UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships to air live July 2nd and 3rd

Cross-Country (XCO) riders take a break from the season long points-race for the World Cup to battle for World Champion status in Nové Mêsto Na Moravé in the Czech Republic; the finals will air live on July 2 and 3, on Red Bull TV. The World Championships are a very special weekend of racing during the XCO season; winners of the Men’s and Women’s divisions are named “World Champion” and get to race in UCI’s prestigious rainbow striped jersey until the next World Championships. In 2015, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA) was crowned XCO World Champion, a title she also held in the Cyclo-Cross and Road divisions. Nino Schurter (SUI) is the current World Champion in the XCO Men’s division.

Riders enter the World Championships with a full month’s rest after the exhausting back-to-back World Cup races in Albstadt, Germany (May 22) and La Bresse, France (May 29). Schurter, 2015’s Overall World Cup Winner and this season’s current points leader, beat main rival, Julien Absalon (FRA), by less than a wheel length in Germany. At La Bresse, Absalon was victorious, claiming his first World Cup win in more than 12 months. Now overall World Cup contender Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE) welcomes all riders to his home turf.

NOVÉ MÊSTO COURSE PREVIEW

A scenic two-hour’s drive from Prague, Nové Mêsto Na Moravé (translation: “New Town of Moravia”) is a small factory and winter sport village that hosts the UCI tour for the sixth time. The 4.1 km (2.5 mi) course reaches a height of 80 m (262.6 ft.). The population of 10,500 swells as thousands of fans pack the Biathlon stands at the starting line.

From the start gun, riders race into the forest on a dizzying path that includes plenty of obstacles, fast descents and technical uphills. The wide forest road in the first lap provides plenty of passing opportunities for riders looking to set the pace. Regular laps include the Double Feed Zone, two Shimano Expert Climbs, and Mitas Choice, a quick downhill rush. The Skoka Vertical Drop provides one big stone to jump; the GoPro AC/DC downhill has lots of tight corners, the Birell BMX section is super-fast and the Kross Rock n’ Roll section features big stones and bridges. Riders head into the Double Feed Zone before returning to the roar of the crowd at the finish line.

In 2015, Neff beat Dahle Flesjå to the finish line with a thrilling 0.01 lead. Heading into the last lap of the 2015 Men’s Final, local hero Kulhavy briefly gave up his lead to Schurter, but then on the long climb he made his move and rode to a decisive victory. He slowed down to greet his fans and still won by a half minute. Absalon finished third.

LA BRESSE RECAP

The Men’s Finals in La Bresse proves that anything is possible in a XCO race. A storm the previous evening made the course especially challenging. Schurter, Stephane Tempier (FRA) and Mathias Flückiger (SUI) broke free from the pack early on. Absalon made his move in Lap 2, taking advantage when Schurter crashed and punctured his rear wheel. A quick tire change in the tech zone got Schurter back in the race. Tempier was not so lucky; after a tire puncture in Lap 3, he dropped out of the race. Schurter suffered a second tire puncture in Lap 4 and a longer tire change sent him down to 8th place. Teammates Maxime Marotte (FRA) and Victor Koretzky (FRA) were determined to give their host country the top three spots in the race; they took on countryman Absalon as Schurter steadily regained ground. Koretzky slowed with a soft tire, but claimed his place in the top three while Schurter finished 4th.

The Women’s Finals in La Bresse was equally exciting. Reigning World Cup winner, Jolanda Neff (SUI), started her first race of the season in the third row of riders. Neff lived up to her nickname, the “Swiss Missile”, by shooting to the front of the pack by the first turn of the race. Current points leader, Annika Langvad (DEN), was suffering a cold; she appeared to have crashed on the first lap and finished in 15th place. Emily Batty (CAN), Jenny Rissveds (SWE) and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå (NOR) were among the riders jockeying for good position and the best lines early on. On Lap 3, a single section of the course sent Neff over her handlebars into the netting. Batty crashed too, as did Rissveds who exited the race after sliding out and hurting her already injured wrist. Neff suffered a rear flat on Lap 4, allowing Batty to take the lead. On the final lap, Catharine Pendrel (CAN) made her move by briefly overtaking Neff and Batty. Neff regained the lead during the final long climb and sealed her first win of the season.

MOUNTAIN BIKE RACING ON RED BULL TV

In recent years, mountain bike races have grown from a niche sport to a worldwide phenomenon. Pro mountain bike racing, including the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano, is presented on Red Bull TV through a globally unrivalled combination of live and VOD programming that’s available to fans anytime, anywhere. The action is fast-paced, the thrills are never-ending; viewers dare not blink as top-ranked riders can be overthrown just as quickly as virtual unknowns can become legends.

Red Bull TV will air the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships live – online and on mobile via Android, iOS and Windows Phone, as well as on selected partners’ platforms such as Apple TV, Xbox 360, Playstation 3+4, Amazon Fire TV (US), Chromecast and as a pre-installed channel on Samsung Smart TVs (2011+) in 194 countries.