Cross Country (mountain bike)
Cross Country (abbreviations XC or CC) is a mountain bike discipline. The sport has been Olympic since 1996 .
definition
"A MTB-Cross Country (CC) is a one-man competition over an identical circuit to be driven several times."
Similar to a Formula 1 race, a circuit is set that the athletes drive through several times. The number of laps is either fixed from the start or is based on a time specification (e.g. 60 minutes + 1 lap). The last lap is always heralded with a bell for all drivers. Lapped drivers do not have to complete the number of laps in full. As soon as the first place has crossed the start / finish line , they drive their lap to the end. In international races, the drivers finish the race on the lap in which they are lapped. This can mean that they finish the race before the winner and still be included in the results list.
The route is usually between three and nine kilometers. The circuit should have the following terrain characteristics:
- Share of paved or asphalt roads less than 15%
- Forest paths
- Dirt roads
- Gravel paths and meadow paths
- several ascents and descents
Race course
The start takes place in a mass start - due to the usually narrow track conditions, a front starting place is an advantage. Therefore, there is a clear starting grid for important races, which is based on the previous performance of the athletes (placement in the overall ranking, placement in the last race, etc.). In contrast to road bike races , a preliminary decision is often made in the first two laps.
As a rule, smaller groups of a few drivers are formed who benefit from the slipstream of the vehicle in front in flat passages . For large parts of the route, however, the drivers are left to their own devices, which is why everyone is driven here individually and not in a team (see stable order ). The decision about the final placement is usually made on an ascent, a descent or, in rare cases, in the finish sprint. The winner is the one who crosses the finish line first with the number of laps completed.
Similar disciplines
Disciplines that require a similar constitution from the rider and are contested with comparable equipment ( mountain bike ):
MTB marathon (XCM)
These races are significantly longer:
- at least 40 km (short distance)
- at least 110 km (long distance)
Several laps can, but do not have to be, driven.
The mountain bike marathon has evolved from a popular sporting event - here the marathon on Lake Garda is particularly well known, which takes place every year parallel to the Bike Magazine festival. Series events are z. B. the Ritchey MTB Challenge . Numbers of more than 1,000 participants are common.
Since 2003 there has been an annual mountain bike marathon world championship .
Mountain time trial (Hill Climb - HC)
As the name suggests, the route here is mostly steeply inclined. It is not driven on a circuit - the start is in the valley, the finish on the mountain. The route is usually at least five kilometers long. In addition, there is no mass start, but a single start. The pure travel time is then used to determine the results.
Other disciplines
Other popular disciplines are multi-day events , which can also be completed in a team . The most famous event here is the Bike Transalp , in which two athletes cross the Alps together in several daily stages .
There are also sprint events over short distances or 24-hour races in which a driver alone or in a team competes in an XC race over an entire day and night.
Known drivers
1990-2000
Men
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Ned Overend : first official world champion in 1990 -
John Tomac : World Champion 1991
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Thomas Frischknecht : World Champion 1996 and overall World Cup winner 1992, 1993 and 1995 -
Henrik Djernis : three-time world champion 1992–1994 -
Bart Brentjens : first Olympic champion in 1996, overall World Cup winner in 1994 and world champion in 1995 -
Miguel Martinez : Olympic and world champion 2000, overall world cup winner 1997 and 2000 and later road professional -
Michael Rasmussen : 1999 world champion and later road professional and then convicted of doping
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Cadel Evans : Overall World Cup winner in 1998 and 1999 and later road pro
Women
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July Furtado : World Champion 1990 and World Cup overall winner 1993–1995
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Ruthie Matthes : World Champion 1991 and World Cup overall winner 1992
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Paola Pezzo : Olympic champion 1996 and 2000, world champion 1993, overall world cup winner 1997 -
Alison Sydor : World Champion 1994 and 1995, World Cup overall winner 1998 and 1999 -
Margarita Fullana : World Champion 1999 and 2000
2001-2010
Men
-
Roland Green : two-time world champion in 2001 and 2002 and overall World Cup winner in 2001
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Filip Meirhaeghe : World Champion 2003 and World Cup Overall Winner 2002 -
Julien Absalon : Olympic champion 2004 and 2008, four-time world champion 2004–2007 and overall world cup winner 2003
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Christoph Sauser : World Champion 2008 and Marathon World Champion 2007/2013, two-time World Cup overall winner in 2004 and 2005
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José Hermida : World Champion 2010, European Champion 2002, 2004 and 2007
Women
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Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå : Olympic champion 2004, world champion 2002, 2004 to 2006, marathon world champion 2013, overall world cup winner 2003 to 2006 -
Sabine Spitz : Olympic Champion 2008, World Champion 2003, Vice World Champion 2007 and 2008 -
Irina Kalentieva : World Champion 2007 and 2009, Overall World Cup winner 2007 -
Elisabeth Osl : Overall World Cup winner 2009 -
Maja Włoszczowska : World Champion 2010, 2nd place Olympia 2008
2011-2015
Men
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Jaroslav Kulhavý : Olympic champion 2012, world champion and overall world cup winner 2011 -
Nino Schurter : World Champion 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019 and Overall World Cup Winner 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015, 2nd place Olympic 2012, Olympic Champion 2016
Women
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Julie Bresset : Olympic champion 2012, world champion 2012 and 2013, overall world cup winner 2011
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Catharine Pendrel : World Champion 2011, Overall World Cup winner 2010 and 2012
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Jolanda Neff : World Champion 2012, 2013, 2014, World Cup overall winner 2014, 2015