As the popularity of mountain bike racing continues to grow and diversify, more and more new nations are making their debut on the UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar. The latest of these is Poland with the prestigious Bielsko-Biała which will see gravity athletes (DH and Enduro) compete together for the first time without the presence of Cross Country.
Source: UCI press release
Where is it?
Bielsko-Biala is located in southern Poland, two hours west of the city of Krakow. Approximately 166.000 inhabitants. The Beskids are home to the Enduro trail network, among the most popular mountain biking spots in the country.
HAVE THERE BEEN COMPETITIONS IN THE PAST?
The Bielsko-Biała venue is one of the hot spots for racing nationwide. Most recently the Polish national enduro championships were held there in 2022: Katarzyna Burek and Damian Konstanty achieved victory. As for the downhill races, it's the first time. The Enduro Trails network is preparing a brand new track for the second round of the UCI Downhill World Cup.
HOW IS THE ROUTE?
As mentioned, the downhill course is still under development, so it remains to be seen what the talented local team will come up with. The Enduro Trails network is famous for its high-speed but natural terrain with sections that veer towards the steep and technical, so the markings are good.
The enduro route will be one of the most technical of the year. Like previous rounds held in Tweed Valley and the Finale Outdoor Region, the sheer amount of trails available to build a course is almost limitless.
