Dates for the 2013 RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup include Fort William, Willingen, Val di Sole, Vallnord, Mont Sainte Anne, Hafjell and Leogang.

The UCI say, “a round could take place in China but this is awaiting validation after the test event scheduled for the end of September.”

We’re not sure if the China event would be XC, XCE or a DH event, but sounds like an amazing opportunity.

UCI World Cup XCO/XCE Round 1 25-26.05.2013 Nove Mesto Na Morave (CZE)

UCI World Cup DHI Round 1 08-09.06.2013 Fort William (GBR)

UCI World Cup XCO/XCE/DHI Round 2 15-16.06.2013 Willingen (GER)

European Continental Championships XCO 20-23.06.2013 EUROPE

UCI MARATHON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 29-30.06.2013 KIRCHBERG (AUT)

National Championships XCO/DHI/4X WE 29 20-21.07.2013 WORLDWIDE

UCI World Cup XCO/XCE/DHI Round 3 27-28.07.2013 Val Di Sole (ITA)

UCI World Cup XCO/XCE/DHI Round 4 03-04.08.2013 Vallnord (AND)

UCI World Cup XCO/DHI Round 5 10-11.08.2013 Mont Sainte Anne (CAN)

Masters Worlds 21-25.08.2013 PIETERMARITZBURG (RSA)

UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 26.08-01.09.2013 PIETERMARITZBURG (RSA)

UCI World Cup XCO/XCE/DHI Round 6/5/6 14-15.09.2013 Hafjell (NOR)

UCI World Cup DHI Round 7 21-22.09.2013 Leogang (AUT)

Championnats Nationaux XCM / National Championships XCM 21-22.09.2013 WORLDWIDE

Next year, the RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano will comprise eight or nine rounds, each in a different country.

The season will include seven downhill (DHI) rounds, six Olympic cross-country (XCO) and five cross-country eliminator (XCE).

In total, eight rounds in eight different countries have been confirmed. A ninth round could take place in China but this is awaiting validation after the test event scheduled for the end of September.

The confirmed venues are:

-Nove Mesto (CZE): For the third time on the calendar, it was voted best XCO event in its first year on the World Cup calendar (2011). It is widely recognised and appreciated for its technical circuit and its facilities (it is a biathlon and cross-country venue).

-Fort William (GBR): It is the 11th year in the World Cup for this Scottish town which also hosted the 2007 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships. The atmosphere is legendary thanks to a large and particularly enthusiastic public.

-Willingen (GER): 2012 marks a return to the calendar after seven years’ absence. The World Cup round will be part of a large annual festival with events for the whole family, 200 exhibitors and more than 30,000 visitors over three days.

-Val di Sole (ITA): Organiser of the 2008 Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships and member of the World Cup calendar since 2010, Val di Sole will see a return of the XCO after a break from this format in 2012.

-Vallnord (AND): This small nation in the eastern Pyrenees returns to the calendar after an absence of three years.

-Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN): This Canadian resort hasn’t missed an edition of the World Cup since its creation in 1991, with the exception of 1998 and 2010 when it hosted the World Championships.

-Hafjell (NOR): This is its second year on the calendar and its first as host of the cross-country events. It will be the final round for XCO and XCE.

-Leogang (AUT): One of the venues of the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships, Leogang will host the final DHI round, widely recognised by the specialists of the discipline.

Check out www.uci.ch