The Union Cycliste Internationale and Warner Bros. Discovery announced the full calendar for the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup recently.
One of the highlights in this calendar is a round hosted in Haute-Savoie, France, bringing together all the major mountain bike formats for the first time in the history of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. The cross-country Olympic (XCO), cross-country short track (XCC) and downhill (DHI) competitions will take place in Les Gets, while the cross-country marathon (XCM), enduro (EDR) and E-enduro (EDR-E) events will be held in Châtel and Morzine. Organized over 10 days, including two weekends from Sept. 7-17, this event will bring together the entire world mountain bike community.
“We still have the incredible images and atmosphere of the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Les Gets fresh in our minds, and so look forward to returning to Haute-Savoie next year for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup,” UCI President David Lappartient said. “This region has hosted the discipline’s UCI World Cup on several occasions, as well as two editions of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, which demonstrates its strong commitment to our sport. With the round in Les Gets, which will bring together all the major mountain bike formats, we will once again benefit from the fantastic organization and enthusiastic welcome that characterize the Haute-Savoie region, that will also host the second edition of the UCI Cycling World Championships in 2027.”
Four cyclists from Durango competed on the World Cup last year. Christopher Blevins and Savilia Blunk both raced in the elite divisions while Riley Amos and Ruh Holcomb both raced in U23.
The 2023 calendar features 13 stops, including eight with the cross-country disciplines, beginning with two enduro competitions in Australia March 25-26 and April 1-2.
The first XCO, XCC and XCM races will be held May 12-14 at Nové Mesto Na Morave, Czech Republic.
The XCO and XCC calendar also includes stops June 3-4 in Lenzerheide, Switzerland; June 15-18 in Leogang, Austria; June 30-July 2 in Val de Sole Trentino, Italy; Aug. 25-27 in Pal Arinsal, Andorra; Sept. 7-17 in Les Gets, France; Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at Snowshoe, West Virginia and then Oct. 6-8 at Mont-Saint-Anne, Canada.
As part of the UCI and WBD's commitment to mass participation events and creation of pathways to elite sport, amateur races will be offered for EDR and XCM this season. All four XCM rounds will be open to participation with no prequalification required.
In June 2022, the UCI entrusted WBD to develop and promote mountain biking with an eight-year agreement. WBD will deploy its resources and expertise, notably through Discovery Sports Events and ESO Sports, to elevate mountain biking and bring it to a global audience. This new vision brings an emphasis on the various formats within the mountain bike discipline.
