For the first time under 15 and under 17 European mountain bike riders will have the opportunity to fight out European Championship cross-country races.
Organisers of the UEC European Youth Mountainbike Championships Graz/Stattegg, which get underway on August 16, have admitted they have been overwhelmed by the response to the junior races with entries for the new events exceeding all expectations.
Entries are open to all clubs, regional and national teams from all over Europe, with 243 riders from 20 different nations signing up for the new under 15 and 17 XC categories. The races will include 30 national teams, coming from 13 different national federations.
The UEC European Youth Mountainbike Championships will take place in Graz/Stattegg until 2014.
The junior races will take place at the same time as the UEC MTB Marathon Masters, with competitors racing on the same course used for the 2009 World Championships. The weekend will also incorporate the Trek Mountain Bike Classic marathon, as well as a range of other events catering to all abilities and ages.
Event Schedule for the 2011 UEC European Youth Mountainbike Championships Graz/Stattegg
August 16 – Cross Country Team Relay
August 16 – Opening ceremony
August 17 – Mountainbike Combined
August 18 – Cross Country (X-Large)
August 19 – Cross Country (Olympic)
August 19 – Closing ceremony
Grazer BikeMarathon Stattegg August 20-21, 2011
August 20 – Junior MTB Challenge U5 – U17
August 20 – Unicycle-Downhill
August 20 – Pleasure Marathon
August 20 – Blues Festival
August 21 – UEC Mountainbike Marathon Masters European Championships
August 21 – TREK MTB Challenge Small
August 21 – TREK MTB Challenge Classic
August 21 – Unicycle-Downhill Marathon