The 2026 iXS European Downhill Cup will once again get underway in Santiago de Besteiros. This coming weekend, the international downhill elite will gather in Portugal for the first major event of the season – on a specially modified course featuring new elements and promising changes.

Preview – EDC with seven Races

The first race in Portugal marks the start of a packed season for the iXS European Downhill Cup. The series will take riders across Europe, visiting seven different countries and some of the very best venues. The season opener in Santiago de Besteiros already promises thrilling racing with some top-class names on the start line. So the battle for the overall title is set to be more exciting than ever this year!

New Track, new Challenges  

The Monte São Marcos Bike Park has been significantly upgraded for 2026: the track has been revamped and extended in several parts. New lines, additional technical sections and fresh jumps provide plenty of variety and create the perfect setting for the spectacle.  

The changes bring more flow, but also greater difficulty – a combination that is likely to result in thrilling races and tight time gaps. Anyone who is fast here right from the start will have done their homework. And anyway, the first major international race of the season will give the athletes their first indication of where they stand in the 2026 season.  

A Look Back at 2025 – Top-class Sport and close Results  

Last year’s race was a real thriller: tight time gaps, changeable conditions and a strong field of competitors kept the tension high right up to the final run. In the elite categories, Nathan Pontvianne (FRA – Goodman Santacruz) and Valentina Höll (AUT – YT Mob) came out on top.  

The high standard across the entire field was particularly striking last year – a clear sign of how much the European Cup has developed in recent years. With the changes to the World Cup regarding entry restrictions and the reduced field of competitors in the final, the series has gained even greater significance and serves all the more as a springboard to the world elite.  

A Season Opener that was on the Cards  

The iXS EDC is set to kick off the new season with plenty of excitement once again in 2026. Santiago de Besteiros is ready to welcome a strong international field of riders, with seasoned veterans and up-and-coming talents all keen to show exactly where they stand right from the very first race.   

It is precisely this mix of old hands and talented unknowns that makes the series so appealing – and regularly delivers surprises. Whoever finishes at the top in Portugal will not only pick up vital points but also make a strong statement in the overall standings.    

The field of favourites is large, but a few names still stand out, led by Tahnée Seagrave (GBR – Orbea FMD Racing), Bernhard Kerr (GBR – Pivot Factory Racing), Finn Iles (CAN – Specialized Gravity), Danny Hart (GBR – Norco Adidas Race Division), Martin Maes (BEL - Orbea FMD Racing) and Rosa Zierl (AUT – Cube Factory Racing).