It again sounds like a supposedly premature April Fool's joke, which is meant quite seriously. The UCI announced in the same press release with the e-mountain bike world championships that snow biking would be included in the UCI regulations, but nothing more specific.

Now, however, dates are being published for the first time: the first UCI snowbike races have already taken place from February 7 to 8 in Châtel, two more will be held on March 14 in Vars-Hautes-Alpes and from April 20 to 21, 2019 in Isola 2000 (all France).

Uncertain future of a race series not yet born

"At the moment, the Snowbike project is still a work in progress as far as any future series is concerned. However, snowbiking was included in the regulations because we had some organizers who wanted to hold downhill races on snow. And we have now included these in the UCI calendar for 2019, one of which has already taken place," says Simon Burney, mountain bike consultant to the UCI.

In 2020, the cycling world federation has bigger plans: A five-race World Cup is planned, which will be held on several continents. Burney says that further information about a race series in 2020 or beyond will follow as and when it is confirmed.

There is obviously interest in such events - on both the organizer and rider side. However, whether they need to become UCI events and even a World Cup is questionable. Up to now, mountain bike events on snow have usually been very popular, but more on the fun side.