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The first-ever combined Mountain Bike World Championships will take place from August 30 to September 14 in Valais. This landmark event is a milestone for Switzerland—a true mountain biking nation. A total of 47 women and 71 men will defend the national colors across seven disciplines on home soil. With strong contenders in Olympic Cross-Country and beyond, podium prospects are excellent.
Seven years after the successful World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland once again aims to elevate the sport. The new combined format, with rainbow jerseys awarded in seven disciplines over 14 days and eight venues across Valais, is an absolute first. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Valais Cycling Association, Valais/Wallis Promotion, and Swiss Cycling, the canton has become a premier cycling destination with world-class infrastructure.
For Swiss Cycling Director Thomas Peter, hosting the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships represents a major achievement for a sport that fits Switzerland’s landscape and culture—especially in alpine regions such as Valais. “At a time when organizing major events is increasingly complex, I am delighted we have created such a sustainable project. This Championship will leave a lasting impact, benefiting both Valais and the entire Swiss cycling community well beyond the competitions,” he said at the launch event held at Le Spot restaurant in Crans-Montana, which will serve as the Swiss Cycling House during the Championships. Fan meeting points will also be set up in Champéry and Zermatt, with the Swiss Cycling minivan making stops at every venue.
Julien Hess, Director of the MTB World Championships, is equally enthusiastic: “From the very beginning, we have been committed to delivering a unique, unprecedented event in mountain biking’s history—one that leaves a strong legacy. Today, everything is in place. It is both a challenge and an opportunity to host the Championships in this format for the first time, in a setting that reflects Valais perfectly. We are ready to welcome this great mountain bike festival.”
Crans-Montana will host the cross-country races, the flagship discipline of mountain biking. For Bruno Huggler, Director of the Tourism Office, it marks a key step in shaping the destination’s future: “Hosting the world’s mountain bike elite in Crans-Montana is more than an honor—it is the result of a long-term strategy. Major events like this accelerate the development of our mountain bike offering, a vital tool for boosting summer tourism and extending the season into spring and autumn. The growing community of cycling enthusiasts confirms the relevance of this vision.”
A stacked field and home advantage for the Swiss team
On the sporting side, Switzerland will field a top-class delegation of 118 athletes. Selection for cross-country/short track and downhill was based on quotas and criteria, while riders in other disciplines qualified via UCI rankings and points. The largest contingents are in Olympic cross-country (36 athletes) and marathon (34). As per UCI regulations, riders selected for cross-country are also eligible for short track.
Within Swiss Cycling’s cross-country squad, a generational shift is underway, with the competition level within the nation at an all-time high. “Young riders are pushing hard, while experienced athletes continue to hold their ground. Among the Elite men, ten riders met the selection criteria—well beyond the seven slots allocated per nation,” explained Patrick Müller, Swiss Cycling’s Head of Sport. He emphasized that the team is “competitive in every category” and that home advantage could prove decisive against strong international rivals.
Müller also underlined the importance of the full program: “One of the great strengths of these Championships is that the lesser-known disciplines will finally shine on the big stage, giving the public the chance to discover everything mountain biking has to offer. At the same time, each competition will be worth attending in its own right—because in every discipline, Switzerland has athletes capable of challenging the very best.”
