I remember the only other time I watched XC racing was during the women’s race in the Rio Olympics. The course back then was more engaging compared to this one. A significant portion of the current course is on a road, making it less exciting. The only variation is a few rock drops that are quite subdued. It’s important that non-mountain bikers watching this don’t get the wrong impression about the sport. I hope they realize that XC racing is not all there is to mountain biking. It might not be very appealing for newcomers to pick up the sport if they only see this type of racing.
I don’t think my opinion means I’m disconnected from mountain biking. It’s just disappointing to see such a lackluster course. There are probably people who never ride their mountain bikes on dirt trails but consider themselves mountain bikers. Urban downhill races should not be disparaged either, as they offer a different experience within the sport. However, it’s essential to showcase the wide variety of terrains and challenges that mountain biking has to offer to attract more people to the sport.