Mountain bike Racing

Mountain bike Cross-country racing emphasizes endurance above technical prowess, and races vary from 30 minutes to 24 hours in length. Additionally, many mountain bike races are divided up into stages so as to span several days. Races can be either point-to-point or lap-based. Short-track cross-country consists of many very short laps so as to be spectator-friendly.

Unlike downhill races, which are conducted in a time trial format, cross-country races traditionally feature a mass start or interval start, where riders are released in several large groups divided by age and/or ability. Races with very large fields that do not wish to stagger starts will sometimes employ a Le Mans start where racers begin by running to their bikes.

UCI Mountain Bike ＆ Trials World Championships

The UCI Mountain Bike ＆ Trials World Championships are the world championship events for mountain bike racing events in cross country, downhill, four-cross and trials riding events. It is organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), and winners are presented with a gold medal and are entitled to wear the rainbow jersey for a full year in future events of the same discipline. Unlike other UCI-sanctioned races, the World Championships is organized by nationality, not by commercial teams. The race is usually held towards the end of the season

The first world championships took place in Durango (USA) in 1990, consisting just of cross country and downhill events. Trials riding was added in 1992. The dual slalom event was added in 2000 but replaced by four-cross in 2002. A team relay event was added in 1999. Mountain bike marathon was included on the schedule at the 2003 championships in Lugano, but established as a separate world championship discipline from 2004.

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