Why Korea Is Mountain Biking's Most Exciting New Stage

"South Korea doesn't immediately come to mind when you picture world-class singletrack, but with South Korea being mostly mountains, it makes sense that there would be plenty of mountain biking to uncover. When Giant Bicycles athlete Sascha Kim touched down in Seoul, he found himself connecting with a mountain bike scene bursting with life, a tight-knit community, and some seriously great trails."

"The 2026 UCI MTB calendar starts in Mona YongPyong, South Korea, which will host the first-ever Asian UCI Cross-country Olympic and UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cups, and the first UCI Downhill World Cup on the continent in 25 years. South Korea is about to land on the global MTB map in a massive way, and riders like Sascha and influential local creator Sikss Lee have been quietly laying the groundwork."

"That connection point? Bikes. And it's a reminder of just how powerful two wheels can be as a universal language. From street riding through Seoul's layered collision of ancient temples and neon-lit modernity, to organizing an open-invite shred day at Tarzan MTB Park near Incheon, Sascha dove headfirst into the scene."

South Korea possesses a vibrant mountain biking community despite not being traditionally recognized for singletrack. The country's mountainous terrain supports excellent trails and a tight-knit rider community. South Korea will host the 2026 UCI MTB calendar starting in Mona YongPyong, featuring the first-ever Asian UCI Cross-country Olympic and Short Track World Cups, plus the continent's first UCI Downhill World Cup in 25 years. Giant Bicycles athlete Sascha Kim explored this emerging scene, connecting with local riders and influential creators like Sikss Lee. Through street riding in Seoul and organizing events at Tarzan MTB Park, Sascha discovered a passionate, dedicated community. Gochang Bike Park, South Korea's first dedicated downhill facility, features over 500 vertical meters of purpose-built gravity trails.

Read at BikeMag