Located on the mountain slopes north of Quebec City, Mont Sainte-Anne is a veritable Eldorado for mountain bikers. Every year, it becomes the epicenter of a Mountain Bike World Cup stage, attracting the world's best mountain bikers for an iconic event. The elite of downhill, Olympic cross-country and short cross-country will meet from October 5 to 9 this year 2023, here's a glimpse of what's in store.
The Mountain Bike World Cup at Mont Sainte-Anne is a world-renowned competition held on the demanding and varied trails of this mountainous region. Every year, the world's best riders and a host of enthusiasts gather for this spectacular event, which is an integral part of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Cup calendar.
One of Mont Sainte-Anne's most outstanding features is its varied trail network, which offers everything from fast downhill runs to short, arduous climbs and technical sections, providing quality courses for the different events (downhill, Olympic cross-country and short cross-country). The diversity of the trails makes Mont Sainte-Anne an ideal playground for World Cup racers, and you can find out more about this year's courses here:
With its return to the circuit two years ago, Mont Sainte-Anne has become the longest-running mountain bike World Cup stage (28th World Cup passage here). It's not for nothing that the course has been acclaimed so many times. Once again this year, the organizers have prepared something to push athletes to the limit: almost 3km of racing, a bit less than 600 metres of vertical drop for a descent estimated to take 4 minutes at an average speed of 40 km/h. Beyond the numbers, the track includes a number of obstacles that require a high degree of technical mastery.
In 2022, the team in charge of modifications had decided to add a brand-new forest section (#2), refurbish "The Highway to Hell" and reinstate the "Steve Smith Drop", a 6-meter-high jump off the bend. "Les Dalles" also makes a comeback, a highly complex section littered with boulders, before arriving on "Welcome to the rock". In short, there's plenty to keep riders under pressure throughout the entire descent, right up to the aptly named 12-meter-long "Final Jump".
In XCO, athletes will have to cover a 3.60km hilly track. Since 2022, a number of changes have been made: the "S-école", "La perdrix" and "La Scottish" sections are making a comeback, while "La montée du Ruisseau" will be extended. For the starters, the organization has withdrawn "La Patriote", "l'Enfer de Sainte-Anne", "La Germaine" and "La Béatrice". Runners will repeat the course several times, for an estimated finish time of between 1h30 and 1h45.
The 1.15 km course has undergone a complete makeover. Starting with the 2022 edition, the organizers have opted for an ultra-fast race that will encourage cyclists to stay together until the finish. At the foot of Mont-Sainte-Anne, spectators will be able to watch the final on October 6 from 4.30pm.
For all people, the World Cup event at Mont Sainte-Anne is an experience for everyone. You can come along to watch the competition, cheer on the riders and experience the excitement of the event live. The friendly atmosphere makes it a memorable experience for spectators of all ages. For exact dates, times and accommodation options, please visit the official event website.
Whether you're a mountain bike enthusiast or simply want to experience the thrill of competition, this Mountain Bike World Cup event at Mont Sainte-Anne offers a unique experience in an exceptional natural setting. Join the thousands of enthusiasts who will be there to celebrate mountain biking and support the elite athletes at this event!
And if you're dreaming of the performances of the best mountain bikers, store for your mountain bike in our online boutique ;)
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