The history of mountain biking has also been marked by great athletes who have become true icons of this discipline, in its various competitions. From enduro to XC, from downhill to the Eliminator, every race has its champion.
Often, these super athletes also represent the legacy of the best MTB brands and the biggest teams to which they are associated. They have also often become true ambassadors for various types of off-road bikes, or specific MTB wheels and accessories.
But regardless of the sponsors, the teams they belong to, and the products they choose to use, great champions have always earned their fame through merit, winning on the field.
Among former Italian (and non-Italian) professional cyclists and promising young MTB riders, here is a list of athletes who have made history in the discipline.
New promises and former Italian professional cyclists
Let's start with the home-grown champions. These are the Italian athletes who have already proven on the trails that they can race and win at the highest levels in their disciplines. Some of these names have retired from professional cycling, others are still competing, while the elite of Italian MTB are also seeing the emergence of promising young talents.
PAOLA PEZZO
Paola Pezzo deserves a special mention, as she is a true pillar of Italian mountain biking history. She won two Olympic gold medals in cross-country: Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.
MARCUS AURELIUS FOUNTAIN
Marco Aurelio Fontana is one of Italy's top cross-country cyclists . He represented Italy at the 2012 London Olympics, winning a bronze medal, and was the 2013 Team Relay World Champion.
GERHARD KERSCHBAUMER
This Italian cyclist is a true MTB phenomenon , who however announced his retirement from international racing in 2022. Gerhard Kerschbaumer has become famous for his constant victories in the cross-country discipline and has achieved several successes in the World Cup and European Championships.
EVA LECHNER
One of Italy's top cross-country cyclists , winner of two medals at the Elite Individual World Championships and three-time world champion in the team relay, Eva Lechner has been a constant presence in international competitions, including at the Olympic Games for Team Italy.
GAIA TORMENA
Born in 2002, Gaia Tormena is a promising (and already fulfilled!) figure in Italian MTB , as well as an ambassador for the Ursus brand . Despite her young age, she has already achieved the feat of winning the World Championship, the World Cup, the European Championship, and the Italian championship in the XCE eliminator, as well as a gold medal in the Italian enduro championship, in just one year (2022).
MTB athletes around the world
And outside of Italy? The history of mountain biking (MTB) has been influenced by numerous exceptional athletes, who have helped define the discipline and take it to ever higher levels, in endurance racing, cross-country, downhill and all the other numerous MTB disciplines.
JOHN TOMAC, "THE BOMBER"
A true MTB legend , a cross-country and downhill champion. He is considered a pioneer of off-road cycling and one of the most versatile riders in MTB history;
JULIEN ABSALON
This French cyclist dominated the cross-country scene for many years. He won numerous Olympic medals and world championships, demonstrating extraordinary consistency and versatility;
ANNA-CAROLINE CHAUSSON, THE QUEEN OF DOWNHILL
Winner of numerous gold medals at the downhill world championships, she left an indelible mark on the discipline;
NINO SCHURTER
Swiss cyclist, rightfully considered one of the greatest cross-country athletes of all time. He won numerous Olympic and world championship medals and set a new standard of excellence;
HANS REY
One of the pioneers of enduro and freeride , who helped push the limits of MTB with his incredible riding skills;
TRACY MOSELEY
A British athlete, she's one of the world's best in downhill and women's enduro racing. She has won numerous world titles and demonstrated great adaptability when switching between disciplines;
GREG MINAAR
Minnaar is a South African cyclist, one of the most successful athletes in the history of downhill racing. He has won numerous World Cup races and world championships thanks to his ability to handle technical terrain.
But how do you become a mountain bike champion?
As with all sports, to become a champion (or legend, in the case of some athletes) three things are needed: talent, but above all consistency and hard training.
Having the best equipment helps, of course: but victory is only achieved with dedication.
MTB training: what you should never miss
Mountain biking requires specific training that must obviously also take into account the discipline being practiced.
There are differences, for example, between MTB training for cross-country, endurance, downhill, etc., since each discipline requires specific technical skills and physical conditions.
However, there are some common elements that should never be missing in MTB training:
- Aerobic fitness base;
- Strength training;
- Balance and driving technique exercises;
- MTB training on the bike field;
- Technical sessions;
- Interval training to develop the ability to accelerate and recover quickly;
- Pay attention to nutrition and hydration;
- Recovery periods;
- Developing skills in MTB maintenance and weather forecasting.
The right bike and accessories
It's not the equipment that makes you a champion, but having a higher-quality MTB bike and accessories can make all the difference, given the same level and training. Thanks to new technologies and designs, increasingly lighter and more responsive bikes, wheels , and components are being produced, enhancing athletes' performance.
In this sense, even the details make the difference. Small accessories, like hubs, for example, are extremely functional and can significantly impact an athlete's performance.
MTB hubs must be chosen with particular care, given the nature of the terrain where races and training take place. The ideal choice is hubs with high-speed ball bearings, which are, above all, adequately protected from mud and debris. This ensures the wheels always run smoothly, but also reduces the need for maintenance and ball bearing replacement.
These are significant advantages for those who want to fully experience the thrills of MTB racing!
Do you have everything you need to start mountain biking? Download our checklist now and discover the must-have accessories.
