7 Essential MTB Skills XC Pros Use That YOU Can Too!

Top-level XC riding is a rich, challenging area of mountain biking, with complex climbs and technical descents it requires riders to have a wide range of skills. Isaac Mundy has compiled some useful tips from the world of pro Cross Country that you can apply to your everyday riding. These tips include preparing your body, mastering sprint starts to get ahead of your friends, and much more.

⏱ Timestamps ⏱
00:00 - Intro
00:40 - Getting Started Fast
01:53 - Gauging Pace
03:16 - Fuelling
05:46 - Carrying Speed
06:35 - Relaxed Descending
07:15 - Finding Attack Points
08:15 - Light Is Fast

Useful Links:

What are you going to use from this list? Is there anything you would add? Let us know in the comments! 👇

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What are you going to use from this list? Is there anything you would add? Let us know in the comments! 👇

[Legacyk]

More XC content... I think people who don't race XC, or watch it really underestimate and underappreciate just how skilled world cup XC racers are and how gnarly the terrain can be that they ride (Especially in mud!!!)

[devincook]

I really appreciate that yall have listened to the viewers and have continued to pump out XC content. Keep'r comin'.

[bchearne]

We don’t get nearly enough xc specific stuff in mtb videos, probably because downhill is more photogenic. In my area (western North Carolina) there are very few actual downhill tracks, and we’re all riding up the hills as well as down them

[Lolyssian]

Thank you for bringing more XC content!
Isaac is a great host

[ride]

Very happy to see this video! I just sent this to our NICA team, this has a lot of useful points.

[KotakMeisterHamzah]

I think XC is perhaps the most underrated discipline where i come from.

[andersonsalazar]

Nice! Keep the XC content coming! Nice video guys 🤟🏻

[LawrenceMacMacster]

I did race XC back in the 90's when events were through parking lots and fields, I almost come to hate mountain bike at the time, then I discovered that the issue wasn't with the sport but more with XC people 😂
It's a different fauna...

[Feliciathethroatgoat]

the hip thrust one helps soo much tysm! I've been struggling getting a good start in all of my races

[nateandnaomiricher]

I’ve got a few things I can work on. Especially the pre race fueling. I was doing that mostly wrong.

[Owlinthesnow]

Really liked this video lots of good tips many I realised I learned a small amount of iver the past couple years racing xc.

[junka]

Nice one Isaac. Really well explained and great tips.

[larsmortensen]

Great video. More like this! Possibly for endurance XC racing

[sstrong]

if you really want to learn how to carry speed and maintain momentum, ride a singlespeed.

[simonm]

May do a 70 km ride in the Outback tomorrow, so time to get rice today for lunch

[EasyandLight]

Just ride fast and dont stop pedaling- Thats all there is to it- Thanks!

[kandinrobinson]

First XC video I’ve watched and the presenter reminded me why I stick to Enduro

[mtblife]

What bike are you riding did i miss a new Nukeproof release

[saddleweary]

Finding a riding buddy that's faster than you is the best way to improve with XC I think