Commonwealth Games mountain biking today from 11:30am

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XC mountain biking at the 2022 Commonwealth Games is happening today. The men’s race is at 11:30am. The women’s race is at 2:30pm 2.00pm.

The event is taking place at Cannock Chase, which was chosen due to its proximity to the nominal city host of the games (Birmingham).

The course and the venue layout can be seen below.

Course overview
Main arena layout

As with pretty much everything taking place at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, you should be able to watch the mountain bike racing on the BBC iPlayer’s specific Commonwealth Games section.

Who’s racing? I’ll be honest with you. It’s proven to be quite hard to find out!

From what I can make out, the confirmed British Isles racers include: Evie Richards (Eng), Harry Birchill (Eng), Joseph Blackmore (Eng), Isla Short (Sco), Charlie Aldridge (Sco), Cameron Orr (N.I.) and Chris McGlinchey (N.I.). I couldn’t see anyone from Wales competing in the mountain bike events but could be wrong!

Please comment below if you know of anyone not listed above.

In terms of more internationally flung racers, unfortunately Anton Cooper has had to pull out due to Covid.

Mountain biking has been part of the Commonwealth Games since 2002 (remember Manchester?). The podium at the last Games looked like this:

Women’s

  1. Annie Last (Eng)
  2. Evie Richards (Eng)
  3. Haley Smith (Can)

Men’s

  1. Same Gaze (N.Z.)
  2. Anton Cooper (N.Z.)
  3. Alan Hatherly (S.A.)

birmingham2022.com/sports/mountain-biking

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Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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  • This topic has 55 replies, 35 voices, and was last updated 1 year ago by si77.
Viewing 15 posts - 41 through 55 (of 55 total)
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  • Commonwealth Games mountain biking today from 11:30am
  • richmtb
    Full Member

    Those from lesser know mtb countries were struggling in places and a few fell off going over the stegosaurus rocks (taken the wrong way so downhill slightly).

    Spose it’s all relative as the riders were mostly on the edge of exhaustion all the time. Of course they’re trained for it etc but it must make obstacles a bit harder than most riders out cruising on a 150mm+ gnar machine.

    The fact they are racing obviously adds to the level of technical difficulty but I think the Commonwealth games courses are deliberately less technical than the Olympics or World Cup because the level of ability of the riders is a bit more varied.

    Posted 1 year ago
    twonks
    Full Member

    Yep to the above. A few of the mens bikes were very old school looking geometry wise and seemed to be very twitchy over anything slightly rough.

    Didn’t get close enough to see what they actually were but, the leaders were lightning quick and composed by comparison.

    A good watch for the bits I saw.

    Posted 1 year ago
    wipperman95
    Free Member

    Saw a post race interview with Evie, and she hoped it would inspire more to take up MTB-ing, as it’s a ‘cool sport’. Even with World & Olympic champions, there’s not a lot of riders coming through in the sport.

    Posted 1 year ago
    dirkpitt74
    Full Member

    Been over the Chase most of the day.
    Some good racing.
    Watched the replay and surprised to hear the commentator saying the course designers have made it less technical so you (the public) can ride the course after the games – going to be some disappointed people turning up at Cannock.

    Posted 1 year ago
    johnhe
    Full Member

    Was really looking forward to watching the race on the iPlayer. I’ve never been to Cannock Chase, but I’m afraid that watching this wouldn’t make me hurry to get there. It must be hard work for the commentators to make it sound more exciting.

    At least there’s plenty of spectators.

    Posted 1 year ago
    johnjn2000
    Full Member

    Bit of a naive question but did the men and women race the same course over the same number of laps? Asking because Evie beat the men if they did.

    Posted 1 year ago
    footflaps
    Full Member

    I, for one, am amazed that no one has threatened to cancel their STW subscriptions as a result of STW having an article about riders whose bikes cost more than £199 and whose shoes hadn’t been found in the back of a skip. If this sort of things goes unchecked, where will it end?

    Posted 1 year ago
    richmtb
    Full Member

    Bit of a naive question but did the men and women race the same course over the same number of laps? Asking because Evie beat the men if they did.

    I think the Women’s race was 8 laps and the Men’s 9

    Posted 1 year ago
    nbt
    Full Member

    Bit of a naive question but did the men and women race the same course over the same number of laps? Asking because Evie beat the men if they did.

    same course but men did more laps. 10 vs 8 I think

    Posted 1 year ago
    K
    Full Member

    Men’s were 8 laps. Women’s 7

    Edited

    BBC vid

    Posted 1 year ago
    johnjn2000
    Full Member

    Ahh well, I thought there was a good story there but I was wrong

    Posted 1 year ago
    dirkpitt74
    Full Member

    @johnhe don’t be put off by the fire road sections.
    Cannock has a fair bit to offer if you’re prepared to look for it.
    Just don’t expect to ride Deers leap…..

    Posted 1 year ago
    Houns
    Full Member

    Blimey they don’t hang about!

    Posted 1 year ago
    footflaps
    Full Member

    Blimey they don’t hang about!

    They’re in competition with Thetford for the UK’s lamest “Black” route. Thetford has the “Beast” which is quite possibly the most terrifying thing since super soft toilet paper.

    Posted 1 year ago
    si77
    Full Member

    Gutted! I was looking forward to riding it. Still saves me a trip to Cannock, so silver linings and all that.

    Posted 1 year ago
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