2015 Mountain Bike World Cup schedule revealed

The calendar for the 2015 Mountain Bike World Cup has been announced.

A later start to the year will give athletes a longer off season, at the expense of events in the southern hemisphere. Both Pietermaritzburg and Cairns have been omitted from the 2015 season.

Downhillers will be the first to race in a World Cup next year, in Lourdes, France. The venue is new to the World Cup.

Cross country racers get their start in late May, with back to back rounds in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, and Albstadt, Germany.

The Downhill World Cup continues at Fort William, Scotland and Leogang, Austria.

Both the downhill and cross country calendars combine for the remainder of the season with events in Switzerland, Canada, US, and Italy.

Once again, Mont Sainte Anne and Windham serve as the back to back North American swing in early August.

Missing from the schedule is any mention of the Eliminator format. The absence is reported as attributed to a series of logistical problems.

However, poor entries and a lack of big name competitors made enthusiasm for the eliminator events a challenge.

April 11-12: DHI#1, Lourdes (France)
May 23-24: XCO#1, Nove Mesto na Morave (Czech Republic)
May 30-31: XCO#2, Albstadt (Germany)
June 6-7: DHI#2, Fort William (Great Britain)
June 13-14: Leogang (Austria)
July 4-5: XCO#3 & DHI#4, Lenzerheide (Switzerland)
August 1-2: XCO#4 & DHI#5, Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada)
August 8-9: XCO#5 & DHI#6, Windham (United States)
August 22-23: XCO#6 & DHI#7 Val di Sole (Italy)