The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is delighted to announce the launch of an exciting new UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series in 2021. The first edition of this revamped competition will feature eight events held between March and October in seven countries.
The latest incarnation of a competition first introduced by the UCI in 2012, the new UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series reflects the recent growth in popularity of cross-country Marathon (XCM) events and mountain bike stage-races among both amateur and Elite riders. There are also an increasing number of event organisers.
One-day XCM events are held over distances of between 60km and 160km, both for the men and the women. Meanwhile, stage races run for four days or more and feature at least one long-distance stage covering the minimum length of an XCM event, i.e. 60km.
There will be six one-day XCM events on the new series’ 2021 calendar and two stage races, which are among the most iconic and longstanding events on the UCI International Mountain Bike Calendar, and there will be no limit on the number of riders taking part. Races will have a specific start order and a general classification will be determined at the end of each competition.
The UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series will continue to be a qualification pathway to the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships, either from the individual events or the overall classification.
In addition, a new UCI Mountain Bike Marathon ranking will be introduced which will include all XCM and stage race events on the UCI International Calendar.
Although a “UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Team” status will be created to encourage teams and elite riders to take part, races will still be mass-participation events as is the case with many other XCM events on the UCI International Mountain Bike Calendar.
2021 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series calendar
21-28 March: Absa Cape Epic, Cape Town, Western Cape (South Africa)20-25 April: Andalucia Bike Race, Jaen and Cordoba (Spain)2 May: Bike Marathon Jelenia Gora, Jelenia Gora (Poland)12 June: Hero Sudtirol Dolomites – XCM, Selva Val Gardena (Italy)31 July-1 August: Sakarya – XCM, Sakarya (Turkey)21 August: Grand Raid BCVS – MTB Alpine Cup – XCM, Verbier and Grimentz (Switzerland)12 September: La Forestière, Les Moussières-Arbent (France)8 October: Roc d’Azur, Fréjus (France)