Just Announced - 2015 UCI World Cup DH and XC Schedule

Jul 31, 2014
by Karl Burkat  
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) today published the 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup calendar on its website. The world’s leading mountain bike series will comprise nine rounds: three exclusively for Downhill (DHI), two for Olympic Cross-country (XCO), and four combining the two specialties.

The season will kick off on April 11th and 12th with round one of the DHI in the new venue of Lourdes (France). Although new to the World Cup calendar, Lourdes has already hosted the French Cup, and will present riders with a 2.5km long course that descends 600m in altitude.

The other first-time destination next year is Lenzerheide, Switzerland, which will organise a double event (DHI and XCO) on July 4th an 5th. This will be the first of three consecutive rounds (2015-2017) in the Swiss resort as it prepares to host the World Championships in 2018.

Often voted best XCO event of the World Cup, Nove Mesto na Morave (Czech Republic) will host round one of the XCO on May 23rd and 24th. This will serve as a final rehearsal before the 2016 World Championships for XCO and Cross-country Eliminator (XCE). After the Czech Republic, the World Cup will move to Albstadt (Germany) for the third consecutive year then the downhill Mecca of Fort William (Great Britain) and the Austrian resort of Leogang, another regular World Cup venue and host of the World Championships in 2012.

The World Cup’s two destinations on the American continent will be held the first two weekends in August: the popular Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada), which has hosted a round every year since the creation of the World Cup in 1991, and Windham (USA).

The overall World Cup winners will be crowned in Val di Sole, Italy, on August 22nd and 23rd. The Italian resort is known for its difficult DHI track, and returns to the World Cup calendar after a break in 2014.

“The 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will combine some of our most traditional and popular destinations with first-time venues that are new to the riders”, said UCI President Brian Cookson. “We are fortunate to have the support of our committed long-term organisers as well as new organisers eager to come on board.”

Although XCE will not be represented in the World Cup this format will remain an important part of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.

2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup calendar

- DHI # 1 April 11-12 Lourdes (France)

- XCO # 1 May 23-24 Nove Mesto na Morave (Czech Republic)

- XCO # 2 May 30-31 Albstadt (Germany)

- DHI # 2 June 6-7 Fort William (Great Britain)

- DHI # 3 June 13-14 Leogang (Austria)

- XCO # 3/ DHI # 4 July 4-5 Lenzerheide (Switzerland)

- XCO # 4/ DHI # 5 August 1-2 Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada)

- XCO # 5/ DHI # 6 August 8-9 Windham (United States)

- XCO # 6/ DHI # 7 August 22-23 Val di Sole (Italy)

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144 Comments
  • 73 4
 Everyone complains about Leogang and says they prefer Schladming..........UCI ignores it and does the same thing. The sport could be so much better if they had people in charge who actually understood downhill racing. Nice to see Val di Sole back though.
  • 31 21
 Leogang was extremely technical this year, one mistake in the woods and your run was over.
Maybe riders prefer Schladming, where you can get as loose and offline as you want and not care because it's steep all the way down, but I definitely think Leogang is a "real" Dh track.
As Steve Smith once said: "we can't really call ourselves athletes if we don't have to pedal"
  • 59 12
 Pedalling is for Enduro. IMO downhill should be about the steepest, nastiest tracks where you have to stay of the brakes to win rather than pedalling on flat bits.
  • 42 0
 Does anyone know if Schladming even wants to host a WC? Are they even bidding to have a race?
  • 8 3
 I wouldnt mind a track like leogang at all, if there were more races.
After all bikepark tracks are what most of us ride 90% of the time and a race where perfection is needed has its place in the rooster.
Its ads a bit of variety.
  • 6 4
 still bear in mind downhill is called downhill for a reason, and the arm pump in schladming must be just as bad as a pedally course like leogang
  • 6 1
 The organizers at Schladming might not want to host a WC, given the difficulties in hosting an event of that size.
  • 28 5
 kudos,
1) the town of Schladming did not want the Worldcup anymore.

2) also the so much praised Fort William has the Motorway section at the bottom, does that track suck now too?

Leogang did provide us with some really great races the last couple of years + We saw some of the most skilled riders of the world struggle and crash this year as well as Last year. Do you guys think that was because they where bored and fell asleep or maybe because it is not that easy to put a clean and fast run down on this track?

is all that talk just because Sam Hill never was able to score a win there?
  • 51 4
 Probably because Brendog says he doesn't like it. Everyone loves Brendog. Brendog is love. Brendog is life.
  • 8 0
 @Wayne- it has nothing to do with the size of the event. The Schladming Night Slalom (Alpine World Cup) draws over 60,000 people. If anything, they possess the ability to host a UCI event. The desire may be another thing.
  • 4 0
 Sino428 hit the nail on the head. It doesn't particularly matter that riders "prefer Schladming" (to some extent), if the organizers aren't capable or haven't been bidding on a race. There are far more issues to consider when selecting a location for a race, including things like logistics, accommodations, crowd size, organizer capability, support services, pit area, lift access - the things that keep the race viable and profitable (or at least break-even). The whole idea that "the course is gnarlier and the riders prefer it, so there should be a race there" is a ridiculous notion for a business model to run a successful race.
  • 2 1
 ka-brap, yeah totally. What you said is what I was alluding to. A WC no matter what the draw, is still a huge event in the complexities in setting one up.
  • 7 0
 As it was mentioned before, the night race in Schladming draws 60.000 people every year. Schladming also had the Skiing World Champs 2013, that means 11 races within two weeks with 300.000 spectators. The Skiing Worldcup is about 1000 times bigger than the DH Worldcup. If anything, the DH Worldcup is not big and important enough for Schladming.
  • 11 1
 My point is that it seems the majority of riders and fans would like the sport to go in a certain direction ie rougher, bigger, nastier tracks. The UCI don't seem to listen to this. The bikes and riders have moved on, but the tracks haven't.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the most talked about DH runs (Sam Hill at Val di Sole, Danny Hart at Champery, Gwin at Val di sole etc) are on the Gnarlier tracks.

The thing that blows me away about downhill is the ability of the top guys to ride stuff so steep and rough, at speeds most if us cannot even comprehend. The best world cup guys can ride stuff so ridiculously difficult (riding Champery in the wet, riding Rampage etc) it's a shame they don't often ride tracks which highlight how mind boggling their skill level actually is.
  • 1 0
 I imagine it has something to do with a contract perhaps, in that Leogang has rights to the World Cup until year X. The only reason I speculate that is because I see how much business the town of Schladming constantly tries to attract: Harley Davidson weekends, IXS EDC races, all of the hikers/tourists they cater to, their go-cart track, and of course their bike park business. I personally can't see why they would not want to hold a UCI World Cup, unless it is either blocked by another party (Leogang) or it is absurdly cost prohibitive.
  • 27 3
 "If you can't get down without a chain then it's not really a downhill track"

Sam Hill
  • 3 0
 well maybe this is the developemtn of downhill. training and preparation got more and more important (as the prize money, industry and media coverage grew, bikes lost many pounds and pedal a lot better now.
is it the developement i hoped for? no. is riding rockgardens at 60 km/h downhill and pedalling to be even faster? of course it is.
  • 4 3
 The girls are way hotter in Leogang ^^
  • 3 0
 Lourdes rocks !!!
  • 1 0
 Finally Sam wont have to take a hit in points in SA.
  • 1 2
 let's give that one trick pony a crutch right?
  • 2 0
 They need to bring grouse mountain World Cup back
  • 5 0
 I hate this assumption that gnarly tracks don't require fitness. The only reason people like Sam Hill could win by so much back in the day without gruelling training was because the sport was relatively young. You try riding Val Di Sole out of shape and we'll see how well you do now.
  • 2 0
 Did you guys even ride that track? and other wc tracks too?
If you didn´t.. you don´t have the right to complain.. because you can´t argue without knowledge..
And seeing a track in videos doesn´t mean anything about understanding a track or even get the right idea of how difficult the track might be in reality..
  • 26 6
 What? no South Africa or Australia.... So much for UCI being global when they stick to typical European and North American venues... Give the other countries a chance... Maybe one day there'll be a Rio or Tokyo event... How cool would that be?
  • 8 0
 Cool, but expensive for the competing teams. They don't exactly have F1 money...
  • 11 3
 you'll hate me for this sparky, but petermegaburger track is wank. surely there are better trails in rsa, and I haven't seen a decent ozzy track ever. but they must exist otherwise how would troy, sam and greg do so well,
i'm amazed to see newzealand almost never featured or BC for that matter.

regarding other places, i agree with you sparky. If a venue doesn't have to have a chairlift then surely the list of top notch tracks around the world is endless. japan, india, tenerife, BC, ukraine...ok maybe not there. but you get my point.

maybe one day when the level of money invested climbs a few 100% maybe one day!!

oh hellyeahAmendrinktothat regarding less pedalling. off the brakes all the way
  • 9 0
 Agree that NZ or BC deserves to host a DH race sometime sooner than later. I think they should be a permanent fixtures, one or the other.
  • 7 0
 What people on here don't seem to realize is that those hosts might not want to put on a WC. The UCI doesn't set the race up, the local event organizers do. Its a huge undertaking with a lot of hurdles you as an organizer have to jump through. I could understand them not wanting to host one. That said, those organizers could have put in a bid to host a WC but got turned down for any number of reasons.
  • 1 0
 probably more truth to that wayne, then anything else that's going to be said on this thread. which is a pity. its too easy to be blinkered into your niche sport and think "why doesn't anyone else understand and spend tens of thousands hosting events to my liking". . what are we.......about 30 years into this sport or something. yeah plenty of time ahead of us to get it sorted.
  • 1 0
 you had your chance
  • 2 1
 it would be an interesting read to get an event organizers' pov. these are the folks who make it happen year after year. the cost of doing this type of promo and prep can be tough. it makes you wonder how a market like windham can make it happen and the entire mtn and west coast can't. lack of interest, venue and support? so many companies who sponsor teams and riders comin out of cali alone and nothing...oh well. thankful to those who get it done.
  • 1 1
 I've always said, if YOU want a WC (or any race) so bad, then YOU are the one that needs to make it happen. Its just that to put on a WC is a pretty large undertaking, and the costs to put one on are through the roof. When I say "you" I mean in general terms.
  • 3 2
 Does anybody remember when Rotorua held a WC or World Champs? And does anyone realise how much or little vertical descent Rotorua has in it's DH trails? Or Canberra's for that matter? Didn't Cairns just host a WC only to have everyone bag it? How big was the hill in Cairns btw? We say we want WC's down under, but what has both the right track and the right logistical facilities to handle it successfully year in year out? Mt. Thredbo?? Queenstown?? They have chair lift's at least. And rumour has Rotorua is getting one too. Both NZ and Aussie have lots of little hills with lots of banging trails, but finding a Schladming type trail is rare.
  • 5 1
 @F8L-DJ there's this place called Queenstown in New Zealand. Its not exactly flat.
  • 1 0
 i was under the impression that due to logistics it is only feasible to have one Southern hemisphere event next year and since cairns will be hosting world champs in 2017(?) they were going to host a world cup event in 2015 and 2016....guess not.....regardless of logistics - its a WORLD cup and both cairns and cascades are committed to hosting from a local perspective so its a real up yours to us down here in the south
  • 2 3
 stretchza, just because there are bikers in the Southern Hemisphere doesn't directly mean that there should be a World Cup there. Take the Alpine World Cup for example- no races in Australia or NZ simply because the hills are too flat. Summer training yes, winter racing no. Sorry, but a World Cup venue should be worthy of being a "World Cup" and therefore be the steepest, rowdiest, most challenging race (while still safe) as possible. If there is such a venue there, then by all means it should be welcomed. But when tracks like Schladming or Champery or Maribor are absent from the UCI calendar (regardless of why) and flatter less challenging tracks are present, then I see why fans get upset.
  • 2 1
 I agree ka-brap about the condition of the venue..but..uci also has a responsibility in promoting and growing the sport in addition to providing a suitable track. The only way to effectively promote a sport is for people to spectate..and keeping everything north of the equator is not helping that. I disagree that a definition of "World Cup" is the steepest hardest gnarliest ....its about dealing with conditions around the world...so if part of that involves bike shuttles or a peddley section then so be it
  • 1 0
 ^this is where the enduro business model works better at the moment. it is currently the most tangible part of the sport. the format isn't as constrained as a dh venue even when there is virtually zero spectating compared to dh. actually surprised that the UCI has managed dh this far along. i would agree that it would seem that they need to do better in terms of reaching new venues/viewers while keeping the truly classic races always rotating thru. hard to figure out or get an understanding from a fan's perspective w/o real number$ to go by from both inside and outside of the tape. i would imagine all cost for a promoter is not as easy to get in the black year in year out.
  • 3 2
 south africa has how many people that can afford to mtb? is how far away from the rest of the major mtb scenes in europe and north america? You guys were lucky to have a WC in the first place.
  • 2 0
 Ive heard rumours of another WC being held in Rotorua in the net couple of years
  • 1 1
 ka-brap, the UCI call it a 'world cup' for the exact reason that it's a 'world cup'. If it was only held in the northern hemisphere, it could hardly be called a world cup could it? It would have to be renamed to 'Northern Hemisphere Cup' which is clearly excluding the southern hemisphere from the sport. Imagine what kind of impact that would have on the sport as a whole?
  • 3 0
 Its all good @game...we use bamboo strung together with vine and chiselled rocks for wheels...thats way it is affordable for everyone...uphill is a bit of a bitch..but you should see that bad boy go downhill
  • 4 0
 @ Game ... Yes its true the Southern Hemisphere is far away for the teams to travel - but your comment about how many people can afford to ride etc .... Have you ever been to SA? If you have you will realise that MTB is the most popular sport here with mass participation events catering for 2000+ riders EVERY WEEKEND in all of our provinces. We host some of the largest MTB stage races in the world as well ... and it is this culture that has brought up riders such as the current World Champ!

As for the bit about us being "lucky", again a total misnomer ... We bid for the event, we won the bid so we hosted the event. The UCI's reports post event were always favourable. So before getting petty and saying we were "Lucky" maybe actually go to a venue that is hosting an event and see the logistics behind it and think about what the UCI look for in a venue. Because its not just about the track as most people think. As the Manager of the DH event I was always under fire as the hill is not as steep as some international tracks but there is not much we could do. So yes, not the best venue for DH, but the XC track was amazing.

I to be honest am glad that the UCI has moved on and introduced new venues as it keeps the sport moving, I'm just bummed for Cairns as hosting World Cups leading up to a World Championships is crucial to ironing out the issues before the BIG event. I hope they get it again next year. Or all the effort they put in is wasted.
  • 4 0
 So here's what I heard: Cairns and Rotorua, NZ were going to get rounds next year, it was set to go then cairns pulled out because of funding so the UCI said it cost teams too much to come all the way down here for one round. BUT it still looks good to have a round in Cairns and Rotorua in 2016 (and maybe 2017?).
  • 1 2
 Stating the obvious there @Its-That-Guy
  • 1 0
 In Cape Town alone there are many areas that can take PMB's place... From a DH perspective Tokai could easily take over and it's much more technical and less pedally... Our problem is that most of the DH tracks are too short... take Contermanskloof for instance... that track is insane, but only 2 minutes long ride time... XCO we definitely got covered and UCI could take their pick where thats concerned... Bring a round to Cape Town... It would be epic... excuse the pun
  • 1 0
 1 venue should be in Korea or Japan .. they both have more to offer ... lol
  • 1 0
 @Spark24, Tokai would not be a suitable place for a UCI DH race. The trails are good, but more for enduro I'd say than to host a DH event. And then there are the baboons...
  • 19 0
 Val di Sole...yessss.
  • 1 0
 im extremely excited to see the world cup return to my favorite venue, BRING ON THE LOAM
  • 12 0
 Anyone (well almost anyone) can apply to run a World Cup A financial contribution must be paid to the UCI (around 20k) and you then have to jump through several hoops!
So before we all go UCI hating regards the venue choices, just note only so many organisations/event promoters actually apply, some get knocked back and others offered the gig. Hope that briefly helps to explain the situation.
  • 2 1
 thank you
  • 3 0
 Si, always good to get some educated input. Thank you.
  • 4 0
 I am currently sat in my hostel in Schladming having come here to ride for a few days. The track is absolutely insane, mind bogglingly steep. I asked the mechanic who works in the bike shop at the bottom of the run what he thinks of Leogang and he laughed. He also mentioned that the people in Schladming don't seem to care for or about mountain biking...
  • 1 0
 Every year more and more mountain bikers are coming, which is starting to make the hotels and restaurants wake up and realize that there is business to be made with the biking community, not just lazy German hikers Wink I hope it continues to get busier every year (trust me, it's still nowhere near crowded) so that the town wants us there.
  • 1 0
 I like the jumps and stuff at Leogang, but Schladming has a better feel to it. I'm from a part of Austria where there are no mountains for skiing and no lift access, I'm riding old and worn-out hiking trails that nobody goes on anymore. The trails are full of roots, rocks and pretty much formed by nature. No berms, no perfectly manicured kickers and landings. Just natural terrain. I can take off wherever I want and still count on the terrain to catch me. So basically, what I wanna say is that Schladming has this natural feel for me. All parts of the track make sense.
  • 11 4
 Not ONE beats Fort William...
  • 6 3
 MSA ?
  • 15 5
 I know I am about to be overwhelmed with negs, but Fort Bill at least on the video coverage I saw is the most boring track I have seen this year. I don't really see how people praise it so much then call Leogang a bike park, it looked way more technical at least on the video coverage, and admittedly I have never been to any of these tracks so this is all just speculation from what I have watched.
  • 5 0
 To be fair, the video coverage is always terrible. I watch the live stream and think "I could totally ride that track" then I see the follow-up pictures and my life flashes before my eyes. There are probably crazy sections on both, that the video never even shows
  • 3 0
 yeah the bit in the woods is mad at ft bill but they managae to niggle in a step down and some jumps so unlike leogang its not just one jump after another its broken up well by the gnarly stuff
  • 7 0
 fort bill is a weird one. it does look so smooth and easy when you see the pros hit it on screen. but once you are on that track leaving the last boardwalk then all hell breaks loose.. optical illusion above the treeline, so wide and open a view that you don't realise how fast you are hitting shit until the arm pump blows you off yer bars a few mins in and you have to stop at the deer gate turn, along with all the other wannabes lol
  • 1 0
 cameras are liars.
I was at the Leogang race this year, almost crashed permanently walking down beside the track... would have been bad with a broken arm and torn ligaments Wink
and if sections are not that technical, when you see the pros what they make of it...
  • 7 1
 Where are going to be raced the champs?
  • 12 0
 Vallnord, Andorra
  • 2 0
 Sick I loved watching Valnord!
  • 1 0
 maybe we will get to see CG riding DH!! that would be sick
  • 6 0
 Finally some new Places ! lourdes is Nice !! Not sad not to see PMB
  • 1 0
 vimeo.com/66436635 video from lourdes , dunno if it will be the same track but the terrain in general looks great !
  • 1 0
 Hey I just noticed no PMB, finally they dropped that track. It looked fun just not race course material.
  • 1 0
 More rounds are needed, Leogang would have its place if there were more rounds as it would provide variety, if it was alongside champery, val di sole, mont saint anne, fortwilliam, wind ham, schladming, hafjel I'm sure riders would accept as there are enough brutal steep and gnarly tracks in the calendar but when there are only a few it gets picked on and bullied, which i agree with but it would be fine against those other tracks giving the riders a wide range of riding!!!
  • 3 0
 im sooo happy the world cup is going back to val di sole for finals, favorite track to watch!!! in my opinion, it is the roughest big mans track ever created
  • 1 0
 I read the article.. but I am confused ? Are there only 3 DH races next season ? Or are these races published new to the calendar. Fort William Is listed, but it's not new ? 3 races ... really ?
They listed some races will be combined, the above article doesn't state which ones though.
  • 1 0
 There's 7 dh races next season, it lists the locations at the bottom of the article.
  • 1 0
 Copied and pasted from the article.
2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup calendar

- DHI # 1 April 11-12 Lourdes (France)

- XCO # 1 May 23-24 Nove Mesto na Morave (Czech Republic)

- XCO # 2 May 30-31 Albstadt (Germany)

- DHI # 2 June 6-7 Fort William (Great Britain)

- DHI # 3 June 13-14 Leogang (Austria)

- XCO # 3/ DHI # 4 July 4-5 Lenzerheide (Switzerland)

- XCO # 4/ DHI # 5 August 1-2 Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada)

- XCO # 5/ DHI # 6 August 8-9 Windham (United States)

- XCO # 6/ DHI # 7 August 22-23 Val di Sole (Italy)
  • 2 0
 I'm guessing he didn't see the "/ DHI #X" after the XCO....
  • 1 0
 Ahhhh.... crap. I did not see the /DHI #X after the XCO. My mistake. Thanks. for your help Albe23.
  • 1 0
 I still think 6 races is super weak. You have one mechanical and you're done for. If any top level racing series of anything else was this weak, nobody would pay any attention. A 5 month series with a 2 month break in races is ridiculous. Time to draw up new bidding processes or hire the guys from the EWS to run the damn show.
  • 1 0
 Actually there are 7 races. But yeah, it would be better with something like a 12 race season.
  • 2 0
 7 races and the world champs at vallnord. Effectively an 8 race season just like this year. The real issue with putting more races in the calendar is that there are so many other big events on (BDS, Crankworx, Rampage etc) that everything would end up clashing like it did with sea otter
  • 1 0
 I see zee 7th now, too many #'s lol This year is better than recent years past of course, but it's a bummer to see venues dropped for a year or so, then pop back up. If they kept building the schedule and sticking to hard dates like MSA/Windham seem to be doing, we'd probably see an easy increase in events since other races/festivals could work around it. I hear what you're saying though, and the talent pool isn't THAT large so it's tough to get everyone in the same place without losing them to other obligations. VDS ftw doe.
  • 1 1
 I'm sure they could make a 12 race season, but the prices of bikes would be 2x as high for the team to afford to get to them all.

Now do you want 12 races?
  • 2 0
 If it's done correctly, a longer series eventually breeds lower prices, more bikers, and more competition among manufacturers. But you'd need an organization to run it that doesn't have their head up their ass first lol
  • 1 0
 Yes, 12 races would be awesome.
  • 1 0
 How does it breed lower prices?

If a multi million dollar sport like F1 has to cap the amount of races to save costs, I think it's clear that Downhill needs to do the same...
  • 1 0
 timlake,
so, F-1 caps the number of races per season to save costs? Maybe they say that (actually they don't), but what they've really done was put budget caps on the team spending. There are more F-1 races per season in this era than ever. For example, the first Formula One season was in 1950, so let's start there.
In the 1950s there were between 7 to 11 races per season, most commonly 8.
In the 1960s there were between 8 to 12 races per season, most commonly 10.
In the 1970s there were between 11 to 17 races per season.
Now the 70's were all over the place as to how many races per season. One season each with 11,12,13,14,and 17 races, two seasons each with 15 and 16 races, so the 70s were a bit of an anomaly as far as consistency with how many per season, but still the number of races per season continued to grow.
In the 1980s there were between 8 to 12 races per season, most commonly 12.
In the 1990s there were between 16 and 17 races per season, most commonly 16.
In the 2000s there were between 17 and 19 races per season, most commonly 17.
And finally in this current decade of the 2010s there have been, so far, between 19 and 20 races per season, most commonly 19.

So that example you've given makes no sense. Another reason the F-1 comparison isn't relevant to DH racing is, F-1 is primarily a spectator sport. The vast majority of people watching, in person or on television, don't race cars. F-1 does not showcase a product that is commercially available. The cars are pretty much really fast billboards advertizing alcoholic beverages, apparel, watches, financial services, and consumer electronics.
  • 1 0
 DH racing on the other hand, much like any form of mountain bike racing, is primarily a participatory sport. The vast majority of spectators are already mountain bikers, which means they are potential customers. More races means more chances to showcase the product that bike companies are selling. How many Sundays do you think Iron Horse sold after Sam Hill started winning races on them? What affect did Aaron Gwin's 2011 and 2012 winning seasons have on the sale of the Trek Session? If sponsoring racers and funding race teams didn't help bike companies sell more bikes, they wouldn't do it at all. @rota92 is right. Have you not heard the old saying, "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday"?
  • 1 0
 @iamwarthog
F1 is completely showcasing product that is commercially available. Every single spectator of an F1 race is a potential customer.

Brands do not pour millions of dollars into sponsoring a team/driver/event just for fun, there are serious gains to be had, but as with all of these costs they are finely balanced to produce ROI. More races means more $$ and does not necessarily mean more exposure. Most F1 sponsors sponsor the teams not for the exposure on race day but for the off-track benefits of using the car/driver/team in their own ad's. They can still do this even if there is 1 race a year...

From an industry point of view (a clothing and protection manufacturer) I would not like to see more races as it means the teams will ask for more $$$.

Not just a little more, but almost 2x as much. That means we can't sponsor as big of a team.

Good exposure does not just come from race results. We like to see our riders in multiple different exposure channels. Racing and results is a tiny part of where brands like us get our exposure. Exactly the same as F1.

Not all exposure comes from race day...
  • 2 0
 This argument is moot. None of us can affect it and we clearly don't know what the effect (if any) of more races would be on the teams or general bike prices.
  • 2 1
 It's the internet. Nothing is moot Razz

If we bitch more, maybe we'll get more insight into the decisions. It's not a large enough sport for the little guys to be completely forgotten.
  • 1 0
 @timlake
I'm don't want to get into semantics about the difference between a product being showcased or advertised, because it's clear that will go nowhere. Now where you said, "Not all exposure comes from race day", yeah that's true, not all of it does. However, the entire foundation of the exposure a company gets from sponsoring a racer and/or a team is absolutely rooted in race day.
You said "Most F1 sponsors sponsor the teams not for the exposure on race day but for the off-track benefits of using the car/driver/team in their own ad's". Without race day there would be zero benefit in using the car/driver/team in advertisements in the first place.
Also, "They can still do this even if there is 1 race a year.." One race a year is going to hold no one's interest, and since no public interest would mean no sponsors, no they couldn't.
I'm pretty confident anyone that saw the race at Mont-Sainte-Anne last week already knows what the next big Chain Reaction/Nuke Proof ad is going to feature.
And then there's this. "I'm sure they could make a 12 race season, but the prices of bikes would be 2x as high for the team to afford to get to them all. Now do you want 12 races?" You're just pulling these figures out of the air randomly. There is absolutely no way you, or anyone else, could possible know that.
Lastly, I said "If sponsoring racers and funding race teams didn't help bike companies sell more bikes, they wouldn't do it at all." You respond with, "Brands do not pour millions of dollars into sponsoring a team/driver/event just for fun, there are serious gains to be had..". I fail to see the logic in rewording what I've already said, and then presenting it back to me in an attempt to dispute what I've said. The main thing I take issue with though, is that you started an argument with a stranger just because he said he thought a 12 race season would be cool.
At any rate, I'm done. Please feel free to reply (or not) as you see fit. I won't respond.
  • 1 0
 Having raced it last weekend, I think everyone will be impressed with the track at Windham this year. Although I do think one up in Vermont or New Hampshire (Killington?) would be interesting with the bigger mountains. Closer to MSA as well
  • 1 0
 For DH, does anyone know about the Saturday/Sunday thing? Will the following be correct? Lourdes, Fort Bill, Leogang all Sunday finals as there's no XCO event, the rest all Saturday for the opposite reason? Cheers if anyone knows.
  • 4 0
 oh yes val di sole is back
  • 1 0
 evry year i see this post and just like a kid on christmas im like, yes this would be the day where japan or namibia or colombia or any sort of awesome new places will be explored by the uci and evry year im dissapointed.
  • 1 1
 Glad to see Windham back for 2015, those guys know how to throw a party. Everybody on the East side of the Big Muddy should show up and support this event. Home course advantage cannot be under estimated for our guys racing as well. See ya there !!!!
  • 4 1
 Glad South Africa and Austrailia tracks got dropped. Those two were ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz
  • 3 0
 I'd like to see Maribor back in there at the expense of leogang and a round in New Zealand
  • 3 0
 Would be interesting to see a list of venues that did bid to host
  • 3 0
 Entire month of May - no races. Amazing.
  • 3 1
 yea, the weird breaks in the WC always feel like it's not taken seriously by the UCI.
  • 1 0
 That was my first objection. Hey the seasons here, lets go racing(for a weekend)...ok now go take a month off. Strange
  • 3 0
 In the UCI's defense I'm sure they want to allow ample time for teams to get all their stuff to the next race. The team logistics must be a nightmare.
  • 2 0
 they manage several races a week apart, as long as it's the same continent. Fairly sure they could pull off 2 week breaks between continents & still pull it off, maybe 3 weeks at the most.
  • 3 0
 Congrats to the Windham folks for landing another World Cup ! Thank You
  • 1 0
 WTF Vail Resorts Inc ( owner of 4 resorts in CO, and some in UT and Cali), get your sh!t together and bring a DH event to one of your resorts.
  • 1 0
 Vail would be the only one to do it, and it would have to be world champs, because you know they're "special" like that. Management at that particular resort is funky over biking right now, so I wouldn't hold my breath. They also think UCI DH is a money loser, because of the 2001 champs, even though that was more due to 9/11 being 4 days before it.
  • 2 0
 Keystone could have a mega track.
  • 3 0
 should bring back bromont imo
  • 2 0
 Bromont's a wicked, if very short, track. Would like to see them race there again.
  • 3 0
 there is a lot of new track that could work for a wc too, longer tracks to replace the actual WC.
  • 3 0
 Val di sole FTW! i missed that track a lot this year Frown
  • 1 2
 I think its the right time to make a change and move the 2 traditional north american world cups to other places on the planet..Mont St Anne and Windham are boring and expensive! there is much better tracks and cheaper to get in on the east of europe( see the IXS cup tracks ).
  • 1 2
 Why the f*ck is there only 6 rounds!? And why again is there nearly 2 months between rounds 1 and 2? Bloody ridiculous in my opinion. Joke. Should be twice as many rounds. Host rounds in more countries too South America, Asia, Japan? Come on this is pathetic.
  • 1 0
 There are 7 rounds.
  • 2 0
 Booking my trip for Val di Sole ASAP!
  • 2 0
 why Windham??? I'm sure the US has better to offer
  • 2 0
 I think in terms of travel it makes sense to have it on the east coast with MSA a stones throw away.
  • 2 0
 My guess is because it's cost effective for the teams (other than the aforementioned reasons above). MSA to Windham is like an 8 hour drive, and I would assume cheaper than flying to CO or CA. But you know what they say about assuming....
  • 1 0
 I thought the windham track turned into a damn good race track in the end , plenty of rocks and speed and big jumps , bit short maybe but gives riders a chance to push harder over the shorter distance.
  • 2 0
 Windham is short, the terrain not so tech. The East Coast could represent much better in a bigger hill like Killington, awesome venue, and easily put down a 4+ min run, but Killy could care less. Too bad. I'll be in Windham watching though.
  • 1 0
 There should be 10 most back to back that would be a proper season April to September
  • 2 0
 Bring back Snoqualmie!!!!
  • 1 0
 What about andorra? Wasn't it supposed to be in 2015 worldcup
  • 1 0
 Oh yes! Val di Sole the real DH!
  • 3 2
 why announce the calendar is almost always the same places
  • 4 3
 doesnt matter if the track is good. UCI only cares abouy money...
  • 2 0
 I'm sure that's not true at all. They may care enough about money to avoid losing it or going bankrupt. I'm sure, despite many PB peanut gallery members thoughts on the matter, that there are actually people that are legitimately passionate mountain bikers in the UCI. The fact that they need to keep the races financially viable should surprise no one.
  • 3 0
 The fee to the UCI to host a race is rather low. Its all the other costs that add up. Downhill does not exactly have a history to draw a lot of paying people in recent years except for a few tracks like Fort William. In other words making money out of it as a resort seems rather hard. Would be interesting to know how many applications they actually got.
  • 2 1
 No-one is missing that Aussie stop, that's for sure!
  • 2 0
 Lourdes!
  • 1 0
 no Australia? that is lame.
  • 4 3
 USA???? must be a typo
  • 3 3
 Anyone wanna take a guess where Worlds will be? I'm hoping VDS.
  • 14 0
 It's in Andorra
  • 4 1
 That's good, since it won't be a world cup. Fun track to watch.
  • 2 1
 +1 grog. Remi FTW!
  • 4 0
 What is the proposed date for the world champs in Andorra ? Im trying to base our honeymoon around it and hopefully a WC round too !
  • 2 0
 @glenno props to sir, for DH dedication
  • 1 0
 getting er done!
  • 1 0
 Go back to Kaprun! Smile
  • 1 0
 What state is Windham?
  • 2 4
 Feck off leogang jeez Frown







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