The event is organized by Jamie Read together with co-organizer Kelan Grant and the Aletsch Arena team. The aim is to offer exactly what elite athletes need most at the moment: a real pre-season racing opportunity against world-class competition before the World Cup season even begins.

Why this event is important now 

In a phase in which the sport of enduro is facing uncertainty, the Aletsch Enduro Invitational sends out a deliberately positive signal. It gives the athletes a goal, motivation and the opportunity to compete at the highest level at an early stage. "It's easy to get carried away by the negative reporting surrounding enduro at the moment. But the reality is that enduro is a great format and a fantastic discipline with some of the best athletes in the world," says Jamie Read. "I want to see enduro return to its former strength. Even though that may sound naive, it doesn't stop me and the Aletsch Arena team from trying. At the end of the day, I'm a fan of this discipline and love watching these athletes do what they do best. That's exactly why this unofficial pre-season race exists." 

The athletes' perspective 

Co-organizer and professional Kelan Grant also underlines the importance of this format: "As professionals, we invest a huge amount of work throughout the winter to be able to perform at the highest level. Nevertheless, we often start the season without really knowing where we stand. Our discipline lacks real pre-season races where we can compete directly with other world-class athletes. This event offers exactly that and I couldn't think of a better venue than the Aletsch Arena." 

Participation is limited to invited athletes and riders with wildcards. The first names from the World Cup elite have already been confirmed, with further announcements to follow shortly. Interested athletes without an invitation can find more information via the official link or contact the organizers directly. 

To ensure that athletes can enjoy a holistic enduro racing experience at the highest level, the Aletsch Arena is working with BikeMedia. The company has extensive experience and has coordinated every Enduro World Cup in Switzerland since 2019. This includes the 2024 Enduro World Cup in the Aletsch Arena Bellwald and the 2025 World Championships. 

The Aletsch Arena is one of the most spectacular alpine bike destinations in Europe and combines high alpine landscapes with challenging, technical trails. In 2026, the Aletsch Arena will also host the UCI Enduro from July 17 - 19. The invitational in May therefore serves as ideal preparation for the subsequent World Cup. Following the successful World Cup debut in 2024 and the World Championships in 2025 with the first live broadcast of an Enduro race, the Aletsch Arena is consistently continuing its commitment to Enduro sport at the highest level.

Website organizer BikeMedia