Short track racing returns to WORS in 2026

Short Track Racing

It’s short, punchy, spectator-friendly - and back on the WORS calendar for 2026.  Short Track (XCC) has been one of the most exciting evolutions in mountain bike racing over the past decade. Compact courses. Repeated laps. Non-stop action from start to finish. And a format that’s far more engaging for friends and family watching from the sidelines.  Short Track isn’t brand new to WORS – it has appeared in various forms over the years. But it wasn’t until 2024 that the discipline had its own series attached to it. Even then, it wasn’t well publicized, and the schedule varied from event to event, making it feel more like an add-on than a feature. Not anymore.

  In 2026, a seven-race Short Track series is back on the menu – and this time, it will be a true focal point of the weekend. The racing format remains familiar - 20 minute races (15 for Kids Comp) on short circuits. The difference will be what is happening outside of the race tape. All Short Track races will follow a standardized Saturday evening schedule, positioned after a series of afternoon activities. Pre-Rides, Clinics, and organized Group Rides will lead into the XCC along with a revamped Happy Hour. Discounted (and sometimes free) food and beverages will be available from 5:00 - 7:00, with music and activities keeping the party going all evening long.  Short Track racing will be the anchor to it all.

What Is Short Track?

Traditional cross-country racing is an endurance test. Laps typically stretch for four to six miles and include extended sections of single track. Short Track compresses that experience into a tight, high intensity format. Courses are generally a mile or less and primarily utilize double track. Passing opportunities are plentiful. Riders pass by every few minutes, and spectators can often view multiple sections of the course from one location.
On the global stage, Short Track emerged in the early 2010s as part of the sport’s push to become more spectator and broadcast-friendly. In 2018, the UCI officially integrated Short Track into the Mountain Bike World Cup structure, using it as both a standalone race and as a qualifier that determines start order for the main XCO event. Since then, XCC has evolved into a legitimate discipline in its own right, rewarding explosiveness, tactical positioning, and high-intensity efforts distinct from traditional endurance-focused XC.

Short Track has also emerged as an excellent entry point for beginners.The courses tend to be non-technical and approachable. The race is over in twenty minutes. Traffic is a factor, but double track makes passing easier and less stressful than in tight single track.   If you’re considering racing Newbie in 2026 but still on the fence, Short Track is a great place to start. While we do not offer a dedicated Newbie category in Short Track, if it’s your first race ever, email us - we’ll gladly provide you with a free entry. 

All Short Track Racing will take place Saturday evenings on a standardized schedule*:
  5:00PM: Kids Comp (boys and girls)
  5:30PM: Citizen + Sport Men
   6:00PM: All Women
   6:30PM: Elite Men


  We’ve aligned Short Track category names with our cross-country structure, eliminating the “Beginner”, “Intermediate”, and “Advanced” titles that we’ve used in the past. Riders who typically race Comp in cross-country are encouraged to compete in the Elite category for Short Track.

Unlike Cross-Country events, Short Track races are capped at 50 riders per timeslot. If demand grows, additional timeslots may be added. Currently, some categories share timeslots to create dynamic, competitive fields. Scoring remains separate - for example, while all women (excluding Kids Comp girls) race together, Citizen, Sport and Elite results are still scored independently.

* There is one exception to the standardized Short Track schedule - On August 1, 2026, the Night Race will return once again at Reforestation Ramble in Suamico, WI. If you want to race under the lights on a lightning-fast circuit, this is one that you won’t want to miss. We’ll have additional blog coverage on this particular event later in the spring.

Registration is Open

Short Track participation is smaller than Cross-Country participation - and that’s okay.  Our goal is to offer multiple disciplines throughout the weekend. Cross-Country racing is the foundation of WORS and always will be. But mountain biking thrives in part because of its diversity. Different formats appeal to different strengths and styles of riding.  Registration is open for all seven short track races, including series registration, which offers a 20% discount.  If you have thoughts, ideas, questions or concerns on Short Track racing, we would love to hear from you. Reach out anytime at wors@trekbikes.com 

Whether you’re lining up for a full-gas twenty minutes of racing, or grabbing a cold drink at Happy Hour, we hope to see you at one of our Short Track races in 2026.