The 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships kicked off today in Andorra with the Cross-Country Team Relay and Junior Downhill Qualifying. Team USA won its first-ever gold medal in the Team Relay since the event's inception in 1999.
The Team Relay is one of the most exhilarating events bringing together athletes of all age groups from around the world. Each country selects their top Elite, U23, and Junior men and women to compete, with each athlete completing one lap as fast as possible.
The team of Brayden Johnson (Littleton, Colo.; Santa Cruz Rock Shox), Nicholas Konecny (Breckenridge, Colo.; Bear National Team), Haley Batten (Park City, Utah; Specialized Factory Racing), Vida Lopez de San Roman (Sebastopol, Calif.; Bear National Team), Madigan Munro (Boulder, Colo.; Trek Factory Racing) , and Christopher Blevins (Durango, Colo.; Specialized Factory Racing) competed for the United States.
France was fast from the start of the race and battled back and forth with Italy until Team USA started closing in on the leaders. Team USA stayed within the top three for the remainder of the race with the win still in sight. It all came down to the last lap where Blevins laid down one of the fastest laps of the day to close in on France. He crossed the finish line three seconds in front of France to win gold.
Team USA first reached the podium in the team relay event at Fort William in 2007. Over a decade later, a new generation of superstars emerged, securing podium finishes again in 2019, 2021, and 2022. This year, USA Cycling claimed its first-ever victory, ending a decade-long dominance by the French and Swiss teams.
1. United States of America 1:19:38
2. France +0.03
3. Italy +1:31
The day started with qualification for the men’s and women’s junior downhill categories. The United States and France were the top contenders with the Americans qualifying first, third, and sixth. Asa Vermette (Durango, Colo.; Frameworks Racing) took the top spot, finishing only 0.76 seconds in front of France’s Max Alran. The two have battled all season and will face off tomorrow for the rainbow stripes. Bode Burke (Rhododendron, Ore.; Outlaw Bike Team) put down a strong run which was fast enough for third. Julia Lofqvist Traum (Issaquah, Wash.) was the top finisher in the Junior Women’s Qualifier taking fifth place.
1. Asa Vermette (Durango, Colo.; Frameworks Racing)
2. Max Alran (FRA)
3. Bode Burke (Rhododendron, Ore.; Outlaw Bike Team)
6. Gavin Tomlinson (Burbank, Calif.; Gravity Collective)
13. Ryder Lawrence (Menifee, Calif.; Intense Factory Racing)
20. Lucas DeDora (Huntington Station, N.Y.; Transition Factory Racing)
1. Erice Van Leuven (NZL)
2. Ella Svegby (SWE)
3. Sacha Earnest (NZL)
5. Julia Lofqvist Traum (Issaquah, Wash.)
15. Kale Cushman (Old Town, Maine)
DNS. Teagan Heap (Boulder City, Nev.; Pivot Cycles)
DNS. Matilda Melton (Bellingham, Wash.; Transition Factory Racing)
Tomorrow a new World Champion will be crowned in the Junior Men’s and Women’s Downhill Finals, while the Elite racers will do their qualification runs. For the full event schedule and how to watch, click here.
