The 2026 HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup gets under way this weekend with the first round (of six) in Calpe, Spain.
Before the season gets into full swing, we take a look at this endurance mountain bike format, its characteristics, and its former and current stars.
Mountain bike cross country marathon (XCM) is a long-distance format of the mountain bike discipline that requires incredible strength, technique and endurance. Variants include multi-day stage races that can be competed in teams, in pairs or by individuals, and more-commonly one-day events raced by individuals supported by their trade or national team. Course distances can range from around 60km up to 160km.
XCM courses
The UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships and the HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup competitions both feature women’s and men’s competitions with highly challenging elevation gain.
In the last three years, XCM races at the UCI World Championships have ranged from 96km to 125km – average 108km – with between 2,000m and a breathtaking 5,025m (last year in Valais, Switzerland) of ascent, averaging 3,408m. Winning times across the three races were between 4:14:42 and 6:01:44 for the men, and from 5:07:50 to 7:10:11 for the women.
To get the full picture of the forthcoming season’s action, check out the 2026 HERO UCI Marathon World Cup. The series’ six events vary in distance from 62km to 118km, with climbing between 2190m and 4500m, as they put the world’s best to the test in spectacular settings.
XCM riders
Amongst the current successful XCM riders are some with long-standing pedigree, the marathon format lending itself to longevity of career: these include Héctor Leonardo Páez (COL), 2019 and 2020 UCI World Champion and third overall in the 2025 UCI World Cup, as well as Adelheid Morath (GER), fifth overall in the 2025 UCI World Cup. Both are in their 40s.
The majority of regular UCI World Cup podium riders are in their 30s, including the men’s 2025 overall winner Andreas Seewald (GER), second overall in the women’s competition last year, Sandra Mairhofer (ITA), and Namibia’s multi-disciplined Vera Looser.
Some historically successful XCM racers are inspirational endurance specialists such as six-time UCI World Champion Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå (NOR) five-time UCI World Champion Annika Langvad (DEN), and two men who each won three titles of UCI World Champion: Alban Lakata (AUT) and Christoph Sauser (SUI).
Many competitors cross over with other mountain bike formats, most commonly cross-country Olympic (XCO). Among them are Mona Mitterwallner (AUT, three-time XCM UCI World Champion and winner of three UCI XCO World Cup rounds), and Henrique Avancini (BRA, double UCI XCM World Champion who also has UCI World Cup wins in XCO and the shorter cross country short track - XCC).
In 2022, two extraordinary athletes won both the XCM UCI world titles in Haderslev, Denmark and the XCC UCI world titles in Les Gets, France: Sam Gaze (NZL) and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA). Other stars with the extraordinary ability to dine at the world’s top table in sprint-distance events as well as the ultimate off-road endurance test include Christopher Blevins (USA), Jolanda Neff (SUI), Simon Andreassen (DEN) and Candice Lill (RSA).
XCM bikes
Marathon bikes are essentially the same as those used in XCO races, being light and efficient but with extra consideration given to rider comfort given the long race times. Dropper posts and 29in wheels on full-suspension carbon bikes are most common, typically 100mm or 120mm travel, depending on course characteristics and rider preference.
XCM bikes usually have extra puncture protection and additional bottle cages. Riders will typically carry more nutrition, expecting longer stretches between the feed zones and technical support – depending on whether the course is multiple laps or a longer loop. It adds a level of self-sufficiency akin to gravel racing.
Major XCM races
Marathon mountain bike competitions are held all over the world at local, national and continental levels.
The UCI MTB Marathon World Championships were first held in Lugano (Switzerland) as part of the 2003 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships. Since then, they have typically been held as a separate, annual event in venues as diverse as Elba (Italy), Pietermaritzburg (South Africa), Sakarya (Turkey) and Snowshoe (USA). In 2023, the event was part of the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships – which brought together UCI World Championships in cycling’s different disciplines – held in Glasgow and across Scotland, United Kingdom (wins for Avancini and Mitterwallner) and last year was included in the multi-format 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais, Switzerland. On that occasion, wins went to gravel endurance expert Keegan Swenson and XCO 2018 UCI World Champion Kate Courtney, securing a USA double.
In 2026, the UCI MTB Marathon World Championships – the 24th edition – will be held as a standalone event, in Primiero San Martino di Castrozza, Italy, in September. For the first time, the UCI Masters Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships will be held at the same venue the day following the two Elite races.
Similarly, there will be amateur racing at all four rounds of the HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup, being held in the challenging and beautiful settings of Spain and Italy (hosting two rounds each), Andorra and Germany.