Defending champion Victor Koretzky is competing in the MTB World Championships, and that's a small miracle in itself

The short race at the 2026 Mountain Bike World Championships will take place on Thursday. Without Mathieu van der Poel, but with defending champion Victor Koretzky from France. And that can certainly be called a miracle—something he himself realises. Koretzky suffered a serious injury not too long ago, but is making his comeback at the World Championships of all places.

Koretzky suffered a severe fracture in his left upper arm during a training session. He underwent surgery almost immediately, during which titanium plates and screws were inserted. As a result, he missed the entire spring season and the first World Cup events.

Although a comeback was planned for June or July (he was already on the entry lists for Pal Arinsal and Les Gets, among others), his arm still wasn’t strong enough to compete. He experienced setbacks during his recovery and had to undergo another surgery on the same arm more than a month before the World Championships, but he is now making his return.

On Instagram, Koretzky confirms his participation on the biggest stage. “A few months ago, everything suddenly came to a halt. Surgery, rehabilitation, patience… and then, step by step, the comeback. Since the surgery, every day has been another step forward. I stayed motivated with one goal in mind: to come back as soon as possible and be able to race at 100% again.”

"Without my family, my team, and everyone who has supported me along the way, I wouldn't have made it through this period the same way. Thank you. Now I'm standing at the starting line of the World Championship. 🌈After everything that’s happened over the past few months, just being here feels special,” the defending champion concludes his story.