The 2015 mountain bike World Cup season was an absolute cracker. It delivered some of the fastest, most exciting and most bizarre racing we’ve ever experienced and it will certainly be one that sticks in the memory.

The World Cup circuit took in seven rounds of action packed racing across two continents and now the dust has settled, Lourdes has been named as the best World Cup of the year.

Lourdes was voted the winner by athletes, team managers, journalists sponsors and UCI staff who praised its demanding nature and the stunning views over the town below.

The French round kicked off the season in style as the popular pilgrimage destination delivered a rooty and rocky monster of a track that snapped riders out of their off-season hibernation. Aaron Gwin and Emmeline Ragot may have taken the top step of the podium but the public were the real winners as they got to see riders truly tested on this gargantuan track.

The World Cup will return to Lourdes next year as it once again hosts the season opener in April .

The best cross country World Cup was awarded to Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic for the fifth year in a row. Nove will be hosting the cross country World Championships next year.