The Valais Alps provide a spectacular stage for the cross-country marathon (XCM) races of the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais.

Swenson wins after a six-hour battle

The men start in Verbier shortly before dawn. After around 1 hour 20 minutes, the top riders reach the first time check in Nendaz. The Spaniard David Valero Serrano is leading there ahead of the Swiss Dario Lillo and Alexandre Balmer. Swenson is in 5th place at this point, Ondřej Cink in 6th, and the former world champions Andreas Seewald (GER) and Héctor Leonardo Páez León (COL) are also in the leading group.

At Hérémence, Cink takes the lead, but in Evolène after almost four hours, Swenson is ahead. Cink, Páez León and Swenson now form the leading trio, closely followed by Wout Alleman (BEL), Tim Smeenge (NED) and Martin Fanger (SUI).

At kilometer 100, at checkpoint L'A Vieille, Swenson leads in 5:04:27 ahead of Samuele Porro (ITA), Páez León and Smeenge, while Valero Serrano rides back into the top 5. On the way to the highest point, the Pas de Lona (2,787 m above sea level), the race remains exciting.

At the last checkpoint in Moiry, Swenson holds a lead of around one minute over Porro. Behind them, Páez León, Valero Serrano and Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT) are fighting for the remaining podium places. Swenson brings his lead to the finish. After 6:01:44 hours he wins gold. Porro takes silver (+0:25.7), while veteran Páez León secures bronze (+3:42.9) at the age of 43.

Courtney celebrates seven years after XCO World Championship gold

The women start just five minutes after the men. They include defending champion Mona Mitterwallner (AUT) as well as numerous favorites such as Rosa van Doorn (NED), Vera Looser (NAM) and Claudia Peretti (ITA).

After just 90 minutes, Kate Courtney and Switzerland's Anna Weinbeer are already well ahead of the field. Together they also hold the lead at the split times, with Mitterwallner close behind.

After more than five hours, at Eison (100 km), Courtney extends her lead to 3:33 minutes. Weinbeer is just ahead of Mitterwallner, Peretti follows behind. At the last checkpoint, Courtney remains the only woman under six hours, four minutes ahead of Weinbeer and almost seven ahead of Mitterwallner.

With the highest point Pas de Lona behind her, Courtney manages the race confidently and rides to victory after 7:10:11 hours. Switzerland's Weinbeer takes silver (+3:44.8), Mitterwallner bronze (+4:59.1).

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