How to watch the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships 2019 | full schedule for live TV and streaming
Our complete guide to this year’s coverage of the 2019 downhill and XC Mountain Bike World Championships and World Cup rounds
The 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships take place this weekend. The two-day event, which is being hosted in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, will see the world’s best riders battling out to be crowned the cross-country (XC) and downhill (DH) World Champion.
Where are the 2019 Mountain Bike World Championships being held?
The World Championships take place from 31 August to 1 September in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. The most historic and revered mountain bike race venue ever seems an appropriate location for the 2019 World Champs.
MSA’s cross-country course blends technical, natural descents with brutally steep climbs, suiting those whose bike-handling skills and physical fitness are equally on-point.
The downhill track is similarly unforgiving, punishing riders and bikes on one of the longest, roughest and fastest courses on the circuit.
How can I watch live coverage of the 2019 Mountain Bike World Championships?
Red Bull TV might be the official broadcaster of the UCI World Cup, where you can catch the final round of the World Cup from 7 to 8 September, but other broadcasters have the rights to show the World Championship too, so you’ll need to check your region for availability and schedules on Red Bull TV because some regions will be blocked.
If you’re in a country with RedBull coverage*, you can download the RedBull player onto a multitude of devices, including iPhone, iPad, Android TV, phones and tablets, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TVs and more.
(*Geo-blockings: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Paraguay, Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela)
How can I watch live coverage of the 2019 Mountain Bike World Championships in the UK?
In the UK, the BBC has the rights to the cross-country men’s and women’s races on Saturday 31 August. The women’s race will be live from 17:05 and the men’s from 21:30 on the BBC Red Button. Red Bull TV also has live coverage.
The women’s and men’s downhill races will be broadcast via Red Bull TV on Sunday 1 September from 17:45 onwards, but there are currently no details on whether it will be shown on the BBC.
How can I watch live coverage of the 2019 Mountain Bike World Championships in the USA?
In the US, NBCSN has the rights to this year’s World Championships, and you can subscribe to the NBC Sports Gold package for $54.99, for a subscription until 1 May 2020.
A FuboTV subscription also provides access to NBC Sports.
For full timings for coverage, check the NBC and NBCSN schedule.
How can I watch live coverage of the 2019 Mountain Bike World Championships in Australia?
In Australia, all the racing will be broadcast on demand by SBS Viceland (schedule details not currently available) and live on Fox Sports.
However, Fox Sports may not air the men’s cross-country race if the surfing, which it is also covering, doesn’t take a lay-day. Be sure to check the Fox Sports schedule for more details nearer the time.
How can I watch live coverage of the 2019 Mountain Bike World Championships in Canada?
In the home of the event, coverage will be on TVA Sports and TVA Sports 2 channels with plenty of live coverage and replays available over the weekend. Racing will also be available online via CBC digital.
The 2019 downhill Mountain Bike World Cup schedule
The 2019 downhill World Cup started on 27 April in Maribor, Slovenia and will culminate in Snowshoe, USA on 8 September. You can catch all of the racing on Red Bull TV.
Round 8 — September 7–8: Snowshoe, USA
Snowshoe is a brand-new venue for the World Cup series, but it’s no stranger to hosting races. In 2018 it was the venue for the US National Champs. The downhill track here mixes vicious rocks and flowing turns up top with steep sections to finish. Neko Mulally won the men’s DH race in 2018.
Round 7 — August 10–11: Lenzerheide, Switzerland
What Lenzerheide’s downhill course lacks in length, it makes up for in steepness and intensity.
Round 6 — August 3–4: Val di Sole, Italy
The downhill at Val di Sole is famous for producing exceptional rides — think Sam Hill’s 2008 World Champs heartbreak, and Aaron Gwin’s eight-second destruction of the field back in 2012.
Round 5 — July 13–14: Les Gets, France
Amazingly, this famous venue hasn’t hosted a World Cup since 2002, or a World Champs since 2004.
Round 4 — July 6–7: Vallnord, Andorra
The downhill race at Vallnord features the highest number of corners on the circuit, and the steepest average gradient. High levels of skill and commitment are essential for success here.
Round 3 — June 8–9: Leogang, Austria
This high-speed track guarantees intense racing, and with four out of eight possible wins here for America’s Aaron Gwin, can he get his new Intense bike to the top of the podium?
Round 2 — June 1–2: Fort William, Scotland
The home of UK downhill. Watch for standout performances from Brits such as Reece Wilson and Danny Hart. The battle between Tahnee Seagrave and Rachel Atherton is sure to be unmissable too, as they race for victory on home turf.
Round 1 — April 27–28: Maribor, Slovenia
Downhill returned to this legendary track for the first time since 2010. With its root-infested upper woods, infamous rock garden and toboggan-run bottom section, Maribor’s always been a rider favourite.
The 2019 XC Mountain Bike World Cup schedule
The cross-country season kicked off on 18 May in Albstadt, Germany. The circuit then moved onto the Czech Republic, Andorra, France, Italy, Switzerland and will finish in the USA on 8 September.
You can catch all of the racing on Red Bull TV.
Round 7 — September 7–8: Snowshoe, USA
At last year’s US National Champs, Kate Courtney bagged the women’s XC win. Can Courtney, along with Mulally (mentioned above) use their Snowshoe experience to help them up the podium when the World Cup’s in town?
Round 6 — August 10–11: Lenzerheide, Switzerland
The cross-country track at Lenzerheide is no pushover. At 1,500m and littered with roots and rocks, it demands an efficient style and top technical skills.
Round 5 — August 3–4: Val di Sole, Italy
Italy always produces hot racing, and Val di Sole boasts the fastest XC course of the year, with average speeds over 20km/h.
Round 4 — July 13–14: Les Gets, France
Still heralded by riders as one of the best around for sheer fun factor, Les Gets’ all-natural old-school track is loaded with flat-out grass piste turns, interspersed with steep, loose woods.
Round 3 — July 6–7: Vallnord, Andorra
Potentially the most physically demanding race of the XC series. Riders compete at high altitude — 1,901m, in fact — where the drama gets as epic as the mountains themselves.
Round 2 — May 25–26: Nové Mesto, Czech Republic
With eight years of racing history, this wide, high-speed track pulls in big crowds. It’s famous for its ferocious and technical races — full-sus bikes love Nové Mesto.
Round 1 — May 18–19: Albstadt, Germany
The classic German venue will open the XC World Cup this month. Can cross-country legend Nino Schurter get his third win in a row here?
Authors
Mildred’s a utilitarian cyclist at heart, determined to do everything on two wheels, whether it’s shopping, commuting or moving house. She’s spent the past three years volunteering as a mechanic and workshop coordinator at the Bristol Bike Project, and now sits on its board of directors. Her expertise in bikes — and what people want out of them — comes from working in real-world bike shops and learning the ins and outs of the industry. At home on slicks and knobblies alike, Mildred’s ideal ride covers long distances through remote countryside, on mixed terrain that offers a bit of crunch. She’s easily won over by steel frames coupled with a 650B/plus-tyre combo, and is currently riding a Surly Bridge Club.
