The XCO circuit of Araxá is wild, in every sense

The brutal Araxá circuit will be the stage for the second round of the XCO World Cup 2024. The track runs rapidly through the Brazilian jungle and will be a true test of skill and technique. The riders have already been able to ride during training sessions and the organization has collected their first impressions.

Araxá, a race for survival: the traps hidden in a circuit that has already been modified by the UCI

The XCO World Cup 2024 remains in Brazilian territory for the second race of the season. Mairipora offered a friendly circuit that combined a generous track width with a fast and not very technical design. Characteristics that led to a large group of leaders in the race on the last lap. Now, Araxá is presented as the complete opposite and brings to the table all the ingredients for a spectacular weekend with high levels of risk.

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The second race of the XCO World Cup 2024 will take place on a circuit of 3.5 kilometers and 163 meters of positive elevation. This will be Araxá's debut in the top competition of the discipline, although it has been organizing international events for over two decades. Despite the extensive history, many riders will pedal here for the first time.

The track penetrates through the lush Brazilian vegetation and does so on red soil that can become a headache if it gets wet - the weather forecast is quite clear that the weekend will be rain-free.

Araxá is a continuous exercise in concentration and technical skill; weapons that can tip the balance of the race. These conditions, which are always a safe bet in XCO, become essential on a track like this, where there are hardly any moments without jumps, drops, or rock gardens.

Mistakes are always costly and Araxá is a constant test for the riders; especially important will be both the early stages of the race - with many people very close together - and the final stages - with accumulated fatigue and nerves at the end.

The organization has released a video showing some of the main cyclists in the peloton overcoming the challenges of the track. The natural bumpy descents through the trees are fought between jumps and other artificial obstacles. It is remarkable how riders differ in choosing their lines on descents; while some choose to go inside, others find more confidence on the outside.

Thomas Litscher revealed that the circuit is "quite dusty" but "impressive, fun, super technical." He also describes it as full of "challenging rock gardens and fast sections with jumps," making it "a great course to bring out the best in the riders."

Mathias Fluckiger stated that "it is one of the most exciting circuits we have." On the other hand, Jolanda Neff and Haley Batten discussed with their teams the most suitable lines, studying where their rivals were going and their own personal impressions.

Although most riders seem to recognize the difficulties of the circuit, they also show signs of being happy and excited about the challenge -David Campos, a rider with refined and careful technique, has shown great enthusiasm. However, the UCI had to intervene yesterday to make some modifications in areas they considered too risky.

The XCO World Cup in Araxá will take place this weekend and once again it is expected that a large number of people will attend and cheer fervently for the participants.