Updated: The Ultimate Guide to the 2021 Racing Season

Jan 8, 2021 at 8:45
by Ed Spratt  
Tough break for Marine Cabirou. She was starring down a two for two here in Maribor green on both first splits. Late race run mistakes cost her the big win.

As we head into 2021 with new team signings and the hope of a more complete season of racing than what we saw in 2020 let's take a look at what to expect over the next twelve months. Due to current conditions, there are still many events and races yet to reveal their plans for 2021 but we will keep this article updated with any news, rescheduling and cancellations.


JANUARY


Celebrating Kelly McGarry at McGazza Fest 2020 in Queenstown New Zealand
Photo: Sterling Lorence

January starts the year slowly with the two main events of the month being the start of the New Zealand National DH series and the legendary McGazza Fest at the end of the month. We normally see some New Zealand national races so keep a lookout for some early season performances between the tape.

McGazza Fest:

22 - 24 January
Queenstown, New Zealand

MTB NZ National DH Series Round 1

24 January
Fourforty MTB Park, Auckland

MTB NZ National DH Series Round 2

30 January
Dome Valley, Auckland





FEBRUARY


2018 New Zealand DH Nationals

February sees some great events fill the month with the first-ever Freeride Fiesta right at the start of the month which should fill the freeride hole leftover from last year with a stacked field of riders. In the second half of the month, we have awesome events from the New Zealand national champs and the epic Trans NZ.

Freeride Fiesta:

1 - 8 February
Soledad Bike Park

Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers:

7 February
Bariloche, Argentina

MTB NZ National DH Series Round 3

7 February
Jentree MTB, Marlborough

MTB NZ National DH Series Round 4

14 February
Coronet Peak, Queenstown

NZ Open DH:

21 February
Christchurch, New Zealand

New Zealand National Championships:

27 - 28 February
Christchurch, New Zealand

Trans NZ:

28 February - 5 March
New Zealand




MARCH


4th on the day for Neko Mulally.

March brings more racing action with the Tennessee National which always provides a great spectacle of early season riding in the US. Then we have some European XC action with the Swiss Bike Cup, this should be hotly contested races as we head into an Olympic XC year.

South African DH National Championships:

7 March
Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park

Australian National Championships:

8 - 14 March
Maydena, Tasmania

Tennessee National:

11 - 13 March
Oliver Springs, Tennessee

Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers:

20 March
Cambridge, New Zealand



APRIL


Things just don t seem to be going Tahnee Seagrave s way this year. She has the track speed but the runs just aren t coming together for her at the moment.

With the opening round of the World Cup moved to August, April is now looking like a quieter month before the racing season kicks off fully in May.

British National Downhill Rd1:

POSTPONED
Antur Stiniog

Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers:

24 April
Deqing, China



MAY


Jolanda Neff Kross SUI

The first of many big months of racing and events starts in May with highlights that include multiple world cups races and the start of the 4X Pro Tour.

Swiss Bike Cup XC:

1 - 2 May
Leukerbad

Downhill Southeast Rd1:

1 - 2 May
Massanutten Resort - McGaheysville

XC World Cup Rd1:

8 - 9 May
Albstadt

British National Downhill Rd2:

POSTPONED
Fort William

4X Pro Tour Rd1:

14 May
Winterberg

NW Cup Rd1:

14 - 16 May
Dry Hill

XC World Cup Rd2:

15 - 16 May
Nove Mesto Na Morave

Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers:

22 May
Arkansas, USA

Swiss Bike Cup XC:

29 - 30 May
Gstaad

Austrian DH National Championship:

29 - 30 May
Hollenstein Ybbs

Crossroads Canada Cup (XC + DH):

29 - 30 May
Mont-Tremblant

Mountain Creek Spring National:

28 - 30 May
Mountain Creek, New Jersey



JUNE


Last rounds third place finisher Ella Conolly drops into stage 5 and some epic views.

June is going to be another crazy month as the EWS and EWS-E kick off their 2021 season while the downhill and XC world cups head to Leogang for hopefully drier conditions than last years World Champs. This month also sees plenty of national racing with the Swiss Bike Cup, Canada Cup and the NW Cup.

Trans Madeira:

1 - 5 June
Madeira

NW Cup Rd2:

4 - 6 June
Skibowl Mt. Hood

Baie-St.-Paul Canada Cup (XC):

4 - 6 June
Baie-St.-Paul

Specialized RockShox Rookies Cup Rd1:

5 - 6 June
Steinach, Germany

Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers:

6 June
Lisbon, Portugal

XC + DH World Cup Rd2/1:

12 - 13 June
Leogang

Downhill Southeast Rd2:

12 - 13 June
Snowshoe Mountain - Snowshoe

Crankworx Innsbruck:

16 - 20 June
Innsbruck

iXS Downhill CupRd1:

18 - 20 June
Pamporovo, Bulgaria

Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers:

19 June
Schüpfheim, Switzerland

EWS-E Rd1:

19 - 20 June
Valberg

Swiss Bike Cup XC:

19 - 20 June
Gränichen

British National Downhill Rd3:

19 - 20 June
Llangollen

EWS Rd1&2:

23 - 27 June
Val Di Fassa

NW Cup Rd3:

25 - 27 June
Tamarack Bike Park

iXS European Cup Rd1:

25 - 27 June
Brandnertal, Austria

Swiss Bike Cup XC:

26 - 27 June
Savognin

Trans BC:

28 June - 3 July
British Columbia



JULY


Amaury absolutely smashed it today to take other dominating win.

We will hopefully finally see the world's best take of the unique course at the Tokyo Olympics at the end of June. The start of the month also features some legendary events with the BC Bike Race back for 2021 and the Megavalanche return for some mass start madness.

Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers:

3 July
Harstad, Norway

XC + DH World Cup Rd3/2:

3 - 4 July
Les Gets

Specialized RockShox Rookies Cup Rd2:

3 - 4 July
Saalbach, Austria

BC Bike Race:

4 - 10 July
British Columbia

Megavalanche:

5 - 11 July
Alpe d’Huez

French XC National Championships:

8 - 11 July
Levens

EWS Rd3&4:

8 - 11 July
La Thuille

iXS Downhill Cup Rd2:

9 - 11 July
Ilmenau, Germany

Italian XC National Championships

10 - 11 July
Valdilana - Loc. Oasi Zegna - Biella

Canadian XC National Championships

10 - 11 July
Oro Station, Ontario

Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers:

12 July
Edinburgh, Scotland

French DH National Championships:

15 - 17 July
Valberg

iXS Downhill Cup Rd3:

16 - 18 July
Semmering, Austria

4X Pro Tour Rd3:

17 July
Jablonec nad Nisou

USA National Championship (XC + DH + Enduro):

16 - 18 July
Winter Park, CO

NW Cup Rd4:

16 - 18 July
Whitefish Bike Park

British DH National Championships:

17 - 18 July
Rhyd-Y-Felin

Fernie Canada Cup (DH):

17 - 18 July
Fernie Alpine Reort / Fernie, BC

Panorama Canada Cup (DH):

20 - 21 July
Invermere, B.C

iXS European Cup Rd2:

23 - 25 July
Pila, Italy

Canadian DH National Championships:

24 - 25 July
Golden, British Columbia

Downhill Southeast Rd3:

24 - 25 July
Windrock Bike Park

Olympic Games:

26 - 27 July
Tokyo

iXS European Cup Rd3:

27 - 29 July
Maribor, Slovenia

European DH Continental Championships:

27 July - 1 August
Maribor




AUGUST


Isabeau Courdurier came out on top but not by the usual large margin we are used to seeing

August will be no less busy for riders as we see them World Championships head once again to Val Di Sole. This month should if all things go to plan feature the Malverns Classic which has seen some tough luck over the past few years with bad weather and a pandemic putting the party on hold for a few years.

Ard Rock:

6 - 8 August
Yorkshire Dales National Park

NW Cup Rd5:

6 - 8 August
Stevens Pass Bike Park

4X Pro Tour Rd4:

7 August
Eisenhüttenstadt

Downhill Southeast Rd4:

7 - 8 August
Sugar Mountain

DH World Cup Rd3:

14 - 15 August
Maribor, Slovenia

British National Downhill Rd4:

14 - 15 August
Innerleithen

Kentville Canada Cup (XC):

14 - 15 August
Kentville

Specialized RockShox Rookies Cup Rd3:

14 - 15 August
Leutasch, Austria

Swiss Epic:

17 - 21 August
St. Moritz, Poschiavo, Davos

Dieppe Canada Cup:

21 August
Dieppe, New Brunswick

Masters World Championships:

17 - 22 August
Praloup

iXS European Cup Rd4:

20 - 22 August
Spicak, Czech Republic

Swiss Bike Cup XC:

21 - 22 August
Basel

Dieppe Canada Cup (XC):

21 - 22 August
Dieppe

World Championships XC + DH :

25 - 29 August
Val Di Sole

Malverns Classic:

26 - 29 August
Eastnor Deer Park

Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers:

29 August
Fukushima, Japan




SEPTEMBER


Greg Minnaar ran Pierron close but ended up just under a second back.

While September is the last big month of racing it has no shortage of top tier events. Kicking off with a wild week of two EWS rounds in Loudenvielle and the XC/DH World Cup heading to Lenzerheide. The rest of the month will see plenty of enduro action with three EWS-E rounds, the Trophy of Nations and the Pietra Ligure EWs round. September also wraps up the World Cup season as the circuit heads over to Snowshoe for a dramatic finale.

EWS Rd5&6:

2 - 5 September
Loudenvielle

XC + DH World Cup Rd5/4:

4 - 5 September
Lenzerheide

Specialized RockShox Rookies Cup Rd4:

4 - 5 September
St. Kassian, Italy

EWS Rd7:

9 - 12 September
Crans-Montana, Switzerland

NW Cup Rd6:

10 - 12 September
Dry Hill

4X Pro Tour Rd5:

11 September
Szczawno Zdroj

EWS-E Rd2:

11 - 12 September
Swiss Alps

iXS Dirt Masters:

17 - 19 September
Bikepark Winterberg

iXS Downhill Cup Rd5:

17 - 19 September
Winterberg, Germany

EWS Rd8:

18 - 19 September
Pietra Ligure

XC + DH World Cup Rd5:

18 - 19 September
Snowshoe

Trans Madeira:

21 - 25 September
Madeira

Sea Otter Europe:

25 September
Girona


EWS-E Rd3:

24 - 26 September
Finale Ligure

Swiss Bike Cup XC:

25 - 26 September
Lugano

Specialized RockShox Rookies Cup Rd5:

25 - 26 September
Schöneck, Germany

Britsh National Downhill Rd5:

25 - 26 September
Caersws

Fox US Open of Mountain Biking:

25-26 September
Big Bear Lake, California

EWS-E Rd4:

30 September
Tweed Valley





OCTOBER


The top of stage three was axle-deep in fresh-cut green mulch.

Most years October is a quiet month but in 2021 it is looking busy with the Marathon Worlds and the Tweed Valley EWS starting things off before more big days in the saddle from the Roc D'azur and Cape Epic. Finally, if everything goes to plan we may see Red Bull Rampage return which usually finds itself in October. This month will also see one of the first major rescheduled events of 2021 with the Sea Otter Classic returning in a physical format after hosting the virtual Sea Otter Play in 2020.

iXS Downhill Cup Rd6:

1 - 3 October
Bellwald, Switzerland

Marathon World Championships:

2 October
Capoliveri - Isle of Elba

EWS Rd9:

2 - 3 October
Tweed Valley

Sea Otter Classic:

7 - 10 October
Monterey, CA

Marathon Series - Roc D'azur:

8 October
Fréjus

Marathon Series - Absa Cape Epic:

17 - 24 October
Cape Town - Western Cape

Red Bull Rampage:

TBC
Utah




NOVEMBER


photo

Closing out a hopefully busy year of racing, November will see an event we usually see take place in March with Crankworx Rotorua and the first-ever Trans Tasmania race.

Crankworx Rotorua:

1 - 7 November
Tasmania

Trans Tasmania:

22 - 26 November
Tasmania




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81 Comments
  • 159 8
 I could have made this article way easier for you.

January: some races that will be canceled
February: some races that will be canceled
March: some races that will be canceled
April: some races that will be canceled
May: some races that will be canceled
June: some races that will be canceled
July: some races that will be canceled
August: some races that will be canceled
September: some races that will be canceled
October: some races that will be canceled
November: some races that will be canceled
December: some races that will be canceled (but there’s still Christmas!!!)

F@%# Covid
  • 7 0
 Damn this made me lol. Super crappy though but you’re likely right.
  • 34 1
 The January races in NZ will happen, with only Kiwi's allowed.
  • 16 0
 @PTyliszczak: hey! We can join via zoom!
  • 5 0
 March: Australian Nationals reasonably likely to happen.
  • 1 4
 Wanna bet me?

Bet me.
  • 4 0
 @pistol2ne: huh?
  • 2 1
 I doubt any of those races in January will be cancelled and will happen with plenty spectators and same goes for ones in Feb in NZ.
  • 1 0
 @PTyliszczak:

Covid has also caused a geographical switch moving Rotorua across the Tasman Sea to Tasmania. Atleast for November
  • 79 1
 Everyone will have to run down the mountain with their team mate in a wheel barrow because there's no bikes available this year
  • 1 20
flag brandaneisma (Jan 17, 2021 at 18:17) (Below Threshold)
 Yet sponsored athletes have new bikes...
  • 5 0
 There's actually very few wheel barrows to be had, either. Especially the carbon fibre ones.
  • 75 0
 I’ve seen children’s Christmas lists that had better chances
  • 1 1
 Very selfish, but I just wish bikeparks, trail centers and all trails open this year!
  • 25 3
 Danny Hart returns to a balfa frame. Ditches Cube. Gwin goes chainless the entire season and Sam Hill rebuilds his old Ironhorse frame and destroys the field
  • 9 0
 I assume you mean the field out the back of his house as he elects to stay home again.
  • 3 1
 @commental: the Australian open isn't giving AF about letting people show up with the virus so I'm sure Sam is doing a better job of keeping safe
  • 4 0
 @giantwhip: Yup, and I'd not blame him one bit if he does stay home.
  • 3 0
 @giantwhip: yep money talks.We came close to having it under control. Fck the government and these tennis people, sows you how selfish humans can be, as I said money talks.
  • 3 2
 @commental: either way he'll be outstanding in his field. See what I did there?
  • 22 0
 The ultimate guide to cancellations and disappointments. Your spell check was off.
  • 22 0
 It will take two PB staffers' full-time effort to keep this guide up to date.
  • 22 0
 *Hopefully* The Ultimate Guide to the 2021 Racing Season
  • 18 1
 I remember race schedules, they were cool!
  • 10 1
 all races in New Zealand will be going ahead as we don't have Covid here...haven't had Covid here since June 2020 so life all good here
  • 9 0
 Just shut down for 2 weeks to flatten the curve or was that 2 years i cannot remember.
  • 8 1
 Forgot to mention the tiny bike race in my backyard where we all throw up afterwards
  • 8 1
 The Ultimate Guide to the 2021 Racing Season?

Covid- “hold my beer”
  • 6 0
 What happened to Red Bull Hardline?
  • 1 0
 Ultimate guide? You left the whole ESC schedule out of this!

Maxxis ESC Intense DH Series
May 23 Powder Ridge, CT
June 27 Blue Mountain, PA
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
July 25 Windham, NY
Aug 29 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 11 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 26 Jiminy Peak, MA
Oct 3 Powder Ridge, CT
Oct 24 Mountain Creek, NJ – Series Finals

Maxxis ESC ENDURO Series
May 2 Diamond Hill, RI
May 22 Powder Ridge, CT – Outbound Lighting Night Enduro
June 6 Glen Park, PA
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 22 Arrowhead Recreation Area, NH -EWS Qualifier
Aug 29 Blue Mountain, PA N
Sept 12 Sugarloaf, ME – EWS Gold Qualifier
Sept 26 Jiminy Peak, MA – EWS Qualifier
Oct 2 Powder Ridge, CT – Outbound Lighting Night Enduro
Oct 17 Mountain Creek, NJ – Series Finals
  • 5 0
 Immediately skipped to June...
  • 3 0
 Think July's a little more realistic
  • 3 0
 @wellbastardfast: or equally unrealistic
  • 2 0
 ....June 2022...?
  • 3 2
 It will be interesting if the BC bike race takes place. At the moment you can't cross the border from the USA and there is no way that all Canadians or US citizens will have access to the vaccine by July, particularly healthy bike racers under the age of 65. Currently in Oregon there is very little guidance regarding bicycle races but I would be surprised if the state or county allows an event at Mt. Hood Skibowl when you can't even eat inside a restaurant now or in the near future. Hopefully some of this stuff goes and a time trial type format was the only type of racing that took place in Oregon for 2020 so maybe a downhill works.
  • 1 2
 BC Bike race will probably go on with Canadian citizens.
States: I agree about Ski Bowl in Oregon. I would be surprised if races scheduled on State or Federal lands occur. Hopefully that's not the case, but covid implications aren't going away that fast.
  • 2 0
 They just said vaccines will be available to everyone by May 1st in the US.
  • 4 0
 Hoping there'd be another wc at snowshoe. From what i heard the racers really liked that venue/track
  • 8 6
 I presume the ews-e is just a big poor stunt rather than proper racing. I presume the one with the most powerful motor and biggest battery wins
  • 3 1
 Oh, and SuperCross is happening now too. Soooo I guess this proves that the Moto comunity has more of a can-do and less of an excuse drivin sort of mentality.
  • 1 0
 this is why me and my partner have decided last year to retire from racing, were just gonna ride this summer at least we can sort of control were and when we ride, have fun out there if you can
  • 3 0
 No Crankworx again in 2021?
  • 1 1
 Well not in Rotorua, that's for sure.
  • 3 1
 @commental: Crankworx is scheduled for 1st week of November now. Will probably happen if not only for the locals at this point. Life is actually normal here in NZ. No covid in the community other than in quarantine for people arriving in the country.
  • 1 0
 @FurryCrew: Ah okay, I didn't know it'd been rescheduled for later in the year. Here's hoping that things move forward enough that us foreigners can visit again by then.
  • 1 0
 Haha definitely not my friend . Whistler is a complete shit show as is let alone trying to have crank works
  • 1 0
 @commental: possible they will let people in if they happy to quarantine for two weeks probably at their cost.
  • 1 0
 @BenSandle: you can come into Canada . You must quarantine for 2 weeks or get a test to speed it up . All when you get here you have to have a plan and place to stay or they will detainee you in a not so nice place
  • 1 0
 Yes but we have the Dunbar Summer Series, nice work. Hope to see you at a race track soon.
  • 3 0
 Does the Trans madeira not make it?
  • 11 3
 I love her/him !
  • 1 0
 @Matt115lamb: Razz Razz
  • 2 0
 Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers should be pretty rad(s) this year.
  • 2 0
 Canada Cup DH and XC on same weekend 2.5 hours driving apart
  • 4 2
 Luca & Jolanda will be stoked.
  • 3 1
 No Mont Sainte-Anne again this year Frown
  • 2 0
 if redbull rampage isnt on i will be sad
  • 1 1
 The New Normal sucks, bring back the old normal, I think I watched one World DH race on Red Bull last season and there were no fans? Correct me if I'm wrong
  • 1 0
 Add the Spanish downhill series and National Champ: www.downhillspain.com/open-de-espana
  • 1 0
 14-15 August: VIntage MTB Festival, not a race as such, only one Repack segment with a chrono vintagemtb.org
  • 2 0
 No BMEs listed? What gives?
  • 1 0
 Bring on Giba George SA DH Champs.
  • 2 1
 Racing...that is cool and all. But what about Pond Beaver 21?
  • 1 0
 Windrock in March is actually the 12th-14th. Sat DH Sunday Enduro
  • 1 1
 2021 Specialized Turbo eMTB GNCC National Championship starts in March. I know it is E-bike but ....
  • 1 0
 BC based bicycle news article no mention of BC cup races, hmmm.
  • 1 0
 *Race Coordinators* " Lets keep scheduling events so we can keep our jobs"
  • 1 0
 yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
  • 2 1
 People are chicken shits because CNN told them to be.
  • 1 0
 Still no BC Cup races on your schedule. Way to represent BC Pinkbike
  • 2 1
 Holly Fukushima!!!!!
  • 1 2
 How are the British going to travel ? The borders with the EU are closed and i doubt they will open soon
  • 1 3
 Drive or fly, no real issue to travel
  • 3 0
 @enduroFactory: Borders with the EU are closed. M-Sport had to get special permission from the French goverment to enter the country in order to drive to Monaco for the first round of the WRC. Flights from the UK are not allowed in Greece. Because of brexit and covid there are travel restrictions for UK across EU
  • 1 1
 @petrospit: you realize you only need to fly from the UK to a country with no inbound restrictions and then you're able to circulate within the EU right?
  • 2 1
 @Arierep: Not true. As we're no longer part of the Schengen agreement we are barred from entering any of the EU regions unless we can prove we have a valid reason to do so, work or residency for example. Even then people are being turned away from the airports. The double-whammy of Brexit regulations and Covid restrictions has made leaving the UK to go pretty much anywhere a logistical nightmare.
  • 2 0
 @Arierep: The only country in central Europe that can serve as a getaway point for the UK residents and is not part of the EU is Switzerland and they have closed the borders as well
  • 2 0
 @DaMilkyBarKid: The UK was never in Schengen. One of several advantages of the Germany+++ deal it had as an EU member.
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