UCI Announces Details for the 2024 Snow Bike World Championships in Châtel

Jan 18, 2024 at 7:42
by Ed Spratt  
photo

The first edition of the Snow Bike World Championships is under a month away and the UCI has revealed new details about the event in Châtel.

After it was noted in the latest regulation update last year, the UCI has provided a better look at what to expect next month when riders will take on snow racing across a Super-G or Dual Slalom format at the French resort of Châtel.

World Champion titles will be available for both Super-G and Dual Salom races in the Women's and Men's categories with both races open to all UCI-affiliated National Federation licence holders aged 17 and over. Each country is allowed to enter a maximum of 15 riders per gender for the event. The UCI currently expects to publish the list of entered racers on February 1.

The Super-G racing will see racers taking on a course 1,957 metres long with a vertical drop of 600 metres. For those familiar with Châtel, it will be on the Aity and Stade Linga piste. The Super-G racing acts as a qualifying event for the Dual Slalom.

Dual Slalom will be "comparable to the parallel slalom in snowboard and alpine skiing" with a 510-metre-long course across a 155-metre vertical drop. The event will use the usual Dual Slalom elimination style of competition with riders progressing through the elimination rounds into a final.

Downhill mountain bikes have been recommended as the bike of choice, although there is no restriction on what bike riders want to race. The rules state the same bike must be ridden across Super-G and Dual Slalom, so racers will need to choose wisely to perform well at both events. Studded tires are allowed for both events with these regulated based on the current track conditions.

bigquotesWe're going to see something totally new in the world of cycling. It's about technique, analysing the snow, reflection and strategy. It's going to be incredible!— Cédric Gracia, Ambassador for the 2024 UCI Snow Bike World Championships

bigquotesThis event is going to raise the profile of snow bike and build its reputation thanks to the UCI World Champion jersey. The competition will be tough. The winner of the Super-G won’t necessarily win the dual slalom, which is a little bit slower but really technical. Racing two at a time can be destabilising, with pressure right to the end. For the spectators it will be a real show.— Snow bike French Champion Pierre Thévenard

For those wanting to check out the first Snow Bike World Championships, the racing will take place between February 10 and 11. The racing schedule is as follows:

- Saturday 10 February: Women's Super-G and Men's Super-G (from 10h30 CET)
- Sunday 11 February: dual slalom (from 9h00 CET).

If you want to know more and take a look into the rules you can view the Snow Bike World Championship technical guide here.

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146 Comments
  • 147 1
 So the UCI is going for the circus spectacle route instead of legitimizing already proven disciplines that may be on the cusp of better viewership. The UCI may just host a bicycle prank channel by year 2030. WUTSUPS GUYS ITS YA BOI BACK AT IT AGAIN
  • 5 0
 it would have been more legit to introduce snowy stages into a proper all round around the world/season EWS championship if they do like so much this white thing...
  • 22 0
 Hosted by Rob Drydek with colour commentary by DJ Pauly D and trackside interviews with Chanel West Coast.
  • 15 0
 @oldmanbucksaw: *Châtel West Coast
  • 15 0
 @oldmanbucksaw: there also needs to be a “confessional” booth trackside so the athletes can talk about all the drama directly to the camera.
  • 5 1
 First season has been cancelled due to climate change. Ice and snow has rapidly melted away, quicker than expected. UCI apologies for any inconveniences. UCI has plenty of open spots in the UCI DH series if you wish to transfer. Regards, UCI.
  • 7 2
 Enduro is death but we can made something even stupid!!!Hehehehe
  • 3 0
 @oldmanbucksaw: I actually wouldn't hate that, grew up watching fantasy factory. Hate on Drydek but he's genuinely passionate about action sports.
  • 4 0
 Snow Slalom actually is a proven discipline, but apparently forgotten. I enjoyed watching it both years they had it in the x games. One year Andrew Shandro won it and the other year Shaun Palmer came from behind in the final and won it by hitting the doubles nobody else was hitting. Definitely the most memorable Slalom race I ever saw. Hopefully it will be available to watch somewhere.
  • 2 0
 @hohmskullkrishten: I wouldn't quite say the one offs in the X Games are a good litmus for legitimate disciplines. I mean they're doing 110 pit bike FMX these days in Axell's backyard where the event is held and he competes lol. Among a million other questionable disciplines throughout their history. Also not saying the sport isn't inherently cool, it's more so a slap in the face imo given how poorly they've handled the DH discipline and basically sold it off. While adding pump track shit and now this. As a BMXer I love me some 4 cross and slalom and pump track but... It's frustrating to watch this blindfolded darts strategy be employed over... Improving existing disciplines.
  • 113 1
 World championships for a sport nobody does. Perfect.
  • 26 1
 Vinny T lives there and posts crazy rides is snow so we already have a world champion!
  • 6 0
 So, I've got a chance!
  • 7 1
 Pretty much like curling
  • 107 0
 Too bad the schedule conflicts with the grass skiing world champs, I will be watching.
  • 51 0
 Cue Sam Pilgrim Youtube intro music>
"Hello everyone, today is going to be Epic!"
"We are here in Frawwnce and we're going to riding our bikes in SNOW! How crazy is that?!"
Cut to Sam gearing up in a ridiculous winter outfit>
"We got the full-body snowsuit, goggles, and of course, the mandatory fluffy hat. Safety first, am I right?"
Scene transitions to Sam pushing his bike through deep snow>
"Okay, guys, this might be a bit challenging, but that's what we're all about – pushing the limits!
Sam starts attempting to ride down a snowy hill>
"Woah, it's like riding on a slip 'n slide, but waaaay more extreme! "
Sam looses control and plows dramatically into a snowbank>
"And there we go, folks – the classic snowbank dismount! But no worries. This is one of the dumbest ideas we've ever had. I'm blaming Lewi for this."
Cut to Lewi's disappointed face>
"We're out! See you on the next one!"
  • 14 0
 You forgot to mention the signature grips
  • 4 0
 bro how could you forget the mandatory crack a 'monnie o clock. If there isn't caffeine and hardstyle it doesn't have the same hype
  • 2 1
 Yeah I'd watch that
  • 2 1
 "This is going to be EPIC!"
  • 1 0
 @wburnes: and putting a new fork on his bike
"after I cut the steerer down, I need to smoove out where I cut, rhis footpath will do the trick"
*drags fork across ground*
"There, good as new, now to insert the star nut, because I dont have a hammer, Mr David Lappartient has offered his head to use. Thats a bit extreme, but we dont do much damage"
  • 54 0
 Union of Clowns and Idiots.
  • 3 0
 Shots fired.
  • 3 1
 Unlovable Cucks and Incels is also a popular acronym!
  • 48 2
 No
  • 7 37
flag CYCOlogist818 (Jan 18, 2024 at 7:48) (Below Threshold)
 Yes.
  • 37 0
 This is like watching people eat soup with chopsticks. Super-G on a bike is clearly the wrong tool for the job.
  • 38 0
 Could the UCI be any more of a joke at this point?
  • 6 0
 They need new winter income. Cyclocross pros are picking national races that pay appearance money over the the UCI World Cup races.
  • 2 0
 Snow e-bike world champs?
  • 32 1
 Please for the love of Gord any riders considering entering this please reconsider. A World Champ jersey is not worth your self respect.
  • 62 0
 I abandoned my self respect years ago. Might as well try to get a shirt out of the deal.
  • 20 0
 @reindeln: "I won the UCI World Snowbike Super G Championship and all I got was this lousy tshirt"
  • 1 2
 You say this and I want to agree, yet Andrew Shandro & Kirt Voreis are both snow biking medalists from the x-games-obsessed 90's, and they're well-respected & loved today.
Maybe if you're young enough you can do this, then sheepishly look back and say "I made some pretty stupid choices back then!"
  • 10 2
 Sad to see Cedric Gracia as an ambassador for this - he's doing a great job of trashing his own legacy the past couple of years...
  • 3 0
 @watchmen good luck entering anyways. With no way to qualify the nations will cherry pick who they want to go. I'd love to go just for fun but British cycling are quite possibly the most useless organisation on the face of this earth!
  • 25 0
 This is what we get when a coked up UCI director tells his assistant he wants more 'snow'.
  • 23 0
 Prepare for an avalanche of puns
  • 8 0
 It's really gonna snowball out of control
  • 5 0
 Can't work out if the UCI is trolling the snowflakes or snowflaking the trolls. Probably neither, but shoehorners gonna shoehorn.
  • 26 0
 Icy no future in this sport.
  • 6 0
 Its a slippery slope trying to legitimize some of these disciplines.
  • 2 0
 It's going to be mega...
  • 1 0
 You snowflakes need to chill out.
  • 3 0
 A classic case of mission drift
  • 4 0
 You just couldn't let it slide, eh?
  • 17 0
 Is it April 1st Allready?!!?
  • 1 0
 By April the UCI will be rolling out the much-loved snow bike pond skim. Hilarity will ensue; stripes will be awarded to the champions.
  • 11 0
 They really don't have a clue do they
  • 7 0
 Lappartient obviously needs to make use of that fancy ski place he's got. What an absolute joke, DH is falling apart, Enduro is not long for this world, road cycling has about a billion things wrong with it yet we should all get excited about a sport that doesn't exist. Utterly fkin clueless.
  • 7 0
 All joking aside, the UCI budget lost in setting this Muppet show up should be going to the likes of prize money for DH, bolstering Enduro etc etc. insane UCI has the balls to put out a new discipline when the industry is struggling.
  • 10 0
 True global warming anticipation
  • 3 0
 Makes sense. Since the average snow base in the future for all those ski resorts might be only 10 cm, of which that will be ice and man made snow. Gotta keep those ski resorts (especially those European ones near the UCI office) running year round.
PS. 3 inch + traditional fat tires, are not the right tool for icy hard pack snow and ice with dirt patches.
  • 5 0
 We need some French people to chime in here. Is this an actual sport people practice? Other than the Megavalanche style races, when does anyone get to ride and practice on groomed slopes?
I bet $20 the field is mostly people related to UCI "management". What a joke.
  • 2 2
 Snow bike French Champion Pierre Thévenard - This event is going to raise the profile of snow bike and build its reputation thanks to the UCI World Champion jersey. The competition will be tough. The winner of the Super-G won’t necessarily win the dual slalom, which is a little bit slower but really technical. Racing two at a time can be destabilising, with pressure right to the end. For the spectators it will be a real show.—
  • 10 0
 No.
  • 7 0
 @mattyboyr6-2: I had a double-take on that quote. Generally, a world championship is something that gets developed after a discipline has a significant competition calendar and wide-spread participation. For the UCI to put significant heft behind what it currently a very niche-y sideshow is a bit of a joke.
  • 2 0
 It is more a local Savoisien/Valaisan sport. We used to have 4x and bike races on snow in Chatel, Verbier and it is so much fun. You do jumps on snow, go to 80-100 km/h, do some stupid crash and you have a blast. Plus you don't have to pay $300 for doing the event. Check Razor Snow Bike Chatel.
  • 7 0
 Is this a serious post ? This is a serious question...
  • 5 0
 Some one call Shandro and volvo and let's get the 2000's vibes going again. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
  • 1 0
 so where is one able to watch this spectacle ?
  • 7 0
 So... we can get dual slalom for this but not for UCI gravity events?
  • 6 0
 This reminds me of the X Games 30 years ago. It was a joke then, and this is a joke now.
  • 3 0
 This is such a joke. Really hate what the UCI has done to Enduro. Literally took it from in my humble opinion the number one discipline in cycling that is so realtable and obtainable to anyone who rides a bike to a side show. Anyone who likes to ride their bike in the snow is all cool and good with me, however to make it a World Championship cheapens the prestige of the coveted rainbow stripes that athletes dedicate and train their whole lives for. Shame on you UCI.
  • 3 0
 This is the stupidest shit ever. Awarding world champs for sports that NO ONE PARTICIPATES IN. Please, someone show me one video, anywhere, of people racing gates on bikes in the snow. And don’t say Mega because this isn’t that. There’s no gates in Mega and the majority of the course is on dirt. Honestly making Mega a world champs event would make way more sense than whatever this giant frozen turd is. I’m honestly flabbergasted that anyone with more than 2 brain cells to rub together at the UCI thought this was a good idea. What a giant pile of (frozen) dog shit.
  • 1 0
 There is in fact already a MEGA race series, with various races maxiavalanche and megavalanche.
I think last season has even become a kind of national championship (managed by french federation).
I think this kind of races would cater very well with current enduro races. Think about a full weekend, Saturday the multiple stages race, and the results are used to qualify for the Sunday big endurance downhill race, like a big mass start final stage.
  • 1 0
 @Mightyfirelord: I agree. That sounds really cool
  • 8 1
 Fuck no
  • 5 0
 UCI were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
  • 5 0
 Any manufacturer or rider who competes in this are huge SANDBAGGERS shame on you total BS.
  • 5 0
 Can we please all agree on not consuming any content of that race?
- Thanks
  • 3 0
 Spirit MTN here in MN has a downhill fatbike race the includes sections of Ski slopes and the MTB trails. Super fun to participate in, not sure I wanna watch a UCI version of it.
  • 4 0
 Man this sucks. they should have done a winter fat bike race series, that’s something people actually do, unlike snow biking.
  • 4 0
 OK, I fully expect prize money to be higher than DH, so the next big question, are skin suits allowed??
  • 4 0
 I suggest to just give all the 2024 snow WC titles to Fabio Wibmer and be done with this.
  • 2 0
 They drop this news the same day Fabio Wibmer drops his video on KitzBuehl DH Ski course.......can we say intentional? BTW riding bikes on snow, not really a jam when there are skis or snowboards. To each their own but...
  • 1 0
 I feel like we are seeing the history repeat, we like we had in the late 90s'/ early 2000's. In that period the sport grew exponentially and got really good grass root engagement and coverage, then you got a corporate boom and every novelty tv event under the sun got created. Then the whole industry crashed and it went back to small scale core events again.
  • 1 0
 Why did they not just look at events like the Mega and mountain of hell if they wanted to add some sort of snow element to racing. The series is super sick and well worth watching rather than trying to muscle in on skiing crowds that really no one cares about.
  • 1 0
 This seems like such an obviously terrible idea, not just as a sport but as a method of growing a discipline from the top down. But I must ask, does this already exist with any sort of passionate fanbase?

It was clearly never going to be well received by pinkbike, but does anyone know of a part of the internet where people are actually excited about this? Is it already a big deal in France? Or maybe I'm just grasping at straws?
  • 1 0
 Riiiiiiight..........make cycling more of a circus. Why oh why are the UCI spendinf too much time in the back rooms smoking the decils lettuce? Want a spectator friwndly and exciting and televisable discipline? Let me think, here are 2 straight of the bat.......Dual Slalom and 4X.....stop giving us crappy events that no one cares for apart and brinf back the carnage that was DS and 4X.
  • 4 0
 Calling Palmer out of retirement!
  • 1 0
 It almost feels like after the UCI pushed back the start of the WC season they realized they needed to make some off season money... Too late to schedule some southern hemisphere races.. Snow biking!
  • 1 0
 I wonder why UCI is not yet sneaking around south American urban downhill races...
  • 2 0
 Farkin hell, Shandro said it some 15 years ago, winter mtb racing sucks! Watch from 0:40…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=qms6NTSvLW4
  • 1 1
 Riding in snow is actually very fun when conditions are right.
Fatb7ke races seem more like a Roady race though, because they aren't that technical
I'm excited that mabey resorts will start to allow fatbikes (certain days of the week perhaps?) I'd love to shred some groomers with my Gnarwal equipped Farley.
  • 1 0
 get Fabio Wibmer, Vinny T, Kade Edwards, Brendog. Send them down the pro line ski jumps on a time trial downhill race. studded tires mandatory. prize money 50K or more or I won't be watching.
  • 2 0
 This is confirmation that the UCI Mtb scene is a circus, cause its run by a bunch of Clowns!
  • 2 0
 Looking forward to the 2025 “ride a bike off a ski jump” world championships. Going deep!
  • 2 0
 I'm sure there is a meme somewhere in here! Something like Homer Simpson is snow biking and Enduro is frank Grimes?
  • 1 0
 Hey cg- are there special goggles to deal with the reflection? Or do you mean Reflection of commentating, fwiw, you did a great job last year!
  • 1 0
 I believe there is going to be a hall of mirrors on course to make it more interesting
  • 1 0
 Snow bike Flaine in 1995 with Patrick Maes (Martin's father) racing on a Lugano (vintage belgian brand) www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKRHm8nD0tE
  • 2 0
 Not new. Didn’t red bull do some thing like this in the late 90’s or something
  • 3 0
 It was in the Winter X-games www.pinkbike.com/video/387265
  • 2 0
 Looking forward to UCI paddlebike crits on the lake this summer! Love the diversity!
  • 1 2
 I for one thought that this is something really cool because I ride my bike on the snow in the winter too, and it’s a lot of fun actually. On the right conditions you can rail fast in the corners, very satisfying keeping in mind that it’s a snow. I’ll watch it!
  • 1 0
 This sucked when it was a sketchy Winter X-Games event in the late 90's and it's going to suck now.
youtu.be/tLlYWIC4O80?si=eG8VVwC5RmgfbbHD
  • 3 0
 Fat bikes?
  • 5 0
 DH/enduro bikes apparently. I thought it would be actual snowbikes, which would almost make sense. This is insane. They're clearly going for the high crash rate dollar.
  • 1 2
 3 inch + traditional fat tires, are not the right tool for icy hard pack snow and ice with dirt patches
(think Global Warming and lower altitude ski resorts going out of business)
  • 1 0
 Bring on more 29x3.0 tires please.
  • 1 1
 @taprider: no fatbikes will be allowed in these races....
  • 1 0
 @taprider: Makes sense.
  • 3 0
 Shoot me in the head
  • 3 0
 Whats next? Aqua bike?
  • 6 0
 @solomtb1 e-Aqua bikes
  • 1 0
 Already a thing. Triathlons often offer their event minus the running portion and call it aqua-bike.
  • 2 0
 Did UCI snort that white thing?
  • 3 0
 I smell collarbones
  • 6 0
 Imagine ruining your whole spring/summer season with an injury from snow biking.
  • 2 0
 UCI in the studio like, "How do we get in on that ski money?"
  • 1 0
 UCI need to forget this and concentrate on the shit show that is happening in its current MTB racing formats.
  • 1 0
 Wicked! I am really excited not to watch this because it makes no sense at all!
  • 2 0
 wtf
  • 2 0
 Oh dear god
  • 1 0
 The UCI has come up with two new types of MTBing -
  • 1 0
 Not even using fat bikes built for snow...? Yikes.
  • 1 0
 It says you can ride any kind of bike you want
  • 1 0
 "it´s so cool, it´s like doing the Dakar with an F1"
  • 2 0
 Palm meets face
  • 1 0
 wouldnt they use fat bikes for this ?
  • 1 0
 Are snow bikes with skis attached allowed or do they have to have hoops?
  • 1 3
 These races are incredibly fun.....I've been in a rare few of these over the years and it's complete mayhem (in all the good ways). Watch out, these races will be fan favorites....
  • 2 0
 Who is asking for this?
  • 1 2
 Looks fun, i'm all for it. Spectator sports are also show business. No views, no sponsors, no money. To keep cycling alive, we need buy in and viewership.
  • 1 0
 This will surely make mountain biking look AWESOME!!
  • 1 0
 Fak the UCI, Extreme Games all over again. Twats for day.
  • 1 0
 should have proof read that Wink
  • 1 0
 Evergreen post.
  • 1 0
 Get ready for new "snow specific" components...
  • 1 0
 Wake me up when the UCI E-Snowbike worlds comes on.
  • 1 0
 U nbeleavable C lowns I diots
  • 1 0
 I feel like Fabio Wibmer technically already won this...
  • 1 0
 100%

And the Greenlanders who are selling Dubai the ice to hold this thing.
  • 2 0
 Snow way bro!
  • 1 0
 World champion of getting on your knees for the UCI
  • 1 0
 Someone probably has four tons of ice spike tires in stock
  • 2 1
 I like it...
  • 1 0
 I do too. I love riding mountain bikes in the snow. When there’s like 1/2” and your knobs still get down to the dirt?—that’s truly my favorite conditions!
DH bikes down ski slopes, studded tires? Sign me up.
  • 1 0
 Oh no
  • 1 0
 no
  • 1 0
 pffff
  • 1 0
 Lol
  • 1 0
 Dickheads
  • 1 0
 YELLOW SNOW OR NOTHING!







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