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Continues: Second place at Les Gets proves van der Poel has the form — but at Val di Sole,…
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Van der Poel, Pidcock, and Pieterse Headline Val di Sole XCO MTB World Championships
ahood
Tom Pidcock's last-minute entry into the XCO Elite Men race turns what could have been van der Poel's comeback narrative into a genuine three-way contest with defending world champion Alan Hatherly.
Pidcock arrives at Val di Sole fresh off the road — a 2023 XCO world champion and two-time Olympic medalist who wasn't in the picture until the start list was finalized. That forces Hatherly, the reigning rainbow jersey, into the uncomfortable position of defending against two multidisciplinary threats on a 3.5 km circuit with 155 metres of elevation gain. On the women's side, Puck Pieterse lines up as 2024 world champion with one win and one second in 2026 World Cup racing, facing Laura Stigger and Jenny Rissveds. Men Elite XCO goes Sunday at 15:15 CET; Women Elite at 13:00.
Sources
2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships: Pidcock and Van der Poel join XCO line-up | UCIUn Mondiale da sogno: Val di Sole aspetta Van der Poel e Pidcock – Federciclismo2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships: E-XC to kick off race week | UCI

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