Marathon mountain bike races
Encyclopedia
Marathon mountain bike races, often referred to as cross country marathon (XCM), are a very demanding form of mountain bike races covering at least 40 kilometers usually in mountainous terrain. Events held in Europe are typically just a little longer than the average cross country mountain bike race. Marathon events in the USA and Canada are typically longer than 100 kilometers and are very different from cross country races.
has established a championship series for such events, the Marathon World Cup. The UCI rules limit events to distances between 40 km (24.9 mi) and 120 km (74.6 mi) and for 2006 limits event to New Zealand
, Hungary
, Germany
, Switzerland
, Italy
, France
and the Netherlands
. Almost all of the parcipitants are elite professional mountain bike racers. There is an annual world championship
event, the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships
.
The world largest mountain bike marathon race by the number of participants is the Birkebeinerrittet
, 95 km, held annually in Norway. While the distance is short for a marathon mountain bike event, the number of participants and history make it noteworthy.
UCI events
The UCIUnion Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
has established a championship series for such events, the Marathon World Cup. The UCI rules limit events to distances between 40 km (24.9 mi) and 120 km (74.6 mi) and for 2006 limits event to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Almost all of the parcipitants are elite professional mountain bike racers. There is an annual world championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
event, the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships
UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships
The UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships is the world championship event for marathon mountain bike races. Inaugurated by the Union Cycliste Internationale in 2003, the event is held annually in single classes for men and women. The 2003 event was organized alongside the UCI Mountain Bike...
.
Non-UCI events
Non-UCI events routinely cover much longer distances. The typical event in the USA is either based on time, typically 12 or 24 hours, or distance, the most common being 100 miles (160.9 km). Events based on hours typically allow either people to compete individually or as part of the team. Distances events are almost all solo events. The number of these events and those taking part in them have grown greatly. The first such events began to be held routinely in the early 1990s typically had less than 50 racers. In 2006 nearly 100 events were held and most had more than 150 racers.The world largest mountain bike marathon race by the number of participants is the Birkebeinerrittet
Birkebeinerrittet
Birkebeinerrittet is a long-distance mountainbike cycling race held annually in Norway. It is the world's largest mountainbike race in number of contestants. In 2009 17,164 riders signed up, and 15,140 cyclists completed the race...
, 95 km, held annually in Norway. While the distance is short for a marathon mountain bike event, the number of participants and history make it noteworthy.
Racing events
- Montezuma’s RevengeMontezuma's Revenge (bicycle race)Montezuma's RevengeLocal name:Montezuma's RevengeRegion:USA, ColoradoDate:AugustType:Mountain Bike RaceHistoryFirst Edition:1986Number of Editions:20First Winner:Sam Orez Most Wins Male:Rishi Grewal, 3 timesMost Wins Female:Monique Merrill, 2 times...
- Capitol Forest 100 MTB
- Wilderness 101 Mountain Bicycle RaceWilderness 101 Mountain Bicycle RaceThe Wilderness 101 Mountain Bicycle Race is an ultra-endurance 101 mile mountain bike race held annually in late July. The race starts and ends in Coburn, Pennsylvania. The course is a single loop covering roads, forest roads and trails...
- Mohican MTB 100Mohican MTB 100The Mohican MTB 100 is an ultra-endurance 100 mile mountain bike race held annually in early June in North Central Ohio. The course contains over 11,000 feet of climbing on single-track, double-track and dirt roads...
- Lumberjack 100Lumberjack 100Local name:Lumberjack 100Region:USA, MichiganDate:third Saturday in JuneType:Mountain Bike RaceHistoryFirst Edition:2005Number of Editions:6First Male Winner:Scott Quiring First Female Winner:Kim Luks Most Wins Male:Jeff Schalk, 3 times...
- The Endurance 100
- Breckenridge 100Breckenridge 100The Breckenridge 100 is an ultra-endurance mountain bike race held annually in mid July in Breckenridge, Colorado. The race offers two distance classes, and . No awards are presented to those doing the shorter version, it simply offers an easier alternative for those riders not ready to take...
- Leadville Trail 100 MTBLeadville Trail 100 MTBThe Leadville Trail 100 MTB is one of the oldest of a growing number of marathon mountain bike races. It was first run in 1994 and has become one of the best known marathon events in mountain bike racing...
- Brazil RideBrazil RideThe is the biggest challenge already done in Brazilian ground. Among mountains range, valleys, and rivers of Chapada Diamantina cross-country, in the center of Brazil is the perfect scenery for seven days epic race....
more than 500km over 7 days - Chupacabras (cycling race)
- Freedom TrailFreedom Trail (South Africa)The Freedom Trail is a 2350km mountain bike route across South Africa, from Pietermaritzburg in the east to Paarl in the west. This technically challenging trail was started in 2004 and is made up of dirt roads, dirt tracks and cattle tracks featuring impressive geological and scenic diversity,...
, 2400km, 14 days - BirkebeinerrittetBirkebeinerrittetBirkebeinerrittet is a long-distance mountainbike cycling race held annually in Norway. It is the world's largest mountainbike race in number of contestants. In 2009 17,164 riders signed up, and 15,140 cyclists completed the race...
- Shenandoah Mountain 100Shenandoah 100The Shenandoah 100 is an ultra-endurance 100 mile mountain bike race held in central Western Virginia near Stokesville. The race is normally held on the Sunday during Labor Day weekend. The race has been run continuously since 1998...