The UCI Mountain Bike World Champs roster just announced, with 49 U.S. riders heading to Val di Sole, Italy, to try to bring home the rainbow jersey August 26-30. There, they will meet the world’s best across five UCI disciplines — Cross-Country Olympic (XCO), Cross-Country Team Relay (XCR), Cross-Country Short Track (XCC), Downhill (DHI), and E-MTB.
Racers from the U.S. are split into their respective disciplines, with 24 XC and 25 DH racers, from Elite to Junior.
The Team USA roster is as follows:
Cross country (XC)
Elite Men
- Riley Amos
- Bjorn Riley
Elite Women
- Haley Batten
- Savilia Blunk
- Gwendalyn Gibson
- Madigan Munro
- Kelsey Urban
U23 Men
- Dan English
- Nicholas Konecny
- Jack Spranger
U23 Women
- Bailey Cioppa
- Makena Kellerman
- Greta Kilburn
Junior Men
- Thomas Agnew
- Rowan Nistal
- Myles Perry
- Kian Reid
- Noah Scholnick
- Charles Thomas
- Michael Ziomek
Junior Women
- Lily Agnew
- Aida Linton
- Sophia Wellmeier
Downhill
Elite Men
- Dylan Maples
- Evan Medcalf
- Dakotah Norton
- Ryan Pinkerton
- Richie Rude
- Luca Shaw
- Asa Vermette
Elite Women
- Abby Hogie
- Maylei Leaneagh
- Matilda Melton
- Anna Newkirk
- Kailey Skelton
Junior Men
- Boston Bryant
- Kai Burleson
- Luca De Mas
- Slade Gainey
- Alex Mallen
- Luke Mallen
Junior Women
- Winter Bush
- Raina Logar
- Zanna Logar
- Mary McLarnon
- Aletha Ostgaard
- Samantha Porras
- Jade Savage
The US has already seen good results at World Cups this year
Bjorn Riley, out of Boulder, Colorado, snagged his first World Cup win as an Elite earlier this year in Andorra. Before that, he had three World Cup wins as a U23 — two in XCC and one in XCO. While Andorra was Riley’s first time at the very top of a podium as an Elite, he has podiumed a total of four times. Riley is currently ranked third in the XCO and fourth in the XCC overall standings.
On the women’s side, Savilia Blunk took first in the XCC event at Lenzerheide. This was Blunk’s first Elite World Cup win, although she has stood on an Elite podium 10 times, and very consistently. U23 racer Makena Kellerman has won twice this year, first in South Korea and later in Czechia.
Looking at the gravity side, rookie sensation Asa Vermette qualified first and took first at his first (yes, that was a lot of “firsts”) Elite World Cup DH race in South Korea. Vermette has stood on two other podiums this year as an Elite racer, and isn’t a stranger to the platform, with five wins as a Junior. Currently, Vermette is ranked third in the overall standings, making him a potential World Champ and the Overall World Cup winner for 2026.
Luca Shaw is no stranger to the Elite World Cup podium — he’s been on one 11 times over his career. But it wasn’t until this year that the Canyon Factory racer finally crossed the line first, snagging his first-ever Elite win.
Anna Newkirk already made history this year, becoming the first Elite American woman to win a World Cup in over two decades. The win made it five different podium appearances for Newkirk.
An iconic track
This isn’t the first time Val di Sole has hosted the World Championships. The iconic stop has hosted the World Champs three other times, stretching back to 2008, plus even more World Cup races.
For DH, Val di Sole is known for its rough and rowdy terrain. Tracks incorporate steep chutes and incredibly rocky/rooty tech sections, and incredibly high speeds. On the XC side, riders will encounter steep, punchy climbs and difficult technical sections as they weave in and out of the forest.
Riders from all over the world will descend on Val di Sole, Italy, for World Champs on August 26-30.
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