UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2023 LIVE – Tom Pidcock headlines men’s short-track cross-country race

HOW DOES IT WORK?

As is customary, the short track race takes place at the start of the weekend, on a smaller course and over a reduced distance.

It also decides the starting grid for the Olympic distance race, so expect plenty of fast-paced action!

Cross-country short track is a variation of cross-country Olympic, and today’s event serves as qualifying for the Olympic distance race (XCO) on Sunday.

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to Eurosport’s LIVE text commentary of the first round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series men’s cross-country short track event, which is taking place at a rain soaked Nove Mesto na Morave in the Czech Republic.

Key reading ahead of cross-country opener

Pidcock exclusive on mountain bike targets

Ahead of the start of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Tom Pidcock has told Eurosport he plans to defend his Olympic mountain bike title in Paris next summer, saying the Games “mean more” and “transcend cycling”.

The Ineos Grenadiers star is taking a mini break from the road to target the opening round of the UCI Cross-country World Cup in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic this weekend. Pidcock will compete in the short-track (XCC) on Friday, which serves as qualifying for the Olympic distance race (XCO) on Sunday.

The event forms part of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, which you can watch live and on-demand on discovery+ and Eurosport. The action starts on Friday with the women’s elite short track race coming at 16:45 UK time and the men’s at 17:40.

Pidcock arrives in promising form after winning the Swiss Cup round in Chur earlier this week, having enjoyed a stellar Spring Classics campaign on the road that saw him take a and earn podiums at Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Amstel Gold.

The 23-year-old is hoping to claim the leader’s jersey at the opening round – albeit a jersey he will never get to wear due to his road commitments – before turning his attention to the Tour de France after a small break. After the Tour, he will return to the mountain bike in a bid to win the world title in Glasgow in August.

“This year my goal in mountain biking is to win the Worlds,” Pidcock told Eurosport.

“Last year I fell ill the week before. I still ended up fourth which I’m pretty amazed with, I just finished and I was completely empty, mentally and physically. This year I want to go back, especially with it being in Glasgow.

“I’m also focused on the Olympics next year. I want to go back and defend my title for sure. After Tokyo, I just realised the Olympics transcends cycling. I always wanted to win the Road Worlds or the Tour de France – the Tour is also massive – but the Olympics…

“No one cares where the medal comes from. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in ping pong or balancing a ball on your head. A gold medal is a gold medal. And everyone knows about it. That’s what makes it special. It means more, in a way.”

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