Warner Bros Discovery and the UCI have released the 2023 racing calendar and their vision for the next eight years of EWS and World Cup mountain bike racing. The calendars will see racing across the globe at some fresh locations and some of the foundation locations of racing. Here’s the bottom line….
It’s not news for most of us that Discovery have taken over broadcasting rights for the EWS and UCI World cup events for the next 8 years. It has however been tight lipped about what that actually meant for the event calendars and racing in general. With the latest press release from the UCI and Warner Bros, the calendar has been clarified and so has their vision….to some degree.
The EWS, DH and XCO / XCC World Cups have all been amalgamated under one calendar as a means to unite the disciplines. This seems to be the start of the future plans, but whilst the calendar is said to be amalgamated there still appears to be separate calendars within the one larger vision – with two locations hosting all disciplines, France and Leogang, Austria.
“Calendar classics sprinkled with some new venues – 2023 is going to be an incredibly exciting first step towards our long term plans for mountain bike racing worldwide.”
Chris Ball CEO OF ESO SPORTS
2023 Enduro World Series Calendar
25-26 March – Maydena, Tasmania
1-2 April – Derby, Tasmania
3-4 June – Finale Ligure, Italy
15-18 June – Leogang, Austria
24-25 June – Val di Fassa, Italy
1-3 September – TBC, France
7-17 September – TBC, France
TBC – Whistler, Canada
2023 World Cup DHI Calendar
9-11 June – Lenzerheide, Switzerland
15-18 June – Leogang, Austria
30 June-2 July – Val di Sole, Italy
3- 13 August – World Championships, Fort William, Scotland
23-27 August – Vallnord, Andorra
1-3 September – TBC, France
7-17 September – TBC, France
28 September-1 October – Snowshoe USA
6-8 October – Mont-Sainte-Anne
2023 World Cup XCO / XCC Calendar
5-7 May – Valkenburg, Netherlands
12-14 May – Nove Mesto, Czech Republic
9-11 June – Lenzerheide, Switzerland
15-18 June – Leogang, Austria
30 June-2 July – Val di Sole, Italy
August – World Champs, Glentress, Scotland
23-27 August – Vallnord, Andorra
7-17 Septemebr – TBC, France
28 September-1 October – Snowshoe USA
6-8 October – Mont-Sainte-Anne
“I am elated by our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, which will take our UCI Mountain Bike World Cup to the next level. Discovery Sports Events has already worked wonders with track cycling – thanks to the innovative UCI Track Champions League – and I know that the exciting discipline of mountain bike will also benefit from their expertise, their in-depth understanding of the expectations of athletes and fans, and the increased exposure that this partnership will bring. Mountain bike will get the impetus it deserves as we work together for the future of this vast and varied discipline.”
David Lappartient, UCI President
This will mean the end of Red Bull TV’s coverage of the racing and the start of a new era, one that we all hope will be a step in the right direction. Sadly we may see some of our favourite commentators not move across to the new coverage as they are still contracted to Red Bull. Will it be the same without Rob Warner?