UCI Mountain Bike World Championships: “One year to go” until the 2025 sports highlight in Zermatt

This 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 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 20-25 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, the men's and women's races will also take place at U23 level in the “elite” categories. **Swiss television on board** Organising the Bike World Championships across several locations in one region is a first in the history of mountain biking and will be premiered in Valais next year. 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.