UCI XCO World Cup in Leogang

Tokyo Olympics: Here’s Where and When to Watch the XC Racing

News

by 11

With the Olympic opening ceremony done and dusted, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are officially open. There was a lot of speculation as to whether they would go ahead at all. With cases rising and a State of Emergency in place until 22 August, spectators are no longer allowed to attend the games. Only athletes and select personnel are permitted.

Team GB

A few weeks ago we spoke to Simon Watts, lead coach for British Cycling’s XC riders about the Olympics. He talked about the process, points and who was on the shortlist before the riders were announced. Then, of course, it was announced that Evie Richards and Tom Pidcock would represent Great Britain at the Games.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Evie Richards (@eviealicerichards)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ᵀᴼᴹ ᴾᴵᴰᶜᴼᶜᴷ (@tompidcock)

Who is Competing?

Unlike a World Cup round, the Tokyo Olympics only has 38 competitors. So, 38 women, and 38 men.

Women:

Men:

The Course

From the previews available, the track looks very challenging.

The MTB Cross-Country course requires both strength and skill. It takes riders between 90–105 minutes to navigate the course, which consists of four to six kilometres of mostly narrow dirt single-track trails with steep ascents and descents and rocky sections. There are also feed areas where riders can fix bikes and eat and/or drink.

The race features a mass start and multiple laps with the first rider to complete the required laps winning gold. However, riders whose time is 80 per cent slower than that of the race leader’s first lap are eliminated.

The new 4,100m off-road Izu Mountain Bike Course has a vertical height difference of 150m and is set to be harder than previous Olympic courses. Various sections of the course have been given names including Amagigoe, Joren-no-taki, Hashi, Wasabi, Odorikohodo and Karesansui, according to their different characteristics.

Olympics.com
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Simon Burney (@simon_burney)

How and Where to Watch

The XC will be shown on both BBC and Eurosport in the UK. The men’s race is Monday 26 July at 7 AM BST/ 8 AM CEST, with the women’s being broadcast on Tuesday 27 July at 7 AM BST.

You can watch all the big moments live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button and the BBC Sport website and app. BBC Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra will also bring you live commentary every day, and there will be live text, video clips and highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.

BBC

What are your predictions? Who is going to take home the gold?

Tom Pidcock: Born to Mountain Bike

Evie Richards and Tom Pidcock to Represent GB in Tokyo

Coming Back From the Bad Days with Kate Courtney

Singletrack Merch

Issue 125

On sale 6th June 2019.

Singletrack Sponsored Features

Who says you need to travel far to have a big sky adventure?

Sanny heads out from his front door to prove you don't have to travel far to have adventures.

Dalby Bike Barn

We are based on the A170/Whitby Gate junction right in the centre of the village Thornton Le Dale offering high expertise on all things bike- stocking the best brands with bike…

Join our mailing list to receive Singletrack editorial wisdom directly in your inbox.

Each newsletter is headed up by an exclusive editorial from our team and includes stories and news you don’t want to miss.

Signing up to our mailing list is not only a great way to keep up-to-date on all things Singletrack but it is also a great, free way to support us.

Sign up to receive awesome editorial content from Hannah every week.

We appreciate how handing over your email address is a mark of your trust in us. Check your inbox for our confirmation email and click the link to activate your newsletter.
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check out a previous newsletter here

Singletrack Weekly Word

Sports Newsletter of the Year finalist at the Publisher Newsletter Awards 2024. Find out why our newsletter is different and give it a go.

Not too good about writing about myself, but not so bad at writing about other things. There was a time that I hated bikes, but then they became my life. Wouldn't be the person I am if I hadn't been on this journey. Here's to bikes, drinking tea and everything that comes with life on two wheels. I'm Lauren, I like bikes and writing about them. Always trying my best and up for adventures.

More posts from Lauren

Home › Forums › Tokyo Olympics: Here’s Where and When to Watch the XC Racing

Overview Chat Bike Members News Women
Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Tokyo Olympics: Here’s Where and When to Watch the XC Racing
  • AdamT
    Full Member

    Love the look of the course. Looks pretty tight in places. I know it’s a reduced field compared with WC, but imagine the first lap!!

    Posted 3 years ago
    mrlebowski
    Free Member

    Thanks for the heads up 👍

    Posted 3 years ago
    scaredypants
    Full Member

    Course looks great. Might be bloody hard work if they get rain – or is that out of the question ?

    Posted 3 years ago
    RoterStern
    Free Member

    The course looks very technical. But looking at footage of a practice lap in last year’s test event the rock garden just after the start straight is going to be pretty dangerous with a field tightly packed on the first lap. Only the first riders are going to be able to see where the rocks are.
    Does anyone know how the gridding at the start is going to work? Is it seeded or do they have to do a timed lap?

    Posted 3 years ago
    csb
    Free Member

    No info on bbc about this being shown as far as I can see?

    Posted 3 years ago
    Yak
    Full Member

    I’m not sure about the BBC coverage. Maybe it will be there in bits and pieces?

    Anyway, there is a free 6 months on discovery plus (the Olympic TV license holders) if you have a Vodafone account.

    Hopefully that won’t be needed but I have faffed now with the technoshit so it’s ready if needs be.

    Posted 3 years ago
    csb
    Free Member

    Thanks Yak.

    So the real news story here (given STW does cracking journalism at times) seems to be the loss of what many have felt to be the bedrock of national sports coverage, as the OIA have sold the rights to Discovery.

    Expect fewer heroic moments where GB reps in lesser known sports become household names from their moment of glory.

    Posted 3 years ago
    jekkyl
    Full Member

    Couldn’t you have pasted it in here and saved me another click through? 😂

    Posted 3 years ago
    ferrals
    Free Member

    Chit chat about diving and boxing on the red button currently ☹️ And I set my alarm

    Edit – on the red button now 😀

    Posted 3 years ago
    5lab
    Free Member

    Olympics, Day 3: Red Button – Mountain biking: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p09pjzbn via @bbciplayer

    Posted 3 years ago
    Trimix
    Free Member

    You can see it on GCN+

    Posted 3 years ago
Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

The topic ‘Tokyo Olympics: Here’s Where and When to Watch the XC Racing’ is closed to new replies.

Overview Chat Bike Members News Women