October is often one of the highlights of the MTB season. While the mountain railroads have already closed in France or Italy, the season lasts until the end of October, especially in Switzerland. Here are the shuttle tips for October.

"Valais The Secret Spot of Biking" enters its fifth round and sends Kriss Kyle to Leukerbad. Swiss e-mountain bike pro Lukas Dennda guides the flying Scotsman over the trails of Leukerbad and shows him his version of "relaxation" - including a visit to the thermal baths. Because that's what the Valais mountain community is known for.

The Valais mountain village and trail hotspot of Jeizinen will soon be all about trail building. The Trail Foundation is offering two trail maintenance courses on the first weekend in June.

While biting temperatures are still sweeping through the Alps, at Ride all signs are already pointing to summer trail fun. The first 2024 issue is currently in print, and this marks a small "turning point".

In 2024, the Swiss Enduro Series will enter its fourth year and present four races for the coming season. The venues are in Leukerbad, Airolo, Laax and Einsiedeln. The Aletsch Arena, where the Swiss champions were crowned last season, is developing into a World Cup venue.

In the mountains, the trees are increasingly showing their bright autumn colors, heralding the final phase of this year's mountain bike season. With the support of the mountain railroads, there are three weekends left in October in most destinations to collect many Elevation losses.

In 2025, the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will shape the history of mountain biking in Valais. Exactly two years before the huge event, the organizing committee unveils the Aletsch Arena together with Bellwald as the new official host destination for the enduro competitions. Leukerbad is bidding to take over the e-mountain bike races. Valais 2025 also announces the calendar for 2024 and takes stock of the legacy projects.

Watching the sunrise from the top of a mountain is a bucket list item. There are several first-class mountain peaks for mountain bikers, some of which are even accessible by cable car.

The Pfyn-Finges bike region, which includes Leukerbad, Jeizinen and Albinen, is expanding its trail network. And without building new routes, but simply by modifying existing trails where necessary. 225 kilometers of trails are now officially bike trails. The popular Torrent Trail has been extended into the valley and now measures an impressive 30 kilometers.

At the opening race of the Proffix Swiss Bike Cup in Leukerbad, Mona Mitterwallner lands her first major elite victory. Behind the Austrian, Kate Courtney and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot rode to second and third place. Jolanda Neff takes fifth place, just ahead of the resurgent Andrea Waldis. Ramona Forchini rides to ninth place. In the junior women's race, Monique Halter and Noëlle Rüetschi were beaten by France's Line Burquier.

British rider Tom Pidcock wins the Proffix Swiss Bike Cup race in Leukerbad with a three-minute lead over Titouan Carod (FRA). Canadian Sean Fincham comes third. Filippo Colombo takes fifth place after leading the race at the start. In the juniors, Switzerland's Finn Treudler came out on top against New Zealand's Ethan Rose and Germany's Paul Schehl.

The first stage of the PROFFIX Swiss Bike Cup starts from July 17 to 19. The race in Leukerbad will be held as a ghost race, as no spectators are permitted in order to comply with safety regulations. A week later, the Swiss Championships and the second round of the Cup will take place in Gränichen. Numerous world-class bikers from Switzerland and abroad are expected to attend.