Tokyo Olympics mountain biking: Everything you need to know about the off-road events
Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock, and Evie Richards amongst those fighting for medals
For cycling fans the Tokyo Olympics features countless highlights across disciplines, including the start-studded mountain biking events.
The delayed 2020 Olympics in Japan (now taking place in 2021) will feature both women’s and men’s cross-country MTB events, with familiar names lining up in both.
In the men’s event, the start list will feature stars of the road like Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock, along with mountain bike specialists like reigning Olympic champion Nino Schurter.
The women’s competition will also feature huge-talents in the off road discipline, including Evie Richards, Kate Courtney and Jolanda Neff.
Here is everything you need to know about the Tokyo Olympics MTB events:
When is the Olympic mountain biking?
The men’s MTB event takes place on Monday, July 26 and starts at 7pm Japan time (7am British time, 1am EST in the US), followed by the women’s event on Tuesday, July 27, from 7pm Japan time (7am British time and 1am EST in the US).
The course
The Izu MTB Course will be a 4km lap, featuring around 180 metres of elevation gain per lap, featuring some technical rocky sections. The number of laps riders will tackle has not yet been determined, but is expected to be between seven to nine loops.
Who is riding?
The men’s event will feature some serious talent, including the reigning Olympic gold medalist and multiple world champion Nino Schurter (Switzerland), but he will not be the favourite heading into the race.
Instead the top-three bookies’s favourites are Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands), Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) and Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland).
Earlier this year, Pidcock claimed his first elite World Cup victory on the mountain bike in Nove Mesto, after riding away from Van der Poel.
Meanwhile Van der Poel, who is always dominant in World Cup short track events, took his first win at Val di Sole back in 2019 and has been focussed on Olympic gold for much of the 2021 season.
>>> Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games cycling schedule: when to watch the racing
In the women’s event, Jenny Rissveds (Sweden) is the reigning gold medallist but is not amongst the favourites for victory.
Instead the French duo of Loana Lecompte and Pauline Ferrand Prevot are among the favourites, with Evie Richards (Great Britain) also a serious contender.
Team GB: Tom Pidcock, Evie Richards
US team: Kate Courtney, Haley Batten, Erin Huck Christopher Blevins
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
Shimano GRX 12 speed reviewed: Shimano shows just how good mechanical shifting can be but is it enough?
We reviewed Shimano's mechanical 12-speed GRX gravel groupset. We were impressed with the performance but would like to see more.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Tweets of the week: Visma-Lease a Bike are fed up, Mathieu van der Poel's mullet, and a Mark Cavendish costume
It's 2024, time to stop calling them Jumbo
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Visma-Lease a Bike are fed up, Mathieu van der Poel's mullet, and a Mark Cavendish costume
It's 2024, time to stop calling them Jumbo
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel not intimidated by Tadej Pogačar’s form ahead of Milan-San Remo clash
Dutchman starts his 2024 road season at Italian Monument on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tough new Strade Bianche course 'tips the scales' in favour of climbers, Matej Mohorič says
Slovenian says adjustments to the route will make race a 'journey into the unknown’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It doesn’t change anything’ - Tom Pidcock’s coach on Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Kurt Bogaerts says the pressure is off for Pidcock as he looks to defend the title he emphatically won last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Five things we learned from Opening Weekend: SD Worx are beatable, while Quick-Step still a way from Classics form
A recap on what we know now that Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne are out of the way
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock says he’s ‘strong and fit’ and ready to go ahead of Opening Weekend
Pidcock set to lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Is it time for Mathieu van der Poel to solely focus on the road?
A sixth cyclo-cross world title seemed easy for the Dutchman. Does he have anything left to prove in the sand and the mud?
By Adam Becket Published