Fifty-fifty in cross country

Although there is one race less, cross country and short track make up a sizeable 2024 World Cup season with eight races each, starting with the cross country and short track races in Brazil from April 12 to 14 and April 19 to 21. The two World Cup debutants are Mairiporã near São Paulo and Araxá, Minas Gerais, which is around seven hours' drive north of São Paulo.

The trip to Brazil will be followed by a World Cup break before continuing with the classic in Nove Mesto from May 24 to 26. Another three weeks later, the cross-country pros have a more packed program ahead of them. This begins with Val di Sole (ITA) from June 14 to 16, the Swiss World Cup stop in Crans-Montana from June 21 to 23, as well as the races in Haute-Savoie - probably in Les Gets - between June 28 and July 7, 2024.

Two months later, and with the World Championships in Andorra in between, the last two World Cup races will take place overseas. From September 27-29, Lake Placid will celebrate its World Cup premiere, making 50 percent of the venues new. The last newcomer on the calendar is followed by Mont Saint Anne as the oldest World Cup venue. From October 04 to 06, 2024, the Canadians will once again host the grand finale.

A new venue for the downhillers

The downhill season starts with an absolute cult race. The Nevis Range in Fort William has been welcoming the world's best downhillers to the Scottish Highlands for over 20 years, and 2024 will be no exception. After the start of the season from May 3 to 5, the World Cup continues from May 17 to 19 at Polish World Cup newcomer Bielsko-Biala. The downhill and enduro competitions will be held in the bike park on the local mountain Szyndzielnia.

The Downhill World Cup will enter its third round in Leogang from June 7 to 9, followed by another major classic. Val di Sole will challenge the athletes on the infamous "Black Snake" just one week later.

The second half of the season also begins in the Haute Savoie. Between June 28 and July 7, French fans will once again be hoping for big home victories, as well as a month later in Loudenvielle. The seventh and final race of the Downhill World Cup will once again take place in Mont Saint Anne.

The Enduro World Cup is also shrinking. While there were still eight races in the World Cup predecessor "Enduro World Series" in 2022, the race calendar in the first official World Cup year 2023 included seven races. In the 2024 season, the Enduro World Cup still comprises six races. There were only fewer races in the coronavirus year 2020.

The start of this shortened series will take place in mid-May in Italy, in the renowned enduro region around Finale Ligure. One week later, from May 17 to 19, the downhill and enduro scenes will come together in Poland. And from June 7 to 9, downhillers and enduro riders will also share the venue in Leogang.

After the fourth Enduro World Cup stop in the Haute-Savoie, the winners will be determined in the fifth race in the Aletsch Arena. Thin air, technically and physically demanding stages and, above all, epic views are guaranteed from July 12 to 14, 2024.

The athletes will travel to France once again for the sixth and final World Cup race of the Enduro season. While the downhillers still have one more race to go, the overall World Cup winners will already be determined in the Enduro in Loudenvielle from September 6 to 8.

And where is the Marathon World Cup?

The World Cup races for long-distance specialists are not currently on the UCI Mountain Bike World Series race calendar. However, the main organizers promise to publish more information about the UCI Marathon World Cup at a later date.

ucimtbworldseries.com