Six Indonesian Riders Qualify for UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia will make its mark on the global mountain biking stage as six riders secure places in the prestigious UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2026. Their qualification, earned through “golden tickets” at the Asian-level championship, signals a breakthrough moment for the nation’s cycling scene.

The athletes - Zaenal Fanani, Ihza Muhammad, Feri Yudoyono, Achmad Dhani, Sayu Bella Sukma Dewi, and Melinda Ayu Putri - qualified for the opening round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2026, set to take place at MONA YongPyong, South Korea, from May 1–3.

According to the Indonesian Cycling Federation (ISSI), the tickets were secured following impressive performances at the Asia UCI MTB Continental Series Thailand MTB Cup 2026 held January 13–14. Indonesia collected two gold, three silver, and one bronze medal at the event.

Sayu Bella, a Bali-born rider and SEA Games 2023 gold medalist in cross-country Olympic (XCO), dominated the Women Elite category, finishing in 1:06:49.706, well ahead of Japan’s Yui Ishida (1:10:08.813).

Melinda Ayu Putri added another gold in Women Junior, clocking 47.33 seconds to beat competitors from Thailand and Malaysia.

In Men Elite XCO, Zaenal Fanani claimed silver with 1:21.08, just behind Japan’s Riki Kitabayashi (1:20.06), while Ihza Muhammad secured bronze at 1:23.26. Achmad Dhani earned silver in Men Junior (1:01.29), and Feri Yudoyono added silver in Men Under-23 (1:10.13), finishing behind U.S. rider Landon Dendy (1:09.47).

The success of these six athletes opens the door for Indonesia to compete from the very first round of the 2026 season.

This year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series features 14 rounds across three continents and nine countries between May and October. The YongPyong opener is historic, marking the first time Asia hosts World Cup races in cross-country Olympic and short track, and the return of world-class downhill racing to the continent after 25 years.

Following South Korea, the series will move to Europe with stops in the Czech Republic, France, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, before heading to North America for races in Utah and British Columbia, and concluding at Lake Placid, New York.

With endurance and gravity disciplines combined under one competition format, the 2026 season promises intense rivalries. Consistency across all 14 rounds will be crucial for riders aiming to stay at the top of the standings. ***