Modern off-road cycling began in the late 1970’s in Northern California and today it serves as a popular form of both recreation and competition. Like other disciplines of cycling, mountain biking encompasses many different formats including Cross Country, Short Track Cross Country, Ultra-Endurance, Downhill, Dual Slalom, 4-Cross, Super D and Observed Trials.
Cross Country Mountain Biking
Cross Country (XC) is the only recognized discipline of mountain biking at the Olympic Games. This endurance-oriented event is a mass-start competition which typically features 100-150 riders who compete over rough terrain that includes everything from unpaved fire roads to technical singletrack filled with rocks, roots and ruts. The distance and number of laps to be contested will be determined based on course conditions prior to the day of competition. A typical elite-level mountain bike race lasts approximately two hours and ranges from 22-28 miles for men and 16-22 miles for women.
A common cross country mountain bike course includes significant elevation gain and tricky descents. To accommodate the off-road conditions, competitors’ bikes are equipped with wide, knobby tires for better traction and suspension systems to soften the impact of riding over uneven terrain. Bike handling skills, a keen sense of awareness and an element of bravery are all vital characteristics of a successful cross country mountain bike racer.
Among the most prestigious cross country events other than the Olympic Games are the UCI World Championships, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup circuit, the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships and the USA Cycling Professional Cross Country Tour.