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If you're new to cycling and want to learn more about the different disciplines of mountain biking, you're in the right place. Today, we're taking a look at cross-country mountain biking.
What is cross-country mountain biking?
The cross-country (also known as XC) is undoubtedly the queen discipline of mountain biking. Not only because it gathers the largest number of participants but also because, of all the mountain bike disciplines, it is the only one that is Olympic discipline since 1996. Cross-country can be practiced as a leisure activity or in competition.
The competitions take place on short circuits (from 4 to 6 kilometers), with steep climbs and technical passages, to be completed several times depending on the category to which one belongs for a duration of up to 1:30.
In Olympic cross-country (XCO), the start is done in groups (mass-start) and the winner is the one who crosses the finish line first. In competition, most participants use semi-rigid mountain bikes, although we are seeing more and more full-suspension mountain bikes, and the bikes must be as light as possible with a carbon frame and stiff enough to be very responsive. The only mandatory protection is the helmet although wearing gloves is also highly recommended. As with road cycling, mountain bikers are equipped with tight shorts (with built-in foam) and bike jersey close to the body for better aerodynamics.
For enthusiasts, many races or rides exist throughout France. One of the most famous events is probably the Roc d'Azur which gathers more than 20,000 participants each year in Fréjus.
The prize list
Among the men, the most famous mountain biker is probably the French Julien Absalon, double Olympic champion in 2004 and 2008 and five-time world champion (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2014). He has also been crowned French champion fourteen times. The Swiss rider Nino Schurter is also among the best-known athletes in the discipline with an Olympic title and eight World Championship titles.
Among the women, French mountain biker Pauline Ferrand-Prevot - who also races on the road and in cyclocross - has dominated the discipline for several years with three World Championship titles (2015, 2019 and 2020) and six French Championship titles (from 2014 to 2019). All that is missing is an Olympic medal to complete her list of achievements, which Julie Bresset, another great French mountain bike talent, won in 2012.
Now that you're unaware of cross-country mountain biking, how about doing the same with other mountain biking disciplines like downhill, marathon downhill, freeride mountain biking, enduro mountain biking, all-mountain biking, cross-country marathon, mountain biking, four cross, dual slalom, dirt mountain biking, street mountain biking, trials mountain biking or slopestyle?
