CROSS-COUNTRY CONTROL: 17 WORLD CUP WINS, THREE OVERALL TITLES AND A WORLD CHAMPION FOR CANYON'S 2026 XC TEAM

The first big success of the year comes before the World Cup has even started. At the Cape Epic in March, Swedish star Jenny Rissveds and German powerhouse Luca Schwarzbauer show that Canyon is well prepared for the new season. Together with her husband Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox Factory Team), Rissveds wins the mixed category of the South African stage race – taking all eight stages. Schwarzbauer makes his mark too: with Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Premier Tech) he takes three stage wins, including the final stage, and finishes third overall in the elite men's category. Both are already racing prototypes of the new Lux World Cup CFR, which Canyon officially unveils at the end of April.

Racing starts in earnest - and in South Korea

In early May, the World Cup season gets under way in YongPyong, South Korea – the first time the series has raced in Asia. And Canyon is at the front straight away. Valentina Corvi wins the U23 women's cross-country Olympic race (XCO), Thibaut François-Baudry wins the U23 men's short track (XCC). Jenny Rissveds takes second in the elite women's XCO. Two wins and three further podiums at the opener.

At the second round in Nové Město, François-Baudry confirms his form with another win, this time in XCO. Rissveds is second again, while Corvi finishes third in both disciplines. Rissveds is still waiting for her first XCO win of the year. It comes in June – and marks the start of an impressive run.

Leogang shows its nastiest side in mid-June. Rain and mud turn an already demanding course into a real challenge. Rissveds isn't fazed. She wins by 56 seconds from Puck Pieterse, takes second in the short track and moves into the lead of the overall World Cup at the end of round 3.

Just a week later, the next XCO win follows in Lenzerheide. Two races, two victories – the Swede is now the rider to beat. At the same time, Corvi is becoming the dominant force in the U23 category. She wins the XCO races in Leogang and Lenzerheide and extends her lead in the overall standings.

In July, the results come thick and fast. At round 5 in La Thuile, Rissveds wins the elite women's short track, while Corvi takes both XCC and XCO in the U23 category. A week later in Andorra, Pal Arinsal becomes the stage for another Canyon gala: both riders win both races in their category, and François-Baudry finishes second in both U23 races.

Luca Schwarzbauer is in the mix too. The German finishes third in the XCO in Pal Arinsal and shortly afterwards defends his German XCO and XCC titles at the national championships in Wombach.

More success follows: Corvi wins the Italian U23 XCO championship. At the European Championships in Monteceneri, Rissveds takes two bronze medals, while young rider Noa Filippi finishes fourth in the junior XCO.

After the summer break, Corvi continues her winning streak at round 7 in Les Gets, again taking both XCC and XCO. Rissveds finishes second in both elite women's races.

But the emotional high point of the season comes at the end of August in Val di Sole, Italy: the World Championships.

Corvi arrives as the big favourite – and has to handle huge expectations in front of a home crowd. First she wins gold with the Italian team in the team relay; on the fifth of six laps she brings Italy back to the front. Four days later comes her most important race.

In the U23 XCO, the 21-year-old crosses the line 43 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Anina Hutter. Valentina Corvi is world champion. Two gold medals at a home World Championships – it could hardly have gone better. In the junior race, Noa Filippi finishes sixth, his best World Championships result to date.

The season isn't over for Canyon yet, with two rounds still to come in North America. Corvi wins the penultimate U23 XCO race in Soldier Hollow, Utah – her tenth World Cup win of the year. At the final in Lake Placid, New York, the overall standings are settled.

Rissveds secures the elite women's XCO World Cup overall and finishes second in the XCC standings behind Sina Frei. Corvi goes one better and does the double: overall winner in both U23 XCO and U23 XCC. Schwarzbauer signs off with second place in the elite short track.

Canyon XC Racing's tally for the season: 17 World Cup wins – ten for Corvi, five for Rissveds, two for François-Baudry – three overall titles, a U23 world title and relay gold.

These results were achieved on a bike that has had a hugely successful season of its own: the Canyon Lux World Cup CFR. The latest generation of the full-suspension race bike was developed together with Canyon's top athletes and raced to victory before its official launch.

A light carbon frame – around 1,480 grams in size M without shock – 120 millimetres of travel up front, 110 millimetres at the rear and kinematics tuned specifically for the demands of modern XC courses combine efficient pedalling with plenty of control on technical descents. An adjustable anti-squat flip chip lets riders further tailor the suspension to their preferences and the course.

From the Cape Epic in March to the World Cup final in Lake Placid, the Lux World Cup CFR proved itself in 2026 under the toughest race conditions.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. For more 2026 season review images, please see here.