The figures published by the UCI are encouraging. All mountain bike formats broadcast on the website of Red Bull Media House, the official media partner of the UCI, registered a clear increase compared to 2012. The live videos are clearly the most popular with 1.26 million registered viewers. If you break down the figures, that is an increase of 104.7 hundred percent for the cross-country eliminator. However, this is with two more races than a year earlier.

Despite the fact that the Olympic cross-country discipline had one less race in the World Cup, 41.7 percent more spectators watched the exciting competitions. Downhill, also with one less race, recorded an increase of 22.9 percent. Despite the smallest increase, the spectacular downhill races are the most-watched mountain bike races on the Red Bull TV site with 1.05 million views.In total, this represents a progression of 34.28 percent compared to the 1.44 million views in 2012.

Fort William, the best downhill event of the 2013 World Cup, is also number one in this discipline on the internet. The livestream of the downhill classic generated 235,357 views. With 144,927 views, the World Cup race in Albstadt is the most streamed World Cup race among the cross-country competitions.

The most successful World Cup event in Val di Sole, Italy, with 361,370 internet viewers, will no longer host a World Cup in 2014. The Trentino venue will host the iXS European Downhill Cup next year.

Continuing boom due to increase in quality
Internet video coverage of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is booming. The aim is to allow fans who are unable to travel to the events to discover the disciplines. The project is possible thanks to the partnership signed in 2012 between the UCI and Red Bull Media House.

Not only the number of viewers, but also the coverage will be increased. In order to improve the quality of the broadcasts, the UCI and Red Bull Media House are constantly working to achieve dynamic and innovative coverage.

UCI Commercial Manager Nicole Gruber says: "Product development is still an important factor in our collaboration with Red Bull Media House. It's about letting our fans experience the action and speed of the races. It's not just the number and type of cameras that are important. The way the races are filmed, edited and presented also makes a real difference."

Mountain biking is not the only area of cycling to benefit from video coverage. Since January 2013, the UCI has been providing live and delayed coverage of the various World Cups and World Championships on the road, track, BMX and cyclocross via a YouTube channel.

These videos are available free of charge at www.youtube.com/ucichannel