Course Preview: King of XC - Nove Mesto XC World Cup 2019

May 23, 2019
by Matthew DeLorme  

The stands will be full come Sunday on the Mercedes Benz Rock and Roll section.
Course Preview
King of XC Courses
UCI XC MTB World Cup Nove Mesto na Morave Germany Presented by Mercedes Benz
Photography by Matthew DeLorme and Andy Vathis

Round two of the XC World Cup is back in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, and we have to say, this is the King of XC tracks. Strung along a long hillside at the Olympic cross-country skiing facility, the track snakes up and down across the root laced hill. This course is all about roots and rocks. The forest floor is laced with pine roots and the course features some of the most demanding rock gardens in XC. Expect the lap count to be around seven for the elite men and 5 or 6 for the elite women. Course length comes in at 3.936 kilometers and has roughly 117 meters of climbing per lap.

Cannondale BMX a favorite for the spectators and with good reason. it s fast and rough with a few booters.
Cannondale BMX, a favorite for the spectators and with good reason. It's fast and rough with a few booters.

Line choices out of BMX. That inside is quick.
Line choices out of BMX. That inside is quick.

The rains have made the ruts form here and there but this track holds up pretty damn well when it pours.
The rains have made the ruts form here and there, but this track holds up pretty damn well when it pours.

photo

Roots and small rocks are littered across the upper single track and the lower connecting the far ends of the course.
Roots and small rocks are littered across the upper single track and the lower connecting the far ends of the course.

The famous Wall climb seen from above. Many lines to choose from but only a couple will actually be efficient.
The famous "Wall" climb seen from above. Many lines to choose from but only a couple will actually be efficient.

The upper plateau of the track before rolling into the X-Class Vertical Drop is soaked up all the moisture with a only a few roots popping up.
The upper plateau of the track before rolling into the X-Class Vertical Drop has soaked up all the moisture with only a few roots popping up.

Berms in the lower part of the track are still soft from all the rain earlier in the week.
Berms in the lower part of the track are still soft from all the rain earlier in the week.

Nove Mesto has has roots in spades. It really is the creme de la creme of XC courses.
Nove Mesto has roots in spades. It really is the creme de la creme of XC courses.

These climbs get tricky when you are getting up there in laps.
These climbs get tricky when you are getting up there in laps.

The rocks go uphill too here in Czech.
The rocks go uphill too here in Czech.

A and B lines on the climb after BMX. B line on the right is a bit of a pain. Best to get on a line unless you re stuck in traffic and have no choice.
A and B lines on the climb after BMX. B line on the right is a bit of a pain. Best to get on the A line unless you're stuck in traffic and have no choice.

The Shimano Expert Climb is the first major obstacle racers will face on this course. Slippery rocks in the wet and dry.
The Shimano Expert Climb is the first major obstacle racers will face on this course. The rocks are slippery in the wet and dry.

The MItas Choice rock garden from top down. Lines seem a lot more clearer and filled in this year.
The Mitas Choice rock garden from the top down.

The Mitas Choice rock garden looks like a bomb went off in a mine from the bottom. There are two or three possible lines however only one seems to be the fastest.
The Mitas Choice rock garden looks like a bomb went off in a mine from the bottom. There are two or three possible lines, however only one seems to be the fastest.

More berms about to turn into ruts if the weather decides to change. This could be a deal breaker for most.
More berms about to turn into ruts if the weather decides to change. This could be a deal breaker for most.

Options for passing int he woods.
Options for passing in the woods.

Stay high. Tat ow line is a speed sucker.
Stay high. That low line is a speed sucker.

From the BMX exit things speed up again on a single track.
From the BMX exit things speed up again on a single track.

Exit from the BMX side of the track.
Exit from the BMX side of the track.

They ve added a pumptrack at the bottom because who doesn t love that and the end of their lap
They've added a pumptrack at the bottom because who doesn't love that at the end of their lap?

The single track after the Mitas Choice garden is now a pump track.
The single track after the Mitas Choice garden is now a pump track.


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67 Comments
  • 69 0
 Whoa, they are going to ride that tarmac pumptrack? This track really has it all!
  • 12 1
 pretty sweet for an xc track! never seen that
  • 7 0
 This is going to be so entertaining.
  • 2 0
 Just needs a giant booter.
  • 60 1
 I am proud this track in my country. Looking forward to being there on Sunday. Smile
  • 7 0
 Me too. I look forward this race! Weather should be nice.
  • 1 0
 A bit bummer Jarda is out...
  • 46 0
 THIS is XC!!! Wish I could ride it myself
  • 6 0
 I want to ride it as well with any bike.
  • 41 0
 Did Albstadt give you all their roots and rocks after the freeway install?

Always loved this course, would be a dream to ride someday.
  • 18 0
 The racing in Albstadt was OK in the end despite the obvious issues with the track. Racing here should be better! Iconic course.
  • 8 1
 Albstadt was ok because it rained. In my opinion you can't design a track only for the possibility it rains...
  • 20 1
 This. looks. sick.
  • 5 1
 I like it a lot.
  • 15 0
 No joggers or dogs off lead required there.. As for that pump track...hell yes. Mainly because XC is too serious to always take it seriously. Kudos to the track designers for that inclusion.
  • 17 0
 The XC track where I would watch a @ben-cathro line choice analysis
  • 3 0
 Good idea!
  • 11 0
 I think the XC racers who really know how to pump the trail and track will have a decent advantage. Watching them it’s obvious who has those skills.
  • 23 0
 Having actual bike skills outside of insane endurance is what XC MTB really should always be about...
  • 8 0
 Maybe most visited xc race in world ? About 20 000 visitors ?
  • 3 0
 That is the biggest difference between MTB in Europe and the US. Super popular, televised, and lots of money is in the races. US races pale in comparison.
  • 8 1
 Nino's tailor-made track
  • 4 1
 is van der poel good at the tech? I don't know shit about XC, but seems like VDP has been giving nino a run for his money lately?
  • 2 0
 @nvranka: at least on the CX and roadbike VdP kicks some serious ass technically...but they don't have rocks on those courses, so this will be indeed very interesting to watch
  • 2 0
 @nvranka: You should see him riding dirt jumps
  • 1 0
 @nvranka: he's like 20-30lbs, so on flat tracks and short track I would expect MVDP to do well, but on hilly courses he's going to struggle since he's so big.
  • 1 0
 *heavier than nino
  • 4 0
 Wish the US races had that much support with tons of sponsors, televised, tons of paying spectators. Lots of money in MTBing in Europe.
  • 9 0
 Biking is one of the most popular sports here in Czech for pretty long time, I don't know a kid who don't ride a bike
  • 4 0
 this will for sure change with the likes of Kate coming under the spotlight. She has all the ingredients to become a superstar not only in her sport.
  • 3 0
 We'll see what the Snowshoe organizers pull out... Snowshoe is owned (in part? or entirely?) by Vail. And as we know, Vail has VERY deep pockets.
  • 4 0
 @Chadimac22:

Their pockets may be deep but their arms are short.
  • 2 0
 @miff: i don’t know man... they’ve reached Canada (Whistler) with those deep pockets. Not saying that’s good or bad; just a matter of fact.
  • 1 0
 @yeti85: She will definitely help with the perception of mountain bikers, but don't think it will change the sport a lot here. Hopefully it does, but MTB-ing is not well liked by hikers and equestrians here. Also, MTB-ing is physically hard and most people here would rather sit in front of the TV. US is most obese country in the world. Lol. I live 30min from Santa Cruz and 45min from Marin and the vibe here is not too very favorable to mtb-ers for decades.
  • 1 0
 @Chadimac22: but Showshoe is in the middle of no where when it comes to population, it will be a huge disappointment, they will be lucky to get 2000 spectators.
  • 1 0
 @Endosch2: I disagree but time will tell
  • 1 0
 @Endosch2: Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech looks to be in middle of nowhere too but they get like 20K fans to go and watch. Europe is really into mtb-ing. US is much more into running. Running races can pull 20K people in the US pretty easily.
  • 4 0
 Thank god we got Albstadt out of the way first, at least. Psyched for snowshoe and Mont Sainte Anne!
  • 1 0
 Is there any more information on the schedule for Snowshoe? I am thinking of getting out there to watch. It has been years since Ive been out there for a bike event. Will they also be running DH?
  • 2 0
 Looks great - Real dirt, rocks, roots, off camber sections, high and low lines.

Wonder if anyone will commit to stickier rubber if it's another wet race?
  • 1 1
 „Expect the lap count to be around seven for the elite men and 5 or 6 for the elite women“

4km in 6min would be an average of 40km/h. They are fast, yeah, but this aint a road race. PB, do some math please...
  • 2 1
 What are you talking about?? Races are usually 90 mins long. That gives you about 12 mins per lap for men and 15 for women, not 6min. Do some math please...
  • 1 0
 @Jango997: pinkbike did the math, read above, my dear. I quoted PB. They estimated a laptime of 6minutes. So you and me are right Smile
  • 2 0
 .... where the rock gardens go uphill too.
  • 3 1
 And then there's Albstadt.
  • 2 0
 And then there's Maude.
  • 3 1
 Looks sick. Can't wait for Sunday. Gonna be a battle.
  • 2 0
 If you flick though the pics quick you see the whole track in ten seconds?
  • 1 0
 Those short wooden poles looks pretty dangerous imagining somebody crashes on one.
  • 1 0
 Lovely! Reminds me of our local trails before the plantation burned out a few years ago
  • 3 1
 Thats I'm talking about! Thats a proper course!!!
  • 1 0
 that one lone pine cone is just waiting to ruin someones day.
  • 3 1
 that is just plain sick.
  • 1 0
 When a freerider build up xc race track rockgarden hehe
  • 1 0
 @mdelorme Typo in subtitle says Germany instead of Czech Republic.
  • 3 5
 Overrated track IMO. The best I've seen in recent years was the 2017 World Champs in Cairns. Proper tech up and down.
  • 4 1
 The track looks fun to ride with ample tech. The pump track is a little unconventional but it should be fun for the riders and spectators, can't fault it!
  • 2 4
 @Try-To-Be-Positive-My-Dude: I don't think there's enough elevation and the descents are just straight lines.
  • 2 0
 @jclnv: Go and try to ride it. Although it is "flatter" than most of the races in WC, it is so technical that you can be sore after 1/3 of the lap.
  • 1 0
 @simonerjavec: I just watched the course previews with Cooper. It looks more bumpy than tech. St Anne is definitely more tech.
  • 1 0
 Albstad is too steep and smooth, this one's too flat and not technical...jesus people.
  • 1 0
 I know this is should be common sense, but if XC racers aren't held on single track they are going to burn in lines that are the fastest and avoid the technical parts.
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