Mountain Biking Competitions
There are different types of Mountain Biking Competitions which range from cross-country to epic riding. Though Mountain Bike racing was recognized as a sport only in 1990 by the International Cycling Union, the first world championship was held a year after. In 1996, the Olympic Games added cross-country racing to its roster of events.
The distance covered by cross-country racing is usually between six and eight kilometers. For professional racing, the distance is around 30 miles. This is a massed-start race, which is held on a wide-ranging terrain. Downhill races, which are basically a time trial event, are held in rough, downhill terrain, ensuing higher speed. The Mountain Biking participant who gets the lowest time is the winner of a downhill race. A combination of cross-country and downhill racing events is the SuperD.
Freeride races are a variation of Mountain Biking styles. Participants have to tackle different kinds of terrain and obstacles. Marathon races entail 60 to 100 kilometers of distance covered. The Marathon World Cup was launched recently by the International Cycling Union. Four cross, also known as mountain cross or biker cross, pits four riders while the dual slalom pits two. The latter is dubbed as a contact sport.
Enduro races are held in either 12 or 24 hours, or any time format depending on the categories. Like endure, epic riding is held in 24 hours but it can also be a multi-day event. The Australian 24-hour Mountain Bike Race and the 24 hours of Adrenalin in Canada are examples of Mountain Biking Competitions in 24-hour formats.
Mountain Bike Competitions abound in almost every continent. In North America, there is the week-long Crankworx in British Columbia and the Mountain States Cup Mountain Bike Series in the US, among others. In Europe, there is the British National 4X Series, as well as the Mountain Mayhem. Wherever you are in the world, there is surely a Mountain Biking Competition around.
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Basics & Backgrounds
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