Beyond the thrill of the ride
EventScotland
Scotland’s national agency for events. EventScotland sits within the VisitScotland Events Directorate.
This past weekend (3-5 May), Scotland once again welcomed the world’s best downhill mountain bikers at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series at Nevis Range.
The Nevis Range course is a pilgrimage for fans and more than 14,500 spectators, athletes, partners, volunteers, and staff attended throughout the weekend – with audiences making themselves heard throughout every training, practice and finals run the whole way down the 2.8km track.
Last year, it played host to the 2023 UCI Downhill World Championships, where Britain’s Charlie Hatton (Continental Atherton) and Austria’s Valentina H?ll (YT Mob) came away with the rainbow stripes for the first and second time respectively.?
In addition to Nevis Range hosting the Championships last year, some of the world’s best mountain bike riders tackled Glentress Forest’s famous terrain in the Mountain Bike Cross-country and Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon.
The skill, courage, focus and sheer speed which riders showcased this weekend, as they negotiated a succession of fast and technical passages against the clock was a thrilling watch both for spectators on the ground, and those tuning in to watch broadcast coverage.
This weekend saw Valentina H?ll (YT Mob) and Lo?c Bruni scored victories in the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Fort William. Meanwhile, Heather Wilson (Muc-Off Young Guns) gave the locals something to cheer for in the Women’s Juniors and Asa Vermette (Framework Racing) obliterated the competition despite breaking his pelvis five weeks ago.
The event was broadcast globally for the first time on Max, Eurosport and Discovery+ channel, offering the opportunity to bring the sport to a wider, more diverse global audience, and in turn potentially inspiring future visits.
This exposure generated through broadcast coverage is one of the most powerful branding vehicles we have – events such as these showcase our breathtaking scenery, our crowds, our iconic courses and indeed Scotland as a world-leading host destination.?
Beyond the rush of adrenaline, mountain bike events have evolved into much more than just a race. They offer the opportunity for people to come together to celebrate the spirit of adventure (some making it an annual pilgrimage in their calendars!); as well as inspiring improved health and well-being, stimulating innovation and being drivers for sustainability.
Mountain Bike events don’t just benefit the participant, and the spectator – they also provide a boost to local communities. ?To celebrate the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series returning to Fort William the community, supported by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS) and Warner Brothers Discovery Sports (WBD Sports) organised a community bike jam where the local community and visitors had the chance to ride the track and watch Red Bull sponsored athlete and Scottish BMX and mountain bike star Kriss Kyle put his own unique riding style onto the track.? This took place alongside a schools visit where circa 1,500 school children had the opportunity to see the event, meet riders, and hopefully be inspired to take up or continue cycling.
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Delivering longer term benefits for communities through the ‘Power of the Bike’ was at the forefront of Scotland hosting the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships .? Through a number of different funding opportunities, a range of activity aims to capitalise on the upsurge of interest in cycling by developing a network of accessible, inclusive and inspiring facilities that encourage people of all ages to ride bikes, including MTB trails.
In essence, mountain bike events go beyond the adrenaline rush, they serve as catalysts for positive change at both individual and community level, maintain momentum post the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and help to showcase Scotland as the perfect stage for events.
Background information
EventScotland has been a proud supporter of the event since 2003. The 2024 event was also supported by HIE and Highland Council.
Be inspired
Don't worry if you missed the event, there's lots of opportunities to plan your future stay via the information shared below:
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