The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is set to kick off in Mairipora, Brazil after a six-month wait. The race is expected to have a carnival atmosphere, similar to the 2022 season opener in Petropolis, with passionate local fans lining the course and creating a Latin American buzz. Mairipora, located an hour north of Sao Paulo, has hosted high-level cross-country races since 2019 and will be the venue for the first of a Brazilian doubleheader in the series.
After Mairipora, the action moves to the mountainous Minas Gerais region’s Araxa for round two of the series. The Mairipora course is designed to promote close racing and overtaking, setting the stage for exciting competitions in the UCI Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) races. Some top contenders to watch out for in the women’s field include Mona Mitterwallner and Loana Lecomte, while Nino Schurter remains a force to be reckoned with in the men’s category.
Certain riders, such as Puck Pieterse and Tom Pidcock, have opted to focus on road cycling instead of participating in the mountain bike World Series. Despite the absence of local favorite Henrique Avancini, who retired recently, the Caloi Henrique Avancini team is filled with Brazilian talent eager to make an impact on the world stage. With Pieterse missing, riders like Alessandra Keller and Evie Richards have the opportunity to establish themselves early in the women’s competition, while Victor Koretzky will be looking to continue his winning streak in the men’s field.
Fans can catch all the action from the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Series live and on-demand on platforms such as discovery+, the Eurosport app, and eurosport.com. The series promises to be an exciting showcase of talent and competition as riders from around the world battle it out on the challenging courses in Brazil. With new venues and familiar faces in the mix, the season opener in Mairipora is just the beginning of what is sure to be a thrilling season of mountain bike racing at the highest level.
