Thrills and Thumps: Mountain Biking in Quebec by Bryen Dunn
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Both involve plenty of bumps and grinds, but differences prevail with the two unique formats of racing that make up the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Downhill is often associated with a more technical ride with the twisting rocky trails and high-tail jumps, whereas the cross country riders are tested for their endurance levels as they circumvent their way through the race circuit. I personally found the downhill course to be somewhat more exciting to watch, perhaps after having experienced my own interpretation of the runs, but mostly for the fact that riders have only one shot at winning the race.
Since the initial races first took place, the local biking culture has morphed into a three week festival called Vélirium that represents fashion, lifestyle, culture and many different forms of cycling. Now along with the mountain biking races there are plenty of activities for individuals to participate in, such as Raid Velo Mag ride from Quebec City to Mont-Saint-Anne, BMX antics, Veli-Kidz, and even unicycling. There’s also Urban Delirium that takes place on the Thursday evening along Grande Allée, one of the main dining and entertainment strips in Quebec City. The entire street is turned into an outdoor playground with BMX ramps, music stages and beer gardens.
Arriving at the mountain and feeling the rush and excitement of my surroundings, I decided to head to the hills for my own personal downhill experience. Ascending in the cable car with my rented Scott bike, I could see the riders below me testing the route that would later prove to be their friend or enemy in the final races. I chose to do the trails with a local guide, François Gariépy, who has been tackling the mountain since the first year mountain biking has been offered. He seemed proud to tell me that he’s broken his collarbone three times, in addition to multiple other body parts.
As the downhill races begin, I follow the trail up the mountain to catch riders at various vantage points. I heard the thump of one rider colliding with the ground in front of me, and later I chatted with one guy from San Diego who smiled and told me, “I’m happy to be alive”. Apparently he hit a rock with his chain guard, which then locked up his chain causing him to fly over his handle bars some 200 metres forward, completely separate directions from his bike. Picking up his bike afterward, he carried it down to the finish line, handlebars and body in separate pieces.
During breaks between races, attendees can roam the village of vendors to check out the latest bikes, accessories and more. There’s also a couple of lounges to kick back and enjoy a cool beverage, and take in some of the bike related art on display. As night falls, a different sort of action begins as eight hours of music performances begin.
The next day brought the 4-Cross and the Cross Country World Cup races. With the Championship weekend happening at the same time as the Tour de France, there was no shortage of cycling chatter amongst the enthralled crowd and riders alike. All in all it’s an experience like no other, whether you choose to watch from the sidelines, or create one of your own adventures.
Next year, in addition to hosting the 20th annual World Cup, the World Championships will be held at Mont-Saint-Anne for the second time as well. The Championships are a one day event where riders represent their nation instead of their teams or sponsors. It’s considered by many athletes and spectators to be a top notch event ranking alongside the status level of Olympic competitions, as participants from around the world will be arriving to partake in the activities.
Ready, Set, Ride!