB.

Additionally, the traditional Four Cross (4X) will return to the program as a scoring event for the 4X Pro Tour, although it will not award world titles.

Schedule of the main events of the MTB World Championship 2026

Wednesday, August 26

• e-MTB women – 10:00
• e-MTB men – 11:30
• Team Relay – 17:00

Thursday, August 27

• XCC Junior women – 09:30
• XCC Junior men – 11:15
• XCC U23 women – 15:30
• XCC U23 men – 16:30
• XCC Elite women – 17:45
• XCC Elite men – 18:30

Saturday, August 29

• Downhill Finals

Sunday, August 30

• XCO U23 women – 09:00
• XCO U23 men – 11:00
• XCO Elite women – 13:00
• XCO Elite men – 15:15

The organization has also confirmed that the World Championships will have international coverage through Eurosport/Discovery.