Every year, my family and I try to go on vacation. We had the opportunity to enjoy two weeks of family fun this year. It was a blast with many adventures. One unexpected adventure was the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. Fortunately, the timing and driving worked perfectly for my family and me to check out the race. 

We ventured off to Snowshoe, West Virginia, to watch the downhill portion of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. It was so cool that Snowshoe is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from our home. Initially, the mountain bike race was not part of our plans. However, at the last minute, we decided to book some tickets. Admittedly, I know little about the race. All I knew was that I love biking, and Elijah was showing an interest. Perfect bonding time! So, I did my research to learn more.

A Quick History Lesson About the World Cup

The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup started in 1989. In the beginning, the world cup included cross-country events. Two years later, the downhill events were added. 

Cross-country Olympic (XCO)

The XCO race is one of three races in the World Cup. This race is a four to six-kilometer ride over various terrain ( technical descents, forest roads, rocky paths, obstacles). The race is a mass start of exciting chaos. It’s all about being light, agile, and an aerobic powerhouse. The race is about one and a half hours. 

Cross-country Short Track (XCC)

The short track race is no more than two kilometers. The short track is similar to the cross-country Olympic race but more about sprinting. 

Downhill (DHI) 

The downhill race is a race against the clock. Watching the downhill race is a nail-biter. The riders are conquering challenging obstacles and performing many jumps. As a physical therapist, I felt like I needed to hand out my business card. The riders’ speeds reach around 80km/h in the men’s races and 70km/h for women.

Conclusion

It was a blast to watch the world cup. You need to see it in person if you ever have a chance. Watching the race on YouTube doesn’t do it justice. I would have loved to see all the events, but time was tight. Maybe next time 🙂 

If you ever go to Snowshoe to see the race in the future, be prepared to hike in lots of mud and watch out for the yeti. Despite the extremely muddy conditions, the riders did well. Kudos to the athletes!