The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup powered by citymountainbike.com promises a memorable season, with action kicking off in Sakarya, Türkiye, this weekend. The series then continues in Poland, Germany and Brazil.
Men Elite: European title boosts Klemenčič’s confidence
Jakob Klemenčič is looking to defend his overall title and heads into the Sakarya opener high on confidence and form after being crowned European Champion this past weekend. The 23-year-old underlined his favourite status by winning his third European title in the past five editions. He took this latest victory in Sakarya… which can only bode well for the Slovenian.
He’ll have to be at this absolute best, though, as the GOAT that is Titouan Perrin-Ganier will be more motivated than ever to perform after announcing 2026 will be his last season competing. The French star, who turns 35 later this month, showed he’s lost none of his competitive edge after winning his seventh title of UCI World Champion in Barcelona, Spain, in April. Racing in the rainbow jersey will only serve to spur him on.
Also keep an eye out for Sweden’s Edvin Lindh. The 26-year-old won the UCI World Cup overall in 2024 and followed that up with victory in the UCI MTB Eliminator World Championships in 2025. This year’s race in Barcelona didn’t go to plan and Lindh has confirmed he won’t be racing the Sakarya round; instead, he’ll focus on the following events and, if he is in top form, good results could still see him take the overall UCI World Cup crown.
Simon Gegenheimer may be 37 years old, but he remains one of the most powerful competitors around. The German won the 2021 UCI MTB Eliminator World Championships and claimed overall UCI World Cup titles in 2017 and 2022. Can he roll back the years and ride to victory?
And then there’s Theo Hauser. At just 22 years old, the Austrian has already won several titles including the 2024 UEC Mountain Bike Eliminator European Championships. Last weekend, he finished second behind Klemenčič in Sakarya. Could this be Hauser’s year?
Women Elite: Can Tormena regain UCI World Cup glory?
It’s hard to believe that Gaia Tormena is still only 23 years old (turning 24 at the end of July). The Italian burst onto the international scene in 2019, winning the UCI World Championships, UEC European Championships and overall UCI World Cup title in her debut season.
Since then, she has continued an unparalleled run of success, winning a further five UCI World Championship titles, including Barcelona in April, plus another four UCI World Cup overall titles to make her the most successful female rider in cross-country eliminator (XCE) history. However, Tormena couldn’t make it eight European titles after a chain drop in Sakarya.
She didn’t win the overall UCI World Cup in 2025 either, so she is not invincible. Last year’s UCI World Cup overall victory went to Germany’s Marion Fromberger for the first time thanks to a consistent season. That form has carried over into 2026, as she finished second at the recent European Championships. She is recognised for her fast starts, tactical precision and mental resilience under pressure. She’ll need all three if she’s to retain her UCI World Cup crown.
At the European Championships in Sakarya, Fromberger finished second behind Czechia’s Adéla Pernická, who took the biggest win of her career so far. The 20-year-old made her move on the final climb, creating the decisive gap over Fromberger and France’s Margaux Borrelly (bronze). “It’s a crazy feeling to know I’ll ride in this jersey [of European Champion] for a full year, starting next week here in Sakarya at the UCI World Cup,” she said after the race.
Pernická had already impressed this year, setting the fastest qualifying time at the UCI MTB Eliminator World Championships in Barcelona. She reached the final but finished down in fourth after suffering a mechanical. Pernická’s combination of explosive speed, technical skill and tenacity could see her make a real impression in 2026.
The Ukraine’s Mariia Sukhopalova is another rider who could challenge for overall honours this season. The 21-year-old (who turns 22 in mid-July) surprised the XCE world in 2025 when she won the UCI World Championships. She racked up another medal at this year’s event in Barcelona – this time silver – ahead of Borrelly who, like Sukhopalova, could also challenge for the overall UCI World Cup crown.
All in all, the mix of experienced legends and emerging contenders promises to make this year’s UCI Eliminator World Cup series one of the most exciting in history.
2026 UCI MTB Eliminator World Cup powered by citymountainbike.com
Round one: Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 5 April 2026 (cancelled)
Round two: Sakarya, Türkiye, 14 June 2026
Round three: Gdynia, Poland, 27 June 2026
Round four: Aalen, Germany, 11 July 2026
Round five: São Paulo, Brazil, 16 August 2026