UCI Mountain Bike XCO World Championships - Nové Mêsto, Czech Republic

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 his 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.


Nove Mesto Course Preview

A scenic two-hour drive from Prague, Nové Mêsto Na Moravé (translation: “New Town of Moravia”) is a small factory and winter sports 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.


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.

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