Olympic Course

[Zoiders]

You see equating it with a road race is the first mistake.

This is why the likes of British Cycling are so bad at this kind of thing - somehow they have managed to sell them self as being an authority on a sport they know very little about.

Make it a linear route or a much bigger loop in a wilderness area with a far more enduro racing orientated theme, think rally stage - not a velodrome made from gravel. One of the reasons there is so little uptake for the event is because they recruit and select in the wrong places.

 

[dellzeqq]

I'll try! The key to understanding the cross country mtb race is in the name - it's a race! Therefore there has to be some scope in the course for tactics which include overtaking, pacing, recovery, attacks, route choice, etc. For years, lots of mtb racing has been a sprint for the first stretch of single track and then a processional time trial to the end with not much change of place.
................This course is the latest attempt to make an event that is both interesting to watch (live and on TV) and interesting to be in as a RACE.

thanks, Tim.

 

[Cubist]

It's been built in an open space for better media coverage, no doubt. It's difficult to see the action in a wooded area.

Here is the article on stw:
http://www.singletra...olympic-course/

There is the usual predictable arrogance on this thread the type of which has made me leave mountain bike forums well behind. It's sad to see that it has migrated onto here too.

This!