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Sion, 31 August 2025. The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships opened this weekend in Sion in a festive and warm atmosphere. On Sunday afternoon, Thierry Maréchal, President of the UCI Mountain Bike Commission, officially launched the fortnight of competitions by ringing the Valais 2025 bell, a powerful symbol of local culture and mountain heritage.
"This opening ceremony is much more than the start of a sporting competition: it is a moment of unity and celebration. Athletes, fans, and the entire sporting community are coming together here in Valais to share the passion for mountain biking and the values it embodies: courage, respect, joy, and love of nature. The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships mark a historic chapter for our sport due to their scale, and it is with great pride and immense pleasure that we open what promises to be an unforgettable event." — Thierry Maréchal, President of the UCI Mountain Bike Commission
The bells will ring throughout Valais to celebrate the new champions
A total of 60 handcrafted bells, made in partnership with the Department of Culture of the Canton of Valais, have been created to honor the new world champions and all podium finishers over the next two weeks.
Find the presentation video of the trophy bells here.
As the bell rang in Sion, the first athletes launched from the breathtaking Aletsch Glacier for the inaugural Enduro and E-Enduro races, moved up a day due to expected weather. The day before, 253 athletes from 27 nations filled the streets of Fiesch, celebrating the start of competitions in Aletsch Arena and Bellwald. With the sound of the Alphorn and local folk groups accompanying them, they put on a vibrant, festive spectacle that set the tone for this fortnight of championships.
Castle Ride and artistic performances
A total of 30,000 spectators attended the opening festivities in Sion. Saturday’s highlight was the Castle Ride BCVS, which brought the historic streets to life: the world’s top Slopestyle and Urban Downhill riders descended from Tourbillon Castle, executing breathtaking jumps and tricks in front of an electrified crowd. On Sunday afternoon, the riders returned for a final slopestyle showcase, thrilling fans with their style and gravity-defying moves.
Culture also took center stage, with a concert by local rapper KT Gorique, who had the audience dancing late into Saturday night. Throughout the weekend, the Sion-based troupe “Le Spot” performed four times in an original show created for the occasion and blending circus, acrobatics, dance, and live music in a unique dialogue between art and cycling.
A record attempt turned into a popular success
Although the attempt to set a world record for the longest single-file cycling line was not officially recognized, it clearly demonstrated that reaching the different competition sites by bike is entirely feasible. A total of 1,525 cyclists from various clubs and towns across the canton rode to Sion to join the event, proving that cycling is a convenient, sustainable, and enjoyable way to get around in Valais. Additional group rides are also organized to travel to the races in Crans-Montana and Champéry. Full information and registration can be found on our website, on the Ride to the Champs page.
"Even if we didn’t break the world record today, what we achieved is far more meaningful: 1,500 people chose to get on their bikes and ride together to celebrate the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. This extraordinary show of enthusiasm and unity reflects the true spirit of Valais 2025 — bringing people closer through cycling and creating memories that go beyond competition. And this is just the beginning: we will attempt it again very soon." — Steve Morabito, President of Valais 2025
Onwards to the rainbow jersey
Starting today (01.09), Valais will buzz with championship action as the Enduro and E-Enduro races resume. The public can follow the competitions live from 5:30 PM.
Until 14 September, a record number of 1,228 athletes will compete across eight disciplines in seven iconic Valais locations, making this event the largest stage in mountain bike history.
