World Cup this afternoon, Leogang 2025 Short Track arrives

The XCO World Cup arrives at its fourth event of the year with the Leogang test in Austria. An iconic circuit that returns to XCO and where the excitement that we experienced just a few weeks ago in Nove Mesto will continue, and it will surely help settle some unfinished business, like the one that prevented world champion Puck Pieterse from fighting for the victory when she punctured while leading the race.

Pay attention to the schedules because in this race, the Enduro, DH, and XCO tests will coincide, which forces the Short Track to be moved to Friday.

Schedules and how to watch the XCO World Cup in Leogang 2025 for FREE

The elite races can be watched live through the MAX digital application or from the Eurosport channel.

Friday, June 6 - XCC (Short Track)

• 15:45 - UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup - Women U23 XCC
• 16:25 - UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup - Men U23 XCC
• 17:30 - UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup - Women XCC
• 18:10 - UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup - Men XCC

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Sunday, June 8 - XCO (Olympic Cross-country)

• 09:00 - UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup - Women U23 XCO
• 11:00 - UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup - Men U23 XCO
• 13:00 - UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup - Women XCO
• 15:00 - UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup - Men XCO

The XCO World Cup returns to Leogang after a year off

The XCO/XCC World Cup in Leogang will take place at The Epic Bikepark in Saalfelden Leogang, the largest cycling region in Austria with over 90 km of trails. This mountain range is part of the Alps and, pending the official route, the organization ensures that they have technical sections combining natural and artificial areas, forests full of roots, and open, rocky, and exposed mountain slopes.

This venue was not part of the XCO World Cup in 2024, but in 2023 it was, and there the winners were Jordan Sarrou and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot in the Short Track and Lars Foster and Puck Pieterse in the XCO. Sarrou, due to a broken collarbone, and Pauline, due to retirement, will not be present at this race, but Forster and Pieterse will be there and are indeed favorites for the podium.

Favorites to win the XCO World Cup in Leogang 2025

As we were saying, the Austrian event arrives with many open storylines from Nove Mesto and will be the right place to see how some of them are resolved.

Among the favorites, we can't help but put American Chris Blevins as the main candidate to take the victory. The Specialized rider has won all the World Cup races (XCO and XCC) held this year except one, the first XCO held in Brazil where he finished second. There is little more to say.

After him, the list of favorites keeps growing. Swiss rider Lars Forster (Thomus Maxon) had an excellent race in Nove Mesto and was close to victory, and considering he was the last to win on this Leogang circuit in 2023, it's easy to think he will be at the front. Along with him, we can add the rest of the Specialized Factory Racing team with the French riders Victor Koretzky and Adrien Boichi, and the Chilean Martín Vidaurre. Not forgetting world champion Alan Hatherly (Giant) or French rider Mathis Azzaro (Origine), among others.

In the women's category, current XCO World Champion Puck Pieterse arrives in Leogang eager to finish what she showed in Nove Mesto. The Dutch rider was far superior to her rivals, but an untimely puncture took her out of the podium fight when she was leading alone. On the other hand, Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker), winner in Nove Mesto, showed that her level is back among the best and will be another favorite on the starting line. As will be the usual front runners: Samara Maxwel, Bec Henderson, Jennifer Jackson, Jenny Rissveds, Evie Richards, or Allesandra Keller, among others.