The 2025 UCI MTB World Series winner Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) looks to have put the tough start to the 2026 season behind him, with the post-injury return momentum building at the Pal Arinsal round of the series this weekend.
The rider from the United States crashed during the opening round in South Korea and broke his collarbone. He returned to World Cup racing at Lenzerheide in June and also raced La Thuile but the weekend's efforts at Pal Arinsal marked his return to the front of the field.
"It's a bit different when you are good vs when you suck and it felt like an eternity since I came back from injury, even though it was only two weekends racing up until this one, but the level is so high you can't take anything for granted," said Blevins in a video posted on social media. "This sport keeps you humble, there is a lot of really fast people and you've just go to keep chipping away working at it."
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Blevins pushed back up into the top 20 at the Cross-country Olympic (XCO) race at La Thuile and then jumped up to the podium spots in Friday's short-track (XCC) at Pal Arinsal.
"It felt so damn good to be back," the 28-year-old said in the post-race interview after finishing on the third step of the podium on Friday, behind fellow American Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM) and teammate Adrien Boichis.
"I'm just happy to get that little mini breakthrough, it makes me hungrier to just be on the podium and not to win," he added in the interview shared on social media later.
"Hopefully this takes a little bit of weight off my shoulders and I can just be back doing what I love at the front."
The momentum held through for Sunday's longer XCC race, with Blevins taking fourth and reminding his rivals that, despite his earlier forced absence, he should not be underestimated.
"Felt like the final piece to a full return from the injury and challenges this spring," said Blevins in a social media post on Monday, reminding that there's more to come as this year, and beyond, unfolds.
