XCO World Cup Nove Mesto 2024: schedules, how to watch and favorites

The XCO World Cup returns to the Czech town of Nove Mesto to hold the first race on European soil of the season. The event will bring together the best riders in the peloton and will be the last qualifying race for the Olympic classification. The return of Tom Pidcock is one of the main attractions of the weekend.

Schedules and where to watch the XCO World Cup in Nove Mesto 2024

Saturday, May 25

• 11:00 Women's XCC
• 11:35 Men's XCC

Sunday, May 26

• 10:15 Women's XCO
• 14:00 Men's XCO

Platforms to follow the races

• Germany - Eurosport, discovery+ 
• Austria - Eurosport, discovery+ 
• Belgium - Eurosport
• Bolivia - Claro
• Brazil - TNT Sports, YouTube Channel 
• Bulgaria - Eurosport
• Canada - Flosports 
• Chile - Claro 
• China - Zhibo.tv 
• Colombia - Claro 
• Costa Rica - Claro 
• Denmark - Eurosport, Czech TV 
• Ecuador - Claro 
• El Salvador - Claro 
• United States (including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) - Max
• Finland - Eurosport
• France - Eurosport, L'Equipe 
• Greece - Eurosport
• Guatemala - Claro 
• Honduras - Claro 
• Hungary - Eurosport
• Ireland - discovery+ 
• Italy - Eurosport Channels, discovery+ 
• Mexico - Claro 
• Nicaragua - Claro 
• Norway - Eurosport
• Netherlands - discovery+ 
• Panama - Claro 
• Paraguay - Claro 
• Peru - Claro 
• Poland - Eurosport
• Portugal - Eurosport
• United Kingdom - Eurosport, discovery+ 
• Czech Republic - Eurosport, Czech TV 
• Dominican Republic - Claro 
• Romania - Eurosport
• Serbia - Eurosport
• Sweden - Eurosport
• Switzerland - Eurosport, SRG 
• Turkey - Eurosport
• Uganda - Claro 
• Uruguay - Claro 
• Venezuela - Claro

What happened in the last race and how is the overall standings?

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The XCO World Cup opened the season with a double session in Brazil: Mairipora was the first of the year and Araxá took over the following week. The scorching heat and the lush tropical jungle were the common denominators of weekends that crowned Christopher Blevins and Simon Andreassen.

The race in Araxá had a dramatic ending for Koretzky when his chain came off at a moment when he was already close to victory. The Frenchman had managed to break away in the final stretch and had escaped solo, but it was not enough to fight against fate. Still, he was close to completing an express comeback that would have put the icing on a sensational day.

The first two races of the year were the first real test for the top riders to measure their form. Mairipora and Araxá showed great equality, as a large group of leaders led both races until the final stages.

This is the current overall standings:

1. Victor Koretzky 520 points
2. Simon Andreassen 384 points
3. Christopher Blevins 383 points
4. Filippo Colombo 378 points
5. Jordan Sarrou 366 points

Nove Mesto will be the last obstacle -or opportunity- to secure a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Some spots for the most coveted race on the planet are still up for grabs. Spain is a good example of this: beyond David Valero, the federation will have to choose between Jofre Cullell and David Campos.

Although results in the World Cups will weigh heavily in the decision, the strong start to the year and the points difference in the ranking could tilt the balance in favor of the Catalan; on the other hand, Campos, who had an advantage to accompany Valero and has had more discreet results this season after being affected by an infection that weakened him.

In the women's category, Jenny Rissveds first and Haley Batten later climbed to the top of the podium. Both riders were the strongest, but now they will have to deal with the return of the two favorites to everything -Pauline Ferrand Prevot and Puck Pieterse- and a rider of the caliber of Mona Mitterwallner.

This is the current overall standings:

1. Haley Batten 526 points
2. Jenny Rissveds 519 points
3. Savilia Blunk 442 points
4. Alessandra Keller 370 points
5. Evie Richards 324 points  

Tom Pidcock, Nino Schurter, Victor Koretzky or Jordan Sarrou: the best riders in the world meet in Nove Mesto 

The XCO World Cup will step on European territory for the first time this season; Nove Mesto marks the beginning of a path that will continue in Italy, Switzerland, and France before crossing the pond again to compete in the last two races of the competition. Although not officially confirmed, it is expected that everyone will be present at the starting line. However, Mathieu Van der Poel will be the exception after deciding to withdraw from the Olympic Games.

Still, Nove Mesto will bring together the largest cast of top figures of the year; meaning that on paper, it is the best race so far this season. Tom Pidcock returns to the big wheels after the Shimano SuperCup Massi in La Nucia and, as always, will be one of the top favorites for victory. Victor Koretzky is the other top candidate for victory as he arrives in sensational form.

Nino Schurter will seek to rediscover good results in the World Cup, while regulars like Luca Shchwarzbauer, Jordan Sarrou, Mathias Fluckiger, or Filippo Colombo will try to continue honing their form with an eye on Paris.

The tremendous start of Simon Andreassen -victory in Araxá and in the European XCC- also positions him as a favorite.

The return of Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Puck Pieterse brings the level back to the top

Although the excitement prevailed in the XCO World Cups of Mairipora and Araxá, they were somewhat decaffeinated with the absence of Ferrand-Prevot and Pieterse. Both riders are a step above their rivals and, although they already met in the European Championships -which went in favor of the Dutch rider-, now they will come hungry to face each other in another important duel.

Initially, we should also count on the return of Mona Mitterwallner, who should have a leading role. The spotlight will also be on other candidates who could fight for the victory, such as Jenny Rissveds, Haley Batten, Jolanda Neff, Evie Richards or Savilia Blunk.