After announcing extensive World Cup rule changes, including incorporating enduro and cross country marathon into the same structure, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is doing a major rebranding of its mountain bike series. The mountain bike World Cup is now the mountain bike World Series.
Along with the name change, UCI and Warner Bros Discovery finally shared how fans will be able to watch this “new” series. There are more clues as to what coverage will look like for different disciplines and hints at where Canadians will be able to watch live. Or, live-ish, at least.
World Cup or World Series?
UCI is making a big deal of announcing the World Series but the new name only applies to the collective of all disciplines. The new World Series website still refers to each individual discipline as World Cups, even the new additions in 2023 (Enduro and XCM).
The press release suggests that the World Series umbrella will allow opportunities for amateur athletes to participate in World Cup events. At this point, though, it only cites enduro and XC Marathon events as examples as how that will happen. Both of those formats already allowed for pro and amateur races to mix, or at least happen side by side, though, so its unclear if this is anything new or just not taking those opportunities away. It also doesn’t say if there is more such opportunities planned for the traditional World Cup disciplines.
Live broadcasts in Canada?
Warner Bros. Discovery owns a vast network of media titles, leaving mountain bike fans wondering where the World Cup Series will be shown in 2023. The latest press release, and new World Series website, gives some hints. The press release shares that it will be a mix of WBD’s titles.
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Discovery+ will handle live broadcasts in select European countries, with backup from the Eurosport App.
In the rest of the world, including Canada, fans will have to turn to GCN+ to see coverage of World Series racing.
What will World Series coverage look like?
As for what coverage will look like, there are a few more clues in the latest release. After touting that junior downhill racing will get broadcast coverage for the first time in the initial announcement, WBD and UCI are giving more clues as to what the rest of World Series broadcasts will look like. And…
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