Following last month’s surprise announcement that the events that had made up the Real Insurance XCM Series in its first 2 years would cease their involvement in 2013, Australian mountain bikers today received news that the nation’s pre-eminent XCM series will adopt a new format, with the support of Cycling Australia.
In a statement released on Monday, it was announced that “the Real Insurance XCM Series will be rebooted in mid-2013 to include a spring, summer and autumn event program run in partnership with the 2014 Subaru Australian Mountain Bike Season.”
With the series’ events likely to be added to the existing marathon events on offer – including those that had supported the series so far – the future looks bright, and the calendar full for XCM racers.
The statement also referred to the Cycling Australia Commercial Events unit as the “engine room behind the series.”, with CycleNation continuing to provide scoring for the series through its points system, and Real Insurance continuing title sponsorship of the series, which it has supported since its inception in 2011. The involvement of CA, and in particular it’s Commercial Events unit, indicates that the governing body for cycling in Australia has recognised the advantages mass-participation events like XCM races represent.
The future looks bright, and the calendar full for XCM racers.
Scenes like this will return beneath the Real Insurance banner later this year
Although details of what format and events the series will include are yet to be announced, the involvement of Cycling Australia does appear to be a positive signal for the direction of XCM racing in Australia, which will hopefully benefit from the reorganisation of XC, gravity and road disciplines in recent seasons. This year, the Subaru Mountain Bike National Series (XC and gravity) is taking in events at Mt Buller, Victoria; Thredbo, NSW; and Bright, Victoria, which could provide a hint as to the possible locations for the additional XCM races.
“The momentum behind the 2011 and 2012 Real Insurance XCM Series was a fantastic development for mountain biking and now is a good time for Cycling Australia to be aligning with CycleNation and our road, track and MTB disciplines,” said Cycling Australia CEO Graham Fredricks on Monday. “With the support of our affiliate Mountain Bike Australia we have developed the new XCM series in partnership with CycleNation and importantly Real Insurance. This is an exciting development for all Australian mountain bikers.”
The real heart of XCM racing in Australia
The survival of an XCM series will also be a boon for the life-blood of cycling: its participants. CycleNation director Theo Grobler said he was looking forward to providing riders with the best experience possible.
“We’d like to thank the legion of riders that participated in the Real Insurance XCM Series in 2011 and 2012 – from the elites to the weekend warriors doing one race a year. It was through your excitement and passion that we saw the sport changing for the better. Our new relationship with Cycling Australia combined with the commitment of Real Insurance is a very exciting development for the XCM series. This will include a host of new venues and experiences for participants.”
Real Insurance Managing Director, Richard Enthoven indicated that the company is taking a long-view with regards to its support of XCM racing in Australia. “Real Insurance has stood alongside CycleNation in developing the XCM Series,” he said. “It is a fantastic opportunity for all Australian Mountain Bikers for the XCM Series to now be held within Australia’s most prestigious mountain bike events, the Subaru Australian MTB Season. I can’t wait for the events to begin.”
Stay tuned to MarathonMTB.com for details of the events that will make up the rebooted Real Insurance XCM Series.