Preview: Australia out to break medal drought at 2024 UCI MTB World Championships

A mix of new and established riders are set to take on the world when the ARA Australian Cycling Team descends on Pal Arinsal in Andorra this week for  the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships . 

From August 28 to September 1, the 25-strong team will be out to break podium droughts in both the cross-country and downhill categories. 

Six Aussie riders will take to the cross-country course, a twisty and tough 4km loop, which combines plenty of tough climbing  with punishing technical sections over roots and rocks. 

Two-time world championship medalist Rebecca Henderson has performed well at this venue in recent years, highlighted by a short course podium finish in 2022. 

Joining Henderson will be Zoe Cuthbert, who makes her elite level world championship debut, while Sam Fox is the sole representative in the elite men’s race.

Zoe Cuthbert will be Australia's second rider in the elite women's race.

Jack Ward will line up in the under 23s, with Harry Doye and Eddie Mungoven part of a massive 85 rider field in the junior men. 

Nineteen of our best elite and junior riders are set to drop in for the downhill component and vie for the coveted rainbow jersey.

Current national downhill champion Luke Meier-Smith has enjoyed racing at the Andorra venue, with top 10 finishes over the past two years. 

Along with Troy Brosnan, our last championship medalist five years ago, the duo can be a genuine podium threat on their day. 

Australia has six athletes – including four debutants – competing in the 78-strong junior men competition. 

Australia last featured on the podium in the category back in 2019, when Kye A’Hern claimed the world championship title. 

Kye A'Hern was the last junior male to win a downhill world championship in 2019.

Australia has endured a similar drought in the elite women, with our last world championship medalist coming in 2017 when Tracey Hannah took bronze in Cairns. 

Sian A’Hern, Ellie Smith and Elise Empey will carry Australian hopes in 2024 on race day, with Sacha Mills and Elleni Turkovic competing in the junior category. 

This is a physical course, where fractions of seconds could decide the medals, as it did last in the World Cup round here. If things happen to get wet, then we can expect a far more unpredictable outcome.

Schedules and how to watch the action 

SBS will be showing all the Elite category races – including Short-Track, Downhill, and XCO – on its SBS On-Demand platform. 

• SBS – (All Elite races FREE for viewers in Australia) 

You can find the schedule for racing here.  

ARA Australian Cycling Team for the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships 

Elite Women XC  

• Zoe Cuthbert (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists) 

• Rebecca Henderson (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists) 

Elite Men XC  

• Sam Fox (Launceston Mountain Bike Club) 

U23 Men XC  

• Jack Ward (Yarra Ranges Mountain Bikers Inc) 

Junior Men XC 

• Harry Doye (Red Hill MTBC) 

• Eddie Mungoven (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists) 

 Elite Men DH 

• Kye A’Hern (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists) 

• Troy Brosnan (Inside Line Inc) 

• Jackson Connelly (Jindabyne Cycling Club) 

• Oliver Davis (Albury Wodonga Mountain Bikers Inc) 

• Jackson Frew (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists) 

• Luke Meier-Smith (Manning Great Lakes Tip Riders) 

• Remy Meier-Smith (Manning Great Lakes Tip Riders) 

• Mick Hannah (Cairns Mountain Bike Club) 

Elite Women DH 

• Sian A’Hern (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists) 

• Elise Empey (Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club) 

• Ellie Smith (Greenvalleys Mountain Bike Club) 

 Junior Men DH 

• Zac Bradley (Alpine Cycling Club) 

• Rye Carlyon (Red Hill Riders MTBC) 

• William Ireland (Hunter Mountain Bike Assoc) 

• Cooper Northey (Alpine Cycling Club 

• Carter Sloan (Coothaa MTB Inc) 

• Patrick Ward (Yarra Ranges Mountain Bikers Inc) 

Junior Women DH 

• Sacha Mills (Outlook Riders Alliance Inc) 

• Elleni Turkovic (Garrigal Gorrials Inc) 

Feature picture: Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com