The UCI have just released their full calendar for 2023 and it's official, Les Portes du Soleil is set to host the first ever 10 day UCI mountain biking festival over 7th - 17th September 2023.
After hosting 9 UCI World Cup & World Champs, Les Portes du Soleil has become absolutely iconic and the pinnacle of downhill racing. After the unbelievable scenes of Les Gets World Cup 2023 there is no surprise to see downhill racing return for Les Gets World Cup 2023, What is surprising is the never before seen 10 day mountain biking festival accompanying the Les Gets World Cup, bringing together all major mountain bike race formats into a single event. The major event will host multi-format events combined with a festival atmosphere designed to bring all mountain bikers and the whole MTB industry together in the epicentre of European mountain biking, Les Portes Du Soleil. Alongside the racing there will be major trade shows, exhibitions, entertainment, live music, parties and so much more.
UCI President David Lappartient said: “With the incredible images and atmosphere of the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Les Gets still in our minds, we can only look forward to returning to Haute-Savoie next year for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
“This area has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to our sport, and with this major combined event we will again benefit from the fantastic organisation and enthusiastic welcome that characterises the region of Haute-Savoie, which will host our second UCI Cycling World Championships, in 2027.”
Les Gets World Cup 2023
Les Gets World Cups have become some of of the most iconic mountain bike World Cup races of all time, after hosting it's first Les Gets World Cup in the early 2000's to producing such unforgettable moment as Steve Peats heart breaking crash at the Les Gets World Champs in 2004. After a brief hiatus from the UCI and hosting a number of Crankworx events, Mountain bike World Cups returned to Les Gets in 2021 with a brand new track on Mont Chery side of the scenic mountain town. The track is one the best new race tracks we've seen for a number of years and its no wonder this track is an absolute favourite of the Worlds best, who spend as much time as they can riding Morzine and the World famous Portes du Soleil either side of the event. After widely being called one of the greatest race tracks of all time, combining a mix of flat out fast sections up top, steep technical sections towards the bottom, throw in some huge jumps and man made features into the mix and there's no wonder why this is a favourite amoungst riders and fans.
Les Gets from 7 to 10 September :
– Olympic cross-country (XCO)
– Downhill (DHI)
– Cross-country short track (XCC)
Morzine 16 September :
– Cross-country marathon (XCM)
Châtel 15 to 17 September :
– Enduro (EDR)
– E-enduro (EDR-E)
There's something about Les Gets that hits different when compared to other World Cups, firstly the riders absolutely love racing here due to the huge amount of riding in Les Portes Du Soleil. At any opportunity before or after the Les Gets World Cup (or during any racing break during the summer) Morzine is bustling with the Worlds best mountain bikers, either huge trains cutting party laps down Le Pleney steeps, a squad out for an enduro ride or getting rowdy on the beers at Rogers bar. With nearly 30 lifts and 650km+ of trails to explore in Les Portes Du Soleil region, there's no wonder why its a firm favourite with the riders.
Secondly, Les Gets World Cup draws in some of the Worlds largest and definitely the most lively MTB crowds ever seen! Estimated numbers for Les Gets World Cup 2022 were over 150,000 lining the race track and sceaming their lungs out. The crowd brings a serious amount of passion to the event and expect a festival type atmosphere with music, flares, a variety of noise making instruments and a good amount of booze! Combine this with the French taking 1,2,3 at Les Gets World Champs in 2022 and you can see how that iconic storming of the hot seat/podium happened. As you can only imagine after an epic day on the hill, the nightlife in Les Gets absolutely goes off with live music everywhere, various team parties and a great opportunity to bust some moves with your favourite riders.
Why Les Portes du Soleil?
Morzine is the vibrant heart of the wider Portes du Soleil lift network and provides the perfect base for your MTB holiday. You can roll out of your central Morzine accommodation to lifts spanning off in every direction, the riding on offer here is endless and people visit for decades and are still discovering new trails to ride. The 24 MTB friendly lifts, spanning across France and Switzerland are effortlessly connected by a epic mountain bike trails and all of this is available under 1 affordable lift pass. The speed and efficiency of the lifts mean the amount of downhill you can achieve in a day is similar to a months riding back home, in one mammoth effort our team rode 125km of downhill in one day! For more info see our lift pass prices and lift opening dates.
Whether you're looking for gnarly technical single track or flowing green family trails, you'll be spoilt for choice in Morzine. The Portes du Soleil bike park literally has it all, from the fast flowy trails of Super Morzine to the infamous and down right rowdy Pleney singles, there truly is something for every type of rider to enjoy in Morzine. Most visitors to Morzine spend most of their time enjoying the main trails of the bike park… and why not right, you don't have a chair lift to ride endless trails normally so fill your boots. However for those of you who are keen to explore a little more, then there is plenty of single track gold in them there hills too! More suited to those on enduro or e-bikes, if you're willing to put some graft in on the pedals, there are even more options for things to ride. Some of these trails aren't even signposted from the lifts or marked on any trail map, but if you know where to look, you’re in for a treat.Finding your way around the bikepark is relatively easy to achieve, however if you want to explore further afield then check out our Morzine MTB Guides.
There's so much to do in Morzine/Portes Du Soleil both on and off the bike, with a host of amazing activities such as hiking, swimming, white water rafting, paragliding and so much more. Morzine' also boast a lively nightlife of amazing restaurants, enthusiastic bars and rowdy nightclubs. Morzine/Les Portes Du Soleil isn't new to hosting World Class events, Le Tour du France will be returning to Morzine for in July 2023 (find out more) and the town regularly plays host to Spartan races, Mont Blanc Ralley, Europes biggest Harley Davidson festival and much more.
Stay with Bike Morzine
Whether you're an athlete looking for a breakout result at Les Gets World Cup or an enthusiastic fan wanting to soak up this unforgettable event, Bike Morzine has you sorted. We have a huge range of Self Catered Apartments, Chalets, Hostels & Hotels to suit every budget and requirement, all of our accommodation boasts a central location, secure bike storage and a bike workshop as well as friendly helpful staff to answer any of your questions.
CHECK OUT OUR MORZINE MTB ACCOMMODATION HERE
We can't wait to see you at this once in a lifetime event.
