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Sion, 27 November 2025. The first-ever combined Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais were a resounding success across the board, generating an economic and media impact of CHF 27 million for the Canton of Valais. Additionally, thanks to a range of development programs and initiatives, the canton now boasts a state-of-the-art infrastructure dedicated to promoting cycling. Television broadcasts of the competitions reached a total audience of over 57 million viewers, and the event stayed within its budget of CHF 13.7 million.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), in collaboration with the Valais 2025 Organizing Committee, has today published a report prepared by the professional services firm EY, highlighting the significant positive impact of the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships on the economy, media, and tourism for the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. For the first time, nearly all major formats of the discipline were brought together in a single two-week event (from 30 August to 14 September), during which a total of 1,135 athletes from 60 countries competed for the 27 available UCI World Championship titles.
According to the EY report, the total number of spectators attending the competitions – spread across eight venues – reached 110,000. This total includes 31,000 visitors from outside Valais.
The report also reveals that during the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, spectators spent approximately CHF 6 million, providing a direct boost to the Valais economy.
Further key findings from the report show that the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships:
· Generated CHF 19.3 million in economic activity for the Canton of Valais, and CHF 7.7 million in media value for the Valais brand.
· Were highly appreciated by spectators, with 86% reporting they were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the event.
· Benefited from extensive television coverage, reaching a cumulative audience of 57.3 million viewers in 96 countries (up from 9.95 million viewers across 48 countries for the 2024 World Championships in Andorra). This success was supported by a close collaboration with SRG SSR for the production and distribution of live broadcasts, generating a cumulative Swiss audience of 6.86 million viewers (12% of the total audience).
· Drew tremendous attention on social media, with 83.1 million impressions and 104 million video views across all platforms.
In terms of sustainability, cohesion, and inclusion at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships:
· 59% of spectators traveled to the event by public transport (bus/train: 43%) or by bicycle (16%).
· 100% of race finishes were accessible to people with limited mobility.
· 75% of competitions were free of charge.
· 3 pilot destinations implemented innovative battery systems as renewable energy sources.
Julien Hess, CEO of Valais 2025, shared his satisfaction: “By hosting the first-ever combined UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, we have set a new benchmark in both sport and event organization. The event generated substantial benefits for Valais, with a total economic and media impact of CHF 27 million, all while staying within a balanced budget of CHF 13.7 million.”
UCI President David Lappartient stated: “The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships not only showcased the world’s best mountain bike athletes but also highlighted an exceptional destination for tourism and cycling. The Swiss canton of Valais was an outstanding host for this major event and, in turn, gained international visibility, increased visitor spending, and significant economic activity. These UCI World Championships will leave a lasting legacy that Valais will continue to benefit from for many years.”
This unprecedented edition boosted media exposure, distributed visitor traffic across the region, and strengthened Valais’ reputation as a leading mountain bike destination. Moreover, through close collaboration between Valais/Wallis Promotion, Valais 2025, and the host destinations, resources and expertise were combined to amplify promotional reach. This collective effort is reflected in the shift in public perception: 66% of Swiss respondents now see Valais as the country’s leading mountain bike destination, up from 48% in less than two years.
Damian Constantin, Director of Valais/Wallis Promotion, highlights this point: “This progress demonstrates the power of a unified communication strategy for an entire canton. By combining our resources and expertise, we were able to give Valais a truly unique showcase. It’s a result we can be proud of: it shows that our collective commitment not only benefits the World Championships but also strengthens Valais’ long-term positioning as a must-visit mountain bike playground.”
The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will leave a lasting legacy for sports in the Canton of Valais. Alongside the creation of the Valais Cycling Academy in 2023, which now supports 52 athletes, the region has experienced a 45% increase in female participation in cycling activities and a 130% rise in youth membership in Valais cycling clubs over the past five years.
Steve Morabito, President of Valais Wallis Cycling, explains: “Since the launch of the Valais 2025 project, sports development has been at the heart of our efforts, driven by a vision for long-term legacy and ambitious goals. Valais Wallis Cycling has grown in professionalism and was able to shine a light on the expertise of its members. Our promotional activities are generating interest and attracting young athletes to development clubs, as well as to a new regional performance center that will support our future champions.”
Thomas Peter, Director of Swiss Cycling, adds: “Our primary objective was to experience a true celebration of cycling and, through supporting initiatives, to equip Valais with a state-of-the-art promotional structure. Thanks to excellent collaboration within the lead association and the unwavering commitment of the organizers, both goals have been successfully achieved. It was also important to us to demonstrate that Switzerland can host a major cycling event while maintaining a balanced budget.”
Building on its success, this event will serve as a blueprint for organizing future large-scale international events in the Canton of Valais.
Read full report: link
