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Registrations are open for the 2023 edition of the Raid Evolénard FMV

The Raid Evolénard continues its momentum and will again be part of both the West Bike Cup and the Bike Marathon Classics in 2023. The “Team” category, inaugurated in 2022, will be back on the program, as well as a new e-bike category, which will give the possibility to a new public to discover the joys of the Raid Evolénard! The race will be preceded on Saturday by the now traditional Kids Coaching Day, which has been a growing success for several years!

2023 will be a transition year for the organizers of the Raid Evolénard FMV before hosting the Swiss MTB marathon championships again in 2024. The main novelty this year will be the opening of an e-bike category. With this category, the organizers are responding to a demand that has become increasingly pressing in recent years, from a number of electric mountain bike enthusiasts that is growing steadily. However, there was no question for the organizers to set up an e-bike race at the expense of the participants of the traditional Raid Evolénard race. The organizers have therefore set up a new course that takes up most of the second loop of the Raid Evolénard. As the e-bike runners will start immediately after the marathon runners, the interference on the course will be reduced to a minimum.

Kids coaching day to open the weekend!

For the rest, the organizers are betting this year on continuity, and are taking up all the elements that have made the Raid Evolénard a success in recent years, starting with the Kids Coaching Day on the eve of the race, always supported by “Les Bons Sirops Morand”. With nearly 80 participants last year who were able to benefit from the advice of professionals such as Christoph Sauser, Steve Morabito and Arnaud Rapillard, it was a great success, and you should not miss the registration deadline to participate in this activity in 2024!

On Sunday, the usual races will again be on the program, with notably the 24km for the popular, the 35km for the more seasoned, and the marathon course for the best trained! The Team category will again allow runners who are a little less well prepared to run the entire course, but in pairs!

The 35km and 62km courses will count as every year for the West Bike Cup. This will already be the sixth stage of the French speaking series, so the riders at the start will already have many races in their legs!

Opening of the Bike Marathon Classics

In the Bike Marathon Classics, the Ortler bike has been replaced by the Summer Bike in Château d’Oex. It is therefore the Raid Evolénard that will have the honor to open the series on June 18th! In the absence of Urs Huber, who has already announced his absence after having participated eight years in a row in the Raid Evolénard, many contenders will be at the start to succeed Martin Fanger and Carmen Zaugg in the prize list, and at the same time wear the leader jersey of the series!

Free races for kids

The children will be able to compete on courses adapted to their level within the framework of the Raiffeisen Kids Cup. With the exception of the cadets, who will start from Evolène, all the children’s starts will be given at the Hérens Arena in Les Haudères, where the finish of all categories will also be played. As always for the last 26 years, the registrations for young people up to 16 years old will be free of charge, the promotion of the sport among the youth being one of the priority objectives of the organizers!

Online registration is open until June 15. Participants who register before March 30 will receive a discount. On-site registration will still be available on race day, but without souvenir prizes!

Raid Evolénard – FMV in the circle of the big ones

The Raid Evolénard won the Valais hydroelectric power plant operator “Les forces Motrices Valaisannes (FMV)” as a new main sponsor and will be called “Raid Evolénard – FMV” in the future. The organizers of the 2021 European Marathon Championships will also be part of the national Bike Marathon Classics race series and will remain part of the Garmin Bike Cup. The next staging of the Raid Evolenard will take place on June 19 in Evolène.

One year after the European Bike Marathon Championships, the organizers of the Raid Evolénard want to continue to offer attractive, high-quality mountain bike races for amateur and elite athletes. With the new title sponsor FMV, the OC team has found the ideal partner for the future.

“As organizers of the Raid Evolénard, we have been able to count on the support of FMV for a decade now. We have now been able to expand this fruitful partnership, which makes us very happy. After all, our organizations stand for the same values such as environmental protection and sustainability. The partnership allows us to continue and develop the race,” explains Stéphane Chevrier, new Co-President of Raid Evolénard – FMV.
Jérôme Bonvin, member of the management of FMV, emphasizes: “If we are guided by our own values, we are ready to make a long-term commitment. We have been supporting the Raid Evolénard for 10 years, and we are impressed every year by their professionalism. The will of the organizers has convinced us not only to grow this event on a sporting level, but also to put it at the service of the development of an entire region. This includes the promotion of a mobility that preserves resources, especially a practice of e-bike sport that is compatible with nature.”

Second stage of the Bike Marathon Classics

The entry into the Bike Marathon Classics, the reference series of the Swiss Bike Marathon sport, will also make the Raid Evolénard better known in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, where four of the six races will be held. Among the best marathon bikers in the country, the Raid Evolénard has already made a name for itself as the organizer of the 2021 European Championships, as well as the 2015 and 2016 Swiss Championships. Numerous bike marathon top riders praised the challenging and panoramic royal route, which leads over 62 kilometers and 2660 meters of altitude.
However, the organizers will also duly celebrate the athletes of the shorter distances. The race is still part of the Garmin Bike Cup.

Hobby athletes can continue to enjoy a more leisurely and sociable race format on the Valdor 24 km course.
In addition, there is a new team race. Here, two riders share the royal course. The highlight will be the final descent on a new section, which was raced for the first time at last year’s European Championships and is now part of the official course.

Children’s races still free of charge

Children can compete on various age-appropriate courses according to their level as part of the Raiffeisen Kids Cup. While the “cadets” start from Evolène, all other children begin their stint in the crowd-pleasing Hérens Arena in Les Haudères, where the finish of all other races is also located. Registration for children up to 15 years of age remains free of charge – and has been for 25 years! This shows the premise of the organizers, whose primary goal is to promote youth sports.

Online registrations are open until June 15. Participants who register by March 30 will benefit from a discount!

Andreas Seewald and Natalia Esusquiza Fischer win the European Championships in Evolène

Andreas Seewald and Natalia Fischer Esusquiza are the new European champions in the marathon mountain bike discipline. If the Swiss were a bit behind in the men’s category, the Swiss women shined as the Swiss champion Steffi Häberlin finished in second place, ahead of the world champion Ramona Forchini and Ariane Lüthi.

Seewald wins as a climber

In the men’s race, it was Samuele Porro who tried to make the difference by breaking away on the first climb. The Italian, who had already finished second at the European Championships, also took all the risks in the downhill sections, because he knew that the best climber, Andreas Seewald, was on his heels. But on the last long climb to Beplan, the highest point of the course, the German Seewald managed to catch the Italian and literally drop him. On the last kilometers of the climb, he managed to make a gap of five minutes, which he skilfully managed on the last descent of about ten kilometers to ride to the title of European champion. Second place went to Porro ahead of the Czech Martin Stosek. Swiss champion Martin Fanger finished as the best Swiss rider, finishing in eighth place.

Third vice champion title for Porro

Seewald, who has a reputation for not being the best descender, was satisfied that his tactics worked: “I wanted to do as much damage as possible on the climb, i.e. to cause a pre-selection. I did that pretty well. But then I fell twice on the slight downhill. I was just too nervous. But on the second climb I was able to show that I was the strongest, which really satisfies me”. The Italian Porro, who finished second for the third time in a row, was quite philosophical: “I tried everything until the end and I have nothing to reproach myself for. I pushed hard on the climbs and risked everything on the descents. But Seewald was simply stronger. A medal is a medal.”

Martin Stosek, in third place, had technical problems right from the start of the race: “I couldn’t change gears properly. This caused me problems on this very demanding course. But I am happy for my teammate Andreas Seewald who was able to win. Considering the situation, I am satisfied with this third place.”

A spanish before the Swiss girls !

In the women’s race, Steffi Häberlin went in the hunt for the title by breaking away in the first few kilometers of the race. But she also paid a little for her efforts on the last climb. The Spaniard Natalia Fischer Esusquiza was able to overtake the Swiss champion, who was then able to keep this position until the finish line to finish as European vice-champion. World champion Ramona Forchini, who was also aiming for the title, had to settle for the bronze medal.

At the finish, Fischer was overwhelmed by her feelings. Her great-grandfather was originally from Evolène and later emigrated to Spain as a migrant worker. The Swiss woman at heart ran the perfect race to win her first European title.

Steffi Häberlin’s ambitions were thwarted by leg cramps on the last climb: “I had never experienced this before. On the first climb, everything went well. My tactic was not to let anyone go. That’s how I approached the race and I don’t regret it. But on the last climb, I really suffered. On the last run, I had no chance to catch Fischer, so in the end I am very satisfied with the silver medal.”

“The second half of the race was very difficult for me. I had to take all the risks in the last run because Ariane Lüthi was coming back on me. And that’s when I crashed but fortunately I was able to continue.” This is how Ramona Forchini summed up her fight for the title, she who had started to win and had concentrated her tactics on Katazina Sosna, who had won the Dolomiti Hero last week. Despite a difficult day, she was satisfied to have been able to defend her third place until the end.

Details of the Covid-19 plan presented by Les Bons Sirops Morand

The COVID situation has strongly modified the organization of the Raid Evolénard. The start of the popular race was moved, no infrastructure was put in place after the race, and the public was severely limited for the European championships. The Raid Evolénard had to adapt to the situation and work hard to set up a COVID plan accepted by the authorities. Les Bons Sirops Morand supported this work by becoming a COVID-19 partner, since the traditional Kids Coaching Days that they used to sponsor could no longer take place. Their hydroalcoholic solutions will be present in the start and finish areas, to ensure the safety of the runners, their companions and the volunteers. The Raid Evolénard takes advantage of the publication of the COVID plan to meet Fabrice Haenni, director of the Morand distillery:

Hello Fabrice, you have been the director of Morand for almost 6 years. Could you introduce us to your company and what are the main changes you have made since your arrival?

Established in Martigny since 1889, the Louis Morand Distillery has distinguished itself from the beginning by its strong regional roots. An attachment to the land, a family know-how and the continuous search for quality are some of the ingredients that have allowed this family business to survive through the ages. The Distillery develops liqueurs, syrups, marcs and eaux-de-vie, including the very famous Williams pear eau-de-vie, the Williamine as well as a delicious Abricotine AOP. More than just products, the Morand Distillery is the story of a family and five generations of men and women who work to preserve and transmit the family know-how. The last few years have been under the sign of diversification. In 2015, Morand took over my parents’ business, Herbes Aromatiques Grand-St. Bernard. A very strong emphasis has also been placed on expanding the Bons Sirops range, which now has about 50 references. For spirits, innovation is at the heart of our concerns: event service based on brandy cocktails, Williamine and Apricot mousses, Valaisan Gin, etc. Independence, loyalty, pragmatism, trust and the will to preserve and develop the family heritage are all elements that allow the Distillerie Morand to innovate while respecting tradition.

For a few years now, we have noticed that you are very present in endurance races with the Ultrack but also in the cycling sector where you support the Tour des Stations, the Grand Raid and the Raid Evolénard. Could you explain us this strategy?

Most of these sporting events offer a children’s version. It is therefore natural for us, with our familiar and family syrups, to be present at these events. For adults and elites, we also notice that more and more athletes consume syrups during the effort. Some add a little pinch of salt to their mix. Generally speaking, as a player in the Valais economy, it is very important for us to support quality events that highlight the qualities of our canton.

Are you a fan of endurance sports and will we have the pleasure of seeing you at the start of the Raid Evolénard on June 19?

I love mountain biking but I rather practice it with my family with our 7 and 9 year old children or use it as a means of transportation. There is nothing like a ride from the plain to my home in Savièse after a hard day’s work to free your mind!

Since the beginning of the pandemic you have distinguished yourself by adapting your production line to make hydroalcoholic solutions. How did it go and in retrospect was it a winning choice for your company?

Our organization acted with urgency and with great agility. Given the shortage of hydroalcoholic solution at the beginning of the year 2020, the distilleries obtained the right to produce and distribute this type of product. A huge teamwork has allowed to create and market, in a record time, a quality product. After the hydroalcoholic solution with Williams pear created in a hurry, the Morand Distillery also markets a second hand disinfectant. Scented with organic Valais thyme, this solution offers an excellent quality-price ratio. Both recipes follow the WHO prescriptions and have been approved by the OFSP.

On the side of the Raid Evolénard we could also find this reactivity since you went from sponsor of the kids coaching day to sponsor COVID-19. Is seeing each change in situation as an opportunity a sign of the Morand Distillery?

Yes, clearly. We are constantly researching and challenging ourselves. This ability to innovate is essential in the life of a company. It is even more so when we are going through a period of crisis.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Bons Sirops Morand for their support of the children and for their help in making our event possible in the context of CoVid-19 by having a pleasant smell after disinfection!

The perfect bike setup for the Raid Evolénard

On 26 May, we asked Swiss mountainbike legend Christoph Sauser for advice on a winning bike setup for the Raid Evolénard and the European Championships. Here is his advice!

Hardtail or full suspension

For a race like the Raid Evolénard with so much climbing (3900hm for 76km for the elite men), a hardtail is definitely the go-to option. The race track has many long climbs on gravel roads and steep, technical descends, which makes saving weight on the bike very important to be competitive. Of course, this is advice for the racers who go for winning! If you are riding to enjoy the fun descents or don’t want your body to be destroyed after the race, bring your full-suspension bike!

To drop or not to drop?

In the XCO WC races earlier in May, we’ve seen the introduction of dropper posts on almost all bikes to facilitate technical downhills. Even technically very skilled riders like Nino Schurter now have a dropper on their bike. It is definitely a welcome feature for your bike during the Raid Evolénard, although not all riders will have one as the 200-300 g additional weight can make the difference at the highest level.

Tyre choice and pressure

Tyre choice is something riders will choose during the race weekend in function of the trail conditions and the weather! In general, there is a move towards somewhat wider tyres in the MTB scene: 2.3” or 2.4” widths are no exception! In the Raid Evolénard, you can be sure that even on a sunny day, some of the mountain trails will be wet, so enough thread on the bike is important. A setup with a more knobby tire in the front and a tire with better rolling resistance at the back can be a good option, but all is to reviewed during race weekend. Important as well to check out the tyre pressure on the race course: how low can you go without risking a pinch flat!?

Don’t forget… clothing!

One aspect that we cannot overlook is clothing choice! Make sure you look at the weather forecast to make sure you dress properly for the race! The conditions in Evolène at 1300hm can be very different than those at Béplan at 2500hm so make sure you don’t lose the race with hypothermia!

For more details, watch the conversation live here.

Session in partnership with Horizonte Coffee and Songo.info

Join us for sessions on nutrition and training with Ariane Lüthi on June 2 and race prep and race tactics with Urs Huber on June 9 (insert link) and sign up for this year’s Raid Evolénard!

Raid Evolénard, the Swiss champions reveal their secrets!

The Raid Evolénard will host the European MTB Marathon Championships on June 19 and 20 in the Val d’Hérens. In order to allow mountain bike fans to make the most of this special edition, the organizers will propose in the next few weeks numerous experiences on the LivXP platform, whose aim is to put fans and athletes in contact. Webinar series, special packages to discover the region, trips to win, products signed by the champions, there will be something for everyone. And if not, you can also send us your suggestions!

A series of videos to discover the Raid Evolénard

The COVID-19 pandemic and the snow that persists on the course continue to make it difficult to recognize the course. To remedy this and to allow riders to familiarize themselves with the course, the organizers have set up a series of three video sessions. Swiss mountain bike legend, multiple world champion and Olympic medalist Christoph Sauser, will open the series on May 26 from 8:00 to 8:30 pm. Sauser, who had the opportunity to ride the course in the last three editions, will focus in particular on the optimal choice of mountain bike for the requirements of the course. Ariane Lüthi and Urs Huber, who have won several times in Valais, will follow him on May 2 and May 9 to talk about preparation and race management. These sessions are open to everyone and free of charge. Interested people can already register on LivXP to send their questions!

Discovery packages

In order to allow participants to make the most of their stay and to make them want to come back to the Valais, the organizers are also offering a discovery package at an unbeatable price of $30. This package will give the right to a raclette and a Lattesso drink once the finish line is crossed, and will also offer the possibility to take part in a surprise activity offered by Evolène-Région Tourisme. And to discover the region in another way, the package also includes a day of skiing in one of the region’s ski areas (Espace Dent Blanche, Télé Mont Noble, Télé-Nendaz).

A magnificent Anako Lodge stay to be won!

And above all, everyone who buys this package will automatically take part in the draw to win a stay for four people at Anakolodge from June 2 to 5, during which they will have the opportunity to discover the course with former Belgian champion Frans Claes, 8th at the last MTB marathon world championships.

Many more surprises to come!

In the coming days, many other offers will be added to these experiences. Packages for children, stays during the race weekend, meeting with the athletes, the organizers will continue to use their imagination to make you live a magnificent 2021 edition of the Raid Evolénard! And if you don’t find what you’re looking for among our offers, LivXP also gives you the opportunity to make wishes, which we will of course try to grant!

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The Raid Evolénard 2021 and the European Championships will take place

With six weeks to go, one thing is certain: the Raid Evolénard will indeed take place. And while many details still need to be worked out, most of the important points are clear. Whether you are an elite rider who wants to participate in the European Championships, a popular rider who wants to take part in the Garmin Bike Cup, a youngster who is preparing for the Raiffeisen Kids Cup or a spectator, you will find most of the answers to your questions in our event program!

To summarize the situation, the race will be a light one, under the principle “Ride & Go home”. No infrastructure, no canteen, no shower; after the race the runners will have to go home and spectators will not be allowed in the start and finish areas. No registration will be possible on site and race numbers will be sent directly to the runners. A race office will be available before all for foreign runners, who will be able to collect their numbers, or to solve last minute problems. All runners over 12 years old will have to take a COVID-19 test to be allowed to start.

The elite races of the European championships will be able to run with stricter standards beforehand but without too many constraints on the day as they are part of the performance sport allowing the program of these races to remain unchanged for the moment. The master categories of the European championships will be limited to 15 runners, to follow the current rules. The organizers are hopeful that this number will increase rapidly.

On the Garmin Bike Cup side, the adult category starts are also limited to 15 people per start at this time. The start location has been moved outside the village to ensure a one-way flow and to minimize interaction between riders of different categories. The junior and cadet categories will start from the same location, but with no restriction on numbers.

For the children who participate in the Raiffeisen Kids Cup, the number of participants will not be limited, but the number of accompanying persons will be strongly restricted. The departures will take place as usual at the Hérens Arena from 13:25. A FAQ page has been set up to keep you informed of the evolution of the measures to follow. Do not hesitate to write us if you have any other questions!

Fabien Monnier, on his way to defend his European Championship title in Evolene

Fabien Monnier, who won the title in Norway in 2019, has had the opportunity to wear his European champion’s jersey on all the roads of Switzerland and elsewhere for almost two years! The rider of the Team Papival Scott Grand Raid BCVs knows that he will have a lot of work to do to defend his title on the slopes of the Raid Evolénard, but he is already looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the best masters in Europe. He tells us about his victorious race in Norway and about the great opportunity that the European Championships represent for amateur runners, who can take the start without having to go through selections, unlike the World Championships!

You are the current European Master Champion after your victory in Norway two years ago. Can you come back for us on the course of this day?

The trip to Norway was not the most convenient, in the middle of a heat wave in Switzerland we arrived with temperatures barely above 0.
My wife and I were staying in the hotel right next to the start, which was great to get into the mood. By talking with the organizers I was able to get some information on the difficult parts of the course and on the runners to watch out for.
On the morning of the race, the elites were the first to start 30min before all the masters. I remember that it was snowing at the start (in the middle of July, nothing more normal in Norway surely).
The course of about 75km had 2 big climbs with a lot of single on the first half. We had to be in the right group from the beginning.
Once the gaps were made, the last 30 km were done in a time trial format with a small crash at 7km from the finish and the fear of going the wrong way or dying. It was only once I crossed the finish line that I really dared to believe it.
The ceremony with the national anthem so far from home was also a highlight of the day.
I remember not talking too much about the race beforehand in order to reduce the pressure and not to jinx myself.

What was the atmosphere on the start line of these European championships in the master category?

Cold! With 3 degrees I even saw some competitors leaving with an overhelmet. There was not much exchange with the runners, the language barrier and the fact of not knowing anyone did not help. The atmosphere was more one of watching the thighs to get the right wheel.

What are the selection criteria for participating in the European Championships in the master category?

Apart from a license, a bike and a helmet none and that’s what’s great, it really allows everyone to take the start and enjoy a perfect organization and a course prepared to the smallest detail.
In 2021, the access to the world championships will be more complicated with the new UCI rules, the UEC’s allow everyone to participate in a great event of the calendar.
To ride in the master category you need to have the right license. In marathon it is common to see riders over 30 years old in the elite category, usually the top riders. The master category allows everyone to compete according to their age.
A good master runner will often run as well as an elite runner but beyond a certain age the difference will be too great and the different master categories are a plus for motivation.

You know the course of the Raid Evolénard well. Do you think you can defend your title on this type of route?

It’s going to be complicated, mainly because of the steep slopes of the course, especially on the second hill, which will give an advantage to the lighter riders. But no matter, I hope to have a lot of fun on this new course and in a majestic setting.
I haven’t decided yet if I’ll ride a full or a half mountain bike, as the new downhill sections will use less 4×4 roads.

Can you tell us how you train to be at the top in this category?

Normally I start my preparation at the end of November with outdoor training and strengthening as well as specific training in the gym. This particular year we had to be innovative with the closing of the fitness centers. My coach Bernard Maréchal prepares my plans every week, the intensities start in January.
Specifically for the UEC’s and especially for the foreign runners, the recognition of the course remains a delicate point. Not everyone can come and scout the course before the race. I advise runners to get information via YouTube (many onboard filmed passages are available) and to analyze the Strava segments which remain a good indicator on the slope and the terrain (analysis of the average speed, cardio, …).

Apart from these championships, what will be the big objectives of the season for you?

Apart from the UEC, the big goal for me is the Grand Raid BCVs. Living in the region and being a rider in the “Papival Scott GR BCVs” team of the event, it is not possible to miss this end of summer event.
I also want to enjoy myself more and more and discover more and more new places by bike, this sport allows you to get away and travel with such freedom.

Thanks for your answers

I wish everyone a good preparation for the next UEC and that this Covid-19 does not disrupt our lives and schedule to allow us to fully enjoy our sport and life.

Forchini, the new MTB Marathon queen hopes to be at the start in Evolène

Ramona Forchini became last October the fourth Swiss woman to win a marathon MTB World Championship title, after Petra Henzi, Esther Süss and Jolanda Neff. A big surprise for the St. Gallen champion who was just recovering from health problems but who demonstrates her exceptional potential in the discipline. If her XCO calendar allows her to take the start, she will undoubtedly be among the favourites for a European medal in Evolène.

The season ended beautifully with this world championship title, but things didn’t start so well. Can you tell us more about this infection that disrupted your season and prevented you from racing until September?

The year 2020 has been difficult. Not only did the corona change our race schedule, but a forced two-month break also thwarted my plans. I got the new season off to a perfect start in the spring with another victory in the Mediterranean epic overall standings. This was directly followed by the confinement. I was able to use this period to work on my basic form. But just before the racing season resumed in July, I suffered a swelling of the lymph nodes accompanied by an abscess in my thigh. After much reflection, I refused the recommended surgery. I knew it was a risky decision, but it didn’t seem like a good solution. The surgery would have ended my season anyway, so why not try something else?

After an alternative treatment of the lymphatic system, things actually improved. And I was allowed to do a couple of training sessions as a test phase. The whole situation has remained stable.

last year you participated in your first Swiss Mountain Bike Marathon Championship in Scuol. What was your experience in this discipline so far?

I have proven several times that I am able to achieve good results over long distances with little specific preparation.But for this Swiss championship, I had another objective. It should be the “new entry into the season” so that I could get back into the rhythm of the races and see how I was doing after this forced break.

After a rather successful European XC Championship, you went to Turkey to participate in the Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships. What was your goal at the start?

The selection for the European Championships at home surprised me. And my result, with a 12th place, was even more surprising. There I realized that I could weigh on the race again. And then I was selected for the world championships in Turkey. To tell the truth, I didn’t have a real goal. I just wanted to do another race, because I missed it so much. And I wanted to experience something new.

You then had a great race and finally won the sprint in front of Maja Włoszczowska, former XCO and marathon world champion. How did you handle the end of the race against such an experienced rider?

As the race progressed, the leading group became smaller and smaller. Until it was just Maja and me. Of course, you feel tiny next to a multiple world champion and Olympic medallist. But that was no reason not to try everything!

You had already won the U23 XCO World Championship in 2015. Can you compare these two titles?

For me, the two world titles have the same value. At a world championship, there are always all the athletes who think they have a chance of winning a medal – in other words, the best in the world are present. It doesn’t matter what age group or discipline. It is therefore not possible to make a comparison.

Between the XCO and the marathon, the 2021 season is going to be busy… Will the European Mountain Bike Marathon Championships in Evolène find a place in your calendar?

I am very excited to see how the 2021 season will unfold. At the moment, it is still difficult to know when the saion will start. So I have to stay flexible and take race after race. Of course I would like to participate to these European Championships which will take place on home soil. It remains to be seen to what extent I will be able to reconcile this with the XCO calendar.

Registrations are open for the European Mountain Bike Marathon Championships

After a one-year hiatus due to the coronavirus, the titles of European Mountain Bike Marathon Champion will be put back on the line on June 20th in the Swiss Alps in Valais. The region is already well known to specialists in the discipline, having hosted the 2019 world championships in Graechen, and preparing to host the mountain bike world championships in all disciplines in 2025. For the 2021 European championships, organization has been entrusted to Raid Evolénard, a popular mountain bike race that has twice organized the Swiss championships and will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

The Raid Evolénard, a race that’s getting bigger and bigger

The Raid Evolénard has grown to become an unmissable event, attracting the best marathon mountain bike specialists, as well as amateurs of all levels and budding cyclists. Contributing to the success of the race are a route that crosses one of the most beautiful valleys of the Valais with a demanding, technical and fun nature, a friendly atmosphere, excellent services and races that are entirely free for children.

Estonian champion Greete Steinburg, winner of the last edition of the Raid Evolénard, fully agrees: “I’ve done a lot of races, but the Raid Evolénard stands out with its excellent organization, its friendly atmosphere, its magnificent single tracks and its breathtaking views”.

Former Belgian champion Frans Claes, 2^nd of the elite race in 2019, shares this view: “As much as I find the climbs difficult, I appreciate the descents and the magnificent panorama. With so many technical single track, this race is an exception on the Swiss mountain bike marathon circuit”. And with the new track adding elevation and technical single track sections for the European Championships, Claes is unlikely to change his mind.

New routes for the European Championships

The route for each category will begin with a loop around Evolène, which will give the public the opportunity to witness the opening battles for position up close. The course will then take the racers to higher points in altitude compared to the first loop in past races, introducing them to new, highly technical singletrack sections that may require them to carry short portions. The traditional final climb to Béplan, culminating at an altitude of nearly 2500m, remains to guard the gateway to the podium. In the end, the course will cover 77km and 3900m of difference in altitude, with almost all the descents singletrack.

For Arnaud Rapillard, former winner of the MB Race, who has already had the opportunity to recognize the course, things are clear: “This is a real mountain bike course, which is bound to crown a great winner. The race time will clearly go beyond 4 hours for the best and the choice of the mountain bike, a fully, will quickly become obvious “. The women’s course will be a little less demanding, with 70km for just over 3400m of positive elevation gain. Older riders taking part in these championships will be entitled to a lighter version, with “only” 65km for just under 3000m of difference in altitude.

Championships open to all European licensees

Registrations are open from Wednesday, February 24th on the UEC website: https://bit.ly/3azeKRX. As the regulations stipulate that the position on the starting line for the master categories will be determined by the order of registration, participants are advised to register early. Contrary to the World Championships, there are no selection criteria to be fulfilled to participate in the European Championships. It is sufficient to be European and have a license from a federation affiliated to the UEC.

All information about the race is available in the technical guide, which can be consulted on the race page: www.raidevolenard.ch/euro_xcm_21. While the evolution of the situation due to COVID-19 is difficult to predict, the organizers are working in close collaboration with the local authorities and Swiss-Cycling to establish a health plan in accordance with UCI and UEC guidelines, in order to ensure the safety of both the athletes and their teams and the many volunteers involved on the organizational side. A detailed plan of the measures to be followed will be available on the race site in the coming weeks. Should the races unfortunately have to be cancelled, the registration fees will be refunded, with the exception of an amount of 10 euros to cover part of the costs incurred.

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