Episode 10: Behind the scenes at the UCI MTB World Series in the Finale Outdoor Region
A last minute invitation to help emcee at the UCI MTB World Series events in Italy at the beginning of June ‘23 was an opportunity too good to pass on. I hopped on a flight out and landed in time to help with the Enduro (EDR) race in Pietra Ligure on the Saturday, and the Marathon (XCM) race on the Sunday, more on which later.
Mountain bike events are, in my opinion, thrilling. There’s obviously the buzz of the actual racing, which is incredible to see close up and first hand. But there’s also the peripheral activity that’s not as often seen - the pits with mechanics tweaking the bike, the managers and team members ensuring the racers have everything they need, the various bike brands showcasing their new products, the organisers making sure everything is running as smoothly as possible, and the show-makers; broadcasters, videographers, and the in-venue stage management. I grabbed the opportunity to chat with three of the people who bring it all to thrilling life.
First up, Liz Walker, team manager for Liv Racing. Liz was in Italy to support Liv Racing athlete Rae Morrison, racing enduro. Liz talks about what her role as team manager entails (spoiler: a lot!), what it’s like dealing with the highs and lows that come with racing, and the emotional rollercoaster that is waiting for your athlete to complete their race.
From the racers perspective, I talked to enduro rider Dimitri Tordo from the Canyon CLLCTV team. He had a great race, placing fourth in the event. And finally, Rhys Person from Great Big Events (GBE), the company that run the in-venue event management. They are working with the team behind the UCI MTB World Series to elevate the experience for the venue crowd, with live video feeds, race timings, interviews and a whole lot more. Given the company works with FIFA, World Rugby, World Aquatics and more, and has expertise in fan engagement and technical innovation like metrics and data, expect a whole lot more to come.
My role for the weekend was assisting Enrico Guala, one of the original founders of the Enduro World Series and local organiser of the Finale Outdoor Region events. That essentially meant helping run the stage, calling up the marathon racers to the start grid and the enduro racers for their roll-out, updating the venue crowds on the action out on course, and other bits and pieces. And I absolutely loved it. There’s a real thrill around live events, and to have another opportunity after doing the same at the EWS Tweed Valley event in 2022 was an honour.