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Tough conditions for KMC Nukeproof at World Cup opener

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Like Nukeproof Axess Racing, KMC Nukeproof lined up last weekend for the opening round of the UCI MTB World Series in South Korea. Carla Hahn impressed with a strong 8th place in the XCC, securing a front row start for the Olympic discipline. On Sunday, Rens delivered one of the team’s strongest performances with a 9th place in the XCO after a consistent and controlled race.

For the first time, the XCO and XCC World Cup took place in Asia. During the XCC race, the weather conditions were still relatively kind to the riders. Sunday’s XCO race, however, turned into one of the toughest of the weekend. Heavy mud transformed the course into a true test of endurance and technical skills, forcing riders to run nearly half of each lap. It was a race where positioning, patience, and pure grit made the difference.

Julian showed solid form throughout the weekend with a 17th place in the XCC and a 16th place in the XCO. Tyler and Kelsey experienced a more average weekend: Tyler finished 33rd in the XCC and 39th in the XCO, while Kelsey placed 25th and 23rd respectively. Lia suffered bad luck in the XCC due to a mechanical issue but showed resilience in the XCO. She fought her way back through the field to finish 28th, a testament to the team’s fighting spirit.

Outlook

While most of the team is taking a short break from racing, Sasha will compete this weekend in Bosnia. The following week, the team will return in full force at Bike the Rock in Heubach, powered by KMC. Immediately after, the team will travel to Nové Město na Moravě for the second round of the UCI MTB World Series, where they aim to build further on the lessons learned in South Korea. After a demanding start to the season, KMC–Nukeproof heads into the next races with clear goals: refine performance, stay consistent, and keep progressing.

Photos: Piotr Staron
Mountain Bike World Cup kicks off in South Korea

Mountain Bike World Cup kicks off in South Korea

At last, the moment has arrived: the Mountain Bike World Cup is back for the 2026 season. This year is particularly notable as Asia hosts both an XCO and an XCC event for the very first time. It is also a special edition for downhill racing, as it has been since 2000 that competition at this level has taken place on the continent. On a brand-new course, riders will battle it out from May 1 to 3 in the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series. KMC Nukeproof and Nukeproof Axess Racing are ready to make their mark from the very start.

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