In just a few months, the UCI Cycling World Championships (3-13 August) will bring together the very best riders from cycling’s different disciplines for 11 amazing days of competition in Glasgow and across Scotland. It will be the first time that 13 UCI World Championships are held in the same venue and at the same time.
Germany’s Nina Reichenbach (Women Elite) and British athlete Jack Carthy (Men Elite 26”) will be there to try to defend their rainbow jerseys in the trials discipline. After the first round of the 2023 UCI Trials World Cup in Vic, Catalonia (Spain), they look ahead to what awaits in Glasgow in August.
How is your form?
Nina Reichenbach: My preparation was really good. After last year’s UCI World Championships in November, I took a break of six weeks and restarted in January, then spent four weeks in Chile, outside and in different areas. At the UCI World Cup in Catalunya, my semi-final was really, really good but in the final… I’m not happy with my performance, I know that I can do it better.
Jack Carthy: I had a really good off-season. Usually in England it rains a lot and this year we haven’t had much! I really enjoyed Vic, they made the level of the course harder than normal, so it was more challenging and much better.
How does a UCI World Cup compare to a UCI World Championships?
NR: What’s the same is the riders, your opponents, but what’s different about the UCI World Championships is it’s all about the rainbow jersey and you only have one chance. It’s always the highlight of the season.
JC: The UCI World Cup, in theory, produces the best rider over the series because it’s done over a few rounds, but that’s also what makes the UCI World Championships so interesting, because everything is on the line. I’ve always chased UCI World titles. I only go into a competition to win, I’m not interested in second place, it’s ride or die!
Is every rainbow jersey equally special?
NR: The most special and emotional rainbow jersey is the one I won last year in Abu Dhabi. I had the jersey for four years, then there was Covid and a one-year break, then I got second place, and I really worked hard to get it back, and when I won in Abu Dhabi it was like ‘wow!’, all the work paid off. But I’m certainly ready for another emotional rainbow jersey this year!
JC: Every single one has a different story to it. For me it’s all about the chase, the challenge of chasing it, always has been. When I was a kid my dad would say things like ‘Imagine if you won the World Champs 10 times…’ Now I feel less pressure because I’ve achieved everything I wanted to, and I love the sport more than ever. And not just trials, any bikes, I’m just bike mad!
What do the UCI Cycling World Championships mean for trials?
NR: I really like the concept to put all the disciplines together. The spectators who come, for example, for track cycling, will see that there is also trials. As trials is still a small sport, this will help us reach more people.
JC: Of all the disciplines I think trials is the one that will reap the biggest benefit. I don’t think many people realise the level of skill in trials… the skillfulness of trials puts every other discipline to shame. It’s unbelievable, making a bike jump up 2 metres, it’s mind-blowing!
I think the UCI Cycling World Championships is a great idea. It’s really nice to put everything on the same platform and give every sport the same chance. There’s no negatives, it’s just brilliant! Even if I didn’t ride bikes I’d want to come and watch them all and spend the two weeks just being there! If you like bikes it’s the place to be!
Will you get to see any other events?
NR: I’d really like to see the track cycling in the velodrome, and the downhill mountain biking - full gas! For the riders, when we are in the competition, we don’t get much time to watch the other disciplines… I end up fully focussed on my own competition. But everyone should come and watch the trials. People who see trials live for the first time are impressed.
JC: Hopefully I’ll get to see some of the others, after my event is done. And I’m also glad to see the Enduro coming into the UCI, which is in the UCI World Cup already. I’m interested in the E-bikes, especially when there’s more uphill.
Who should we watch out for at Glasgow Green?
NR: In the Women’s competition, it’s probably between Vera Barón, Alba Riera and me… of course I hope it’s me! In the Men 20” class there are great Spanish riders, and Charlie Rolls from Great Britain, I think he has a good chance.
In the Men’s 26”, again, many good riders from Spain, and of course, Jack Carthy! For Charlie and Jack, it’s not like the fans will be cheering because they are British, they really have chances to win.
JC: Anyone who’s in the finals, they’re all worth watching, I might like the style of one rider and someone else will enjoy the style of another. They’ve all put a huge amount in to get there.
The trials events at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships run from Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 August. More information about the event can be found on the UCI website.