Skip to main content

SHIMANO CONFIRMED AS MAIN PARTNER OF THE WHOOP UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD SERIES

5 April 2025 - Last updated 7 April 2025

Iconic Japanese bicycle components manufacturer signs four-year deal as the Official Drivetrain & Electric Drive Unit Components partner

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe and SHIMANO are proud to confirm a four-year partnership agreement for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.

The Japanese manufacturer becomes a main partner of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and is the Official Drivetrain & Electric Drive Unit Components partner.

The partnership builds on a strong legacy that both WBD Sports and Shimano share within the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Shimano’s strong relationship with the UCI goes back more than 25 years, and this new partnership will build on this foundation, with both WBD Sports and Shimano eager to explore exciting new opportunities.

The partnership means that Shimano will be involved at every round of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, providing technical support and assistance to all athletes and ensuring that everyone is ready to take to the start line or start hut – from the opening Brazilian Cross-country double header in Araxá, Minas Gerais, through to the season finale in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada.


Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at WBD Sports, said: “Shimano is synonymous with quality and reliability, and has been at the forefront of mountain bike drivetrain and electric drive unit component development for decades.

“Already a mainstay in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, the new four-year partnership enables WBD Sports and Shimano to build on our historic success and develop new, innovative ways of working together and supporting athletes and teams at every round of the series.”

Yuzo Shimano, Senior Executive Officer, Vice President, Bicycle Marketing Department and Planning Department at Shimano, said: “We are proud to be part of this ground-breaking technical partnership with WBD Sports and the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Shimano wants to support mountain biking racing at all levels, while we continuously innovate alongside these fantastic athletes taking part in the series.

“By providing our technical expertise at every round, we are ensuring that all athletes have access to the captivating products and reliability that has defined Shimano for generations.”



For over 100 years, Shimano has been committed to crafting industry-leading cycling components and accessories. A key focus of their efforts is a system engineering approach, where products are designed to work together seamlessly for the ultimate on-bike experience. Founded in 1921, Shimano now operates offices and factories worldwide.

For more information on the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series visit ucimtbworldseries.com

Contacts

WBD Sports (Europe)

Contact us here.

Latest news

19/3/2026

TNT Sports set to stream on HBO Max in the UK from 26 March

HBO Max becomes the new streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK from Thursday 26 March All live sport currently shown on discovery+ will move to HBO Max TNT Sports customers can save between £60 and £131.88 per year1 when choosing TNT Sports Saver Plans with a 12-month term2 HBO Max will be available via hbomax.com and through launch partners Sky and Prime Video Customers can also pre-register for HBO Max now via Apple Pre-Order and Google Pre-Registration  

18/3/2026

GOPRO ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL WEARABLE CAMERA SUPPLIER OF WHOOP UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD SERIES

GoPro continues as the Official Wearable Camera Supplier of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series for a fourth year.

10/3/2026 - Last updated 12 March 2026

KINOMAP PARTNERS WITH GTWS TO BRING THE TRAIL RUNNING EXPERIENCE HOME

• Kinomap becomes an official long-term partner of the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS), bringing elite trail running closer to fans worldwide through immersive training experiences • Fans will be able to run iconic GTWS courses from home with high-quality videos available on Kinomap and race previews integrated into broadcasts and social media channels • The partnership amplifies GTWS visibility, enabling athletes and fans to share activities and connect with a worldwide running community

27/2/2026

EVIE RICHARDS AND LACHLAN STEVENS-MCNAB FEATURE IN NEW DOCUMENTARY: THE CYCLE

Brand-new documentary, The Cycle, follows five riders across different cycling disciplines and career stages, including WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series stars Lachie Stevens McNab and Evie Richards.

23/2/2026 - Last updated 9 March 2026

WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY REPORTS BEST-EVER STREAMING OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES WITH TRIPLE-DIGIT GROWTH AS AUDIENCES IN EUROPE EMBRACE INNOVATIVE VIEWING EXPERIENCE

• Milano-Cortina 2026: number of viewers grew on both linear and streaming services vs Beijing 2022* • Best-ever streaming Olympic Winter Games featuring 1000+ hours on HBO Max and discovery+ and popular new viewing features such as Olympics Multiview • Social video views exceeded 4 billion (+580% vs Beijing 2022) on Eurosport (Europe) and TNT Sports (UK & Ireland) accounts

18/2/2026

LOONEY TUNES BRINGS COLOUR AND COLLECTABILITY TO MILANO CORTINA 2026

As Milano Cortina 2026 enters its final days, the Official Olympic Pin Trading Center is proving a hit with fans of the Looney Tunes and the Olympic Games.

12/2/2026

SCOTT SPORTS ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL PARTNER OF WHOOP UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD SERIES

The international sports brand signs a two-year deal as the Official Cross-country Bike Partner SCOTT Sports will also serve as the Event Presenting Partner for Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA) and renew its support as local partner for Lenzerheide (Switzerland) 

11/2/2026

SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN WINTER OLYMPICS VIEWERSHIP ACROSS ALL WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY PLATFORMS

• Milano-Cortina 2026: viewership and engagement growth on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming and pay-TV platforms in Europe vs Beijing 2022 • Best streaming Olympic Winter Games ever on Warner Bros. Discovery services (HBO Max and discovery+) vs Beijing 2022 and PyeongChang 2018 • Total streaming subscribers viewing the Games exceed the entire Beijing 2022 in just 3 days • Linear television viewing remains robust with strong linear growth in many of Europe’s biggest territories

08/2/2026

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WBD HOUSE AND THE SNOW DOME STUDIOS AT MILANO CORTINA 2026

On Friday, Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled the two incredible studios that will be used in both Cortina and Livigno as part of its coverage of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

06/2/2026

GOLDEN TRAIL WORLD SERIES UNVEILS ITS 2026 CALENDAR

• The circuit will span three continents and eight countries from May to October, introducing three new venues and two unprecedented countries, while maintaining its presence at some of the most iconic races in the sport • The season will open at Zegama-Aizkorri (Spain) on May 17 and culminate with the Grand Finale at Muju Trail (South Korea) on October 24–25• The new season sets a new benchmark for elite trail running with increased prize money and major sporting innovations, including a revamped points system, the introduction of a team ranking and a strengthened integrity program

06/2/2026

MADE IN ITALY: WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY’S UNIQUE ALPINE STUDIOS SET TO DELIVER MAGICAL OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES COVERAGE FOR FANS ACROSS EUROPE

• Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) unveils its purpose-built studios in the heart of Olympic venues in Cortina and Livigno, Italy that will host live coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 • Immersive storytelling with a local flavour as Italian sets paired with state-of-the-art studios across Europe for Eurosport, TNT Sports, HBO Max and discovery+ viewers • WBD’s first live studio show will air on 6 February ahead of the Opening Ceremony

04/2/2026 - Last updated 5 February 2026

FINALE OUTDOOR REGION, LIGURIA TO HOST THE 2026 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE ENDURO AND E-ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

From October 16 to 18, 2026, the “Home of enduro” will welcome the world’s best riders

02/2/2026

FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP REMAINS ON EUROSPORT AND TNT SPORTS THROUGH EXTENDED RIGHTS AGREEMENT

Every FIA World Endurance Championship race, including the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be shown on Eurosport, TNT Sports, HBO Max and discovery+ for fans in Europe and India Renewed long-term partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe and FIA WEC extends the broadcaster’s association with world-class endurance motorsport beyond 20 years Trojan Paillot: “Motorsport is in our DNA and we are committed to connecting fans with the biggest races on the planet.”

29/1/2026

X PARTNERS WITH WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY TO AMPLIFY MILANO CORTINA 2026 BUZZ ACROSS EUROPE

Collaboration unites X's real-time sports conversations with Eurosport and TNT Sports' premium Olympic Winter Games coverage, unlocking access to 90 million fans and viral moments

28/1/2026

WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY AND TIKTOK SET TO BRING OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES CONTENT TO NEW AUDIENCES DURING MILANO CORTINA 2026

Unique vertical video content from Eurosport and TNT Sports will be hosted exclusively on TikTok throughout Milano Cortina 2026 New partnership will celebrate Olympic culture and connect millions of younger fans in Italy, France, Germany, Spain and the UK with the Games Collaboration forms part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s strategy to reach more fans than ever before during an Olympic Winter Games