We focus on the 20 teams selected for all rounds of the UCI World Cup Downhill and the UCI Enduro World Cup.
Source: press release
The 20-athlete roster that will make up the first division of mountain bike gravity racing has been confirmed, and it's packed with big-name factory teams, plucky outsiders, and the world's most exciting talent. Downhill and Enduro.
In addition to the reigning WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series overall winners and past and present rainbow jersey holders, the start list for each round will include emerging stars and legends of the sport.
BIG NAMES AND EXCITING NEW ADDITIONS IN THE DH FIELD
With the UCI points of the four highest-ranked riders from each team determining the UCI team ranking, the 2024-2025 off-season transfers have taken on even greater importance.
The top Commencal/Muc-Off team of Riding Addiction has bolstered its already talented roster, adding UCI World Champion Downhill Loris Vergier joins a star-studded lineup that includes multiple UCI World Cup winners Downhill Myriam Nicole and Amaury Pierron.
The Andorran manufacturer faced stiff competition for the top spot from YT Mob, who signed European champion and UCI World Cup winner Andreas Kolb. The Austrian joins a team that already includes the almost unstoppable and reigning overall winner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series (Women's Elite – Downhill), Valentina Höll and UCI World Cup winner and reigning Irish national champion Oisin O'Callaghan.
Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team signs UCI World Cup runner-up Downhill 2024 Marine Cabirou made the German team the only other team to break the 3.000-point barrier. The Frenchwoman will be hoping to do even better in 2025, as will new teammate Troy Brosnan, who last year overtook Amaury Pierron into second place in the overall standings thanks to his famous win in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada.
The man to beat remains the overall winner of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series (Men Elite – Downhill), Loïc Bruni, who will once again be joined by Finn Iles and Jordan Williams on the Specialized Gravity Team.
One rider who has shown he can get the better of Bruni on his best days is Ronan Dunne. The UCI World Cup winner Downhill from Bielsko-Biała will once again line up for Mondraker Factory Racing, alongside Dakotah Norton and new teammate Greg Williamson.
Elsewhere, veteran Danny Hart will complete his 18th elite season as part of the Norco Race Division. Meanwhile, Trek Factory Racing DH has a new-look team led by Matt Walker and Lachlan Stevens-McNab.
A few new teams have also made the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike Series Team automatic cut. Tahnée Seagrave has joined Spanish manufacturer Orbea to launch Orbea/FMD Racing and is joined by Martin Maes, the only rider on the circuit to have won a UCI World Cup. Downhill and a UCI Enduro World Cup; while the UCI World Champion Downhill 2020 Reece Wilson leads one of the most exciting additions to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series pits: AON Racing – Tourne Campervans. Flying Scotsman aren’t alone either, with Monika Hrastnik and UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner Harriet Harnden on board.
Finally, the Santa Cruz Syndicate just managed to get into the automatic selection spots. The Steve Peat-managed team is hoping for more positive seasons from Laurie Greenland, Nina Hoffmann and a fully recovered Jackson Goldstone.
Other teams that secured automatic WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Team status were Giant Factory Off-Road Team – DH, Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres, Axess Intense Factory Racing, Frameworks Racing/5Dev and MS-Racing.
ICONIC ATHLETES AND ENDURO CELEBRATE WILDCARD PLACES
The five seasonal wildcard spots were awarded to teams with previous WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series experience and ensured that some of the biggest names in the Downhill and Enduro would still be at the start of every Gravity round in 2025.
The most successful team was Scott Downhill Factory, who slipped to 16th in the standings despite the overall points of the new signing and UCI World Cup winner Downhill 2024 in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes Benoît Coulanges.
Continental Atherton was another name to celebrate the wildcard system after losing points to Andreas Kolb. But with Rachel Atherton signed up to race, we could see the return of one of the most iconic athletes in the downhill on the podium this season?
Two of the five wild card spots went to teams with big ambitions. Richie Rude's Yeti/Fox Factory Race team is fully committed to Enduro and Downhill for 2025 and added the UCI World Champion Downhill 2020 Camille Balanche joins its 10-rider lineup. Pivot Factory Racing will also be taking on both, with Morganne Charre hoping to add to her two 2024 UCI Enduro World Cup victories.
The Cube Factory Racing of Jess Blewitt and Max Hartenstern secured the final wild card spot.
CHANGE IN ENDURO FAVORITES FOR 2025
WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series team selections trend toward the Downhill, but five teams will also be represented at the UCI Enduro World Cup races. However, fans can expect a change in the favorites for 2025.
That's because WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Enduro overall winners Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Harriet Harnden (AON Racing – Tourne Campervans) are both ready to focus on descending, opening the door for other riders to emerge.
In the men's category, UCI Enduro World Cup winners Jack Moir (YT Mob), Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV Factory) and Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity), together with Slawomir Lukasik and Ryan Gilchrist of the Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team, will battle for the title.
Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing), meanwhile, will be one of the favourites in the women's competition, but will be pushed all the way by Ella Conolly and Mélanie Pugin.
LIST OF TOP TEAM GRAVITY WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series
- AON Racing – Campervans Tour (SLO)
- Axess Intense Factory Racing (GBR)
- Canyon CLLCTV Factory team (GER)
- Commencal/Muc-Off By Riding Addiction (FRA)
- Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres (FRA)
- Continental Atherton (GBR)
- Cube Factory Racing (GER)
- Racing Frameworks /5Dev (USA)
- Giant Factory Off-Road Team – DH (USA)
- Mondraker Factory Racing DH (ESP)
- MS Racing (AUT)
- Norco Race Division (CAN)
- Orbea / FMD Racing (GBR)
- Pivot Factory Racing (GBR)
- Santa Cruz Syndicate (USA)
- Scott Downhill Factory (FRA)
- Specialized Gravity (FRA)
- Trek Factory Racing DH (USA)
- Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team (USA)
- YT Mob (GER)
For more information on the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, visit www.ucimtbworldseries.com
