Two disciplines that are completely different and yet very similar at the same time will appear together at the Urban Bike Festival: Art Bike and BMX Flatland. Both sports demand maximum body control and balance from the athletes. BMX flatland is considered the most urban of all bike disciplines. Flat asphalt and a BMX - that's all you need. Flatlanders virtually "dance" on the concrete and perform tricks and stunts that seem impossible to the average spectator. Artistic cyclists impress with incredible elegance and acrobatics.

At the Urban Bike Festival, athletes from both disciplines will join forces to present a show that adds new dimensions to both sports.The organizers have succeeded in bringing top international athletes to Zurich for both disciplines: Reigning world champion Viki Gomez from Spain and three-time tour winner Matthias Dandois from France will be showing off their tricks on the BMX. Yannick Martens from Zurich and Nicole Frýbortová from Slovakia will show what they can do on an artistic bike. Martens is a five-time Swiss champion and three-time winner of the UCI world rankings. Frýbortová is a seven-time Slovakian champion and runner-up in the 2015 World Championships. The BMX flatland artistic bike shows will take place on a new stage on Turbinenplatz.

Swiss bike polo elite duel

This cycling discipline might also seem like art on a bike to some: We're talking about bike polo. The eighth Swiss Bike Polo Championships will be held in Zurich on April 8 and 9. On Saturday evening, the elite riders of the Swiss bike polo scene will be holding a so-called Knifefight on Turbinenplatz. This is a duel form of bike polo in a mini arena. The aim is to shoot down an object belonging to the opponent, with the opponent trying to protect this object using their racket, bike and body.

Swiss acts on unplugged stages

Four young, talented Swiss singer-songwriters will provide the right mood in a relaxed atmosphere. Seb Lorez, Liv Summer, Tim Freitag and Madégras will be performing on the two unplugged stages in the Schiffbau and the Festival Lounge during the three days of the festival.

Participate instead of just watching

Visitors of all ages will have various opportunities to let off steam on the Urban Bike Festival site.Little racers do their laps on the wheel course. Older riders climb into the Mini Drome ring or onto the pump track. The Speed Challenge is all about sprinting for all you're worth. The Sunday City Ride or Velafrica's Slow Race are more leisurely events, as slowness is the order of the day.

Book launch of the Tour de Suisse comic book

The first Urban Bike Festival saw the launch of what is now available in book form: The Tour de Suisse comic book, which was financed entirely through crowdfunding. Marc Locatelli and Martin Born put their heart and soul into the enthusiast project and celebrated the book launch of the 80-page volume in the Urban Bike Festival lounge on Friday evening.

PiX17 photo event goes Urban Bike Festival Parallel to the Urban Bike Festival, the PiX17 event will take place in the neighboring Technopark. In collaboration with the Urban Bike Festival, participants can attend a workshop on action photography with YouTube star Danny MacAskill. BMX Flatland World Champion Viki Gomez will give a lecture on "Bike Action Photo Highlights". In the Technopark, bike enthusiasts can have their portrait taken with their two-wheeler. Amateur photographers can also take part in a photo competition and send in their best pictures from the Urban Bike Festival.www.urbanbikefestival.ch