Cross-country World Championship preview: Cross-country basics - Everything you need to know about cyclo-cross

What equipment do the cross-country pros ride? How long are cross-country races? What does a typical cyclocross course look like? You can find answers to all these questions about cyclocross in our cyclocross basics:

The route

Character: According to UCI regulations, it should be varied: it should include road, off-road, forest tracks and meadow terrain. Changes of pace are encouraged.

Length: The circuit should be between 2,500 and 3,500 metres long and at least 3 metres wide. 90 per cent of the route should be rideable.

The obstacles: A maximum of six obstacles are to be distributed along the route - i.e. sections where racers will probably dismount, but do not necessarily have to. These include stairs, steep slopes, sand passages (40 to 80 metres long and flat) or hurdles (maximum 40 centimetres high).

The depot: A zone at least 70 metres long along the track where racers can change material, wheels or entire bikes. It should be possible to approach it from two sides (i.e. from two points on the track). The riders can change to a clean bike there. At least eight high-pressure cleaners are available to the supervisors at World Championships and World Cups. Racers are not allowed to accept any material from other racers.

The race distance

It will be Journey time is determined. As the driving times on a course can vary greatly depending on weather conditions and track conditions, the number of laps to be driven is only determined during the race. At the end of the first lap, the jury president calculates the lap distance based on the driving time of the leader and then displays it to the participants at the end of the second lap.

The standard times at the World Championships:

• 40 minutes Women U23, Juniors
• 50 minutes Men U23
• 40 to 50 minutes Women Elite*
• 60 to 70 minutes Men Elite*

(*Example calculation: The leader rides the first lap in 7:40 minutes. The race distance for the women's elite would then be six laps. The extrapolated race time: 6 x 7:40 = 46:00 minutes)

The starting line-up: At the World Championships, the line-up is based on the individual world rankings - the best are allowed to start at the front.

The material

Frame and fork: The technical regulations for racing bikes apply, including the weight limit of 6.8 kilos. Suspension forks are not permitted. The UCI wants a clear demarcation between the material and the mountain bike discipline of cross-country.

The handlebars: Must not be wider than 50 centimetres. The stirrup handlebar is mandatory according to the regulations, but is also recommended due to the carrying technique.

The tyres: The tyre width must not exceed 33 millimetres. Studded tyres are not permitted. Depending on the condition of the track, tyres with a treadless or heavily profiled tread are used. The tyre pressure is usually between 1.2 and 2.5 bar.

The brakes: Disc brakes are approved and are used by most world-class racers. Only a few crossers still use conventional cantilever brakes.

The translation: Most people ride a standard gear ratio with a sprocket set of 11 to 28 teeth at the rear. At the front, two chainrings (often with 46/36 teeth) are common - but single drivetrains are also used on fast courses. Because of the precision, most use electric gears.

The World Championship

The 2018 World Cup takes place from 3 to 4 February in Valkenburg, the Netherlands. The junior, women's U23 and women's elite races will be held on Saturday and the men's U23 and men's elite races on Sunday. The World Championships will not be broadcast on German television.

The German World Cup squad (Status: 21/01/2018)

• Men Elite: Marcel Meisen, Sascha Weber, Manuel Müller
• Women Elite: Elisabeth Brandau
• Men U23: Maxililian Möbis, Frederik Hähnel, Paul Lindenau
• Juniors: Tom Lindner, David Westhoff, Frederik Raßmann, Pascal Tömke

The World Cup route