The UCI cross-country Olympic (XCO) race at Mont-Sainte-Anne is a gruelling endurance race that demands a combination of strength, power, and technical skill. Competitors race on the iconic Mont-Sainte-Anne track, which features numerous technical climbs and descents on rugged terrain. Unlike downhill events, where the start is individual and the fastest time is required, XCO events are organized as a mass start and take place on a closed circuit that competitors cover several times.

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The 2023 edition brought several changes to the XCO course that delighted athletes and spectators alike. La Germaine, La voie Romaine, La Patriote and Le River Gap, the new strategic double-line section, brought plenty of action to the course. But it was the new section, called Les Nains de jardin, that was the highlight of the show, with impressive technical challenges on four sections of downhill and uphill rock gardens. 

 

Inspired by the success of the 2023 course, the professionals at Velosolutions Canada are planning a track that capitalizes on the natural side of the terrain, while redesigning certain climbs to allow athletes to pick up speed and bring passing action to these sections.

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