As part of its European launch of the new ‘urbanproof’ crossover QASHQAI, Nissan announces the QASHQAI Urban Challenge - the first ever pan-European free-riding competition of its kind. QASHQAI Urban Challenge is an urban free-riding competition where the world's best mountain bikers will compete in an urban environment to win 200,000 euros - the largest prize fund in this sport to date. Throughout May and June, five European cities will host each leg of the first series bringing together the best of the free-riding world as well as the uninitiated in each city where spectators can see the sport pushed to its limits.

The first series of QASHQAI Urban Challenge, which will be broadcast for the first time internationally, will take place in the UK, Italy, Spain, Germany and France. In each country, contestants will encounter different challenges based on the topography of the city and will use different disciplines to overcome these: Dirt, North Shore, Park, Big Air and Street Trials. All five of the disciplines will be stimulating to watch and relate more to moto-x or trails riding than common perceptions of mountain biking.

Urban free-riding is the most progressive discipline in mountain biking and illustrates the changing trend of focus from open woodland areas into urban city centres. Nissan is the only non-sport related brand pioneering the ascent of urban free-riding and is looking forward to seeing how the riders respond to the challenge.

“The Urban free-rider epitomises the spirit of our new QASHQAI. They both enjoy the thrill of a challenge and overcoming the everyday obstacles encountered in an urban environment. It’s this joint pleasure of playing with the city that has led Nissan to challenge these professional riders to prove that they are as ‘urbanproof’ as our QASHQAI,” explains Paul Willcox, vice president of marketing at Nissan Europe.

A fully interactive website www.nissan-QASHQAIchallenge.com will provide feature details of the riders, the locations, the disciplines, event schedule and behind-the-scenes updates as the tour progresses.