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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 introducing you to four cross.
What is four cross?
The four cross is one of the very many disciplines of mountain biking. It has been around since the early 2000s and was included in the MTB World Cup in 2002 as a replacement for dual slalom.
A spectacular discipline with many risks of falling as the battle is so fierce between the riders, it consists of a timed event on a fast track (about 1 minute) with a negative gradient. It is composed of several technical passages, whether natural or developed (banked turns, scree, jumps, etc.). The goal is to be the first to arrive at the bottom of the track.
However, at the beginning of the event, during the qualifying phases, the mountain bikers start alone, one after the other, in order to establish - thanks to the stopwatch - a ranking of the thirty-two best athletes who will then compete four by four during the direct elimination rounds. At this stage of the competition, only the top two finishers in each round qualify for the next round and so on until the final. A small final - consisting of the four losers of the semifinals - also takes place.
Typically, the podium includes the four participants in the final as well as the winner of the small final (who therefore gets fifth place).
The four-round event is held in the afternoon
The mountain bike four cross event is inspired by ski-cross and boarder-cross in skiing and snowboarding, which are among the disciplines present at the Winter Olympics.
Unfortunately, faced with its lack of success, the UCI decided to remove four cross from mountain bike World Cup events in 2012. Nevertheless, the discipline is still present at the World Championships, the last edition of which was held in Val di Sole, Italy.
Between 2002 and 2012, the four cross World Championships were held at the same time as the bike trials World Championships. Since 2013, they have their own date in the calendar (with the exception of the 2016 edition which was held at the same time as the Downhill World Championships).
The four cross prize list?
In the men, at the launch of the discipline, it was American athletes who dominated the discipline's record with four gold medals over the first six editions, quickly overtaken by the Czech Republic, which now has five gold medals. Czech mountain biker Michal Prokop and American Brian Lopes, moreover, have three titles each at the men's four cross world championships.
The 2018 and 2019 editions were won by Frenchmen Quentin Derbier and Romain Mayet after podium finishes in previous years.
Among the women, the first two editions in 2002 and 2003 were won by Frenchwoman Anne-Caroline Chausson (multiple medalist in downhill, marathon downhill and BMX) but it is Australia that dominates the standings with five gold medals won by a single female biker, Caroline Buchanan, between 2009 and 2017. The U.S. has been titled four times, with Jill Kintner winning three medals, tied with Anneke Beerten of the Netherlands.
How to practice four cross?
In France, there are several permanent four cross tracks, usually located in the mountains. They are located in particular in Les 2 Alpes, Les Gets (where the 2004 World Championships were held), Meribel, Montgenèvre, Tignes, Métabief, etc.
They are all located in the mountains
To practice four cross, you can't use a classic mountain bike. Indeed, you need a VTT with specific geometry, handy and nervous in order to be able to relaunch efficiently but also negotiate the various obstacles to perfection. As the sleeves are very short, comfort is not a criterion taken into account in the choice of a bike contrary to the solidity and reliability due to the many mechanical constraints exerted on the bike during the events. On the tracks, during the various competitions, you can find both semi-rigid and fully suspended mountain bikes.
Thus, the frames are generally more compact than on a conventional mountain bike, with a wheelbase and short chainstays, a bottom bracket placed lower, a very pronounced top tube slopping and a travel between 100 and 120mm.
In addition, four cross riding requires mandatory protective equipment: full-face helmet, back protectors, elbow pads and knee pads due to the many risks of falling.
Now that you know all about four cross, how about doing the same with other mountain biking disciplines like downhill, marathon downhill, enduro mountain biking, all mountain biking, cross country, cross-country marathon, freeride, mountain biking, dual slalom, dirt mountain biking, street mountain biking, trial mountain biking, or slopestyle?
