Over the past few decades, Ride has repeatedly reinvented itself—from a Swiss mountain bike magazine to an Alpine-wide trail platform with a print publication of unparalleled quality. While Ride has continually broken new ground editorially and digitally, its traditional advertising business has remained stuck in a rut. That will all change in 2027. Ride is transforming from a mere advertising space into a technological and content enabler. The goal: a connected ecosystem in which partners are no longer just advertisers, but part of a strong “commercial community.”

High-tech meets high-touch: Space for co-creation

The true innovation of the concept lies in the symbiosis of digital efficiency and personal connection. By handing over routine administrative tasks to fully automated systems, valuable time is freed up for what machines cannot replace: genuine relationship-building and the collaborative development of compelling stories.

To fulfill this vision, Ride is expanding its editorial team: In early 2027, a new specialist will join the team, dedicated exclusively to partner support and the co-creation of content. The application process is currently underway. This ensures that commercial content consistently meets high editorial standards. The result is greater relevance for readers and increased credibility and impact for advertising partners.

The collaboration with Sacha Steiner is being further developed to ensure its future viability: The former head of ad sales will contribute his expertise through his media agency for strategic bookings and, as an external content creator, will increasingly focus on specialized, technical, and commercial content.

Efficiency Through Automation: B2B Store and Live Reporting

At the heart of this process innovation is a fully digitized B2B web store. In the future, it will handle all booking and processing steps in the background. Instead of administrative inefficiencies, advertising partners benefit from well-designed workflows. The resources freed up are invested directly into joint content projects and community engagement initiatives.

At the same time, a new live dashboard takes transparency to a new level: Partners have real-time access to detailed performance data—from page views and link clicks to verified print circulations. Here, too, automation delivers added value for advertisers, while the freed-up capacity is put to better use than filling out Excel spreadsheets.

The Format of the Future: The “Alliances”

The logical consequence of this new direction is the “Alliances” for 2027. They replace old partnership models and establish a new form of long-term cooperation. Each Alliance combines core B2B services such as direct contact with the editorial team, access to the job portal, and community events. These core services are combined with a flexibly manageable advertising credit in the B2B Shop. Unused credit carries over and can be dynamically adjusted as the campaign progresses. Additionally, each advertising booking can be adjusted retroactively.

The Alliances are precisely tailored to the various segments within Ride’s commercial ecosystem:

• Brand Alliance: The innovation driver for bicycle brands, distributors, and tourism destinations. It sustainably establishes new products and high-profile regions at the heart of the scene. It replaces the previous destination partnerships.
   
• Retail & Hotel Alliance: The direct interface between bike shops and bike hotels and the community—equipped with advanced promotional features and close ties to the editorial team. Replaces the previous travel partnerships.
   
• Network Alliance: The networked solution for chain stores and umbrella brands. Individual locations secure a full presence within the ecosystem, while headquarters manages advertising efforts flexibly and efficiently.

For Ride and its partners, the new strategy ushers in a new era of collaboration for the 2027 season. All detailed information, formats, and the latest media data are now available online.