Downhill as a recognised UCI sport began with the first UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, in Durango, Colorado, USA, in 1990. Another gravity discipline was added in 2000 - Dual Slalom, which offered head-to-head racing. After two years it was transformed to Four-Cross (4X) in 2002, with four riders on the track at a time, and world titles for women and men in 4X continue to be awarded to this day. Since 1990, the UCI World Championships have been held around the world, including South Africa in 2013, New Zealand (2006), Australia (1996, 2009 and 2017), Canada (1992, 1998, 2010), USA (1990, 1994 and 2001) and European countries many times. The Downhill World Cup, which began in 1993, is even more geographically diverse, including stops in Brazil and Japan. Cindy Devine (Canada) and Greg Herbold (USA) were the first UCI World Champions in DHI. Anne-Caroline Chausson of France holds the record for the most Elite victories, with nine in Elite women, including eight consecutive (1996-2003). Nicolas Vouilloz of France follows, with seven in Elite Men. Three riders are next with three victories each - Rachel Atherton (Great Britain) in Elite Women and, in Elite Men, Greg Minnaar (South Africa) and Sam Hill (Australia). All three of these riders are still active in competition, and could add a fourth title at the 2016 UCI World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy. France dominates the DHI World Championship standings, with 25 gold medals (14 for women and 11 for men). Great Britain is a distant second with nine championship titles (five women and four men).
Australian Wade Bootes was the first men's Dual World Champion in 2000, in Sierra Nevada, Spain, with Chausson the women's. When the competition switched to 4X, it was Brian Lopes (USA) and Chausson who took the first titles. In the combined Dual / 4X results, Chausson is the women's leader with five titles (two in Dual, three in 4X). Jill Kintner (USA), Caroline Buchanan (Australia) and Anneke Beerten (Netherlands) are tied at three titles apiece in 4X. France and the USA are tied with four titles each in Dual / 4X. Brian Lopes has four titles for the men - one Dual and three 4X - while Michal Prokop (Czech Republic) has three 4X titles. The USA and Czech Republic are tied at five titles apiece in Dual and 4X.