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September 22/11 12:09 pm - 4-Cross Dropped From MTB World Cup, Windham Remains on Calendar


Posted by Editoress on 09/22/11
 

Four-cross has been dropped from the Mountain Bike World Cup, beginning next season.  The UCI slipped it in quietly as part of their announcement on the 2012 calendar, with no official notification that it was being dropped other than the lack of any events listed in the official calendar that was approved by the Management Committee yesterday.  A backhanded reference was made in today's release that the event will stay on the world championship program.  The complete calendar appears below.

The decision does not come as a huge surprise - dwindling participation, teams and sponsors all contributed to its downfall, as did the significant cost to organizers of building a temporary track for an event that lasted less than two hours from start to finish.  Tracks could cost upwards of $100,000 and usually had to be dismantled afterwards, since they were built on ski hills.  The event also saw many top riders drop out this year (and likely next) to prepare for the BMX competition at the Olympics.

This does not mean the complete removal of head-to-head heats competition, since the introduction of the Eliminator at three World Cups next year will provide an opportunity for riders in this type of short course, spectator-friendly event.

The only U.S. stop on the World Cup calendar - Windham, New York - looks like it will return, despite concerns over finances and the recent hurricane damage, both of which delayed confirmation of the event by approximately three months

 

2012 UCI MTB Calendar

World Cup
March 17-18 Pietermaritzburg (RSA) XCO/DHI
April 14-15 Houffalize (Bel) XCO/XCE
May 12-13 Nove Mesto na Morave (Cze) XCO/XCE
May 19-20 La Bresse (Fra) XCO/XCE
June 2-3 Val di Sole (Ita) DHI
June 9-10 Fort William (GBr) DHI
June 23-24 Mont-Sainte-Anne (Can) XCO/DHI
June 30-July 1 Windham (USA ) XCO/DHI
July 28-29 Val d'Isère (Fra) XCO/DHI
September 15-16 Hafjell (Nor) DHI
 
Olympic Games
August 11-12 London (GBr)
 
World Championships
August 31 - September 2 Leogang (Aut) DHI/4X
September 5 - September 9 Saalfelden (Aut) XCO/XCE
September 22-23 Ornans (Fra) XCM
 
Designated National championships dates
July 21-22 XCO, DHI, 4X
September 22-23 XCM


UCI Calendar

 

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