Romain Paulhan designed an absolute gem of a track in Loudenvielle that handed us some of the best racing in recent times and we all know how races in France can be…
Nestled in the Central Pyrenees right on the Border with Spain, Loudenvielle might be a relative newcomer to the World Cup World. That said, it’s been exciting racing whenever it’s on the calendar and there was the fiasco surrounding not letting the Juniors race too…
The World Cup circus has rolled into town again, there’s thunderstorms in the forecast again, but it’s dry. For now.
Only Vali Holl has stopped Loudenvielle being an entirely French Elite victory in the venue’s short World Cup career. She took the Elite win alongside Bruni at it’s inaugural World Cup. The Junior wins were taken off qualifying as the course wasn’t deemed safe.
2024 saw a deluge that few riders look comfortable in. Benoit Coulanges had other ideas. A returning Myriam Nicole would prove she was recovered from her concussion by pipping Holl to the win. Erice van Leuven and Max Alran made it an entirely Commencal gold medal haul that weekend.
Loic Bruni and Tahnee Seagrave took the Elite wins at the opening round, with Max Alran and Sophie Marie Jensen taking the Junior gongs. All four will look to defend their newly-acquired leaders’ jerseys in France. Some big names missed out on going straight to finals in Poland, with the likes of Pierron, Vergier, Iles, Williams, Hart, Goldstone, Hatton and Brosnan having to go again in Q2. Newkirk and Vidmann had to roll the dice a second time in the Elite Women.
Expect to see similar chaos in Loudenvielle. If the track is dry, times will be tight. In the wet, staying between the tape and rubber side down become chief concerns for the riders. Either way, expect an amazing race, whatever happens. Loudenvielle also sees the return of Aaron Gwin, his team getting a wild card spot for this race. Don’t expect the American superstar to have come back anything other than at 100%.
Benoit Coulanges’ Insane Winning Run
Wearing white on a mountain bike is a questionable decision, especially in the wet. That is unless of course you are quiet French man mountain Benoit Coulanges of course.
A run reminiscent of Sam Hill’s legendary wet runs, Gwin’s Mont Saint Anne win, or any of Hart or Pierron’s famous victories, Coulanges attacked the Loudenvielle track as if it was a loamer. You know you’re on a flyer when Hatton and O’Callaghan are gobsmacked.
How to Watch
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Loudenvielle – Peyragudes, France starts with the UCI Enduro World Cup at 8:00 (UTC+2) on Saturday, May 31 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup at 13:10 (UTC+2) on Sunday, June 1.
Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST):
Saturday, May 31
- 08:00 – UCI Enduro World Cup
- 12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite
- 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite
- 14:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior
- 14:40 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior
- 15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite
- 15:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men Elite
Sunday, June 1
- 10:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior
- 11:20 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior
- 12:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite
- 13:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite
How to watch.
There will be several ways to watch the Gravity-packed action unfold at France’s first WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round of the 2025 season.
You can watch the finals live anywhere in the world. Both the men’s and women’s UCI Downhill World Cup Junior races will be broadcast live on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel, while the Elite finals will be shown on one of the below channels or streaming services.
The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Loudenvielle – Peyragudes, France starts with the UCI Enduro World Cup at 8:00 (UTC+2) on Saturday, May 31 and concludes with the Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup at 13:10 (UTC+2) on Sunday, June 1.
Below are the key local timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CEST):
Saturday, May 31
- 08:00 – UCI Enduro World Cup
- 12:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Women Elite
- 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 1 Men Elite
- 14:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Women Junior
- 14:40 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification Men Junior
- 15:30 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Women Elite
- 15:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Qualification 2 Men Elite
Sunday, June 1
- 10:50 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Junior
- 11:20 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Junior
- 12:15 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Women Elite
- 13:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Finals Men Elite
Where to watch.
- North America
- Canada – Flosports
- USA – Max
- South & Central America – All Central and South American territories – MTBWS TV
- Caribbean – Rushsports
- Asia – Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand – Eurosport
- China – Zhibo.TV
- All other Asian territories – MTBWS TV
- Oceania
- Australia – Stan Sport
- New Zealand – MTBWS TV
- Africa – All African territories – MTBWS TV
- Europe
- Andorra – Max
- Austria – discovery+
- Belgium – HBO Max, Eurosport
- Bosnia & Herzegovina – Max
- Bulgaria – Max
- Croatia – Max
- Czechia – Max
- Denmark – Max
- Faroe Islands – Max
- Portugal – Max, Eurosport, La chaine L’Équipe
- Germany – discovery+
- Hungary – Max
- Ireland – TNT Sports
- Italy – discovery+
- Moldova – Max
- Montenegro – Max
- Netherlands – HBO Max
- North Macedonia – Max
- Norway – Max
- Poland – Max
- Portugal – Max
- Romania – Max
- Serbia – Max
- Slovakia – Max
- Slovenia – Max
- Spain – Max
- Sweden – Max
- Switzerland – MTBWS TV
- Türkiye – Max
- United Kingdom – discovery+, TNT Sports
- All other European territories – MTBWS TV
