What to know and how to watch one of the best XC World Cup races of the year
Nové Město na Moravě is an XC World Cup staple, and beloved by riders. Its moody forests make for a magnificent backdrop to early season racing. And this year, it kicks off a jam-packed stretch of European racing. Rounds 3-6 of the XC World Cup will all take place in the next seven weekends. Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli XC and Trek Future Racing will be eager to start this pre-Olympic stretch on strong footing.
Unfortunately for TFR XC, the squad is headed to the Czech Republic shorthanded. Evie Richards is recovering from a concussion, while Gwendalyn Gibson is working her way back to full strength after suffering a broken collarbone. Both riders will sit out the weekend, leaving Jolanda Neff, Riley Amos, Madigan Munro, and Anton Cooper to contest the weekend.
That foursome packs a mean punch, however. Neff has given two of the grittiest performances of the XC season so far, clawing back from deep-field XCO starts for top-six finishes in both Mairiporã and Araxá. With a strong short track performance on Saturday, she’ll be a major contender on Sunday. Likewise, Cooper is hoping for a fresh start after time off from a difficult stint in Brazil.
Madigan Munro is off to one of the best starts of her young career.
Amos and Munro will once again fly the squad’s U23 banner. The two Americans are both enjoying two of the best starts to their seasons ever. They’re both coming off U23 Pan-American championships less than two weeks ago. In World Cup racing, Munro hasn’t finished lower than sixth in any of her starts, and took second in Mairiporã’s short track racing. Amos, meanwhile, is a perfect four-for-four in World Cup racing, sporting the leader’s jersey for both U23 short track and XCO.
Trek Future Racing riders Bjorn Riley and Emilly Johnston have been trading (very friendly) blows with Amos and Munro on the U23 circuit with five combined podiums, and Brazilian rider Giuliana Salvini Morgen (three top 10 finishes) hasn’t been far behind. The development squad is having a standout season, and proving that its data-, wellbeing-, and sustainability-driven ethos is a winner.
Riley Amos has won a perfect four World Cup races in four starts this season.
The track in Nové Město is as rip-roaring fun as ever. Fast, technical descents. Short, steep climbs. Raucous crowds. And rainy weather to nicely ratchet the drama.
Get ready to watch an incredible race.
Emilly Johnston and Trek Future Racing are poised for another standout performance.
Schedule and how to watch
For 2024, World Cup racing will be available for streaming on Max in the United States, Flosports in Canada, Eurosport Channels and discovery+ in Europe, and Claro in Mexico, Central America, and South America.
If you don’t see your country listed, or for more information, click this link to the UCI MTB World Series website.
Here is this weekend’s racing schedule:
Friday, May 24
- Women’s U23 short track – 2 p.m. local / 8 a.m. ET
- Men’s U23 short track – 2:35 p.m. local / 8:35 a.m. ET
The ride that has been putting the team on the podium all year long.
Saturday, May 25
- Women’s Elite short track – 10:30 a.m. local / 4:30 a.m. ET
- Men’s Elite short track – 11:05 a.m. local / 5:05 a.m. ET
- Women’s U23 Olympic — 2:30 p.m. local / 8:30 a.m. ET
- Men’s U23 Olympic – 4:30 p.m. local / 10:30 a.m. ET
Sunday, May 26
- Women’s Elite Olympic – 10:15 a.m. local / 4:15 a.m. ET
- Men’s Elite Olympic – 2 p.m. local / 8 a.m. ET
The best way to keep track of TFR XC on a World Cup weekend is by following the team on Instagram, where you’ll get race updates and a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most tight-knit squads on the circuit.
