BECOME A VOLUNTEER AT THE UCI MTB ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024
10 July 202407/06/2024 | Official Press Release
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery are pleased to announce that the first edition of the UCI Mountain Bike Enduro and E-enduro World Championships will take place this year in Val di Fassa Trentino, Italy, on 14 – 15 September.
It will be the first time that the UCI World Champion’s rainbow jersey will be awarded for these mountain bike formats, which made their debut at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 2023. Four titles will be at stake: Men Enduro, Women Enduro, Men E-enduro and Women E-enduro.
Val di Fassa Trentino has hosted top tier enduro racing since 2019, including an enduro round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series last year. The stages are based around the town of Canazei in the heart of the spectacular Italian Dolomites, a UNESCO heritage site that always evoke great emotions, home to one of the most iconic enduro trails in the world, the “Tutti Frutti”. Its views and incredible terrain are breathtaking for athletes and fans alike.
ENDURO & E-ENDURO, TWO KEY DISCIPLINE IN THE MOUNTAIN BIKING WORLD
The competitions in Enduro and E-enduro consist of several timed stages, predominantly downhill. With individual starts, the recorded times and stage wins are added up to decide the overall winner. Liaison stages for the riders to transition to the start of each stage (either by bike or with mechanical assistance) are included in the competitions. They are not timed, but riders must reach the start of each race stage within an allocated time.
Over the past decade, the discipline has evolved significantly, yet Val di Fassa has retained a strong character and clear identity, prioritizing environmental consciousness and honoring the sport’s origins. In Val di Fassa, riders can experience the authentic format of enduro racing, featuring lengthy and challenging descents and substantial elevation changes.
AN ACCLAIMED ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL INVOLVED PARTIES
UCI President David Lappartient said: “I am thrilled that the first Enduro and E-enduro UCI World Champions will be crowned in Val di Fassa Trentino, which hosted a very successful round of the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. This venue in the beautiful Italian Dolomites is already well-known to many international athletes, and we can only look forward to the first ever UCI Mountain Bike Enduro and E-enduro World Championships in this majestic setting.”
Maurizio Fugatti, President of the Autonomous Province of Trentino emphasizes the significance of hosting an international event of the caliber of the UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Championships for Trentino. He highlights that this additional high-level event “reaffirms Trentino’s sporting vocation and underscores the professionalism achieved by the organizers”.
“It is thanks to their dedication and the invaluable contribution of numerous volunteers that our Province can host such prestigious events, solidifying its reputation as the most physically active and sports-oriented Province in Italy.”
Roberto Failoni, Provincial Minister for Crafts, Trade, Tourism, Forests, Hunting, and Fishing for the Autonomous Province of Trentino recognizes that awarding the UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Championships to Val di Fassa, in Trentino, is “a well-deserved honor and a historic achievement for the Organizing Committee”.
“Having successfully hosted numerous international mountain bike events in the past, they are well-prepared for this prestigious occasion”. Wishing all participants the best for the competitions, he extends an invitation for everyone “to savor the breathtaking landscapes and exceptional hospitality that only the Dolomites and Trentino can offer”.
Cordiano Dagnoni, President of the FCI (Italian Cycling Federation), stated: “After hosting the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the UEC European Road Championships, as well as numerous stages of the Giro d’Italia, Trentino—particularly the iconic Val di Fassa—will now inaugurate the first UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Championships. This discipline has captivated enthusiasts with its versatility and spectacular nature. On behalf of the Italian cycling movement, I take pride in this achievement. It reaffirms our organizational capabilities and our clubs’ eagerness to embrace new challenges.”
William Basilico, head of the Local Organizing Committee, expressed his “pride at the opportunity to organize the inaugural UCI Mountain Bike Enduro and E-enduro World Championships”.
“There will be a lot of work ahead of us, but we are prepared for this new challenge,” he stated. He sees this as “a significant recognition for Italy and all Italian Enduro racing organizers for their decade-long dedication to the former Enduro World Series (EWS) and the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup”.
“The establishment of the new Grand Events Committee Val di Fassa marks a milestone, and we are committed to enhancing the organizational standards of our future events,” he added.
Maurizio Rossini, CEO of the Trentino Official Tourism Board / Trentino Marketing, agreed: “According to the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, Trentino is the most active province in Italy. Organizing the UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Championships is a significant achievement for us. Val di Fassa has already hosted rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, earning high praise for its organization and hospitality. This event highlights the exceptional organizational skills of our region and provides a unique opportunity for international media visibility.”
Fausto Lorenz, President of the local Tourism Board in Val di Fassa, expressed his satisfaction: “It is an honour and a privilege for Val di Fassa to host such a significant event in collaboration with the UCI and all the international and local stakeholders. Our region has grown immensely with enduro, building on the legacy of past experiences. Hosting the UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Championships is a reward and the culmination of our efforts and commitment over the years. We look forward cheering on the athletes and the cycling community involved in this important competition.”
Chris Ball, Vice President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: “We are incredibly proud to take on the challenge of promoting the first edition of the UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Championships. We are fully committed to leveraging our expertise and the resources deployed in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to support this discipline. Our pioneering and innovative spirit makes us the perfect partner for the UCI in this new project. Returning to Italy, where the public and private institutions, athletes, and people love mountain biking and always treat us so well, is a privilege“.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports has been appointed by the UCI as the organiser and promoter of the UCI Mountain Bike Enduro and E-enduro World Championships for its inaugural year. WBD Sports is a trusted partner of the UCI, responsible for the organisation, global broadcast, and promotion of the ground-breaking WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, where all major mountain bike formats have been unified in a single calendar for the first time.
