Mountain Biking Events To Look Forward To In 2023

Now we’re coming out of the long winter months and are looking forward to some spring and summer mountain biking, let’s take a look at some of the best mountain biking events we can watch this year. 

UCI Mountain Bike World Series

The UCI Mountain Bike World Series, otherwise known as the ‘Mountain Bike World Cup’ is the pinnacle of Mountain Biking for Downhill, XC and Enduro. In a glamorous fashion (as glamorous as mountain biking can be at least…) the teams tour the world from Australia to Europe and North America. The events always draw massive crowds and are televised. In a shake up to previous years, there is no Fort William (Scotland) this year and only one US stop (Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia). Another shake up, bordering on scandal, is the fact that Red Bull TV is no longer the TV partner and Rob Warner won’t be presenting. 

The dates for your diary are:

• Maydena, Australia, March 25-26
• Derby, Australia, March 31-April 1
• Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic, May 11-14
• Finale Outdoor Region, Italy, May 2-4
• Lenzerheide, Switzerland, June 8-11
• Leogang, Austria, June 15-18
• Val di Fassa Trentino, Italy, June 24-25
• Val di Sole Trentino, Italy, June 29-July 2
• Pal Arinsal, Italy, July 24-27
• Loudenvielle – Peyragudes, France, August 24-27
• Les Portes du Soleil, France, September 1-3
• Snowshoe, USA, September 7-17
• Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, September 27-October 1

The Crankworx World Tour

The Crankworx World Tour is a series of events that take place in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. Crankworx events feature a variety of mountain bike disciplines, including downhill, cross-country, slopestyle, and more. However, Crankworx is ultimately best known for for slopestyle – Crankworx is the pinnacle for all of the slopestyle riders and brings in crowds like no other mountain bike events. The ultimate goal of Crankworx slopestyle is the triple crown – when you win all three (now four) stops of the World Tour – a feat that has only been achieved twice. Emil Johansson managed to do just that in 2022 and was looking amazing on his bike. 

• Crankworx Rotorua, New Zealand – March 18-26
• Crankworx Cairns – May 17-21
• Crankworx Innsbruck, Austria – June 21-25
• Crankworx Whistler, Canada – July 21-30

Red Bull Rampage 

Red Bull Rampage is a freeride mountain biking event that takes place in Virgin, Utah. The Rampage is considered to be one of the most prestigious mountain bike events in the world – mostly due to it’s unique format, stunning scenery and crazy (and we mean crazy!) riding. The format is a build and ride format – this means each rider has a build team (usually two or three other people) and a week to build the trails they’re going to ride. This allows the riders and builders to show their creativity in the build as well as the riding. The natural features of the dessert around Utah mean there are lots of cliff drops and gnarly chutes. Rampage 2022 was won by veteran Canadian Brett Rheeder – can he do it again in 2023?

• Date: Unknown. Last year was 21st October, so expect to be around then

Red Bull Hardline

Another Red Bull event and another event that really reminds us mere mortals just how exceptional the pro riders are. Hardline is the brainchild of the Athertons – Britain’s family of downhill racing legends – they essentially created the worlds hardest downhill track on the side of a mountain in Wales. Jumps over 90ft, massive road gaps, flat out speed and super technical tracks… all coming at a rider within a couple of minutes. Jackson Goldstone blew everyone’s minds with his first attempt at Hardline by winning by a big margin. Bernard Kerr is a fan favourite at Hardline and always one to watch. 

• Dyfi Valley, Machynlleth, United Kingdom. 15 – 16 July 2023