There are not many cyclists who can be considered the greatest of all time. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot she is certainly one of the athletes of Cross-Country most dominant of his generation, while the records of Rachel Atherton e Greg Minnaar in Downhill (DHI) can hardly be surpassed. But one man stands out clearly from the others: Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). This weekend will mark his final appearance on the starting grid, as he bids farewell to a historic career at home, in front of his fans, at Bike Kingdom – Lenzerheide (Switzerland), presented by Le Gruyère.
The Swiss star has always been at the forefront of mountain bike racing cross-country for nearly two decades and has achieved a long list of successes that will likely stand the test of time: Olympic gold (2016), 10-time Olympic world champion (XNUMX), cross-country (XCO) UCI, nine-time overall winner of the UCI XCO World Cup, winner of 36 UCI XCO World Cup races and starter in 131 UCI XCO World Cup races.
Although he only made it onto the podium once this season at Araxá – Minas Gerais, in the UCI Cross Country Short Track (XCC) World Cup in Brazil, few would bet against a grand farewell for Schurter. The Swiss rider won there when it last hosted the UCI World Cup in 2023, and has a total of four victories at the Bike Kingdom in Lenzerheide, including the 2018 rainbow jersey. Schurter leaves the UCI World Cup circuit still at the top of the standings: his last victory dates back to Val di Sole (Italy) in 2024.
THE BICYCLE KINGDOM IS CALLING YOU
This weekend will not only be the farewell to Schurter, but also the final European round of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.
Although there was a three-week break since the last stage in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), there were plenty of races for both the athletes cross-country that of downhill, as the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, which lasted two weeks in Valais (Switzerland), only concluded on 14 September.
Cyclists will now head east, to the bikekingdom di LenzerheideThe venue first hosted a UCI XCO World Cup in 1994, before a 21-year absence from the series. It returned in 2015 with XCO and DHI, and has remained a staple ever since, with only interruptions in 2018 (when it hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships), 2020, and 2024.
Located in the shadow of the Lenzerhorn, in the town of Lenzerheide, the cycling region more than lives up to its nickname Bike Kingdom, connecting Arosa, Lenzerheide and Chur to form the largest cycling area in Switzerland.
The downhill takes place on the Straightline UCI World Cup track, a 1,7 km route with 402 m of altitude difference and a monstrous difference in altitude to reach the finish line.
The races of cross-country Olympic and of cross-country Short track races, on the other hand, take place on dense forest terrain and on large exposed mountainous stretches, which lend themselves to very close races.
CAN THE RISSVEDS COMPETE WITH MAXWELL?
Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) is in great form. The 31-year-old has won her last three XCO races, including the UCI XCO World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, and the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Few can match her winning strategy, which allows her to build a lead with an explosive start and stay in the lead until the finish. At the Bike Kingdom in Lenzerheide, will once again be one of the favorites to win.
His current form could make things interesting in the race for the general classification, with a 435-point advantage Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) no longer seems unassailable. The only thing the New Zealander has in her favor, however, is her performances. She took XCO silver at last weekend's UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and has never finished off the podium all year: her third-place finish in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, is her worst XCO performance of the season. A mistake in Lenzerheide, however, could make things interesting for the final two races in North America.
BLEVINS CAN CLOSE THE DEAL IN SWITZERLAND
Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) may not have regained his early XCO season form in the last four races, but the American's solid lead in the overall standings means it's mathematically possible for him to clinch the title in Switzerland. The reality is that he'll likely at least go to the Olympic region in Lake Placid, New York (USA), with teammate Martin Vidaurre Kossman (Specialized Factory Racing) as his closest rival, 361 points behind.
Among the contenders for Sunday's victory are two-time (and current) UCI XCO World Champion Alan Hatherley (Giant Factory Off-Road Team), the winner of Les Gets, Haute-Savoie Luke Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and the local favorite Mathias Fluckiger (Thömus Maxon).
KELLER RACE TO JOIN RICHARDS, BLEVINS ALMOST CONFIRMED
Meanwhile, the overall UCI XCC World Cup standings are very mixed. The women's competition is currently separated by 40 points: Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) leads the 2025 UCI World Champion Alexandra Keller (Thömus Maxon). The latter is demonstrating the consistency that led her to last year's XCO-XCC double, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see her overtake the British rider at Bike Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the men's race is practically a foregone conclusion. Blevins leads the standings with 645 points ahead of the winner of Haute-Savoie, Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing), and an eighth place or better is enough for him to win the title in Switzerland.
HEMSTREET PROVIDES AN ADEQUATE TEST FOR HÖLL
Valentina Hell (YT Mob) e Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) have created a title race that will go down in history: Höll leads despite not having won thanks to consistent podium performances, while Hemstreet is 59 points behind thanks to three UCI Downhill World Cup victories.
Höll returned to her best at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, taking her fourth consecutive rainbow jersey in style. But she'll need to do something she's never managed as an elite rider to break her UCI World Cup winning streak: win at Bike Kingdom in Lenzerheide.
Hemstreet, meanwhile, is on a roll and will look to return to winning ways after settling for fourth at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.
An athlete who cannot be ignored at Lenzerheide è Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction). Although the Frenchwoman hasn't been at her best this season, she has three wins at this track, so she knows what it takes to dominate the Straightline.
TITLE ON THE KNIFE'S EDGE BETWEEN BRUNI AND GOLDSTONE
The men's overall standings are even tighter, with just 25 points separating Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) e Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity).
While Bruni closed the gap slightly after a stronger performance in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, Goldstone will be buoyed by his victory at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and will hope his new rainbow jersey brings him even more success in 2025.
The Canadian's best performance at Lenzerheide In the Elite category, she finished sixth in 2023, while Bruni has only won once on this track, during the 2018 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Both will be aware that any mistake could have huge consequences on the overall standings, so expect a cautious and close race from the pair.
Among others in contention for Saturday's final are the Haute-Savoie winner from Les Gets, Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH), the two-time winner Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction) and 2023 winner Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity).
GARE PROGRAM LENZERHEIDE
Fri 19 Sep 25
10:45 – 11:05 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup – Women U23
11:35 – 11:55 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup – Men U23 (Followed by Award Ceremonies)
14:00 PM – 14:20 PM – Downhill World Cup Qualifying – Women Junior
14:20 – 15:05 – UCI Downhill World Cup Qualifying – Men Junior
17:30 – 17:50 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup – Women
18:10 – 18:30 – UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup - Men
Sat 20 Sep 25
11:30 – 12:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup Final – Women Junior
12:00 – 13:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup Final – Men Junior
13:00 – 14:10 – UCI Downhill World Cup Final – Women (Followed by Award Ceremony)
14:10 – 16:00 – UCI Downhill World Cup Final – Men (Followed by Award Ceremony)
Sun 21 Sep 25
09:00 – 10:10 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Women U23 (Followed by Award Ceremony)
11:00 – 12:10 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Men U23 (Followed by Award Ceremony)
13:30 – 14:50 – UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Women (Followed by Award Ceremony)
15:30 – 16:50 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup – Men (Followed by Award Ceremony)
