Maybe I’m overthinking it, it just feels weird that XCO, which to the best of my knowledge we don’t do locally, at least not in the multiple laps of a relatively short course sense, and XCM, which we do have but which is a totally different monster… are the only MTB training plan options.
I mean, I’m sure that XCO will benefit me with it being MTB of similar overall duration, but in my region (PNW) I think almost everything is one big loop, tending to 10-15 miles and appx an hour for Cat 3s like me, and very roughly double that for the 1s and 2s. The semi-local race that’s most familiar to me (Mudslinger XC, in Blodgett, OR) has often been nearly defined by one big opening climb that’s the first third of the race, and I think that’s not uncommon. Pretty different effort to contrast to XCO, which almost looks like a barrierless cyclocross race by comparsion, right? Okay, more elevation than ‘cross usually sees, but…
I’d wonder if I was just mentally stuck from my NORBA-era entry to the sport, but honestly, I don’t think we really have XCO around here. How’d that come to be the canonical “non-marathon” XC MTB?
I think it’s just semantics. There’s a ton of grey area in cycling definitions so don’t get hung up on them.
For TR training plans my rule of thumb is if it’s less than about 3 hours, do XCO. If it’s 3-6 hours, do XCM. More than about 6 hours, consider Grand Fondo.
The other differentiator for me would be that XCO would be higher intensity and punchier, XCM would be a bit longer climbs as well as longer races.
I’d probably lean toward XCO for this. Maybe a bit different if that climb is like 20-30min of constant power but it’s still going to be above threshold with punches even higher at the start and the maintain position. XCM is probably better if the climbs are longer and more like SS/FTP intensity due to the duration of the race.
I can’t for sure but probably a combo of that’s how to pro races are structured, lots of places around the country don’t have 1 hour loops that they can run regular races on, and shorter repeated loops make it easier to scale the same course for multiple races (e.g. 1 lap/20min for juniors → 2 laps/40min for Cat 3 → 3 laps/60min for Cat 2 → etc etc)
I’m a little lost as to what you’re looking for here.
When you say XC, are you talking about a bigger loop or a point-to-point race rather than a circuit like XCC and XCO?
In those cases, it sounds like the effort is still pretty similar to an XCM or gravel race, which could both be good options.
XCM would be good for punchier efforts (but maybe slightly less so than XCO,) and gravel would cover those more sustained efforts.
If the race is ~90 minutes in duration, I still think XCO could be a good plan, but if you’re not surging often and the course isn’t hilly, maybe XCM is the right move for you.
Wait until you learn about XCC, lmao. In VA we actually had separate XC and XCO state championships this year because the rights to run them are held by two different race directors.
Generic training plans can be good, but they’re exactly that - generic. It sounds like your race has a longer threshold effort climb rather than the usual XCO punchy efforts, so I’d find a plan with more focus on sweet spot and threshold.
I think some of the other answers here have encapsulated my concerns pretty well.
I am talking about one lap, often with one protracted climb that dominates the map, but the overall duration is much more XCO than XCM.
I’m rolling with the notion that overall duration is probably the stronger marker when choosing between XCO and XCM, but given that we have seven different disciplines just within off-road training plans, it feels a bit like XC is adrift with more emphasis on a longer steady effort than XCO, but much less emphasis on an all-day effort than XCM. I suspect that XCO will suit me well enough, and mercifully I am built largely of low-hanging fruit, probably making it a less crucial decision.
And not important to TR in general, I’m just personally startled that XC MTB as I know it regionally and as I imprinted on it years ago isn’t even recognized either in TR’s or Wikipedia’s disciplines lists.
I’m happy to roll with XCO without further response if that makes sense.
I think this is totally semantics. In my head XCO is traditional XC. I don’t care if the course is 8 small loops or 1 big loop. If you are riding on mtb trails somewhere from 1 hr to 1:30, I would be picking the XCO plan.
Sorry for the slight threadjack - but curious how you enjoyed that race and suggestions on any other gravel/long xc mtb races you may recommend in the PNW?
I just relocated from Texas to WA and putting together my 2026 calendar. Signed up for the Gorge Gravel and Cascade Gravel (long distances) and planning to do the high cascade mtb race as well. I’m very inexperienced on the mtb, but a strong rider, so will be training my mtb skills a lot.
“XC” is just a generic term that encapsulates XCC, XCO, and XCM. The shorter the event, the harder and higher IF and punchier you can go, moving up the spectrum into more threshold and VO2 efforts. Think about it time based and roll with XCO.
For comparison on the long end, I don’t care how “punchy” a course is. If you’re out there for 8-9 hours or 10-12 hours you have to find a way to keep it under wraps and stay under threshold every chance you get, that’s what gearing is for and why you’ll see Gran Fondo recommended for events like Leadville as opposed to an XCM plan that has a little more intensity.
Vicious Cycle puts on a series of six gravel races spread throughout Washington from March through September. I have not raced them myself but have a number of riding buddies who had great things to say about them (I think some of the races may sell out).
The Dirt Abides is an XC mountain bike series that is mostly in central Washington - 6 races spread from March until June. The seem to rotate locations for some of the races each year. I have ridden a couple of courses they have used in past years an they were fun courses.
There are a few fun gravel races (both in Spokane, WA and around the Sandpoint, ID) if you are willing to travel over to the eastern border
FWIW last year my kids and I raced XCO in Washougal, WA, Missoula, MT, Soldier Hollow, UT. Other kids on the team also raced XCO in California, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Virginia. MTB national championships are typically an XCO style course. Most NICA courses (raced by thousands of kids across the nation) are also similar to an XCO course.
Washougal was one of our favorite races last year and is only 2hrs from Blodgett, OR. We drove 6 hours to race there. You should check it out this year.
Anyway, I’ll echo what others have said, if you are racing XC 2hrs or less, use the XCO plan, if you are racing 2-6hr use XCM, for longer MTB races like Leadville use gravel or gran fondo plan.
My two most local XC races are both more similar to what you describe for the Blodgett race. One is four laps of a 7 mile course and has a 15 min and 5 min climb each lap. The other race (that I won expert class) is 1.5 laps of a 16 mile loop. You do a 25 min climb, then a 15 min climb, then a 5 min climb, then repeat the 25 min climb. I think that the XCM plan is the better plan for those climb durations.