Whether it's riding down the slopes at snow bike happenings like in Flumserberg or Davos, or thundering down the ski slopes with a race number like in Saas Fee, both have their appeal. But even though snowbiking has almost as long a history as mountain biking itself, it will always remain a niche. A niche that offers a fun change from summer mountain biking - that was the case in the past and is no different today.

The popularity of biking on snow is also undeniable, but you have to look at things in perspective. The number of events is manageable. Their success is mainly due to the exclusive experience of being able to bike on a groomed ski slope, which is otherwise not permitted. If there was a sensory overload here, the number of participants would soon fall.

Fun factor more important than professional circus

Now the UCI is planning a World Cup. Of course, nothing has been confirmed yet, but the plan alone is never finished. They want to organize a five-race downhill series across the globe. I assume that top athletes will also take part. But who will be able to afford this alongside an international summer racing season? Probably only a few, or a specialization like in the Eliminator will develop. And we know where that leads.

No more money, but more effort

The sponsorship pot won't get any bigger and I don't think it will generate any new sponsors. There are also unlikely to be any large starting fields to compensate for the lack of sponsorship income. And where there is a World Cup, there needs to be more effort, and as we all know, this is not for nothing.

It is therefore incomprehensible to me that our dear world federation is pouring money into something that has no future for a variety of reasons. This money could be put to better use elsewhere - in enduro, for example. But that's another story.

Not every fun discipline has to or should be turned into a professional circus. It would be better if the UCI did not deprive snowbiking in general of its status as a fun and exclusive alternative.