Switzerland is a mountain bike nation. In the supreme discipline of cross-country, the Swiss Cycling team has cemented its number 1 status at the 2019 World Championships in Canada. As an organizer, the country enjoys a high reputation, also due to the great public interest. The unique atmosphere and euphoric crowds at the 2018 World Championships in Lenzerheide will remain unforgettable. In this context, Swiss Cycling has designed a format that can bring unprecedented attention to the sport.

The project envisages holding the title fights in the seven mountain bike disciplines of cross-country, downhill, e-bike, enduro, marathon, pump track and short track within two weeks in the same region - combining them with each other.
Swiss Cycling has presented the multi-WC format to the cantonal association Fédération Cycliste Valaisanne (FCVs) and Valais/Wallis Promotion (VWP). "The idea of holding the seven world championships in the same region within a short space of time immediately convinced us. Such a format has many advantages, including more efficient management of organizational resources and greater visibility for the sport of mountain biking," says Steve Morabito, President of the FCVs. Valais has first-class topographical conditions, high-quality infrastructure and plenty of experience in organizing mountain bike events.The cross-country and downhill world championships were held in Champéry in 2011, while the marathon world champions were crowned in Grächen a year ago. Zermatt hosts the Enduro World Series, while Verbier and Grimentz ride the classic Grand Raid marathon. "The canton of Valais has everything it needs to implement the new format," says Swiss Cycling Sports Director Thomas Peter. The "Association CM MTB 2025", in which FCVs, VWP and Swiss Cycling are represented, has submitted a letter of intent to the UCI for the organization of the "MTB Championships" in September 2025. The feedback from the UCI has been positive.In the last few days, the project was presented to the heads of the Valais tourist resorts "The invited tourist regions have understood how important it is to join forces in order to sustainably promote Valais as a reference destination for cycling and mountain bike enthusiasts in particular," explains Raphaël Favre, Director of Business Development at VWP. The multi-world championship format would give them the opportunity to combine recreational and top-class sport, strengthen networking and cooperation and organize the event in a cost-conscious and environmentally friendly way. "In contrast to conventional major events, the organizing destinations could concentrate on their specific infrastructure, some of which already exists - and at the same time benefit from the much greater appeal and charisma of the combined World Championships," says Thomas Peter. The athletes, in turn, would have the opportunity to compete in World Championships beyond their traditional discipline at virtually no extra cost.
Over the next few weeks, the interest of tourist resorts in hosting individual world championship disciplines will be assessed. If the feedback is positive, the "Association CM MTB 2025" will prepare a bid.www.swiss-cycling.ch