The 2013 RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano will kick off in a new venue, Albstadt, Germany. For its first time on the World Cup calendar, this city in the Swabian Alps will host the opening rounds of Olympic cross-country and cross-country eliminator on May 18-19. The season will get under way for the downhill racers three weeks later in the traditional venue of Fort William, Great Britain.

It is sad to see that no 2013 World Cup rounds will be held on America soil (the place where mountain bike racing was founded). Sorry to all the Aaron Gwin fans out there.

It is also perplexing to see that the Eliminator, the strangest non-mountain biking event ever dreamed up by the UCI, is still considered a World-Cup-Level event.

In 2013, the World Cup will comprise eight rounds in eight different countries, with five rounds of cross-county eliminator and six each for downhill and cross-country.

2013 RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano
May 18-19 – Albstadt (GER) XCO / XCE
May 25-26 - Nove Mesto na Morave (CZE) XCO / XCE
June 8-9 – Fort William (GBR) DHI
June 15-16 - Val Di Sole (ITA) XCO / XCE / DHI
July 27-28 – Vallnord (AND) XCO / XCE / DHI
August 10-11 – Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN) XCO / DHI
September 14-15 – Hafjell (NOR) XCO / XCE / DHI
September 21-22 – Leogang (AUT) DHI.