From the Trenches of a World Cup - Rider Perspective

World Cup racing is savage. No matter where you are in the field it’s a fight – sometimes literally. Not that I can account for racing anywhere near the front end of an elite men’s WC, I’ve just watched them and been beaten by them. Albstadt and La Bresse marked my twentieth and twenty-first WC races. I’ve raced multiple as a junior, under-23 and now elite; the races have only gotten harder and somehow that continues to lure me in more.

Photo: Jonathan Duncan

These races can be a big reality check when you have high expectations and get swallowed up, tossed around and spit out – again it lures you to come back and conquer it. The racing is crazy at the back of the field. There are bikes, fists, feet and people flying all the over the place. I won’t say who it was but I’ve been offered $50 if I ever get into a tussle with another bike racer. It's a very real opportunity when racing in Europe. Haven’t earned that $50 though. I think you can only imagine what two guys in spandex throwing bombs and wearing Peter Pan shoes would look like...

Photo: Chris Vezina

A WC start goes something like this: gun goes off, front guys start, back guys wait about 5 sec to even clip in, 150 guys are sprinting around you, one guy brakes and a chain reaction begins where someone usually crashes, everyone comes almost to a halt, swerving around a wrecked person, guys are sprinting into, around or over you, some guy always goes for a stupid pass and catches his bar in the fencing and eats $hit, hopefully, you swerve around him, then comes the bottleneck at the first single-track. Now you’re walking, running if you’re lucky, bikes are above rider’s heads to tomahawk past everyone else, then you might get in a pushing battle with some other racer (yes, aggression in spandex), and now you get back on your bike and start riding again. That’s only the first 5 minutes.

Photo: Keith "Phunkt" Valentine

If you’re like me, you get passed by 125 lbs dudes floating up the climbs. Only to then catch them on the flats, descents, or technical and get held up. It ends up being an uphill battle both ways. Sometimes you get a clear trail for a bit and can ride your rhythm - hopefully at your potential. Usually, there are 5-10 guys just up the road to chase and the same amount just behind chasing you down. Every inch is fought for in these races. In North America someone can crash, flat, mechanical, or dab all over and usually still be in the race. In Europe or at a WC you can be passed by 4 guys after simply dabbing. A flat tire can mean not finishing the lead lap. A chain break or a start crash, well I can tell you all about that.

Photo: Keith "Phunkt" Valentine

The first finish of the day is making it through the start loop unscathed with a working bike. There isn’t any friendliness in the back of the field to other racers unless maybe you’re country mates or proper buds. I’ll always give riders the respect, as we’re chasing the same thing, but as soon as someone gets out of line and tries to get physical or do something stupid that changes. I’m confident my Clydesdale weight and size will only backfire their plans.

Photo: Jonathan Duncan

In Cairns, for the WC opener this year, a guy rode into my bar and another side wiped the front wheel in the start. Usually, you can maneuver around some things but the combo put me flat on my chest and sliding on the gravel at 40 kph after only 250 M. My teammate Evan Mcneely and I were both now last. I was able to re-mount and get back into things quickly but another quick stop to straighten the bar had me well off the back. This brought some big motivation to play the ‘how many people can I pass’ game. I ended up picking off 31 guys by the finish.


In Albstadt, I had the unique opportunity to, once again, be DFL after only 100 M when my chain broke. I was ready to take on the ‘how many people can I pass game’ again. I hate quitting and will do everything possible in a race to continue. This was just a test of that. It was a 400 M run to the pits while being cheered on by fans with pretzels in their hands (which I was jealous of) so I ran so hard that my quads were stiff for 4 days from all the leg jiggling. During this scenario, I was reminded that the bike community is amazing. Three people from Scott/3Rox, the Canadian National Team, and Aaron Schooler (my personal helper for the day) all came to help once I ran into the pits. After getting back out I set a new personal passing record of 53 riders. Sometimes $hit happens and you just have to make the best of it. I also really wanted to work up the appetite for my post-race schnitzel and Milka bar.

Photo: Keith "Phunkt" Valentine

Bike racing is tough. Winning the personal battles for me means just as much on days like that.

In La Bresse, I just needed to get past 250 M without issues and that would be a win. That happened. The legs didn’t show up for the day but with one of the best courses to date, it was a riot to be out there doing what I love. This course had people in, on, and around every nook and cranny yelling and screaming. It was only natural to get buck wild on the descents with chains saws revving. The chainsaws reminded me of one thing: Stevie Smith. Make sure to check out the women’s race – it was incredible to watch those ladies throw down. The Canadian girls Catharine Pendrel and Emily Batty threw down and finished 2nd and 3rd. The Frenchman – Julian Absalon – schooled the men’s field to win on home soil.


The lure of racing these WC’s in Europe is generated by many things. The biggest races in the world, the fastest riders, the tens of thousands of people cheering you on, the beautiful places, the travel with friends, and the chance to have that special day.

Photo: Chris Vezina

I hope to one-day experience racing at the front, but for now, it’s earning that progression back in the mid-pack trenches at a World Cup.

-Evan Guthrie

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