We focus on the 20 teams selected for all 10 rounds of the UCI World Cup Cross-country (UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – XCO – and UCI Cross-country Short-Track World Cup – XCC).
Source: press release
Comprised of the top 15 teams ranked by UCI points, along with five permanent wild cards, this roster of 20 teams forms the premier division of mountain bike endurance racing. Each team is guaranteed to compete in all 10 Endurance rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, which begins in Araxá, Brazil, on April 3, 2025.
The selections confirm that the best mountain bikers cross-country of the world will once again battle it out for supremacy, with star teams such as Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team – XC), Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon), Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing), Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC), Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) all guaranteed places on the start line.
Three-quarters of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series teams were selected based on UCI results, determined by the UCI points of the four highest-ranked riders on each team.
At the top of the list was Specialized Factory Racing, the American manufacturer's team that retained all the star riders (Haley Batten, Sina Frei and Laura Stigger) who helped secure the women's team series in 2024, as well as the UCI world champion Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and reigning overall winner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Victor Koretzky (XCC – Men Elite) alongside American Continental XCO champion, Chris Blevins.
The results of Alessandra Keller (2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall winner – XCC and XCO – Elite Women) effectively secured Thömus Maxon’s place in the standings, while UCI XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly’s move to the Giant Factory Off-Road Team – XC contributed the largest share of the US team’s points.
Despite winning the team standings last season, Hatherly’s old team, Cannondale Factory Racing, has slipped down the results due to moves by the South African and Simon Andreassen. But the British team has done enough to secure WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status and will be led by Charlie Alridge and newcomer Jolanda Neff.
Andreassen’s UCI points bolstered the Orbea Fox Factory Team’s total and the Dane will be competing for victories to add to his collection for the Spanish manufacturer alongside newcomer Rebecca Henderson.
Elsewhere, the Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team could count on the points of its loyal fans Nino Schurter, Filippo Colombo and the addition of last season's rising star in the Under-23 category, Bjorn Riley. The young American will be one to watch in what will be his first Elite season.
Riley’s main rival in the Under-23 class, Riley Amos, is also stepping up for 2025 and will lead the charge for Trek Factory Racing – Pirelli alongside Evie Richards, while Canyon CLLCTV XCO is pinning its hopes on Luca Schwarzbauer and 2016 Olympic champion Jenny Rissveds.
It wasn’t just established teams that made it into the top 15, with the new Origine Racing Division squad’s four-strong selection scoring enough points collectively to propel them into a spot on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series team. Led by UCI XCO World Cup runners Mathis Azzaro and Martina Berta, the French team will be looking to make an instant splash.
Other teams that secured automatic WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status were BH Coloma Team, Decathlon Ford Racing Team, KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team managed by Bart Brentjens, Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team, Ghost Factory Racing and Cube Factory Racing.
STARS AMONG THE WILDCARD SELECTIONS
In addition to the top 15 teams, five season-long wildcard spots were up for grabs for the remaining UCI Mountain Bike teams. These were awarded to established teams Alpecin-Deceuninck, BMC Factory Racing and Liv Factory Racing, and new teams Lapierre Racing Unity and Mondraker Factory Racing XC.
Members of these teams include multi-discipline stars Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck), reigning French XCO national champions Jordan Sarrou and Loanun Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing) and three-time UCI World Champion Cross-country Marathon, Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing XC).
Team Endurance WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series
- Alpecin-Deceuninck (BEL)
- BH Coloma Team (ESP)
- BMC Factory Racing (SUI)
- Cannondale Factory Racing (GBR)
- Canyon CLLCTV XCO (FRA)
- Cube Factory Racing (GER)
- Decathlon Ford Racing Team (FRA)
- Ghost Factory Racing (GER)
- Giant Factory Off-Road Team – XC (USA)
- KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team (NED)
- Lapierre Racing Unity (FRA)
- Liv Factory Racing (USA)
- Mondraker Factory Racing XC (ESP)
- Orbea Fox Factory Team (ESP)
- Origin Racing Division (FRA)
- Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team (SUI)
- Specialized Factory Racing (USA)
- Thömus Maxon (SUI)
- Trek Factory Racing – Pirelli (USA)
- Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team (ITA)
