A concept with taste

The ÖKK Bike Revolution is more than just racing. This was emphasized more than enough in the run-up to the event. Saturday belongs entirely to children and popular sports. The newly launched Velo Gusto Tour stands out here in particular. A new concept is designed to entice cycling fans into the saddle without any pressure to perform. Instead of timekeeping, there is plenty of enjoyment and adventure, and instead of sports food, participants are treated to local delicacies at the checkpoints.

The registration portal for the Velo Gusto tours in Chur is already closed. However, spontaneous participants can register on site in Chur up to one hour before the "starting signal". The Velo Gusto tours start on Saturday, April 23 at 09.00 and 10.00 a.m.

France versus Switzerland

Not just since Julien Absalon and Nino Schurter have these national duels in mountain biking ended in epic duels. On the Swiss side, there are names like Frischknecht, Sauser, Näf, Flückiger and Schurter. For the French, it's Martinez, Dupouey, Sarrou, Koretzky and, above all, Absalon. These duels on the single trails were characterized by drama, spectacle and great sporting spirit. Now three musketeers are venturing into the lion's den. Jordan Sarrou (2020 World Champion), Titouan Carod (third at the 2020 World Championships) and Maxime Marotte (French Champion) want to annoy Nino Schurter in front of his home crowd. Maxime Marotte in particular still has a score to settle with Schurter. Two weeks ago at the World Cup in Brazil, the Frenchman was beaten by a wafer-thin margin in the sprint. Schurter, on the other hand, took his 33rd World Cup victory, equaling Julien Absalon's record.

In addition to the four riders mentioned above, European champion Lars Forster, Filippo Colombo (who won the opening race of the ÖKK Bike Revolution on Monte Tamaro) and Thomas Litscher are hot candidates for the podium.

Terpstra starts as the favorite

In the elite women's race, Swiss Olympic medalists Linda Indergand and Sina Frei will be up against Anne Terpstra from the Netherlands. The latter is in brilliant form and recently took second place at the World Cup in Brazil and at the first race of the ÖKK Bike Revolution on Monte Tamaro. But Alessandra Keller is also keen for a top result. After all, the Swiss rider achieved a respectable eighth place at the World Cup in Brazil.

Mathias Flückiger and Jolanda Neff are not at the start in Chur. They were still on the start list until yesterday, but have now had to withdraw at short notice. Neff, who has already had to cancel the opening race on Monte Tamaro and the World Cup race in Brazil, is still in training. And Flückiger is focusing on the Tour de Romandie starting next week.

A mix of old town and single trails

The race in Chur starts in the middle of the city (Theaterplatz/Grabenstrasse) and combines Chur's old town with the nearby single trails. World champion Nino Schurter was actively involved in choosing the route and is really looking forward to his home race: "It's great to see how hard work has been done here for mountain biking in recent weeks. The city of Chur has made a lot possible for us here. Spectators can expect a city race with thrilling singletrail passages in the forest!"

The elite women's and elite men's races will be streamed live online via bike-revolution.ch and broadcast live for the first time on the Swiss TV channel "blue Zoom".

Ukrainian national team at the start

So far, 600 participants have registered for all races on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the elite, juniors will also be competing on Sunday. Five athletes from Ukraine will also be at the start. Thanks to the support of Swiss Cycling, the young men and women are currently training in Switzerland.

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