The 2023 UCI Biking World Championships are coming to Scotland and we’ve bought all the data you’ll want to profit from it, from tips on how to watch, when to purchase tickets, and the place the mountain bike occasions are going down.
Downhill, cross-country, marathon – Glasgow ’23 has a complete load of mountain biking occurring, to not point out BMX, monitor and street biking if that additionally tickles your fancy. It’s an incredible alternative to look at among the world’s greatest riders in a complete vary of disciplines over a ten-day interval, plus all of the spectator alternatives and peripheral occasions that can be occurring.
We’ll be holding this web page up to date with the newest information and knowledge as we get nearer to the occasion, so that you’ll be capable of discover out issues like tips on how to get spectator tickets, tips on how to watch and comply with the protection, who’s going to be racing, the medal contenders to be careful for, and what else is occurring which you could get entangled in.
What occurs on the Biking World Championships, and why is it necessary?
The World Championships are an opportunity for riders to race for private glory and nationwide satisfaction. Riders are chosen to signify their nation for this winner-takes-all occasion and, with only one shot on the likelihood to tug on the coveted World Champion rainbow jersey, you’ll be able to count on the racing to be nearly as good because it will get.
World Championships are all the time particular however this 12 months they are going to be much more so. Almost all disciplines of biking – BMX, Highway, Trials, Observe, Para biking and Mountain Biking – will happen on the similar World Champs venue on the similar time, making this the largest biking occasion ever.
And, in case you’re primarily based within the UK all this can be occurring proper in your doorstep! Scotland can be taking part in host with Glasgow appearing because the centre level.
Traquair Home within the Tweed Valley was lit up with the World Champions stripes
When is the 2023 UCI Biking World Championships?
Issues kick off on the third August and run by means of to the thirteenth August. For mountain bikers the important thing dates are:
- 3-Fifth August for the Downhill World Championships
- 6-Twelfth for the Cross-Nation & Marathon World Championships
The place are the Biking World Championships 2023?
Though Glasgow would be the hub for the World Champs, the racing is unfold throughout Scotland. For mountain bikers the 2 key venues are Glentress Forest, simply south of Edinburgh, for the Cross-Nation and Cross-Nation Marathon occasions and Fort William within the Highlands for the Downhill.
How do I get tickets for the 2023 UCI Biking World Championships?
The Downhill and Cross Nation occasions are each ticketed occasions however the Cross-Nation Marathon is free to attend.
Tickets are on sale now, and whereas some occasions have already bought out, there are lots nonetheless obtainable.
There’s a variety of superb biking occurring – and never simply mountain biking both
How can I watch the 2023 UCI Biking World Championships?
Should you can’t make it to Scotland to look at the racing, then you’ll be able to nonetheless catch the motion on-screen.
For UK viewers the BBC have the rights to broadcast the whole occasion, so you’ll be able to watch the racing from the consolation of the couch. In truth with protection on-line and thru social media you’ll be capable of watch it from just about wherever.
For race followers exterior the UK, flosports.com can be offering stay on-line protection.
Mountain Bike Disciplines
Whereas there’s going to be a complete lot of biking occurring, we’re clearly going to deal with the principle mountain bike disciplines right here.
2023 Downhill World Championships
Downhill is the best disciple to comply with, particularly for World Champs. Riders have one qualifying run then one race run. Quickest to the end line takes all. With every little thing to play for count on to see riders pushing themselves proper to the sting – and past – to take the title.
The long-lasting monitor at Fort William will make for dramatic racing
Fort William is likely one of the oldest and greatest regarded venues on the downhill race circuit. The brutal monitor takes no prisoners and at almost three kilometres lengthy, to win right here takes power, talent and technique. What actually makes it particular although is the followers – in terms of displaying assist for each rider that comes down the hill nobody does it higher than the Nevis Vary crowd.
Fort William is a close to everlasting fixture on the World Cup calendar however the final time the World Champs visited the Highlands was again in 2007. Again then it was Sam Hill and Sabrina Jonnier who took the honours within the elite races. For the followers on the Fort although the largest consequence was native lad Ruaridh Cunningham bagging the junior gold medal.
Location
Nevis Vary Mountain Resort, Fort William, PH33 6SQ
Dates
Issues kick off with qualifying on the third August and culminate with elite finals on the Fifth August.
- Junior Qualifying: Thursday 3 August
- Junior Finals: Friday 4 August
- Elite Qualifying: Friday 4 August
- Elite Finals: Saturday 5 August
Who to be careful for
With a full season of racing nonetheless to return it’s arduous to say who will make the reduce to signify their nation. Barring a mishap or damage we’d count on to see Brits Matt Walker, Laurie Greenland and Jordan Williams throw their hats within the ring for the lads’s elite race. They received’t have it straightforward although. The French are on a roll in the mean time and with Loic Bruni, Loris Vergier and Amaury Pierron all capable of flip it on for the large day it’d be arduous to wager in opposition to them.
Within the ladies’s elite we’d like to see Tahnée Seagrave again within the recreation for Group GB. She’ll need to cope with reigning champ, Austrian Vali Höll in addition to the likes of France’s Myriam Nicole and Camille Balanche, Germany’s Nina Hoffmann and New Zealand’s Jess Blewitt. There’ll even be a robust present of assist for native lady Mikayla Parton. With so many contenders it’s sure to make for some seat-of-your-pants viewing.
Evie Richards is a contender for the ’23 XC World Champion
Cross-Nation Mountain Bike World Championships
Cross-Nation is split into 4 sub-disciples, all differing barely however all promising some tight racing to get the blood pumping on each side of the race tape.
- Cross-Nation Olympic (XCO) – The primary rider to finish a set quantity of laps wins, with a race taking about an hour and a half.
- Cross-Nation Brief Observe (XCC) – The identical idea as XCO however on a shorter monitor with races taking about 20 minutes.
- Cross-Nation Group Relay (XCR) – Groups of six riders take it in turns to lap the course, quickest group wins.
- Electrical Mountain Bike (E-MTB) – Much like XCO however with riders on e-bikes.
Racing takes place at Glentress Forest. Yup that’s proper, the UK’s greatest liked path centre goes to be internet hosting among the world’s quickest riders.
This isn’t the primary time elite-level racing has descended on the Tweed Valley although. Common appearances on the Enduro World Collection calendar, in addition to numerous nationwide degree occasions, imply that this space of Scotland is used to placing on a top-tier occasion. Key to this after all is the path community. With each type of path you’ll be able to think about crammed alongside the size of the valley it’s no shock so many races are hosted right here.
Particulars of the course are but to be launched however we’re trying ahead to seeing some contemporary trails and among the present trails being blended collectively to create a mega difficult course.
This also needs to imply that it is going to be straightforward to entry for spectators with the café and parking.
Location
Glentress Forest, Peebles, EH45 8NB
Dates
Cross-Nation Brief Observe
- Qualifying: Tuesday 8 August
- Finals: Thursday 10 August
Cross-Nation Olympic
- Juniors: Thursday 10 August
- U23s: Friday 11 August
- Elite: Saturday 12 August
E-MTB Cross-Nation: Wednesday 9 August
Cross-Nation Group Relay: Wednesday 9 August
Who to be careful for
With a knack for turning up at any race in any self-discipline and making everybody else appear to be amateurs, all eyes can be on Brit Tom Pidcock for the lads’s elite. However who would wager in opposition to present champ Nino Schurter from Switzerland? Nicely, Spaniard David Valero Serrano and younger gun Alan Hatherly from South Africa to call two.
Group GB is stacked stuffed with expertise within the ladies’s elite with Evie Richards, Annie Final and Harriet Harnden all in competition for a medal. They received’t have it straightforward although. Pauline Ferrand Prevot from France by no means fails to impress and the Swiss duo of Alessandra Keller and Jolanda Neff are all the time price maintaining a tally of.
The cross-country marathon race will happen alongside the Tweed Valley within the Scottish Borders
Cross-Nation Marathon World Championships
Cross-Nation Marathon differs from common Cross-Nation in a few methods. Firstly, it’s one lap of a for much longer course. At between 60-150 km lengthy it is a race to essentially check riders’ endurance. Secondly, it’s a mass begin and mass participation occasion – just like the London Marathon. In addition to 100 or so professional racers hundreds of amateurs may also be collaborating, making it probably the most inclusive of the World Championship races.
Location
Like the opposite Cross-Nation occasions the Marathon begins and ends close to Glentress Forest. We’re nonetheless ready to see what the course will appear to be however given its size count on it to interrupt out of the forest and make its means throughout the hills of the Scottish Borders. Alongside the best way it might incorporate among the tamer trails which have seen motion as a part of the Enduro World Collection, or among the traditional tracks over the hill close to Selkirk – a city well-known for its mountain bike marathon occasions.
Deal with: Glentress Forest, Peebles, EH45 8NB and surrounding areas
Dates
The Cross-Nation Marathon race takes place on Sunday sixth August.
Who to be careful for
The beauty of Marathon occasions is that anybody can enter, so count on to see your favorite XC racers lining up in opposition to Marathon specialists like after which a few thousand amateurs in scorching pursuit. Will it make for a shock winner? Something might occur.
Annie Final is Britain’s greatest hope within the ladies’s elite race, however France’s Pauline Ferrand Prevot, as ever, is the rider to look at right here. Within the males’s elite, present champ Sam Gaze from New Zealand can be attempting to maintain Germans Andreas Seewald, Martin Frey and Sascha Weber at bay.
