The German mountain bike scene is in great mourning. It's official: the Cross Country World Championships in Albstadt will not take place. On Thursday, the news hit the German mountain bike sport like a bombshell. It was the end of a dream that many German professional bikers had been looking forward to for so long.
The current situation and the signals from politicians make the planned postponement of the World Championships in Albstadt until the autumn impossible. The general ban on major events until the end of August and the cancellation of other major events such as the Munich Oktoberfest, the Berlin Marathon and the German Road Championships in Stuttgart give no reason for hope. There have also been clear signals from politicians that serious international travel restrictions are still to be expected in October. Organising the mountain bike event as a ghost World Championships without spectators is also out of the question for financial reasons.
After the MTB World Championships 2020 in Albstadt postponed to autumn until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic at the end of March the city of Albstadt, together with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the German Cycling Federation (BDR), no longer sees any chance of the 2020 World Championships being held in Albstadt. A press release from the UCI provided clarity on Thursday.
Even if the decision is based on common sense and the current situation offers no room for alternatives, the cancellation of the first German Mountain Bike World Championships in 25 years is a heavy blow for the entire German mountain bike sport. Nevertheless, Albstadt remains committed to the sport of mountain biking and is already pulling out all the stops to ensure that the world's best can continue to duel it out in the famous Bullentäle in the future. World Cups are already being planned again for 2021 and 2022.
Well, it was almost to be expected, but of course everyone was hoping for a postponement and it almost makes me angry that there isn't even a plausible reason for it. - Ronja Eibl
Even if the next World Championships in Germany are not possible until 2026 at the earliest, Albstadt does not want to rule out another attempt. Although this means that the hope of a home World Championships for Manuel Fumic, Elisabeth Brandau and Adelheid Morath is over, young riders such as Ronja Eibel and Maximilan Brandl could still cause a sensation in a few years' time as "champions in Albstadt".
The press release of the World Cup organisation:
In the context of the current pandemic (Covid-19) associated with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the city of Albstadt together with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the German Cycling Federation (BDR) regret to announce that the 2020 UCI Mountain Bike Cross Country World Championships presented by Mercedes Benz, which were due to take place in Albstadt (Germany) from 25 to 28 June, are cancelled. Albstadt as the organiser, UCI and BDR worked together throughout the process and initially sought to postpone the event before agreeing on the difficult decision to cancel the championships. We share the disappointment of the cross-country community and recognise the efforts of all involved in these difficult circumstances. "It is extremely unfortunate that the Mountain Bike World Championships - which we have been preparing for since 2017 - cannot take place. But the health and safety of everyone comes first. We made this final decision after numerous discussions because it gives us - whether organisers, athletes or spectators - clarity and certainty," said Lord Mayor Klaus Konzelmann. "Albstadt is and will remain a mountain bike stronghold. We want to continue to present and promote this unique sport in Germany in the future." BDR President Rudolf Scharping commented: "After assessing the current situation, there was no alternative to cancelling the MTB World Championships in Albstadt. There were clear signals from politicians that serious international travel restrictions are still to be expected in October. We have therefore pulled the emergency brake here in coordination with the city and the UCI, but at the same time we have also set the course for the future of cycling in this MTB stronghold." "Having to make such a decision 25 years after the last MTB World Championships in Kirchzarten is sad, especially for our active mountain bikers who have been looking forward to this highlight for two years," said BDR Secretary General Martin Wolf. "However, we agreed that we could save the MTB sport its home in the "Bullentäle". World Cups are already being planned again for 2021 and 2022 and why shouldn't there be another attempt at the World Championships in a few years' time. Ronja Eibl, the local heroine, is young enough to still cause a furore as the "Champion in Albstadt"."
Max Fuchs
Editor
