Mountain biking hosts first Paris 2024 qualifier, as competition gets underway in Congonhas, Brazil

From April 26-30, Congonhas, Brazil is hosting the 2023 COPACI Mountain Biking Championships, an Olympic qualifier. One quota will be available to each of the men’s/women’s elite race winners. Should they qualify through other pathways, their quota would be reallocated. Also awarded, are important ranking points that count towards Paris 2024 qualification. 
 

Now, for the men’s/women’s elite previews. In the men’s elite race, fourth ranked Martín Vidaurre (CHI) will be the favourite for the quota, however he won’t have it all his own way, as tenth ranked Henrique Da Silva Avancini (BRA), and twentieth ranked Jose Gerardo (MEX) are capable of defeating him. Notably, nineteenth ranked Carter Woods (CAN) is absent from the men’s elite field, instead choosing to compete in the men’s U23 race. In the women’s elite race, seventh ranked Kate Courtney (USA) will be the favourite for the title, but twenty second ranked Raiza Goulao Henrique (BRA), and thirty sixth ranked Emily Batty (CAN) could perhaps stage an upset.

The opening ceremony of the 2023 COPACI Mountain Biking Championships took place on April 26, with the first event (mixed team relay) happening a few hours prior. April 27, the men’s/women’s elite XCE races took place, along with the infantojuvenil (12-14) and juvenil (15-16) men’s/women’s XCO races. Women’s masters race, and the men’s/women’s elite XCC races are on April 28, while the junior (17-18) men’s/women’s XCO races, and the men’s masters races take place on April 29. On April 30, the main events occur, with the men’s/women’s U23, and the  men’s/women’s elite races. 
 

Josh, Totallympics 

 Mountain Bike Cycling COPACI American Championships 2023 Discussion Thread

 Mountain Bike Cycling at the Summer Olympic Games Paris 2024 Qualification Tracker