The UCI just announced that Durango, Colorado, will host the 2030 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, marking a return to the same mountains that launched the sport onto the global stage back in 1990. For mountain biking, it’s more than just another Worlds—it’s a full-circle moment.
Durango – Back Where It All Began
Durango and Purgatory Resort hosted the inaugural UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 1990, a race that crowned legends such as Ned Overend, Julie Furtado, and Greg Herbold. Those wins didn’t just put Durango on the map—they lit the fuse that made mountain biking the global discipline it is today. Forty years later, the sport is back where it began, and the town is gearing up to showcase just how much it has grown.
Building to 2030
It won’t be a one-off. Durango will host a major international race in 2028, followed by a UCI World Cup in 2029, which will lead directly into the World Championships in 2030. The schedule ensures that riders and fans get a proper lead-up to the big show. Events will cover all the staples: Downhill, Cross Country Olympic, Short Track, and eMTB.
Dave Rathbun, GM at Purgatory Resort, summed it up: “Biking and Durango are synonymous. This is our chance to showcase that connection with the world.”
Durango’s Legacy & DNA
Durango boasts 300+ miles of singletrack, trails that span from desert scrub to alpine peaks, and a training altitude of 6,500 feet. It’s home to legends and rising stars alike, from Olympians to WorldTour riders. Programs like Durango Devo and the collegiate powerhouse at Fort Lewis College have produced wave after wave of elite talent, most recently Grand Tour winner Sepp Kuss.
As three-time Olympian and Durango native Todd Wells put it: “Mountain biking is woven into Durango’s DNA. The 2030 Worlds will let us share that with the global stage again.”
A Tribute & Investment
Gaige Sippy, longtime director of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic and co-lead of Durango’s bid, sees it as both history and future: “Hosting Worlds again is a tribute to our past and an investment in our future. The world’s best will once again race on trails that continue to build legends right here in our backyard.”
The city and its community groups have been laying the foundation for decades. From the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic (running nearly 55 years), to grassroots advocacy with Durango Trails, to junior development through Devo, the infrastructure is already in place. Worlds 2030 just adds the global spotlight.
Looking Ahead
Durango’s return to the Worlds stage feels less like an announcement and more like destiny. The town that started it all will again host the sport’s biggest race, with the Manx-like passion of a community that’s been shaping mountain biking for decades.
Mayor Gilda Yazzie noted, “This is a momentous occasion. Hosting in 2030 isn’t just about racing—it’s about honoring what mountain biking has become and where it began.”
Event details, course maps, and community programs will roll out in the coming months.
For now, mark your calendars: August 2030, Durango will be the center for the World Mountain Bike Champions
