Peak sport, promoting young talent and popular sport. Nino Schurter and Ralph Näf's new Swiss mountain bike racing series is built on these three pillars. In the area of mass sports, the "ÖKK Bike Revolution" focuses entirely on the adventure map: "Our guests should spend a great day in the saddle, ride the most beautiful single trails in Ticino and indulge in culinary delights," says initiator Ralph Näf.

The tours on offer no longer have anything to do with racing. Listed as a cycle tour, participants will experience Ticino at its most beautiful. The three routes are called "Velo Gusto Lungo", "Velo Gusto Medio" and "Velo Gusto Brunch", are between 20 and 40 kilometers long and offer plenty of adventure.

"Every participant receives a cool mountain bike shirt. But you don't have to ride with it," says Ralph Näf. "On Saturday, the 33 and 40-kilometre routes are on the program. Many beautiful trails await the participants. But much more. There will be a refreshment station with delicious coffee. At the next break, everyone can enjoy a delicious Ticino risotto and other Ticino specialties. And finally, a tasting session at the chocolate factory awaits the mountain bikers. And yes, we are in Ticino. As well as plenty of sunshine, there's also a glass of wine, of course. We want to celebrate this mixture of enjoyment on and off the single trail at the ÖKK Bike Revolution," enthuses Näf about the first race in Ticino. Once at the finish line, participants can watch the pros prepare for their race on Sunday or stroll around the large Bike Expo, where numerous manufacturers will be presenting their products.


On Sunday, the 20-kilometer route includes a delicious brunch. This route is particularly aimed at families. And everyone will be back at the start and finish area in Rivera just in time for the start of the elite women's race with the thrilling duel between Neff, Richards and Lecomte.

Amateur athletes and after-work bikers are cordially invited to celebrate the season opener of the Swiss mountain bike scene on March 25 - 27 in Ticino. E-mountain bikes are also permitted.

Start with many stars

Already three weeks before the first race in Ticino, the start list for the ÖKK Bike Revolutio on Monte Tamaro reads like a "who's who" of international mountain biking. In the women's race in particular, there will be a big duel between Olympic champion, world champion and overall World Cup winner.

Excerpt from the elite women's start list

• Evie Richards, GBR, world no. 1 and reigning world champion
• Loana Lecomte, FRA, world no. 2 and overall World Cup winner 2021
• Sina Frei, SUI, world no. 3 and silver medalist at the Olympic Games in Tokyo
• Linda Indergand, SUI, world no. 4 and bronze at the Olympic Games in Tokyo
• Jolanda Neff, SUI, world no. 7 and Olympic champion
• Anne Terpstra, NED, world no. 9 and runner-up at the World Championships

Excerpt start list elite men

• Mathias Flückiger, SUI, world no. 1 and silver at the Olympic Games in Tokyo
• Titouan Carod, FRA, world no. 15
• Filippo Colombo, SUI, world no. 29 and participant at the Olympic Games in Tokyo

Co-initiator Nino Schurter unfortunately has to miss the start of the season in Switzerland. The Bündnder is starting in South Africa at the Cape Epic.

The complete start list can be found at velocorner.ch/en/oekkbikerevolution.