This is how it is decided which teams will be in the MTB World Cup 2026

With the applications now closed and teams awaiting official confirmation, the MTB paddock is experiencing one of the tensest moments of the season, waiting to find out who will have the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status in 2026. A key condition that guarantees participation in all rounds of the World Cup and which, since its introduction in 2025, has completely changed the competitive landscape.

The system for participating in the MTB World Cup changed in 2025

The current qualification process was launched at the beginning of the 2025 season with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of each World Cup and creating a more defined development pathway for teams and riders. Since then, 40 teams (20 for XC and 20 for Gravity) are guaranteed their spot in all events on the calendar.

To qualify for this status, all teams must be officially registered with the UCI, either as a UCI Mountain Bike Team or as a WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team (the designation that replaces the former UCI elite teams).

UCI Ranking and Points: How the Top 15 is Decided

As in 2025, 15 of the 20 spots per category are directly assigned according to the UCI team ranking, while the remaining five are granted through annual wildcards.

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The UCI points for each team are calculated by summing the results of their four best-ranked riders, regardless of category: elite or junior/U23, men or women. These points come from all UCI events, not just the WHOOP UCI MTB World Series, and only results in finals count. The final cutoff for 2026 was set on October 28, 2025.

However, being among the top 15 does not automatically guarantee participation: teams must formally accept the invitation and complete the registration process. This will happen now.

Key Changes for 2026: Longer Licenses and No Point Transfers

The major novelty for 2026 lies in two fundamental aspects:

1. UCI points are no longer transferred with riders when they change teams, preventing winter signings from artificially altering the ranking.
2. Teams ranked between 1st and 10th will receive a two-year license, while those ranked 11th to 15th will receive a one-year license. In 2025, all teams in the top 15 only had access to annual licenses.

With this system, three-quarters of the teams in the WHOOP UCI MTB World Series are already defined by ranking, and the remaining 10 spots will be decided via wildcards.

Annual Wildcards: 19 Teams Awaiting Resolution

Wildcards remain one of the most contested elements of the system. Five spots per category (Endurance and Gravity) are assigned throughout the season, evaluated jointly by the UCI and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports.

The selection is based on a matrix of criteria that includes:

• UCI team ranking
• Participation and results in the Continental Series
• Sporting profile of the riders
• Value and projection of the sponsors
• Media impact and visibility

In 2025, this system allowed the entry of significant teams like Alpecin-Deceuninck, despite not securing a direct spot through ranking, or the debut of AON Racing–Tourne Campervan in downhill. For 2026, 19 teams are currently awaiting to find out if they will receive one of these coveted invitations.

Among the names with chances are structures like Alpecin-Deceuninck, AON Racing–Tourne Campervan, Continental Atherton, Pivot Factory Racing (Gravity), Liv Factory Racing, or Mondraker Factory Racing (Endurance).

In addition to the annual spots, each round of the World Cup will feature up to eight additional wildcards per category, aimed at UCI Mountain Bike Teams. In this case, in addition to the general criteria, the nationality of the team and recent results are taken into account.

Far from being mere filler spots, these invitations can become sporting springboards. The best example was Thibault Daprela (Rogue Racing) in 2025, with a podium finish in Val di Sole and a 16th overall position in DH despite competing as a wildcard.