The Bike Marathon Classics, which has been held since 1996, consists of six races. Over a maximum distance of 569 kilometers, participants must cover 21,589 meters of elevation gain on mountain bikes through the most beautiful mountainous regions of western, southeastern, and central Switzerland, as well as the Valais. The highlight—in both the literal and figurative sense—is the Grand Raid BCVS, first held in 1990. This grueling 125-kilometer race in Valais, between Verbier and Grimentz, is considered the oldest mountain bike marathon in the world. The final climb before the finish is the Pas de Lona, at an altitude of nearly 2,800 meters, which brings the total elevation gain to 5,025 meters. With up to 1,500 riders, the Grand Raid and the Nationalpark Bike.Marathon are the most popular events in the Classics, followed by the Iron Bike Race in Einsiedeln, which attracts around 1,000 riders. The 2026 Swiss Championship will take place this year as part of the Raid Evolenard. World-renowned riders have made their mark on the Classics’ hall of fame, including marathon world champions Christoph Sauser, Thomas Frischknecht, Ralph Näf, Alban Lakata, and Andreas Seewald, as well as five-time Swiss champion and seven-time overall series winner Urs Huber; and among the women, marathon world champions Esther Süss, Jolanda Neff, Ramona Forchini, and world championship runner-up Anna Weinbeer.