More than 120 mountain bikers, including the top 30 in the world rankings and over a dozen teams, have signed a statement condemning the decision of the international governing body UCI to reduce the number of podium places in Olympic cross-country (XCO) events from five to three riders in the World Championships (UCI Mountain Bike World Series).
The five-rider podium has been a long-standing exception at World Championships, dating back to 1994, when 17-year-old junior Cadel Evans finished 5th in the elite class at the Cairns World Championships, causing such joy and surprise among the organizers that they decided to add two more places to the podium. It became a tradition.
"This podium is a unique symbol of mountain biking, which has given countless riders and teams more visibility and opportunities. It has been a breakthrough point for many athletes and provided additional opportunities for smaller teams," the statement said.
The signatories also include 2024 Olympic champions Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, world champions Puck Pieterse and Alan Hatherly, and Nino Schurter, who has won nine overall World Championships and ten World Championships.
"In our sport, competing for a podium finish has always meant finishing in the top five. It has given depth and value to the sport, allowed more riders to get noticed, and added value to the athletes, teams, sponsors, and brands that are the backbone of professional mountain biking," the statement said.
Teams are already under great pressure as costs rise and finding sponsors becomes increasingly difficult – as evidenced by the decrease in the number of mountain bike teams registered with the UCI by more than a third this season.
The five-man elite XCO podium has provided additional opportunities for sponsors and increased rider visibility, and has been part of a sport that has endured many changes and was also enshrined in the UCI rules. However, the UCI and Warner Bros. Discovery – who will be the UCI’s partner for 2023-2030 – have announced that changes will be introduced for live broadcast, advertising and marketing purposes, effective from 2025.
The new season of the World Cup begins this weekend in Araxa, Brazil.
