20-22 May: Mountain Bike World Cup, Dalby Forest

Friday 20 May – Sunday 22 May

Mountain biking is really in vogue at the moment (and not just amongst the MAMILS*), so if it’s your thing, you simply must head to Pickering over the weekend of the 20-22 May to see the Mountain Bike World Cup.

It’s a superb opportunity to see some of the world’s top riders in action ahead of next year’s London 2012 Olympics.

Top British riders expect to compete include Liam Killeen and Annie Last.

It promises to be a weekend of top-class riding, with the UK leg of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Mountain Bike World Cup taking place on the Sunday at Dalby Forest, plus the free-to-watch Pro Sprint Eliminator (an urban street race) on the Friday in Pickering.

What’s more, the official Mountain Bike World Cup course is open to members of the public for the “Dalby Dare” on the Saturday. Family and friends can watch and cheer on participants as they ride under race conditions the 6km official World Cup course before tackling a further 14km of some of Dalby’s first-class trails.

For kids there is the Go Ride Racing on Sunday morning with young club riders racing a 1km track which incorporates the start and finish lines of the World Cup course. And children who have never competed before can take part in entry-level racing free of charge in the World Cup Village (in the Go-Ride Racing programme organised by British Cycling, or they can enter Dixons Dare).

And in addition to watching or taking part in the races, you will also have the opportunity to watch technical teams at work and bike demos whilst enjoying the atmosphere in the World Cup Village and mingling with the star riders at this top-class sporting event.

Tickets are available at the event and are £14 for adults for the World Cup racing, whilst there are discounts for children plus weekend/family passes available.

Further details can be found on the Mountain Biking World Cup website here.

And for Pickering accommodation for the weekend, check out some great Pickering bed and breakfast properties on Hello Yorkshire.

If you’d liked this, you might like to read about the possibility of the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire.

*MAMILS – middle-aged men in lycra!