We go over everything you need to know about the Polish Bielsko-Biała round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series races, including when the Enduro and Downhill, who competes and where to watch it.
WHEN?
The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, starts at 8am on Friday 30 May (featuring enduro) and concludes with the UCI Elite Men's DH World Cup at 17pm Sunday 14 May.
*Poland has the same time zone as Italy (CEST / UTC+2)
PROGRAM
Friday May 17th
08:30 – UCI Enduro World Cup
Saturday May 18th
- 08:30 – UCI E-Enduro World Cup
- 12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Elite women's qualification
- 12pm – UCI Downhill World Cup | Elite men's qualification
- 14pm – UCI Downhill World Cup | Junior Women Qualification
- 14pm – UCI Downhill World Cup | Junior Men's Qualification
- 15pm – UCI Downhill World Cup | Elite Women Semifinals
- 15pm – UCI Downhill World Cup | Elite Men Semifinals
Sunday May 19th
- 11am – UCI Downhill World Cup | Junior Women's Finals
- 12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup | Junior Men's Finals
- 13pm – UCI Downhill World Cup | Elite Women's Finals
- 14pm – UCI Downhill World Cup | Elite Men's Finals
WHERE TO SEE THE LIVE?
ENDURO
For the Enduro races on Friday and Saturday, there will be Live Timing on the official website of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and channel highlights Instagram e Facebook, with the biggest stories from the race weekend to be published on the Channel YouTube Monday 20nd May.
On live timing it will also be possible to follow Open Racing races, with 235 amateurs who will compete in the Bielsko-Biała Enduro on Friday 17 May and in the Bielsko-Biała E-Enduro on Saturday 18 May.
DOWNHILL
For the second UCI DH World Cup of the season, you can watch the finals live anywhere in the world. Both the men's and women's UCI races Downhill World Cup Junior will be broadcast live on the channel YouTube WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series , while the Elite Finals will be broadcast on one of the channels or streaming services below.
The pre-show begins at 12pm, with international commentary from Ric McLaughlin and Aaron Gwin live from Poland.
North America
Canada – Flosports
United States – Max
South and Central America
Staylive
Oceania/Asia
Australia – Stan
China – Zhibo.tv
New Zeland - Staylive
Africa
Staylive
Europe
Austria – discovery+
Belgium – Eurosport 2
Czech Republic – Eurosport Digital
Denmark – Eurosport 2
France – Eurosport 2 and La Chaine L'Équipe
Germany – discovery+
Hungary – Highlights on Eurosport 1 at 19:15 UTC+2
Ireland – discovery+
Italy – Eurosport 2, discovery+
Netherlands – Eurosport 2, discovery+
Norway – Eurosport Digital
Poland – Eurosport 2
Portugal – Eurosport 2
Romania – Eurosport 2
Slovenia – Highlights on Eurosport 1 at 19:15 UTC+2
Spain – Eurosport 2
Sweden – Eurosport Digital
Switzerland – Eurosport Digital
United Kingdom – discovery+, Women live on Eurosport 2, Men highlights on Eurosport 1 at 20:00 CEST
Rest of the world - Staylive
FAVORITES
The location of Bielsko-Biała is completely unknown to most Enduro athletes and Downhill. In the men's Enduro competition, he is one rider to watch Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team). The 31-year-old Polish driver was fighting with his teammate Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) for first place in the Outdoor Region final last weekend until a puncture in the final stages ended hopes of his first World Cup victory. He still managed a respectable fifth place, but hopes his luck holds out Bielsko-Biala in front of the home crowd who support him.
For Lukasik, however, it won't be easy. Richie Rude, winner of the 2023 UCI Enduro World Cup overall series, he is the man to beat, with Charlie Murray (Specialized Enduro Team) who will aim for his first victory after an impressive second place in Italy, while Jack Moir (YT Mob) looks set to return after missing the first round with a minor injury.
The competition in the Women's UCI Enduro World Cup is fiercer than ever, with Harriet Harnden (Trek Factory Racing Gravity) which ended the dominance of Morgan Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) a Final. Always present Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective), one of the beacons of the female world. Also Ella Conolly (Cannondale Enduro Team) will be at the match.
ENDURO POLAND WORLD CUP ENTRIES LIST
E-ENDURO
La UCI E-Enduro World Cup (e-bike) has seen the changing of the guard since Fabien Barel (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), who did not start, a Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team). The 21-year-old won four out of nine stages and retained first place in the third stage.
In the context of women's E-Enduro, Florence Espiñeira Herreros (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) won in the Finale, but Tracey Moseley he fought until the end. Also worth keeping an eye on Laura Charles.
ENDURO POLAND WORLD CUP ENTRIES LIST
DOWNHILL
In the DH, the overall winners of the UCI World Cup Valentina Hell (YT Mob) e Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) have demonstrated a Fort William which will probably be the dominant forces again in 2024. But don't expect banal orders of arrival: many athletes are battling for the top.
Tahnee Seagrave (Canyon CLLCTV FMD), Nina Hoffman (Santa Cruz Syndicate) e Camille Blanche (Dorval AM Commecal) seem the most likely to make Vali Höll tremble, while in the Men's Elite, Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) seems to have found new verve with Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) presents itself at the second DH World Cup in splendid shape.
LIST OF ENTRANTS FOR DH POLAND WORLD CUP
ITALIANS IN THE RACE
ENDURO
In the enduro field, among the Elite, we find 5 Italians at the start: Tommaso Calonaci, Davide Dal Pian, Tommaso Francardo, Mirco Vendemmia and Nicola Grotti. In the women's field, Nadine Ellecosta, Giorgia Fiocchi and Clarissa Carzolio.
Among the e-bikes, our references Andrea Garibbo and Alia Marcellini are present, both supported by Hai Bike.
DOWNHILL
In the men's DH field, we find 4 Italians at the start: Davide Cappello, Stefano Introzzi, Davide Palazzari and Loris Revelli. Among the women, the magical triptych that often gives us so much satisfaction: Gloria Scarsi, Veronika Widmann and Eleonora Farina.
In the youth categories, great hopes for Christian Hauser, recovering from a bad fall in Fort William. At the start we also find Mattia Bianco and Lorenzo Mascherini.
