Pidcock will compete in the Nove Mesto XCO World Cup: how to watch for free, dates, times, and favorites

The XCO and XCC World Cup 2026 lands next weekend (May 22-24) in Nové Město na Moravě (Czech Republic), one of the most iconic venues of modern mountain biking and also the first major European stop of the season.

Schedule for the Nové Město 2026 XCO/XCC World Cup 

Friday, May 22

• 17:15 – XCC Women U23
• 18:05 – XCC Men U23

Saturday, May 23

• 11:20 – XCC Women Elite
• 12:10 – XCC Men Elite
• 14:00 – XCO Women U23
• 16:00 – XCO Men U23
• 21:00 – Night Race

Sunday, May 24

• 12:00 – XCO Women Elite
• 15:00 – XCO Men Elite

How to watch the Nové Město 2026 World Cup

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The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series can be followed through the usual platforms of Warner Bros. Discovery. The elite XCC and XCO races will be available on HBO Max, Eurosport, and their various associated channels and platforms, in addition to the official international coverage of the competition.

The XCO/XCC World Cup returns to Nové Město, one of the most mythical and spectacular circuits on the calendar

Nové Město has been part of the World Cup since 2011 and over the years has become one of the favorite venues for both riders and fans. Its fast trails through forests, technical rock sections, explosive climbs, and above all, the atmosphere generated by tens of thousands of spectators have transformed it into one of the most special events on the calendar. The circuit is also famous for attracting big names from the road, such as Tom Pidcock and Puck Pieterse who have already been confirmed, in addition to hosting parallel events like the popular Night Race open to the public.

Here you can read all about the favorites to win at Nove Mesto 2026.

Korea made it clear that this season can be unpredictable

The first round held in YongPyong kicked off the season in a much more open manner than usual. In the women's race, Sina Frei took the victory in a muddy XCO, with falls and extreme conditions that completely transformed the Korean circuit. The Swiss rider managed to survive the chaos on a day when many favorites suffered mechanical issues, slips, or physical problems in the rain.

In the men's category, Dario Lillo surprised by achieving victory after a weekend that confirmed the high level of the new generation. Korea also left important signals about the form of several teams and riders, although Nové Město will be a completely different test. The Czech track tends to reward pure power, explosiveness, and the ability to withstand high rhythms surrounded by constant pressure.

Moreover, the return to Europe should bring even stronger lineups. Nové Město is often the point in the calendar where some of the big stars absent in the early rounds appear, especially riders who combine road and MTB.

A legendary circuit and a unique fanbase

Few circuits generate an atmosphere comparable to that of Nové Město. The main climb is usually completely packed with spectators, and the technical areas leave little space between riders and fans. This closeness turns each lap into an experience almost like cyclocross, with thousands of people pushing the bikers throughout the race.

The course combines fast and physical areas with well-known technical sections, especially the rock areas and artificial drops that have historically caused decisive differences and errors. Unlike the Korean circuit, which is much more conditioned by the weather and novelty, Nové Město is a stage that all the big names know perfectly.

The event also maintains its enormous dimension outside of competition. There will be exhibitions, brand zones, activities for children, bike tests, freestyle shows, and the traditional Saturday Night Race, one of the most popular moments of the weekend.

Favorites to win at Nové Město 2026

The men’s race is wide open despite the notable absences of Christopher Blevins, Victor Koretzky, and Alan Hatherly. All eyes will be on Tom Pidcock, who returns to XCO on one of the circuits where he has performed best throughout his career. The Brit has never lost an XCO race in Nové Město since moving up to the elite category, and the Czech course is a perfect fit for his explosive power and technical skills. But the current level of competition in the World Cup makes it very difficult to name a single clear favorite. Dario Lillo arrives as the leader following his victory in Korea, Finn Treudler aims to definitively confirm his international breakthrough, and riders like Filippo Colombo, Fabio Püntener, Charlie Aldridge, Luca Martin, and Adrien Boichis are strong enough to contend for the podium if they manage to break away in the early laps.

In the women’s category, Puck Pieterse’s return adds even more uncertainty to a field that already looked incredibly competitive. The Dutch rider is returning to mountain biking after spending many months focused on road racing, and she remains one of the most spectacular riders in the world when competing in XCO. Facing her will be Jenny Rissveds, the reigning XCO world champion, and Sina Frei, who arrives as the World Cup leader after completely dominating the start of the season in Korea. Also returning is Alessandra Keller, the current XCC world champion, after a season opener focused on stage races and following her victory at the Cape Epic alongside Candice Lill. The Swiss rider has always performed very well on explosive circuits like Nové Město and once again emerges as a very serious contender for the podium. Furthermore, the Czech course typically favors aggressive, high-paced racing—a style that also suits riders like Mona Mitterwallner, Laura Stigger, Martina Berta, and Madigan Munro, all of whom are regulars in the fight for the top positions.