Sportinsider

The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series arrives at Whistler Mountain Bike Park, British Columbia (Canada), for its penultimate round of the season and a landmark first appearance on the UCI Downhill World Cup calendar. Widely regarded as the spiritual home of downhill mountain biking, Whistler has long been a bucket-list destination for riders and fans alike.
 
Read on for everything you need to know about this weekend’s racing, including the schedule, the riders to watch and how to tune in live.
 
WHEN?
 
The UCI Downhill World Cup in Whistler starts with the Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup Q1 at 12:30 (UTC-7) on Saturday, September 26 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup Final at 14:10 (UTC-7) on Sunday, September 27.
 
Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-7 (EST-2/BST-8/CEST-9):

Saturday, September 26

12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Elite Q1
13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Elite Q1
14:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Junior Qualifying
14:20 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Junior Qualifying
15:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Elite Q2
15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Elite Q2
Sunday, September 27

11:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Junior Final
12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Junior Final
13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Women Elite Final
14:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Men Elite Final

WHERE CAN I WATCH?
 
Fans will have multiple ways to follow round eight of the UCI Downhill World Cup. Qualification day coverage will be available through live timing and live blog updates on the official app and via social media. The Men Junior and Women Junior Finals will be streamed live on HBO Max (where available) and MTBWS TV with a subscription, while the Elite Finals will be broadcast live on the following channels and streaming platforms:

Europe:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / Eurosport
Czechia – HBO Max, Eurosport and CT Sport +
France - HBO Max, Eurosport and L’Equipe Live
Ireland – TNT Sports
United Kingdom – HBO Max and TNT Sports
Asia:
Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand - Eurosport World
 
Oceania:
Australia – Stan Sport
New Zealand - MTBWS TV
Samoa - Eurosport World
North America:
Canada – FloSports and TSN+
USA – HBO Max and MTBWS TV
South & Central America: MTBWS TV and DSPORTS 2
 
Africa: MTBWS TV
 
All other territories: MTBWS TV


RIDERS TO WATCH
 
Since racing resumed after the summer break, the UCI Downhill World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), and the UCI Downhill World Championships in Val di Sole, Trentino (Italy), have produced a different winner in every category, underlining the extraordinary depth of talent currently on display across the format.
 
Despite the fiercely competitive landscape, a few riders arrive in Whistler with the spotlight firmly on them. None more so than Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres). The Austrian further cemented her status as one of downhill’s all-time greats by claiming a fifth UCI World Championship title in Val di Sole. With the overall UCI Downhill World Cup crown already secured, Höll now has the freedom to focus solely on adding to her growing list of records.


Should the reigning champion show any sign of easing off, Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) and Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/TRP) have already demonstrated that they have the speed to challenge her, both securing their maiden UCI World Cup victories this season. Another rider eager to join that club is Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres), who once again finished runner-up to her teammate in Italy and continues her search for a breakthrough win at the highest level.



The Men Elite category is far more finely poised, with the overall title fight still hanging in the balance. Every position will matter on the Whistler Mountain Bike Park 1199 course, where a third victory of the season could all but seal a first overall UCI Downhill World Cup title for Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity). However, wins for Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) or the returning Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) would keep the battle alive heading into the season finale.
 
Then there is Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate). Like Iles, the Canadian will enjoy a true home advantage in Whistler. Having grown up just an hour away, the venue is as familiar as any on the calendar. The reigning overall UCI Downhill World Cup winner arrives fresh from defending his rainbow jersey in Val di Sole, and few storylines would capture the imagination more than Goldstone claiming his first UCI World Cup victory of the season on home soil.