The Bike Marathon Classics, which has been running since 1996, consists of six races. Over a maximum distance of 560 kilometres, participants must cover an exhausting 21,523 metres of elevation gain by mountain bike in the most beautiful mountain regions of western, south-eastern and central Switzerland, as well as in Valais. The highlight, also in a figurative sense, is the showdown at the Grand Raid BCVS, which was first held in 1990. The 125-kilometre hellish ride in Valais between Verbier and Grimentz is considered the world's oldest mountain bike marathon race and leads over the Pas de Lona, which is almost 2,800 metres high, as the last climb before the finish line, completing a total of 5,025 metres of elevation gain. With up to 1,500 riders, the Grand Raid and the National Park Bike Marathon are the most popular events within the Classics, followed by the Iron Bike Race in Einsiedeln, which attracts around 1,000 riders. The 2026 Swiss Championships will once again be held at the Raid Evolenard. World-renowned riders have entered their names in the Golden Book of the Classics, including marathon world champions Christoph Sauser, Thomas Frischknecht, Ralph Näf, Alban Lakata, Andreas Seewald and five-time Swiss champion and seven-time series overall winner Urs Huber; and, in the women's category, marathon world champions Esther Süss, Jolanda Neff and Ramona Forchini, as well as vice world champion Anna Weinbeer.
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