Lake Placid to host a round of WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series

Lake Placid will host a round of the WHOOP UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Mountain Bike World Series — the world’s premier mountain biking circuit — for the first time Sep. 27-29, 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced recently in a press release.

According to a release from the governor’s office, with a loyal following of thousands of fans, the press release said the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will bring the top professional mountain bikers in the world to Lake Placid to compete in three UCI Mountain Bike World Cups: the UCI Cross-country Olympic, UCI Cross-country Short Track and the UCI Cross-country Marathon.

The announcement follows more than $550 million in state investments in Olympic Regional Development Authority facilities to renovate New York’s sports infrastructure and builds on Hochul’s commitment to supporting the state’s $123 billion tourism industry, the release said. Tickets for the event’s three men’s and women’s races are on sale.

“The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is our next big chance to show the world what the North Country has to offer,” Hochul said in the release. “This September, thousands of athletes and spectators from around the globe will flock to Lake Placid to enjoy our breathtaking views, world-class sporting facilities, vibrant businesses, and top-notch eateries.

“New York State is building a year-round destination in the North Country, and I encourage New Yorkers and visitors to buy their tickets and be a part of this year’s festivities.”

Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid is one of 15 stops for the series that spans 10 countries on three continents, starting with two weekends of cross-country races in Brazil — April 1214 in Mairiporã and April 19-21 in Araxá. The release said the series continues until the first weekend of October with the traditional formats of cross-country and downhill as well as formats that are new to the series, such as Cross-country marathon, Enduro and E-Enduro.

In addition, the Olympic Authority and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, global promoter managing the broadcast, promotion and organization of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, will enter into a three-year agreement to host the races and help grow the discipline worldwide, the release said. All 16 race weekends of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will be shown on the B/R Sports hub on the Max streaming service in the United States.

Mountain biking made its Olympic debut in 1996 at the Atlanta Games and has been part of the Olympic program at each of the six Summer Games since, with men’s and women’s cross-country Olympic racing. According to the release, the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series will take an extensive mid-season break during the Paris Olympic Games, which run from July 26 to Aug. 11.

The series resumes Sept. 6-8 with downhill and enduro races Sept. 6-8 in Loudenvielle, France, followed by the cross-country races in Lake Placid and the season finale at Mont-Saine-Anne, Quebec, on Oct. 4-6.

“We are thrilled to introduce a mountain biking event of this scale to Lake Placid for the first time. This is a unique opportunity for our venues, which have historically been focused on winter activities,” Olympic Authority President and CEO Ashley Walden said in the release. “The recent upgrades have made it possible for the Olympic Authority to expand our operations to accommodate elite events and training yearround as we begin a new chapter that will now include a Summer Olympic sport.”

“After a ground-breaking 2023, I am proud to welcome both iconic venues and new destina

tions to the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar,” Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Cycling Events Vice President Chris Ball said in the release. “In the largest expansion of international mountain bike for many years, six new venues will join a blockbuster of a year, totaling 15 event weekends. Expansion into South America and long-term agreements in Lake Placid in the USA, Trentino in Italy and Haute-Savoie in France are hallmarks to a season that offers more racing than ever before.

“I LOVE NY is excited to welcome the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series to Lake Placid and the majestic Adirondack Mountains,” Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said in the release.” This is a terrific addition to the roster of competitions at New York’s world-class Olympic facilities.

“The cool, crisp autumn air is perfect for mountain biking, and the fall foliage will provide a colorful backdrop for riders and spectators,” Levi continued. “We invite residents and visitors alike to come experience the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series and enjoy all of the world-class attractions, lodging and dining available throughout the Adirondacks that make it easy to love New York during our beautiful fall season.”

The release said Hochul has maintained a strong commitment to supporting New York’s tourism industry — one of the state’s key economic drivers. New York State welcomed 291.5 million visitors in 2022, the largest number of visitors in New York State’s history, generating more than $78.6 billion in direct spending and $123 billion in total economic impact following historic investments in tourism, economic development, outdoor recreation, transportation and other key sectors.

As part of that commitment, the release said Hochul has supported significant investments of more than $600 million in the Olympic Authority facilities to help reposition the State of New York as a global winter sport destination. These investments have supported major sporting events like the 2023 FISU Winter World University Games, which were held in Lake Placid last year.

The major transformations and modernizations were executed with a focus on sustainability and financial responsibility. In tandem, the release said event promoter and organizer WBD Sports recently achieved the ISO20121 certification for its commitment to sustainable event management. This certification approves the structured framework that integrates sustainability into their event management practices.

According to the release, the Olympic Authority venues include Mount Van Hoevenberg, the Olympic Center, the Olympic Jumping Complex and three ski areas: Belleayre Mountain, Gore Mountain and Whiteface Mountain. The facilities are open year-round for events, athlete training and recreation while providing world-class experiences and competitions.

In addition to its six venues in the Adirondacks and Catskills, the Olympic Authority manages the Lake Placid Olympic Museum and Lake Placid Conference Center, the release said. The organization also owns the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, the U.S. Luge Association facility and the Olympic Authority’s Corporate offices, all located in Lake Placid.

During the 2022-2023 season, the Olympic Authority activities generated a one-year direct economic impact of $341.8 million, according to an Economic Impact Analysis conducted by Tourism Economics, the release said. In addition, the Olympic Authority supported 3,414 jobs and generated $25 million in state and local tax revenues.

For more information on the event, visit the Overview page which includes a detailed schedule and the UCI Mountain Bike World Series website.