I have only watched XC racing twice in my life, the first being during the women’s race in the Rio Olympics. While I found that race to be exciting, I must admit that this current course seems somewhat lackluster. Most of it takes place on a road, with only a few mild rock drops to break up the monotony.
Despite my concerns about the course, I don’t believe I have lost touch with mountain biking as a sport. However, I do worry that non-mountain bikers watching this race might mistakenly believe that this is all there is to the sport. While it may not be very appealing for them to pick it up, there are probably individuals who never ride their mountain bikes on dirt yet still consider themselves mountain bikers.
I don’t mean to belittle urban downhill mountain bike races. Each form of the sport has its own challenges and appeals to different types of riders. Whether you prefer the technical terrain of XC racing or the adrenaline rush of downhill racing, there is something for everyone in the world of mountain biking.
