Mountain Biking - Champions
The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is a non-profit organization and the governing body of mountain biking sport worldwide. It was formed in 1988 by five California based mountain biking clubs, who formed an alliance in order to fight widespread trail closures.
In 2006, IMBA grew to 32000 members with more than 600 affiliated clubs. Presently more than 35000 members are there in IMBA from approximately 30 countries around the world.
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is a multi-round bike race series that is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale. The first world cup was held in 1989, where only cross country biking was included. After two years, downhill world cup was inaugurated. Riders are declared winners based on their placing in each event.
UCI also organizes UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships which is also a mountain biking championship for all kinds of mountain biking types.
Let us now discuss briefly about some of the champions of Mountain Biking and their career highlights.
Hans Rey
Hans Rey is one of the pioneers in free riding as well extreme mountain biking, Hans Rey is from Emmendingen, Germany.
In his career, he has won the UCI world champion title record three times and 15 other national titles.
In 1999, he was inducted in the mountain bike hall of fame. Through his charity, he has provided more than 7000 bicycles in more than 25 developing countries around the world.
John Tomac
John Tomac is regarded as one of the true allrounder of all time in mountain biking, John Tomac is from Michigan, United States.
In a career that spanned more than 20 years, he has competed in various disciplines in road racing and mountain biking.
He was famous for his incredible bike riding skills and outstanding control in downhill biking. In 1991, he was inducted in the mountain bike hall of fame.
Julien Absalon
Julien Absalon is a mountain biker from France who has won many medals in his career.
He has won two gold medals in Olympics one in 2004 and the other in 2008. In World Championships, he won five golds, two silvers, and two bronzes.
He has won seven golds, two silvers, and two bronzes in World Cup. Along with these, he also participated in European Championships and won five golds and four silvers.
