All posts by : raidevo

The Raid Evolénard, a flagship event of the Swiss MTB Marathon Series and the West Bike Cup, returns this year with an exciting new feature designed to let a different type of rider shine. Participants in the 24 km, 35 km, and 62 km courses will have the opportunity to compete on a timed segment: the now-famous “Le Rucher” segment.

This 6-kilometer segment connects Chalet Vieux to La Gietty, following mostly natural, technical, and playful singletrack trails. It winds through spruce forests, skirts alpine meadows, and flows over terrain that alternates between fast and twisty sections—a true delight for skilled riders! This segment brings an enduro-style element into a marathon race, placing the focus on technical control, precise line choices, and the ability to accelerate efficiently out of corners.

One of the great strengths of the “Le Rucher” segment is that it is shared across all race courses offered during the event. Whether you’re signed up for the short, medium, or long course, everyone will have the chance to take on this unique section under the same conditions. This parallel ranking, separate from the overall race results, shines a light on a different type of performance, showcasing riders’ descending skills, which are often overshadowed in a pure endurance race.

In 2025, the “Le Rucher” segment is back in full force, ready to separate the finest technicians in the field. Whether you’re a hidden enduro rider at heart, a versatile marathon racer, or simply curious to test yourself on a fun and dynamic segment, don’t miss this opportunity to showcase a different side of your riding skills during the race.

Get your suspension dialed in, fine-tune your lines, and most importantly… keep your eyes wide open: the Rucher segment clock is ticking – and it’s waiting for you!

In the upper Ferpècle valley, at an altitude of 1,800 meters, the Cabanotel offers an eco-friendly, welcoming alternative accommodation perfectly suited to the needs of cyclists. This project, envisioned by Valaisan architect Olivier Cheseaux, is set in a former 19th-century mountain hotel, carefully renovated to provide a unique experience that combines authenticity with energy efficiency.

A self-sufficient refuge focused on nature

Designed to operate completely off-grid, the Cabanotel relies solely on renewable energy sources: solar panels, locally sourced wood for heating, water recovery systems, and a wood-burning stove to heat water. The materials used—such as larch and fir—were chosen for their durability and local origins. This approach reflects a clear intention: to welcome visitors who care about preserving the environment and are willing to use eco-friendly means of transport to reach this unique place—on foot, by bike, or by public transport.

An ideal base camp for mountain bikers

Just a few pedal strokes away from numerous mountain biking routes, the Cabanotel is the perfect starting point for exploring the treasures of the Val d’Hérens. From seasoned riders to casual cyclists, everyone will find something to enjoy on the valley’s trails. But above all, the Cabanotel is an excellent spot for participants of the Raid Evolénard—whether during race weekend or for a unique stay while previewing the course.

Wood-fired cooking, honest and generous

Indeed, staying at the Cabanotel is about more than just outdoor adventure — it also offers a dining experience worth the trip. In the kitchen, chef Matthias Staub, supported by Olivia Campanico, prepares slow-cooked meals over a wood fire — a choice as demanding as it is authentic, echoing the refined simplicity of the place.

The meals highlight regional products, focusing on short supply chains, seasonal ingredients, wild plants, and occasionally local game. The dining room, warm and inviting, encourages conversation around a rustic, flavorful cuisine full of character.

And the icing on the cake: after a day of outdoor exertion, the Cabanotel also offers a wellness area with a sauna and a flotation space.

A refreshing stay, from May to November

The Cabanotel welcomes its guests from May to November. Combining sports, nature, and gastronomy, this special place promises a full immersion in the magnificent landscapes of the Val d’Hérens, with an atmosphere of simplicity, respect, and warmth.

Registration for the Raid Evolénard FMV 2025, taking place on June 15, is now open! For the fourth consecutive year, the race will kick off the Bike Marathon Classics while also being part of the West Bike Cup. The big novelty this year is the opening of the three routes—24 km, 35 km, and 62 km—to e-bikes. However, the highlight of the weekend will be focused on the next generation, with races serving as the Romandy Championships.

The Raid Evolénard FMV will return to its usual date on the third weekend of June in 2025, taking place on the weekend of June 14 and 15. The goal is to once again give young riders the opportunity to preview the courses on Saturday alongside elite racers, while all competitions will take place on Sunday.

Romandy Championships for Young Riders

This year, previewing the courses will be even more important as the races will once again have a ‘cross-country’ format and will count towards the Romandy Championships in the discipline! The courses tested in 2024, set up as loops around the Hérens Arena with numerous technical sections, will be used again, with adjustments made necessary by the damage caused to the riverbanks by severe weather.

Continuity for the Adults

No major changes this year for the adult courses, which will continue to offer three options: The Valdor course first, accessible to all with its 24 km and 800 m of elevation gain, providing a fantastic opportunity for beginners to test themselves in competition.

The 35 km course is the most popular race among West Bike Cup amateurs. With its 1300 m of positive elevation gain, this course is already quite demanding and requires solid training.

The bravest participants can still take on the 62 km marathon course, which will kick off the Bike Marathon Classics, a series of five races that serves as the Swiss Cup for the discipline.

All the courses share stunning single-track sections in the heart of the Alps and each one presents a great challenge to perfectly kick off your mountain biking season.

More options for e-bikes

Electric mountain bike enthusiasts, who in recent years had to settle for just one option with a 27 km course, will this year be able to take on all the traditional Raid Evolénard courses. They will have the choice of a 24 km, 35 km, or 62 km course. This expansion of options responds to a request from riders who wanted more flexibility in choosing the distance.

Registration for all courses is now open on the MSO website, and as usual, by registering before the end of March, you will benefit from more favorable conditions. Registration for the Raiffeisen Kids Cup remains free for all young riders up to 14 years old!

If an XCM racer deserves the title of revelation of the year 2023, it is indeed Stefanie Zahno. With victories in the Bergibike, la Forestière, the Grand Raid BCVs from Nendaz, and a title of Swiss vice-champion in marathon mountain biking, the rider from Team Rodeo Bike – Raid Evolénard has clearly reached a new level in the past season. She intends to capitalize on her excellent results and aims to confirm her performance in 2024. Interview:

You achieved an exceptional season in 2023 with several victories at the highest level. With a bit of hindsight, how do you explain this progression compared to previous years

The 2023 season was undoubtedly exceptional and very impressive, full of different achievements. It started in July with my first national victory and ended in September with my first international win :). The most significant change and probably the decisive factor for these successes was, in my opinion, the change of coach and, therefore, a more professional training structure. This allowed me to improve in several areas.

Parmi tous ces beaux résultats, est-ce qu’il y a un qui est particulièrement important pour toi, où tu as réalisé que tu peux rivaliser avec les meilleures?  On pense par exemple à la Forestière, où tu es restée longtemps dans la roue de la vice championne d’Europe Estelle Morel, avant de la dépasser dans la dernière partie de la course?

Among all these great results, is there one that is particularly important to you, where you realized that you can compete with the best? For example, in La Forestière, where you stayed in the wheel of the vice European champion Estelle Morel for a long time before overtaking her in the final part of the race?

A season like that must make it not too difficult to stay motivated for the next one. How have you planned your preparation for 2024, and where do you see potential for further improvement?

The motivation is definitely there :). I will head to South Africa again at the end of January, where I will participate in a stage race. I plan to continue training hard to improve overall and keep getting closer to the global elite.

n recent years, you have always raced within a small individual structure, notably under the colors of Raid Evolénard. Does this approach still suit you, or are you considering changing your strategy?

I like the individual structure, but I would like to find new sponsors or increase my sponsorship because I am now practicing mountain biking at a semi-professional level.

There were also a few disappointments in 2023, especially with narrowly missing out on the overall classification in the Bike Marathon Classics. Will winning this series be an important goal for you this year? In a more general sense, what will be your priorities in 2024?

The overall classification has never been a goal for me. It’s true that it was very close between Alexandra Zürcher and me for the final victory. So, the second national place is not a disappointment for me. My races in 2024 will continue to be a mix of races in Switzerland and abroad.

With the World Championships in Valais on the horizon, I imagine it gives you an extra dose of motivation to participate in such an event at home. Are you already planning the 2024 season with this in mind?

I am looking forward to having a big long-term goal with the World Championships in Valais. This event is, of course, always in my mind, but it will not have a direct influence on my 2024 season. However, I imagine that I still need to improve over such a long distance because even in 2025, I will still be relatively young on a course like Verbier-Grimentz, which is over 120 km with more than 5000 m of elevation gain.

Of course, you will be at the start of the Raid Evolénard again on June 9th. Can you tell us a bit more about your previous experiences in this race and what goals you have for participating this time?

I have been participating in the Raid Evolénard since I was very young, where I admired the greats, for example, at the CS in 2016. I first did the children’s course, then 24 km, then 32 km, and now I have tackled the long course four times, including once during the European Championships. I have a personal connection with this race. In 2023, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with my performance because I didn’t improve my time. However, with a bit of hindsight, I believe it was necessary to be able to win the Bergibike two weeks later when all the pieces of the puzzle came together!

Despite stiff competition, Team Papival completes the Raid Evolenard double. In the men’s category, last year’s winner, Martin Fanger, won the Raid Evolenard FMV for the second time after a fierce duel with Belgian champion Frans Claes, who finished second. Marc Stutzmann came third. In the women’s race, France’s Estelle Morel, runner-up at the European Championships, won ahead of Germany’s Bettina Janas, winner of the Swiss Epic, and Alexandra Zürcher.

Shortly after the start, a trio of favorites Martin Fanger, Frans Claes and Marc Stutzmann managed to break away and gradually increase their lead over the rest of the field. Whereas in the second loop, Stutzmann had to let his two rivals go on the climb to La Forclaz, Belgian champion Claes chose to pick up the pace in the final kilometers of the last climb to Béplan, and managed to open up a gap on Fanger at the highest point. The Belgian champion was determined to beat the course record set by Johann Tschopp in 2015: 3h10’20”.

But Martin Fanger was not to be counted out. Thanks to a more direct line choice and increased risk-taking on the final descent, Fanger managed to catch up and overtake Claes to win the Raid Evolenard FMV for the second time. However, he missed the course record by one minute. “Frans was very strong today and even managed to pull slightly ahead of me on the climb. On the other hand, I had the fastest line on the downhill,” Fanger summed up. Claes was less happy: “I had great legs and lost the race on the downhill. I’m a bit upset about that”. Marc Stutzmann lacked strength on the second half of the course: “At first, I was feeling good. But then, for some inexplicable reason, I couldn’t keep up with my two companions. But I was still able to secure third place at the finish”, Stutzmann summed up.

In the women’s race, Estelle Morel was the favorite. In place of Irina Lützelschwab, who withdrew, Bettina Janas kept pace with Morel for some time. At the first climax on L`Etoile, Morel was already alone in the lead with a 90-second advantage. By the finish line, the gap had grown to over six minutes. Morel was satisfied: “After the good result at the EC, I expected to win here”. For her part, Bettina Janas declared: “I certainly know the course, having ridden it before. But it’s still surprisingly hard every time – even though I like it when the climbs are steep and the descents technical. My ambition was to stay with Estelle as long as possible and then ride at my own pace. It worked out pretty well. Alexandra Zürcher was the third fastest woman to cross the finish line in the Evolene Arena.

Stéphane Chevrier, co-chairman of the organizing committee, also drew a positive conclusion: “With almost 650 participants over the weekend and a high level of participation on the marathon course, the race continues to gain in appeal. The Swiss championships coming up next year will enable us to build on this momentum. And the feedback from the public was also very positive, which makes us very happy”.