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UCI MTB World Cup returns to Les Gets
Resort takes center stage in global event
Crankworx might not be coming back to Les Gets this summer, but mountain bike fans still have plenty to look forward to. This year Les Gets will host one of the stops on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup tour, with the event will take place between July 12th and 14th.
Les Gets has been central to the development of mountain biking for many years, and a return to the World Cup stage is long overdue. In 2004 Les Gets hosted the UCI World Championships where British rider Steve Peat (who had qualified first) famously crashed near the finish line whilst leading by over a second, gifting the world championship title to Frenchman Fabien Barel.
Les Gets has been the location for professional mountain bike races ever since it first held the French National Championships in 1992, right up to Crankworx which ran from 2016 to 2018, so it makes sense for the World Cup to finally return. The return of the World Cup series is just the start of Les Gets’ return to international racing, with the UCI World Championships due to be held in resort in 2022, as well as the World Cup series final in 2020, and possibly 2021 as well.
British fans will no doubt be hoping for a strong showing from riders such as Danny Hart and Laurie Greenland, but perhaps the best hope for British glory will come in the form of Tahnee Seagrave. Danny Hart came second at the first round of the 2019 World Cup series in Maribor, losing out to French World Champion Loic Bruni by less than a second. At the same race, Tahnee Seagrave beat fellow British rider Rachel Atherton to the number one position. These two riders look set to battle it out all summer for the overall women’s title. Tahnee Seagrave in particular has close links to the Portes Du Soleil having grown up in St Jean D’Aulps, so she is sure to have plenty of support.
The courses have not yet been officially announced, but it is likely that the downhill race at least will return to Mt Chery, where the world championships were held in 2004 and where Crankworx held their downhill race from 2016 to 2018. The provisional schedule has been announced, so those wishing to watch the events can begin planning.
The schedule at the moment is as follows:
- Thursday 11th and Friday 12th will be training and qualification days.
- Friday 12th July: From 17:30 - Women’s XCC World Cup. From 18:30 - Men’s XCC World Cup.
- Saturday July 13th: From 09:45 - Junior Girl’s World Cup DH Final. From 10:15 - Junior Boy’s World Cup DH Final. From 12:30 - Women’s DH World Cup Final. From 13:30 - Men’s DH World Cup Final. This will be followed by a prize giving ceremony for all events.
- Sunday July 14th: From 08:30 - Women’s XCO World Cup Olympic for women under 23 years old. From 10:15 - Men’s XCO World Cup Olympic for men under 23 years old. From 12:20 - Women’s XCO World Cup Olympic for women. From 14:50 - XCO World Cup Olympic for men.
The lifts will be open from 09:00 to 21:00 for spectators to get up the mountain and find the best position to enjoy the action. The World Cups are always a huge event and there is bound to be plenty going on in town throughout the weekend.
