There aren’t many riders who can be considered the greatest of all time. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is certainly one of the most dominant Cross-country riders of her generation, while Rachel Atherton and Greg Minnaar’s records in Downhill (DHI) are unlikely to be topped. But one man stands head and shoulders above the rest – Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team). This weekend will mark his final appearance on the start 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 been an ever-present at the front of Cross-country mountain bike races for almost two decades, and has secured a long list of achievements that will probably stand the test of time – Olympic gold (2016), 10-time Cross-country Olympic (XCO) UCI World Champion, nine-time UCI XCO World Cup overall winner, winner of 36 UCI XCO World Cup rounds and starter at 131 UCI XCO World Cup races.
Although he’s only managed one podium this season at Araxá – Minas Gerais, Brazil’s UCI Cross-country Short Track (XCC) World Cup, few would bet against Schurter signing off in style. The Swiss rider won at the venue when it last hosted a UCI World Cup in 2023, and has a total of four wins at Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide, including his 2018 rainbow jersey. Schurter bows out from the UCI World Cup circuit still at the top of the sport – his last win coming in Val di Sole (Italy) in 2024.
THE BIKE KINGDOM BECKONS
This weekend isn’t just a farewell to Schurter, but also the final European round of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.
While there’s been a three-week break since the last round in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), there has been plenty of racing for both the Cross-country and Downhill athletes with the two-week 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais (Switzerland) only wrapping up on September 14.
Riders will now head east to Bike Kingdom in Lenzerheide. The venue first hosted a UCI XCO World Cup round in 1994 before a 21-year absence from the series. It returned in 2015 with XCO and DHI, and has been a staple ever since, with breaks only 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 bike region more than lives up to its Bike Kingdom moniker, connecting Arosa, Lenzerheide and Chur to form the largest bike area in Switzerland.
The Downhill takes place on the venue’s Straightline UCI World Cup track – a 1.7km course that features 402m of descent and a monster big drop to navigate into the finish corral.
The Cross-country Olympic and Cross-country Short Track races, meanwhile, are duked out on densely packed woodland and expansive, exposed sections of mountain that lend themselves to close racing.
CAN RISSVEDS RIVAL MAXWELL?
Jenny Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV XCO) is in red-hot form. The 31-year-old has won her last three XCO races, which include the UCI XCO World Cup in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, and the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Few can cope with her race-winning tactics, where she builds a lead with an explosive start and stays out front until the finish, and at Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide, she will be a favourite for the win once more.
Her current form could make things interesting in the race for the overall series, with Samara Maxwell’s (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) 435-point lead no longer looking unassailable. The one thing that the New Zealander has going for her, though, is her own performances. She clinched XCO silver at last weekend’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, and hasn’t finished off the podium all year – her third in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, her worst XCO performance of the season. Make a mistake in Lenzerheide, though, and things could get interesting for the final two rounds in North America.
BLEVINS CAN SEAL THE DEAL IN SWITZERLAND
Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) might not have recreated his early-season XCO form in the last four rounds, but the American’s healthy lead in the overall series means it would be mathematically possible for him to clinch the title in Switzerland. The reality is that it will likely go to Lake Placid Olympic Region, New York (USA) at least, with team-mate Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (Specialized Factory Racing) his closest rival, 361 points behind.
Those likely to be contesting for the win this Sunday include the two-time (and reigning) XCO UCI World Champion Alan Hatherly (Giant Factory Off-Road Team), Les Gets, Haute-Savoie winner Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) and local favourite Mathias Flückiger (Thömus Maxon).
KELLER ON COURSE TO CATCH RICHARDS, BLEVINS ALL-BUT CONFIRMED
The overall UCI XCC World Cups meanwhile are very contrasting. The women’s competition is currently separated by 40 points – Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli) holding an advantage over the 2025 UCI World Champion Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon). The latter is showing the consistency that propelled her to last year’s XCO-XCC overall double, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her overthrow the Brit at the Bike Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the men’s is effectively a foregone conclusion. Blevins leads the series by 645 points to Les Gets, Haute-Savoie winner Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing), and only needs to finish 8th or better to clinch the title in Switzerland.
HEMSTREET PROVIDING PROPER TEST FOR HÖLL
Valentina Höll (YT Mob) and Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) have put on a title race for the ages, with Höll on top despite no wins thanks to consistent podium performances while Hemstreet is 59 points behind courtesy of three UCI Downhill World Cup wins.
Höll was back to her best at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, taking her fourth consecutive rainbow jersey in style. But she will have to do something she has never managed as an Elite to break her winless UCI World Cup run – win at Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide.
Hemstreet, meanwhile, is on a hot streak of her own and will be looking to get back to winning ways after settling for fourth at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.
One rider who can’t be overlooked in Lenzerheide is Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction). Although the Frenchwoman hasn’t been her best this season, she has three wins at the venue so knows what it takes to tame the Straightline.
TITLE ON A KNIFE EDGE BETWEEN BRUNI AND GOLDSTONE
The men’s overall series is even tighter, with just 25 points separating Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) and Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity).
While Bruni closed the gap slightly after a better performance in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, Goldstone will be buoyed by his UCI Mountain Bike World Championships win, and will be hoping his new rainbow jersey leads to even more success in 2025.
The Canadian’s best performance at Lenzerheide in Elite was sixth place back in 2023, while Bruni has only won once at the venue – during the 2018 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Both will be aware that any slip now could have huge consequences in the overall series, so expect cagey, tight racing from the pair.
Others in contention in Saturday’s final include Les Gets, Haute-Savoie winner Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH), two-time winner Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction), and 2023 victor Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity).
Racing gets underway in Bike Kingdom - Lenzerheide on Friday with the UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup. Full schedule and event details are available here.
