UCI Sports Director, Peter Van den Abeele: Nurturing Indian Talent is Our Aim

In Crans-Montana, Switzerland, at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, the transformations in the sport of mountain biking are evident. The evolution has been observed by UCI Sports Director, Peter Van den Abeele, who noted how far the sport has come since its debut at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Technological improvements have led to enhancements in bike designs, carbon fibre frames, and suspensions, making the sport more robust and faster. However, the enthusiasm of riders and supporters remains unchanged.

“Mountain biking has experienced significant changes,” stated Van den Abeele. He explained that over the years, races which used to last three hours now only take around an hour and 25 minutes due to the reduction in course length. This transformation has made the sport more exciting to watch with faster races, bigger destinations, and larger crowds.

The UCI has diversified the championships, amalgamating different formats into 27 world-title races across seven stunning locations in the Alpine canton of Valais. Additionally, the UCI is actively seeking to expand the sport globally, recognizing the existence of talent all around the world.

The UCI’s World Cycling Centre is even considering bringing promising junior talent from India to train there in preparation for the 2025 Los Angeles Olympics. According to Van den Abeele, India has shown promise by winning its first continental medal in mountain biking at the Asian Championships earlier the same year.

While Switzerland has always been a leader in mountain biking, hosting such a large event in the country attracts even more audience and athletes. The sport is a fantastic combination of endurance, power, and agility, set against breathtaking natural landscapes. This accessibility to spectators has hugely contributed to the popularity of the sport.

The UCI Sports Director also highlighted that the sport of mountain biking is where innovations and new technologies are trialed and tested, making it the ‘laboratory of cycling.’ Moreover, many riders are choosing to compete across disciplines, especially women, thanks to the technical and endurance skills gained from off-road biking.