Nové Město World Cup Starts Friday

Puck, Pauline and Pidcock return to racing.

May 23, 2024

Puck Pieterse and Pauline Ferand-Prevot return to MTB racing at Nové Mĕsto. © 2023 Red Bull Content Pool

I don’t think I’m alone in ranking Nové Mĕsto Na Moravĕ as my favorite stop on the World Cup MTB circuit. If you can attend one MTB World Cup, go to Nove Mesto. From the compact, spectator-friendly viewing to the Czech spectators, Nove Mesto is among the best arenas to watch mountain biking.

In addition to that, the racing is usually superb. The venue isn’t at altitude. The climbs are challenging but not too long, and the descents are technical and ripping fast. There is plenty of room to pass and tried-and-true attack points that everyone knows, keeping the racing at the front tense and action-packed. If you don’t believe me, watch Mathieu van der Poel’s attack on Nino Schurter at the foot of the tech zone in 2019.

Nové Mĕsto for 2024 is not only the last race in the MTB Olympic Qualifying period but also the return of three stars of the game. Making their MTB debut in Czechia this weekend in the women’s field are Puck Pieterse and Pauline Ferand-Prevot—two riders who will undoubtedly change the dynamic at the front of the race.

And speaking of the front of the race, Tom Pidcock’s return on the men’s side will certainly add some spice to the Svíčková. The three Ps are all coming into the weekend on form and should change the dynamic established in the first two rounds. It will also be interesting to see if perennial favorites like Loana Lecomte and Nino Schurter fare better back home on European soil.

Here is the schedule for the weekend (Czechia is six hours ahead of the U.S. East Coast. So a 14:00 start time in Nove Mesto is an 8:00 am start in Washington, DC):

Friday, May 24

· 14:00 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track World Cup | Women U23

· 14:35 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track World Cup | Men U23

Saturday, May 25

· 08:00 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic World Cup | Men Junior

· 10:30 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track World Cup | Women Elite

· 11:05 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track World Cup | Men Elite

· 13:15 – UCI Cross-Country Marathon | Open Racing

· 14:30 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic World Cup | Women U23

· 16:30 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic World Cup | Men U23

Sunday, May 19

· 07:00 – UCI Cross-Country Marathon World Cup | Women Elite

· 8:15 – UCI Cross-Country Marathon World Cup | Men Elite