Mountain biking once again turns its spotlight on Val di Sole Bikeland. On Thursday, September 11th, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, the Organising Committee of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships ‘Valais 2025’ formally passed the torch to Val di Sole-Trentino, host of the 2026 edition.
Those who took part in the event in Crans-Montana included Luciano Rizzi (President of Val di Sole Tourism Board and Grandi Eventi Val di Sole), Cordiano Dagnoni (President of the Italian Cycling Federation), Mirko Celestino (Head Coach of the Italian National Cross Country and Marathon team), representatives from the organizing committee of the 2025 Valais World Championships, and delegations from the national teams.
Over five days, Daolasa will stage all the sport’s flagship disciplines – Cross-Country, Team Relay, Short Track, Downhill and E-MTB – cementing Val di Sole’s reputation as a world-class off-road cycling destination.
This will be the fourth time in less than two decades that Val di Sole has hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, after 2008, 2016, and 2021. Such repeated trust from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) speaks to the technical excellence of Daolasa’s courses and the proven expertise of its organising team. It is no coincidence that Val di Sole Bikeland was officially recognised as a UCI Bike Region in 2021.
Val di Sole is also a cornerstone of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, drawing thousands of fans to Trentino each year. In 2025, it set a new benchmark, becoming the most-watched round in the series’ history.
“Even before hosting the 2021 World Championships, the assignment of the 2026 edition was already a powerful vote of confidence from the UCI,” said Luciano Rizzi, President of the Val di Sole Tourism Board and Grandi Eventi Val di Sole. “After staging four consecutive rounds of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, we now look ahead to 2026 with even greater ambition. For us, this is more than sport – it’s about showcasing a region that has made cycling a cornerstone of its identity, tourism, and international reputation.”
"We are truly proud to have a destination like Val di Sole in Italy that is dedicated to off-road cycling. In 2021, we hosted the Mountain Bike World Championships there, which were a great success. I had the chance to witness the commitment and passion of the organizing team on that occasion, and I’m confident that they’ll take things to an even higher level in 2026. I would like to thank everyone for their efforts in making us all proud,” commented Cordiano Dagnoni, President of the Italian Cycling Federation.
Val di Sole’s candidacy reflects a clear long-term vision: to position the valley as a destination for both professionals and amateurs, while nurturing a deep passion for cycling among local communities, visitors, and future generations. With the baton passed from Valais to Trentino, the countdown to Val di Sole 2026 has officially begun – the next chapter in the valley’s enduring love affair with mountain biking.
