For Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon), currently Switzerland's strongest female rider, who recently underwent intensive preparation in South Africa, the start of the CIC Swiss Bike Cup will also serve as an initial assessment: "It's been one highlight after another this season. My preparation went without any major incidents and I was able to lay the foundations for a successful season. In 2023, I won the opening race of the CIC Swiss Bike Cup in Gränichen - of course I will try to be at the top this year too. For me, that would be confirmation of a good winter."

We can also look forward to the development and performance of Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing). The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion started the racing season early this year and rode to a strong 2nd place in the Horse category race in Banyoles (Spain).

And the overall winner of the 2023 CIC Swiss Bike Cup, Linda Indergand (Liv Factory Racing), will also launch her racing season in Gränichen. Together with her teammate Ronja Blöchlinger, who won the overall World Cup in the U23 category last season, there are two other Swiss riders at the start who will ensure excitement at the front.

Flückiger, Forster or Guerrini?

In the men's race, Mathias Flückiger, Lars Forster (both Thömus maxon) and Marcel Guerrini (BIXS Performance Race Team), three strong Swiss riders who rode to podium finishes in the Mountain Bike World Series last season, will be at the start in Gränichen. For the internationally successful trio, the aim is to achieve good results in the first half of the season in order to qualify for the season highlight in Paris.

Lars Forster has his own strategy for dealing with the pressure to perform: "I'm not going to tense up because of the Olympics. I'm taking a relaxed approach to the start of the season and primarily want to get a good feeling for the upcoming World Cups in Brazil at the CIC Swiss Bike Cup in Gränichen."

Legendary XCO course in the bike park and gravel pit

The races in Gränichen have been firmly anchored in the international bike calendar for decades. With the characteristics of the course in the bike park and gravel pit, they are among the most popular in Switzerland, especially among young riders.

16-year-old Lenny Hochstrasser, who is now riding for the Specialized Junior XC Team Switzerland, likes the terrain because it is very physical and technical: "I really enjoy the course because the descents are very flowy and there are various jumps. The many short climbs also suit me very well and provide excitement."

Last year's impressive dominator in the U17 category, Anja Grossmann (Specialized Junior XC Team Switzerland), also raves about the race, which is only a few kilometers from her front door: "The climbs in Gränichen are physically tough, the descents are technically very demanding. I can cope with that very well."

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