Bike
MTB
How to earn your spot at the most accessible world championship
The Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championship could be your best chance yet at a global bike title. Here's how you could ride with the elite.
The world champion's rainbow jersey is one of the most iconic shirts in sport and now there's a new competition that offers bike riders a chance to wear cycling's coveted prize.
Red Bull and Velosolutions launched the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship in 2018 and now the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) have added their global weight behind it ahead of the World Final in Bern, Switzerland on October 19.
Competitors at the Swiss Bike Park in Köniz-Oberried near Bern next month will now have the added incentive of the rainbow jersey. Anyone with a bike can join, as long as the wheel is bigger than 20 inches.
Pump track racing has added a fresh attacking face to bike racing, with riders enjoying head-to-head battles or a time trial around thrilling rolling jumps and tricky banked turns.
With over 25 qualifier events from New Zealand to India, Chile to France and South Africa to the USA, pump track is the most thorough search for the world's best pump track rider.
Pump track will now fall under the mountain bike discipline, which is one of the UCI's eight affiliated worldwide disciplines – road, track, mountain bike, BMX racing, BMX freestyle, trials, cyclo-cross and indoor.
Pump track riding is never boring with continuous rollers, berms and jumps
© Sven Martin
Olympic BMX racers, MTB UCI World Champions and local cycling heroes will all get the chance to compete on an even playing field, where amateurs compete against pros and everyone has a shot at the ultimate prize of gold.
UCI President David Lappartient revealed: “The creation of a Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championship is a recognition of the specialty at the highest level and a demonstration of our sport's dynamism. With the know-how of Red Bull and Velosolutions, we aim to meet the expectations of a public that enjoys a show and to make our sport even more popular with the younger generation.”
The Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championship will be a catalyst for change as it works towards promoting sport in developing countries in association with #pumpforpeace, an initiative by Velosolutions that unites the cycling world on a mission to develop talent.
Night session pumptrack
© Laurence Crossman Emms
How can you enter?
The Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championship is open to everyone. If you are ready to race, the Last Chance Qualifier will take place at the Swiss Bike Park on October 18, so register on www.redbullpumptrackworldchampionship.com for your chance to compete for the rainbow stripes.
