2015 UCI MTB World Cup Calendar Announced

The 2015 Mountain Bike World Cup schedule has been released by the UCI with nine rounds confirmed for next year.

There will be seven rounds in Downhill (DH) and six for Cross-Country (XCO), with two new locations appearing on the World Cup calendar for 2015.

The first of the new destinations, Lourdes in France, will have the have the honour of opening the season next April, with the downhill racers kicking-off the World Cup action.

Lenzerheide in Switzerland is the other first time venue for 2015 and will host both DH and XCO racing on July 4 and July 5. The first round of the XCO World Cup begins with racing at Nové Město na Moravě on May 23 and May 24, before moving to Albstadt the next weekend.

The DH courses at Fort William and Leogang continue their regular appearances on the World Cup schedule, with the action taking place on consecutive weekends in June, while North America mainstays Mont-Sainte-Anne and Windham host both DH and XCO racing in August.

Val di Sole in Italy will see the finale of the World Cup season with the overall winners in both DH and XCO being decided there.

The Cross-Country Eliminator disappears from the World Cup schedule for 2015 but will still be part of the World Championships.

Check out the full schedule below.

2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup calendar

DHI #1: Lourdes (France) – April 11-12
XCO #1: Nové Město na Moravě (Czech Republic) – May 23-24
XCO #2: Albstadt (Germany) – May 30-31
DHI #2: Fort William (Great Britain) – June 6-7
DHI #3: Leogang (Austria) – June 13-14
XCO #3/DHI #4: Lenzerheide (Switzerland) – July 4-5
XCO #4/DHI #5: Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada) – August 1-2
XCO #5/DHI #6: Windham (United States) –  August 8-9
XCO #6/DHI #7: Val di Sole (Italy) – August 22-23

2013 UCI World Cup Round 1 Fort William Qualifying Results

Junior Men's Qualifying Results

1	VERNON Taylor°	GBR19960912	GT FACTORY RACING	4:54.689
2	NIEDERBERGER Noel°	SUI19950821	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+2.427
3	VERGIER Loris°	FRA19960507	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+3.291
4	JONES Michael°	GBR19950222	FMD RACING / INTENSE CYCLES	+4.603
5	LUCAS Dean°	AUS19950502	AUSTRALIA	+6.677
6	SHAW Luca°	USA19961225	SPECIALIZED RACING DH	+8.041
7	WALLACE Mark°	CAN19950601	DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING	+9.603
8	KNOTT Peter°	AUS19950616	AUSTRALIA	+10.044
9	BLAIR Lachlan°	GBR19951013	GREAT BRITAIN	+11.702
10	VERNASSA Gianluca°	ITA19950904	DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING	+13.100
11	COLOMBO Francesco°	ITA19951209	TEAM AIROH AXO SANTACRUZ	+14.963
12	VARLEY Aiden°	AUS19960816	AUSTRALIA	+15.999
13	CRIMMINS Thomas°	AUS19950624	AUSTRALIA	+16.690
14	McCORMACK Stephen°	IRL19951028	IRELAND	+18.917
15	PIERRON Amaury°	FRA19960304	FRANCE	+19.182

Women's Qualifying Results

1	ATHERTON Rachel	GBR19871206	GT FACTORY RACING	5:13.738
2	RAGOT Emmeline	FRA19860527	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+6.129
3	CARPENTER Manon	GBR19930311	MADISON SARACEN DOWNHILL TEAM	+9.436
4	PUGIN Floriane	FRA19890417	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+13.920
5	CHARRE Morgane	FRA19900609	MS MONDRAKER TEAM	+17.062
6	KINTNER Jill	USA19811024	TEAM NORCO INTERNATIONAL	+17.845
7	NICOLE Myriam	FRA19900208	COMMENCAL / RIDING ADDICTION	+18.145
8	HANNAH Tracey	AUS19880613	HUTCHINSON UR	+21.375
9	SEAGRAVE Tahnee°	GBR19950615	FMD RACING / INTENSE CYCLES	+30.891
10	GATTO Micayla	CAN19880821		+30.978
11	GRIFFITHS Fionn	GBR19820827		+33.249
12	SUEMASA Mio	JPN19830401		+34.637
13	CERNILOGAR Zarja	SLO19891218	BLACKTHORN GT	+36.493
14	AGER-WICK Anita	NOR19780831		+37.515
15	BROWN Casey	CAN19901027	DIRT NORCO RACE TEAM	+38.393

Men's Qualifying Results

1	HART Danny	GBR19910920	GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM	4:41.094
2	ATHERTON Gee	GBR19850226	GT FACTORY RACING	+0.176
3	BLENKINSOP Samuel	NZL19881028	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+1.181
4	HANNAH Michael	AUS19831121	HUTCHINSON UR	+3.817
5	SMITH Steve	CAN19891125	DEVINCI GLOBAL RACING	+4.099
6	MACDONALD Brook	NZL19911125	TREK WORLD RACING	+4.312
7	BRUNI Loic	FRA19940513	LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC	+5.414
8	HILL Samuel	AUS19850721	CHAIN REACTION CYCLES.COM / NUKEPROOF	+6.541
9	SMITH Joseph	GBR19900704	CHAIN REACTION CYCLES.COM / NUKEPROOF	+7.579
10	NEETHLING Andrew	RSA19840805	GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM	+7.631
11	HEATH Harry	GBR19910805		+7.960
12	MINNAAR Greg	RSA19811113	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	+8.218
13	BROSNAN Troy	AUS19930713	SPECIALIZED RACING DH	+8.422
14	GWIN Aaron	USA19871224	SPECIALIZED RACING DH	+8.838
15	DALE Sam	GBR19900212	MADISON SARACEN DOWNHILL TEAM	+9.723
16	COLE Cameron	NZL19880203	YETI FOX SHOX FACTORY RACE TEAM	+9.803
17	GUTIERREZ VILLEGAS Marcelo	COL19900509	GIANT FACTORY OFF-ROAD TEAM	+9.977
18	DELFS Mitchell	AUS19890725	EVIL VENGEANCE TOUR	+10.253
19	BUCHANAN Lewis	GBR19930927	SC INTENSE	+10.405
20	MULALLY Neko	USA19930219	TREK WORLD RACING	+10.881
21	PEAT Steve	GBR19740617	SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE	+11.715
22	FAIRCLOUGH Brendan	GBR19880110	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+11.800
23	SIMMONDS Matthew	GBR19870520	CHAIN REACTION CYCLES.COM / NUKEPROOF	+11.813
24	FERREIRO PAJUELO Antonio	ESP19900103	EVIL VENGEANCE TOUR	+12.014
25	CATHRO Ben	GBR19880420		+12.276
26	WILLIAMSON Greg	GBR19920608	TREK WORLD RACING	+12.299
27	BRANNIGAN George	NZL19920409	TREK WORLD RACING	+12.356
28	THIRION Rémi	FRA19900423	COMMENCAL / RIDING ADDICTION	+12.717
29	WALLNER Robin	SWE19880704	TEAM W-RACING	+12.803
30	GIORDANENGO Aurélien	FRA19880422	TOPCYCLE BY TREK	+12.816
31	FEARON Connor	AUS19940119	KONA	+13.028
32	STROBEL Luke	USA19860624	EVIL VENGEANCE TOUR	+13.687
33	REID Ben	IRL19860324	DIRT NORCO RACE TEAM	+13.776
34	SUDING Lorenzo	ITA19860315	GT / 360 DEGREES	+13.857
35	FISCHBACH Johannes	GER19880304	RRP GHOST	+14.200
36	THOME Patrick	FRA19911020	GSTAAD-SCOTT	+14.208
37	FIGARET Faustin	FRA19931107	TOPCYCLE BY TREK	+14.483
38	CAUVIN Guillaume	FRA19940521	HUTCHINSON UR	+14.492
39	MEARS Scott	GBR19890206		+14.694
40	ATKINSON Bryn	AUS19821209	TEAM NORCO INTERNATIONAL	+14.843
41	BEAUMONT Marc	GBR19840925	GT FACTORY RACING	+15.227
42	McGLINCHEY Christopher	IRL19940331		+15.386
43	di PASQUALE Charly	FRA19900704		+15.648
44	RUDE JR Richard°	USA19950101	YETI FOX SHOX FACTORY RACE TEAM	+15.955
45	GRAVES Jared	AUS19821216	YETI FOX SHOX FACTORY RACE TEAM	+15.974
46	POTTER Reece	NZL19940107		+16.345
47	RUFFIN Thibaut	FRA19841030	COMMENCAL / RIDING ADDICTION	+16.424
48	BINGGELI Logan	USA19890827		+16.430
49	BEER Matthew	CAN19860926		+16.461
50	McGLONE Fraser	GBR19940531		+16.938

2012 Val d'Isere UCI WC Qualifying Results

2012 Val d'Isere World Cup Men's Qualifying Results

2012 Val d'Isere World Cup Women's Qualifying Results

2013 UCI World Cup Schedule

• June 8-9 Fort William, UK
• June 15-16 Willingen, Germany 
• July 27-28 Val Di Sole, Italy
• August 3-4 Vallnord, Andorra
• August 10-11 Mont Sainte Anne, Canada
• September 14-15 Hafjell, Norway
• September 21-22 Leogang, Austria

World Championships

• Aug 26 - Sep 1 PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Aaron Gwin Wins 2012 Mont Sainte Anne World Cup

For the second year in a row, Aaron Gwin has won the World Cup at Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, the track where he made his dramatic debut in 2008. Team mate Justin Leov scored his first top 10 of the year after qualifying 5th, and Neko Mulally walks away from a horrific crash that had his family and the team looking on with great concern.

Certainly a day of action and drama for the team, but there is little that can be taken away from Aaron Gwin in yet another display or pure talent and determination on one of the world's toughest courses. Last year both he and main rival Greg Minnaar crashed in their final runs, but Aaron's was less costly in time. This year a couple of small errors saw his opening leading of 2.9secs whittled down to 1.3secs at the finish line, but enough to take his 3rd win of the season, and extend his World Cup lead over Greg Minnaar to 135 points.

Interestingly in the last 11 World Cups (7 in 2011 and 4 so far this year) there have only been two winners, Aaron with 8 and Greg with 3. Historically, Aaron now holds the record for the best percentage winning streak having won 8 of 11 consecutive races (previous best was Nicolas Vouilloz with 7 from 10 consecutive).

Aaron said: "It's always special to win a World Cup but this venue holds a special place in my heart. The pressure was on today as I knew Greg would step it up and he's had his fair share of success over the years here. The course has some sections which feel almost designed for me, I love them, and I know if I hadn’t made those two small errors in the lower half of the course I would have sc ored a better time, but hey, I'll take it!"

For Justin it was great to have the speed here this week and after qualifying 5th he was sure he could score his best result of the 2012 World Cup season, ideally a podium. His race run was for the most part going really well, especially the first half, but then in a couple of sections Justin lost a little time by riding conservatively.

Justin said: "Moving on up, which is always a good feeling, my rank is now 11th overall so that's good. I just felt in a couple of sections that I was just doing enough to get through them rather than pinning it, but what I've learned this week I'll take to Windham ."

Neko Mulally, after qualifying in a solid 17th place was on target to have another top 20 result when he had a terrible crash caught live on the broadcast. Fortunately we can report that after on site treatment by the medical staff, Neko has walked away without broken bones, and is suffering a mild concussion. He will be under observation for the next 48hrs but is expected to make a speedy recovery.