2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships – Cross-Country Short Track

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The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will shape the history of mountain biking with two weeks of competition from August 30 to September 14, 2025. For the first time, all eight mountain biking disciplines - cross-country, downhill, e-bike, enduro, e-enduro, marathon, pump track and short track - will be held in a single region. Valais will become the world capital of mountain biking, with eight unique destinations hosting the competitions. The opening ceremony will take place in Sion. This exceptional event will bring together 1,500 athletes and the best mountain bikers in the world.

The cross-country short track will be held in the Zermatt - Matterhorn destination. Exciting races against the backdrop of the majestic Matterhorn offer a unique mountain bike experience.

The cross-country short track is a race in which the world's best cross-country men and women compete against each other. "Short track" stands for spectacular overtaking maneuvers, high speeds and an exciting spectator perspective. However, the discipline is clearly different from the downhill-oriented enduro scene and can be classified as a "gentle" mountain bike variant in which physical skills take precedence over technical riding skills.

The circuit in Zermatt will be within walking distance of the village in the "Zen Stecken" area and will take place almost exclusively on existing paths. Only a few construction measures are planned, which will be dismantled immediately after the races.

The world's best athletes will compete against each other directly in front of the Matterhorn, covering a distance of around 1.2 kilometers and around 80 vertical meters per lap. The total race duration is 20 to 25 minutes. This means that several laps are completed, which significantly enhances the spectator experience.

The race will take place on Tuesday, September 9. Training and any qualifying sessions will take place the day before. In addition to the professionals, i.e. the so-called elite categories, the men's and women's races will also be held at U23 level.

Up to 20 media representatives are expected to attend the major event in the Matterhorn village. As one of three disciplines, the elite races in Zermatt will also be broadcast live on TV by Swiss television, thereby broadcasting the Matterhorn and the region to the whole world.

PROGRAMME

Monday, September 8, 2025

13:00 Opening

13:15 Training U23

14:15 Training Elite

15:00 Qualification XCC

16:00 Autograph session Team SUI

17:15 Track inspection for the public

17:30 Tom Oehler Trial Show I

18:30 Live music/concert

21:00 End

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

13:00 Opening

15:30 Race U23 women

16:15 Race U23 men

17:15 Race elite women

18:00 Race elite men

18:40 Bike parade Bikeclub Mattertal

18:45 Award ceremony

19:00 Tom Oehler Show II

21:00 End

For further information: www.valais2025.ch/de