USA Cycling Announces the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Team

The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships return to Val di Sole, Italy, from August 26-30, 2026, where the world's best mountain bikers will compete for rainbow jerseys across five disciplines: Cross-Country Olympic (XCO), Cross-Country Team Relay (XCR), Cross-Country Short Track (XCC), Downhill (DHI), and E-MTB.

The Trentino region has long been one of the sport's premier destinations, having previously hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2008, 2016, and 2021, in addition to serving as a regular stop on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup circuit.

USA Cycling will field teams across the Junior, Under-23, and Elite categories, with 24 cross-country athletes and 25 downhill racers competing throughout the week. The team arrives in Italy following one of the strongest World Cup seasons in recent history for the American program.

On the cross-country side, Christopher Blevins (Durango, Colo.; Specialized Factory Racing) made an impressive return after breaking his collarbone in the opening round of the season, earning a World Cup podium in just his second race weekend back. Bjorn Riley (Boulder, Colo.; SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing) had a breakout campaign, claiming his first career World Cup podium before adding two more podium finishes and his first Elite World Cup victory. Savilia Blunk (Inverness, Calif.; Decathlon Ford Racing Team) has been one of the most consistent riders in the world, collecting four World Cup podiums while regularly racing at the front of the field. All three riders also captured Elite national titles at the USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships.

In the Under-23 ranks, Makena Kellerman (Escondido, Calif.) has emerged as one of the top talents, earning her first career Short Track World Cup victory before immediately following it up with a second consecutive win.

The American downhill squad has been equally impressive. Nineteen-year-old Asa Vermette (Durango, Colo.; Frameworks Racing) wasted little time making his mark in his rookie Elite season, capturing his first Elite World Cup victory after a dominant junior career. He has since added two more World Cup podiums. Luca Shaw (Pisgah Forest, N.C.; Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) also reached a career milestone this season, earning his first Elite World Cup victory in Loudenvielle. Ryan Pinkerton (Aliso Viejo, Calif.; Mondraker Factory Racing) claimed his first Elite World Cup podium with a bronze-medal finish in Pal Arinsal before successfully defending his Downhill national title, earning the Stars and Stripes sleeve for another season.

Anna Newkirk (Riehen, Switzerland; Frameworks Racing) broke through for her first Elite World Cup victory in Lenzerheide after several podiums on the same track throughout her career. Aletha Ostgaard (Selah, Wash.; Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) has continued to dominate the Junior Women's category. Entering the World Championships, she leads the overall World Cup standings, has reached the podium in every race this season, including three victories, and has consistently posted times competitive with the elite women's field.

With momentum building across every discipline, Team USA is ready to take on the World Championships. 

The Team USA roster is as follows: