Uci Expands Mountain Biking Calendar
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery have announced that the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will be extended from 2023 – with expanded broadcast coverage.
The introduction of enduro and E-enduro to the calendar follows the recent announcement of the addition of cross-country marathon (XCM) to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
The existing Enduro World Series (EWS) will be elevated to UCI World Cup status and feature alongside cross-country Olympic (XCO), cross-country short track (XCC) downhill (DHI) and XCM. All enduro events on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will be one-day events.
Another enhancement to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup from 2023 will be increased screen time for the elite downhill competitions after the introduction, at each downhill round, of a semi-final between the qualification and final.
Featuring the top 60 Elite Men and top 15 Elite Women from qualifying, the downhill semi-final will see men outside the top 30 and women outside the top 10 enjoy broadcast coverage for the first time on Warner Bros. Discovery’s Eurosport channels.
UCI President David Lappartient, said, “The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup has been delighting athletes and fans for more than 30 years with multiple rounds being held worldwide throughout the season. I am thrilled that this international series will also include enduro, E-enduro and cross-country marathon from 2023. These formats will add a new dimension to the reinvigorated series that is taking the mountain bike discipline to even greater heights.
“Also thanks to our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, the spectacular downhill racing will benefit from greater exposure that will enchant existing fans and attract new audiences. I cannot wait to witness this new extended UCI Mountain Bike World Cup from 2023.”
Chris Ball, CEO of ESO Sports, added, “Mountain bike racing has reached an incredible level over the past few years and this latest evolution will allow the sport to change gear again and accelerate towards an exciting new future, celebrating the discipline in all its forms.
“With more racing in short track and a new semi-final in downhill, fans will be treated to more action than ever. The awarding of UCI World Cup status for enduro, E-enduro and cross-country marathon will also put a greater spotlight on these incredible mountain bike formats and allow us to both push the front end of racing.
“Along with the UCI, we believe these changes will help broaden the appeal of mountain biking and enhance the race experience for athletes, teams and fans alike.”
The full calendar of the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will be published next week.
