What is the World Championships?
Fort William has already hosted annual World Cups since 2002. What’s the difference with a World Championships?
The World Cup is part of a series of up to 8 events taking place throughout the World, from April to September whereas the World Championships is a one-off event when World Champions are decided in 19 separate events.
At a World Cup, riders can compete as individuals, for factory teams or for their National Teams and there are few restrictions on entry. At the World Championships it is only National Cycling Associations that can enter riders and each National association has a quota of entries depending on their ranking in the discipline.
It is the most important single event in the annual mountain bike calendar (although in an Olympic year, the XC event is pretty important).
What disciplines?
This is where all the mountain bike and trials disciplines come together. The Olympic discipline of Cross Country (XC) boasts some of the fittest athletes on the planet, whilst the Gravity disciplines of Downhill (DH) and 4-Cross (4X) showcase amazing levels of speed, power and bike control.
For the highest level of pure bike handling skill and athleticism, the Trials (TR) competitors are the ones to watch. At Fort William you can see them all.
In total there will be 19 World Champions crowned in 4 separate disciplines, over 6 days of competition.
Who is coming?
Pretty much everyone who is competing at the highest level will be there. Famous names and Olympic Champions already known from the World Cups will be joined by the stars of the future as everyone looks for that one ride that will give them the coveted World Champion title.
We expect about 750 competitors from around 50 nations
See the list of participating nations here. (List available in August).
Who can compete?
Only National Cycling Associations can enter an official team, with team numbers based on a set quota in each discipline. Many Associations also have selection criteria to establish a minimum performance standard for their competitors.
British riders should contact British Cycling for further information.
Website:
Can I ride the World Championships courses?
Most of the Downhill course is open to the public, although there will be some sections only used for the World Championships.
The course is open for public riding from May 15. It will be closed from Tuesday 28 August. It is hoped that the course will re-open after mid-day on Monday 10 September. This will depend on the amount of repair work required to the course following the World Championships.
Please check with Nevis Range for accurate opening times.
Telephone: 01397 705825
Website:
The Forestry Commission XC course is part of the extensive Witch's Trail network in the Leanachan Forest. It is also open to the public, but some sections will be used for the World Championships only. The World Championships course will be closed from Tuesday 28 August to Sunday 9 September. It will re-open on Monday 10 September (to be confirmed).
The 4X course is open to the public but will be closed from Tuesday 28 August to Sunday 9 September. It will re-open on Monday 10 September (to be confirmed).
What is Fort William’s history?
Ever since man first put a knobbly tyre on a bike, Scotland and Fort William were destined to deliver great mountain biking. Fantastic terrain, lots of natural trails and enlightened land access laws set the scene and then in 2001 the Forestry Commission started to develop some of the best single track trail centres in the World.
At the same time the Nevis Range ski area built a downhill trail under its mountain gondola system and hosted its first UCI Downhill World Cup and the first ever 4X World Cup in 2002. In 2003 it added a Cross Country World Cup and since then has become one of the classic events on the World Cup tour.
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