SNOWSHOE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The highly anticipated 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns to Snowshoe Mountain in Pocahontas County from September 27 to October 1.
This year’s event brings exciting changes to the World Series, featuring both the UCI World Cup Mountain Biking Downhill Series and the newly added Cross Country Marathon World Cup (XCM).
The Snowshoe penultimate round of the World Series kicks off on Wednesday, September 27, with a brand new race event for Snowshoe – the XCM. Spanning 62 miles through the Allegheny Mountains from Snowshoe to Durbin and back, this race will test riders’ endurance and skills along Snowshoe Mountain’s backcountry trails, which connect to the Mower Basin in the Monongahela National Forest. The Mower Tract, a nearly 20-mile mountain biking trail system spanning Pocahontas and Randolph Counties, adds to the challenge.
For the first time, Snowshoe will host the Marathon of Snowshoe, following the same course as the professionals, with race participants starting just minutes behind the elite riders. The Cross Country Short Track (XCC) races will be divided into two nights this year. Thursday night will feature the Under 23 category XCC, while Friday night will showcase the Elite category XCC. The Cross Country Olympic (XCO) race will occuron Sunday, with a new start/finish location on Skidder slope.
This marks the fourth return of the World Cup mountain biking event to Pocahontas County and Snowshoe Mountain, attracting some of the world’s top racers with its challenging features. “We are excited to welcome mountain biking enthusiasts to the 2023 UCI Mountain Biking World Series in Pocahontas County. With our challenging trails and beautiful landscapes, this event promises an unforgettable experience for both riders and spectators,” said Chelsea Faulknier, Executive Director of the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Pocahontas County is home to the first International Mountain Biking Association Ride Center™ in West Virginia and the second Silver Level Ride Center on the East Coast, the Snowshoe Highlands Ride Center, offering over 375 miles of mountain biking trails. The county’s vast public lands, including five state parks, two state forests and a significant portion of the Monongahela National Forest, create an unparalleled setting for mountain biking enthusiasts.
In addition to exceptional trails, Pocahontas County provides amenities for mountain bikers, such as bike rentals, self-repair stations, shuttles, restaurants, lodging and breweries.
For more information about the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Series, including event details, registration and accommodations, please visit pocahontascountywv.com.