This is a mass start event, where riders complete multiple laps of a pre-defined course.
Their ranking defines who gets to start on the front rows of the grid. They can still win from starting at the back of the grid but that would make it a lot more difficult.
The course will feature multiple climbs and descents and many technical sections – it would not be a surprise to see riders having to walk on occasion.
Races last just over an hour and the number of laps is decided by the race judges who assess the speed of the racing after two laps. At that point they calculate the number of laps needed to take the race to the necessary time allocation.
Riders to watch for in the women’s race include the Frenchwoman, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, returning champion Jolanda Neff, and fast-rising star Puck Pieterse. For the men’s race the main favourites are defending champion Tom Pidcock, the Methusaleh-esque Nino Schurter, and host-country rider VIctor Koretzky.
Key words to look out for include:
- Techy, short for technical
- Dropper post, which is a seat post that can reduce in size and drop down for tricky descents and allow for better control
- A- and B-Line, which is when there are two routes through a section. The A-Line is the quickest but everyone wants to go that way so it can get congested so riders can opt for the B-Line to make up some places and avoid the crowd.
The Women’s Mountain Bike will begin at 13.10BST on Sunday 28 July
The Men’s Mountain Bike will begin at 13.10BST on Monday 29 July
Both events will be followed by their medal ceremonies.
