In Valais, no occasion is missed for an aperitif - especially not when there are 100 days to go until the Mountain Bike World Championships. In Fiesch, there was therefore not only a toast, but also information: with meat, wine and a clear message: we are on course. The routes have been defined, the procedures are well thought out and the volunteers are almost all on board. There's no doubt about it - Valais is leaving nothing to chance in this almost two-week mega project.

The aim is to establish the Aletsch Arena and Bellwald as the trail hotspot of the Alps. Technical, challenging, real. The Enduro and E-MTB Championships held here are a statement: trail mountain biking is more than just an event here - it's the future. And the World Championships are a step in this direction.

The anticipation at the kick-off was palpable. The Aletsch Arena is ready. And they would love to have the first athletes racing down the trails tomorrow. The fact that almost all the volunteers are already organized so early speaks volumes: There's a whole village here getting excited and looking forward to what's to come.

There is a video recording of the kick-off event with some interesting background speeches and insightful expert panels. Anyone interested in the background to the competitions can now watch the event again in the replay.

Further information on the World Cup can be found at: valais2025.ch