We know MVDP is an MTB-er by heart - he said this is his favorite discipline. But after his injury at the Tokyo Olympics, he seems to have moved away from MTB racing. PFP is now also doing the same. Tom Pidcock too. Puck Pieterse just announced moving to road/gravel.
What’s going on? Is it the money of road racing? Is it the injury risk of racing MTB? Watching the road racing I can’t help to think it is actually more dangerous than MTB XCO.
I must say I was looking forward to watching these professionals excel across the different cycling disciplines. I can’t help feeling disappointed as a MTB fan, but would like to understand the factors that drive these decisions a little better.
I think for the women, it’s the draw of having a chance to race/win the TdF. I think the changes in women’s road cycling are bringing all the top talent to the road.
Good point. TdF Femme was very exciting. This is great to see, frankly. But does MTB need more grand events…perhaps stage races to balance things out?
Watching the Cape Epic with great footage from helicopters, drones, and e-bike followers makes for a great experience watching from the couch, but clearly the choices professionals must make take other variables into consideration. I’m just wondering if the MTB community has the potential to step things up a bit that just needs a bit more coordination to let fan money flow to support sponsorships.
Watching Candice Lill race without sponsors makes me cringe. But I digress from the original topic…
Didn’t Puck just say she’s skipping the last two World Cups in North America so she could race road and gravel worlds? It definitely didn’t sound like she was done with MTB. After all, she has a rainbow jersey she needs to show off all next season.
I guess that is mainly an economic issue. MTB while is broadcasted in some countries, is not as watched as road bike races. What I mean is that road races can be a way to attract sponsors, bigger contracts, etc.
Anyway, I do enjoy watching this monsters winning but if I am honest, I rather the MTB XCO championships few years ago when the races were more equalized and maybe 5 to 10 riders could win the race. Today, there are just 2-3 that depending on when they are peaking, win the races solo mode. That is not attractive to me as a fan.
But that is just my opinion.
BTW, in Spain we could watch the MTB world cup via RedBull TV for free but now we have to pay 10€ for Max and 5€ for the Sports channels…and RedBull broadcasting was much more fun. Is crazy but it is what it is.
This.
I think the athletes go where they can make the best living. Most of them do not earn much. It’s a pity that MTBing doesn’t get more views. I think offers a much better viewing experience as the race is shorter, people do loops around the course, so viewers can anticipate critical sections and keeping an overview over the race is easier.
Personally, I love riding my bike, off-road and also on-road. But I find road races hard to watch.
It seems like a smart move. Puck doesn’t have to do all that travel to North America for just two races. She can stay at home and race Road and Gravel Worlds without all the hassle of traveling overseas. Her team was probably happy not to have to pay all those travel expenses to North America.
I think it’s different things for all the athletes you mentioned. PFP has won everything off road and now there’s a women’s Tour de France. Why not try to win something new? Same with Puck. She’s young. She’s won MTB and CX stuff. She wants to try something new and different. Pidcock may be getting some pressure from Ineos to do more road or at least minimize his MTB risk. He’s also stated he wants to win all 3 World Champs jerseys. He’s got MTB and CX. MTB season takes him away from the road season. For MvdP I wouldn’t be surprised if he races MTB again. But like Pidcock, there’s a road team (which I think he’s like part owner of) that wants him on the road and healthy. He’s had bad luck on the MTB track. Maybe he’ll do the opposite and win everything road then move back to MTB.
But overall I don’t think it’s a sign of anything to come like MTB is dying. People just want to do something different. I’ve done road and CX for years and am just now getting into XC racing. I just want to do something different.
There’s a reason lots of riders skip the North American world cups. It’s a bummer but I totally get that it’s simply not worth it for many. They always fall late in the season after most people’s biggest goals have come and gone, or there are larger ones that take priority.
I think its money AND that they don’t have to stick to one discipline. All examples mentioned have a multi-discipline background so one main source of income, an amazing engine and tactics building process and fun on the side. For PFP is a different situation. I think she is a bit tired of xco, wants and needs a new chapter and found a good moment to leave on a high spot.