XCO, or Cross country Olympic Format is one of the most well know and exciting disciplines of mountain biking. Cross country MTB became an Olympic sport in 1996 and is the only form of mountain biking practiced at the Olympics. With head to head racing, technical tracks and world class athletes, it’s an action packed event.

The rules for cross country mountain biking for the Olympics are actually pretty simple. The race has a mass start, with all of the riders starting at the same time, and the riders then have to finish a set amount of laps around a course between four kilometres and six kilometres in length. The number of laps to be completed is dependant on the category entered.

There are six rounds in this series and your best four results will be counted towards your series result. Meaning: if you miss a race or have a mechanical problem, you still have a chance.

For more information about categories and format, visit the Victorian Mountain Biking Championship Series website.