The 17th Eiger Bike Challenge will not only start on August 17, 2014. At the same time, the best Swiss marathon cracks will be competing for the national title in this discipline for the very first time in Grindelwald. "We are looking forward to this special staging of the Eiger Bike Challenge as the Swiss Championships and hope that the best riders in their field will take part," says OC President Walter Gottier. Nothing will be changed on the route, but the surroundings will be. "A Swiss championship is something special. We want to do justice to this, especially at the award ceremony," says Gottier. The Eiger Bike Challenge has it all. No other stage within the iXS Swiss Bike Classic, the largest Swiss mountain bike marathon race series, has more vertical meters to overcome per kilometer ridden. Considering the route and its majestic backdrop, it is surprising that the Swiss Marathon Championships have not been held at this location before.

"The Eiger Bike Challenge is a marathon classic. I am therefore delighted that the 2014 title fights will be held on this difficult course," says Florian Peiry from Swiss Cycling. Peiry is convinced that the course will give the riders nothing away: "In front of this magnificent backdrop, only the strongest are guaranteed to win".

Long-standing collaboration
Swiss Cycling can look back on many years of collaboration with the iXS Classic organizers. In 2006, the Swiss Mountain Bike Marathon Championships were held for the first time as part of the national marathon race series. Back then, Christoph Sauser won his first national marathon title at the Iron Bike Race. Küblis in 2009, Mendrisio in 2010, Scuol in 2011 and Estavayer last year were the other stages of the title fights within the marathon race series.

"Our aim is for the Swiss Championships to continue to be held as part of the iXS Classic in the future," explains Andy Vetsch, head of the iXS Classic umbrella organization "SBM Events". This is also with the aim of being able to announce the national championships earlier again so that riders can properly prepare for the competition.

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