The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) have unveiled the new UCI Mountain Bike World Series, which will include the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup for cross-country Olympic (XCO), cross-country short track (XCC), cross-country marathon (XCM), downhill (DHI), enduro (EDR) and E-enduro (E-EDR).
‘The UCI Mountain Bike World Series will unite all mountain bike’s major formats under a single brand for the first time. The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will be the pinnacle of this new structure, that will enable all formats to flourish independently but also sit side by side at select rounds and give athletes and teams additional exposure.’
A release from UCI added that the UCI Mountain Bike World Series will also provide opportunities for amateurs and those seeking to break onto the elite stage.
‘Amateur XCM, EDR and E-EDR racing at some events will enable amateurs to compete alongside their sporting heroes, while providing a clear pathway to the highest level of the sport for aspiring athletes in the quest of qualifying points to progress into the elite ranks.’
This alignment of formats and racing will be showcased in September in Les Gets, Morzine and Châtel (France), hosts of the first ten-day UCI Mountain Bike World Series festival. Featuring all the major UCI Mountain Bike World Cup formats, as well as amateur racing, the festival will aim to set the benchmark for this new era for mountain bike racing.
With one of the world’s biggest sports broadcasters behind the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, there will be more live coverage and more ways to follow racing. UCI World Cup XCO, XCC and DHI events from the UCI Mountain Bike World Series will be available live and on-demand on discovery+, the Eurosport App and globally on GCN+.
UCI World Cup XCM, EDR and E-EDR will benefit from in-depth Highlights Shows at every round. More ways to watch will be announced in the coming months.
UCI President David Lappartient said “The global popularity of mountain bike is on the rise, and by combining all its major formats as well as racing for elite and amateur riders in one major series, we will further increase the appeal of this discipline.
“With its festival atmosphere, mix of racing and expanded live coverage, the UCI Mountain Bike World Series offers a fresh and appealing experience for athletes, hardened fans and newcomers to the mountain bike community.”
Chris Ball, CEO of event organiser ESO Sports, said “By creating a single global platform that unifies the major racing formats with UCI World Cup status for the first time, the new UCI Mountain Bike World Series will also allow for the integration and growth of amateur, pathway and festival events to UCI World Cup racing.
“Our long-term goal is to elevate the major racing formats of the UCI World Cup, taking the athletes and teams to a new level. We also want to maintain the ability to entertain and engage mountain bikers at all levels. The future is incredibly exciting, and we are honoured to usher in a new era of the sport.”
ESO Sports is a specialist event organiser for major mountain bike races and festivals. Formed in 2012, ESO Sports owns the UCI Mountain Bike World Series and delivers the major formats of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cups.
From 2012 to 2022, ESO Sports owned and operated the Enduro World Series, before its elevation to a UCI Mountain Bike World Cup from 2023. In 2023, ESO Sports will also deliver the Mountain Bike Cross-Country and Mountain Bike Marathon races at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
www.uci.ch
www.endurosportsorganisation.com
www.discovery.com
