UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

[Ricco']

2023 UCI World Cup final dates have been announced today.

In another new case of UCI going full bananas, the UCI XCM World Cups will be held in the same venues and dates as the XCO rounds. Great way to make sure that no one challenges for both World Cup overalls.

I like to see every bit of live feeds we have but I'm getting fearful that we will have too much MTB to see for two little time. I mean, 4 minute runs for 40 riders will give close to 3h30 of feed just for the Downhill finals. We add another 1h30 for both XCO, 50 mins for XCC, at least 1h for DH qualifying, plus Enduro and XCM, we will end with close to 10h, if not more, per weekend in some cases.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

And Valkenburg has been dropped, leaving an 8 round series...a shame they couldn't have replaced it with Albstadt.

I understand why they've done it, but XCM shouldn't be on the same programme as XCC/XCO....It's like they're trying to re-invent the wheel. A few tweaks were needed, not this revolution.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Luis Enrique ya tiene bici para competir en la Absa Cape Epic

Luis Enrique competirá en la Absa Cape Epic y lo hará sobre una MMR Kenta SL que acaba de recoger en la sede de MMR

esmtb.com

Luis Enrique to the Cape Epic.........

 

[Axel Hangleck]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/team-registration-fees-to-increase-for-2023-world-cup-racing.html

Registration fees increasing. I'm sure there is a good reason, but we're seeing a lot of changes all at once.

 

[glassmoon]

Let's see how nothing really improves after this doubling/tripling of the reg. fees... 1st BS is already here: no increase of the prize money.
(god I hate UCI so much - for years already)

 

[Ricco']

National and International Federations are money grabbers, just waiting to cash in the teams and athletes efforts, with very little of that increase given back to promote the sport. Not just in cycling, but in general sports.

In my sport (not cycling), the national federations also increased costs this season by more than 100% year-in-year in some cases, without any justified reason, and letting the teams know only 5 days before the two-week period the teams have to register their athletes. What that increase will give? Apparently little as they didn't send an elite team to this year's european cross-country championships due to budget constraints.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

The lack of prize money isn't a massive surprise; the issue is where is it supposed to come from? There are no massive TV deals, and very few major sponsorship deals - unlike the big money sports.
Maybe increased exposure will help bring in new, bigger deals.

 

[Ricco']

The lack of prize money isn't a massive surprise; the issue is where is it supposed to come from? There are no massive TV deals, and very few major sponsorship deals - unlike the big money sports.
Maybe increased exposure will help bring in new, bigger deals.

What's the share of the prize money in the total expenses of a season of World Cup racing? Honest question, no idea about that.

We already know that they are increasing their revenue via increased registration costs, maybe a better package with Discovery opposed to Red Bull Media House and at the same time they are diminshing their fixed costs as most of the venues are now shared between Enduro, XCO and XCM.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

From instagram, Lars Forster is leaving Scott-Sram.........And as is common in MTB, no mention of where he is going.

 

[Ricco']

From instagram, Lars Forster is leaving Scott-Sram.........And as is common in MTB, no mention of where he is going.

I saw some rumours about being Thömus. But that was before Flüeckiger was absolved. I don't know if that brand has some presence outside Switzerland or if they sell many bikes (as I have only seen Thömus bikes on World Cup races - on that team) but can they afford Flüeckiger, Vital Albin, Forster and Alessandra Keller?

 

[Axel Hangleck]

And Filippo Colombo has announced he's leaving BMC-MTB; which isn't really news seeing as he's already signed for the new Q36.5 Road team.......However he's obviously going to ride in MTB races for a dedicated MTB team, and one who use Scott bikes.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Confirmed this morning; Lars Forster to Thoemas-Maxon.......should be a good move for all. And an interesting post from Sebastian Fini Carstensen; while they;re changing sponsors/bikes, he appears to be leaving.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

And confirmed today by Scott-Sram; Filippo Colombo.....

 

[Axel Hangleck]

And more news; as per instagram, Anne Tauber is leaving Bart's team....no mention of her new team.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

End of year Top 10rankings, from XCO.data

nk	Rider	Points
1	KELLER Alessandra	2218
2	LECOMTE Loana	2040
3	TERPSTRA Anne	1931
4	MCCONNELL Rebecca Ellen	1897
5	NEFF Jolanda	1833
6	MITTERWALLNER Mona	1738
7	FERRAND PREVOT Pauline	1589
8	RISSVEDS Jenny	1443
9	BOHÉ Caroline	1418
10	STIGGER Laura	1379

Rank	Rider	Points
1	VALERO SERRANO David	1994
2	BRAIDOT Luca	1939
3	CAROD Titouan	1875
4	SCHURTER Nino	1866
5	COLOMBO Filippo	1631
6	VIDAURRE KOSSMANN Martin	1537
7	HATHERLY Alan	1530
8	DASCALU Vlad	1497
9	AVANCINI Henrique	1379
10	SARROU Jordan	1279

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Santa-Cruz/ Maxime Marotte are going separate ways; and no news on any new team.

 

[Ricco']

And more news; as per instagram, Anne Tauber is leaving Bart's team....no mention of her new team.

My bet: she will ride in an Orbea bike in 2023, probably in Orbea Factory Team. They have been teasing big announcements on their social media in the most recent days.

They had Isla Short as a rider of their team in 2021 but it didn't went very well since I think she rode a few races by her national team and next year she put together her own set-up with Juliana. But since KMC has rumoured to have switched from Orbea to Lapierre, the brand needs a team to showcase their bikes, as their domestic competitors (BH, Mondraker, MMR) have all solid teams.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Only recently have Orbea dropped their current non racing riders; now it makes sense, to have a racing team.
Yes, Bart's team will be sponsored by KMC, riding Ridley bikes. And I recall a rumour that KMC-Orbea will switch to Lapierre, and Annie Last will be one of the riders - and Isla Short will move to Ghost.
Chiara Teocchi is off Trinity Racing to elsewhere; not a total surprise, as they are really an U23/development team; Cam Mason is the last of the original riders still there; I guess he'll be off in the next year.

Still lots of announcements to be made; Specialized, Avancini, Sarrou, etc

 

[Ricco']

My social media analysis makes me bet in a move of Chiara Teocchi to KTM: to their factory team or to the italian squad KTM - Protek. If I was to choose one, I would pick the latter.

The Specialized guys were funny. They announced something about revealing their news after December 25th, but so far nothing.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I'll never understand the MTB transfer announcements. Cannondale were on a training camp in South Africa, and their new rider was there.....we know who it is. And still no announcement.

 

[glassmoon]

Santa-Cruz/ Maxime Marotte are going separate ways; and no news on any new team.

jeez... seems like 70% of the riders are switching teams (hyperbole of course)

 

[Axel Hangleck]

The rumours would suggest Marotte to Rockrider........

 

[Axel Hangleck]

French media rumours linking Koreztky with a move from B&B Hotels to Bora....who are on Specialized.....

SPECIALIZED SIGNS MARTIN VIDAURRE AND VICTOR KORETZKY TO ITS XCO TEAM - Mountain Bike Action Magazine

Specialized has signed two of the top cross-country racers in the world to its racing team. Both Martin Vidaurre of Chile and Victor Koretzky of France

mbaction.com

 

[stonerider]

I guess we'll find out tomorrow for sure where everyone has landed for a team in 2023.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

One thing I hadn't seen reported was Alan Hatherly as part of the EF-Nippo development squad......