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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Discover all the events for the 2008 season!
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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Discover all the events for the 2008 season!
Individual time-trial race on a descending course riddled with obstacles. The highly technical course must emphasize the speed/riding skills parameters. Equipment technological evolution (dual-suspension frame, disk brakes, composite materials…) requires significant budget. For this reason, it was necessary to have 3 separate categories in order to promote the discipline: the Sport category (rigid frame with front suspension), the Stock category (dual suspension frame with limited travel), the Pro category (no equipment restriction). Riders’ mandatory equipment includes a full single-piece helmet, knee and elbow protection, back protection, full gloves and long sleeves.
This new discipline, a UCI initiative, aims to be spectacular and media-friendly. On a descending course with jumps, bumps, sharp curves and slants of about 30s to 50s, riders start with an individual Downhill qualification before competing in foursomes based on the time-trial results. The first two of each run qualify for the next round and so on till the runner-up final and the final rounds. Riders eliminated in quarterfinals are ranked from 9th to 16th position. Required skills are: start quality, crossing of obstacles, trajectories and direct confrontation with the other riders.
It is the mountain biking discipline represented in the Olympic Games. It is a discipline of endurance that can be more or less long from one category to another (up to 2h in the elite category). The ground configuration diversity along the course should allow the riders to put forward their technical skills (steering, crossing…) as well as their physical skills (effort management with pace variations). Courses comply with the following specifications: lap length nearing 10 km. Riders complete the course in full autonomy (no external help). Rankings are determined by the time of each rider.
The trial event consists of crossing zones (either natural or artificial) that require balance and mastery of the bike with only the wheels being in contact with the ground or any object on the course (penalty system). Crossing difficulty level depends on the category (Elite, Expert, National…). The course is made up of 6 natural or artificial zones (1 lap) linked by an “interzone” to be completed 3 times on a mountain bike (26-inch wheels). Rankings are based on the total penalty points, the rider with the fewest points finishing first.