Only two of the usual six EKZ Cup races could take place in 2020. These two events once again showed how popular the races aimed at young riders are. The series attracts around 400 participants per event. Children get a taste of racing, for the more ambitious, the competitions are preparation and race training, world-class riders like Lars Forster have fought their way through all age groups of the EKZ Cup. For the clubs that organize the race in their region, this is a welcome boost to the club's coffers and a highlight of the season for their members, whether as participants or as helpers behind the race tape.

In the last section of the media release for the final race in Wetzikon, the bad news was put into beautiful words: "After 16 years of successful partnership with sponsor and namesake EKZ, a new chapter begins for the former Zürcher Oberländer Bike Cup next year." In plain language: the title sponsor is withdrawing and the race series will have to find new funding.

Regulatory authority restricts sponsorship

Everything comes to an end, you might think, but then you wonder why the energy provider's involvement, which also included the EKZ Cross Tour cycling series, has come to an end in the very year in which cycling is experiencing a new peak in popularity. EKZ spokesman Christian Schwarz explains: "We are reluctantly withdrawing. As a result of increasing regulation of the energy business area - such as ElCom's margin restrictions and the separation of market and monopoly - EKZ has decided to withdraw from cycling sponsorship." ElCom (Swiss Federal Electricity Commission) is the regulatory authority that monitors prices and tariffs. The monopoly sector refers to the supply of electricity to private households, which (unlike large customers) cannot choose their electricity supplier. "EKZ is heavily involved in the basic supply. The commitment to cycling cannot be reflected financially purely from the market." You could also say that as long as most EKZ customers cannot choose between different providers, they do not need to pay for advertising measures.

This is a big blow for Heiri Disch. He has been holding the strings of the series together for many years, while cycling clubs and ski clubs organize the individual races. "We'll carry on," he says firmly, "just on a smaller scale." He is convinced that the clubs will be able to hold the event without external funding and that everyone is interested in organizing "their" race in 2021.

The search for a new main or title sponsor has so far been unsuccessful. That is why the series is now called the MTB Race Series. The venues remain the same. Based on the experience of the coronavirus season, the 2021 season opener in Schwändi (GL) will not take place until June. From the outside, it seems risky to organize the series without a well-known sponsor. Disch is convinced that it is possible. "Of course we'll have to cut back, there will no longer be professional media work or the leader's jersey in each age group. The organizing clubs will have to take on more themselves. That way, we can finance the series and continue to promote young mountain bikers."

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