A significant change in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup format has sparked widespread backlash from top athletes. Warner Bros. Discovery, which holds the streaming rights for the World Cup, recently announced it would reduce the podium from five riders to three. This decision, aimed at aligning the sport with other professional leagues, has not been well received by the mountain biking community.
In response, 187 racers, along with 13 race teams, have issued a statement opposing the change. Among the signatories are some of the most prominent names in the sport, including Nino Schurter, Alessandra Keller, Kate Courtney, and Thomas Pidcock, to name just a few. These athletes made their dissent clear by sharing the statement on their social media accounts on April 2, a move that has garnered widespread attention with tens of thousands of likes and comments.
The statement, signed by numerous athletes and teams, addresses Warner Bros. Discovery directly, expressing disappointment over the decision. For over 30 years, the podium in UCI Mountain Bike World Cup events has included five riders, a tradition that has provided significant exposure for athletes and teams. This unique format, the statement argues, has been a crucial element in the sport’s growth, giving smaller teams and emerging riders opportunities to gain recognition.
The statement outlines that the decision to reduce the podium is driven solely by a desire for conformity with other sports, without considering the input of athletes. It accuses Warner Bros. Discovery of disregarding the voices of those at the heart of the sport—riders, teams, and fans—who feel sidelined in the decision-making process.
As the statement emphasizes, mountain biking has always been about breaking away from the norm, with World Cup racing, since its inception in the 1990s, maintaining its distinctive identity. The vast majority of athletes and teams feel that the decision to reduce the podium undermines the uniqueness and values that have shaped the sport’s culture.