Sport events

The Bike Marathon Classics, which has existed since 1996, has five stages. On the maximum 432 kilometers, the athletes have to cover 17,501 meters of altitude on their mountain bikes in the most beautiful mountain regions of western and central Switzerland as well as in the Valais. The highlight is also the figurative showdown at the Grand Raid BCVS, which was held for the first time in 1990. The 125-kilometer-long hell ride in the Valais between Verbier and Grimentz is considered the oldest mountain bike marathon race in the world and leads as the last climb before the finish over the almost 2800-meter-high Pas de Lona, which completes the total of 5025 meters in altitude. With up to 2000 riders, the Grand Raid is the test with the largest number of participants within the Classics, followed by the Iron Bike Race in Einsiedeln, where around 1800 riders start. The 2024 Swiss Championships will be held at the Grand Raid for the first time this year; it is also the main rehearsal for the World Championships, which will also be held at the Valais classic for the first time in 2025. World-renowned riders such as marathon world champions Christoph Sauser, Thomas Frischknecht, Ralph Näf, Alban Lakata and five-time Swiss champion and seven-time overall series winner Urs Huber have signed the Golden Book of the Classics; among the women, marathon world champions Esther Süss, Jolanda Neff and Ramona Forchini.

Overall ranking 2024

Event calendar:

Statistics: September 2022