The UCI (International Cycling Union) released the 2014 Mountain Bike World Cup calendar last week and Pietermaritzburg returns as the opening round for the global cross-country and downhill season from 5-6 April.
New to the World Cup line up for the South African leg is the cross-country eliminator (XCE), which features as part of this year’s World Championship event at Cascades MTB Park for the first time in August. South Africa will be one of five world venues to host the triple event (Olympic Cross-country, Cross-country Eliminator and Downhill) at Cascades Mountain Bike Park, Pietermaritzburg.
Pietermaritzburg will once again host the opening round of the 2014 Mountain Bike World Cup series at Cascades MTB Park from 5-6 April © Darren Goddard/ Gameplan Media
The 2014 calendar comprises nine rounds in nine different countries, featuring two new World Cup destinations of Cairns in Australia, and Méribel in France.
Further to short course and gravity mountain bike racing, the same venue of Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg will also welcome mountain bike marathon contenders for the 2014 UCI MTB Marathon World Championships, which will take place from 27-29 June.
2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano
Sweet!