![PARIS HERE WE COME!](https://cdn.magzter.com/1387351976/1720163570/articles/30YtPN4U11721045728928/PARIS-HERE-WE-COME.jpg)
BICYCLES ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED WITH THE MODERN OLYMPICS
It all goes back to 1850, when stern-faced men with big moustaches and long shorts raced the original big-wheelers (penny farthings) around Much Wenlock in Shropshire, as part of the inaugural Wenlock Olympics. Believe it or not, this event would go on to inspire the eventual reincarnation of the then defunct ancient Olympics as the modern-day Games in 1896 (which is why the London 2012 mascot was named Wenlock). And cycling has been included ever since.
It would be another 100 years until mountain biking would make its Olympic debut, though.
While people had been riding off-road for decades, the first recognisable 'mountain bikes' emerged in the mid-1970s and thriving race scenes had become established across the globe by the mid-1980s, it wasn't until 1990 that the UCI (International Cycling Union) deigned to take this scruffy young sport under its wing.
Which is when the racing side of things got a whole lot more serious.
Usually, it takes many years, and at least a demonstration event, before a 'new' sport makes the Olympic roster, and yet - perhaps because of its huge popular appeal, with a bike on every kid's Christmas list - mountain biking made the cut as a title event at Atlanta 1996, in the form of men's and women's cross-country (XC) races.
Bring on the Brits!
That first race was perhaps the all-time pinnacle of the sport - or of XC, at least - in terms of popularity, with the flat-bar gold rush being led by lofty flying Dutchman Bart Brentjens and glitzy Italian star Paola Pezzo.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2024-Ausgabe von Mountain Biking UK.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2024-Ausgabe von Mountain Biking UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
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GRIME TIME - EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE
WHEELY ANNOYING
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TRAILCREW HAFOD TRAILS
We discover the delights of Wales's newest bike park, located deep in beautiful Carmarthenshire
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BIKETEST ULTIMATE HIRE BIKES
We test three park-cum-DH rigs - the kind of bikes available in holiday spots like Morzine and Whistler, as well as uplift venues closer to home
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SCOTT GAMBLER 910 - £4,399 A bike park-ready budget beater worth taking a chance on
This latest iteration of Scott's long-standing Gambler launched in 2019.
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THE MANY FACES OF MOUNTAIN BIKING
WE HIT THE ARIZONA DESERT AS PART OF A HUGE FEMALE-LED GROUP RIDE THAT PUTS THE FOCUS ON FUN AND FRIENDSHIP
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PARIS HERE WE COME!
With the 2024 Olympics in France fast coming around, we take a quick dive into the history of mountain biking at the Games, plus explain what to expect, how to watch and who to keep an eye on this year
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TRANSITION SPUR XO AXS - £7,999 Can the smallest of revisions keep Transition's downcountry demon at the top of the pile?
Transition's Spur has set the benchmark for downcountry bikes since its release in 2020.
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MARIN ALPINE TRAIL E2 BOSCH - £6,385 Big-battery, high-powered e-MTB for gravity fans at a (relatively) affordable price
The Alpine Trail E Bosch is Marin's first e-MTB to use a four-bar linkage suspension design and a non-Shimano motor.
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PINARELLO DOGMA XC - £12,000 Designed by and for Elite racers, with a ride feel to match
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS
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MBUK SUPER BIKE - #128 MATT WALKER'S SARACEN MYST
The British national downhill champ has a new ride for the 2024 race season