UCI Bike World Championships in Zermatt

The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will impact the history of mountain biking with two weeks of competition from 30 August to 14 September 2025. For the first time, all eight mountain biking disciplines will be held in a single region – cross-country, downhill, e-bike, enduro, e-enduro, marathon, pump track and short track. Valais will become the world capital of mountain biking, with eight unique destinations organising 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 Beim Cross-Country Short-Track is where the world's best cross-country men and women compete against each other. ‘Short Track’ is all about spectacular overtaking manoeuvres, high speeds and an exciting spectator perspective. However, the discipline is clearly different from the downhill-orientated enduro scene and can be classified as a ‘gentle’ mountain bike variant where 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 kilometres and around 80 metres in altitude per lap. The race lasts a total of 20 to 25 minutes. The event features several laps, significantly enhancing the spectator experience. The race takes place on Tuesday, 9 September,. with training and any qualifying sessions the day before. In addition to the professionals, in the “elite” categories, the men's and women's races will also take place 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, sharing the Matterhorn and the region to the whole world.