All posts by : raidevo

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

Ariane Lüthi has one of the best track records in marathon mountain biking. However, she had to wait until her tenth attempt to finally win a medal at the World Championships. She looks back with us on a very special season, marked by Covid of course, but also by the emergence of new names in the women’s marathon mountain biking scene!

The Corona pandemic severely affected the MTB season, as many races were cancelled or postponed. How did you experience this situation as an athlete and how did you manage to stay motivated to train for goals that were constantly pushed back?

The cancellation of the Cape Epic not even two days before the start was a big disappointment and was very unexpected for me. I was totally focused on this race and although I followed the news a bit, I didn’t allow the thought that the race could be cancelled because of Corona. My body built up a certain tension and in order to keep it, the possibility of cancellation did not exist for me. When it did happen, suddenly all the tension fell away. That felt very strange.

The cancellation of the other races was not difficult to cope with, as it was rather foreseeable. After the European Championships and SM were canceled in June, I took a break and took it a little easier in terms of training for a few weeks. This gave me time to occupy myself with things other than sports and that was extremely good for me. After that, I was more motivated than I had been in a long time to get the best out of myself. Looking back, I noticed that after ten years of racing a lot, a certain fatigue must have crept into me to give the last percent. Of course, it was a huge advantage that in Switzerland, unlike in other countries, we could always train outdoors and race again as early as July. That, and the fact that my main goal, the marathon world championships in October, never shifted, certainly made it easier for me to stay motivated.

The bronze medal at the World Championships is probably one of your greatest achievements. Can you tell us more about how the race went?

The race consisted of a relatively flat 10 kilometer approach and return to and from a 30km loop, which we completed twice, – so a total of 80km. The course was not really technically challenging. There were only a few bumpy descents on jeep tracks, but there were a few crisp climbs in it, where you had to concentrate not to have to dismount. At the end of the first climb a group of 6 could break away. I just couldn’t keep up, respectively decided to save some energy. Shortly after the second aid station around kilometer 24, I was able to catch up again, as the leading group was tactical on the asphalt sections. On the second lap two riders dropped out of the lead group until finally Ramona, Maja Wloszczowska and Yana Belomonia were able to break away at the front. Robyn de Groot and I fought to catch up in 4th and 5th place. In the last downhill, before the last, rather flat and fast 10 km back to the finish, I could distance Robyn. Going into the flat section I was still in doubt whether I should wait for my South African colleague in order to have a better chance of reaching the top 3 in cooperation with her. Somehow I had a feeling that one of the three top riders would fall back. Shortly after, I saw Yana in front of me. I thought to myself, “it’s now or never” and attacked her so that she couldn’t keep up. But Yana didn’t react much, because she was apparently in too much pain from her fall in the last downhill, which I didn’t know about at the time.

After ten World Championship appearances, this performance is certainly also due to the experience you have gained in your career. What do you think was the decisive factor in you reaching the podium?

There are certainly more talented riders than me, so everything really had to be right for me to achieve this podium finish, including the necessary racing luck. The basis for the result was very good form. My numbers looked better than ever. But then the experience definitely helped me to implement the right tactics. In the race in Sakarya it was crucial that I rode according to my possibilities, let the leaders pull on the climbs and didn’t go with the cross-country riders by hook or by crook. The knowledge I gained from other races gave me confidence in my own abilities and I didn’t lose faith immediately when I was left behind.

Apart from the World Championships, what is your assessment of this season?

Before the Cape Epic I had problems with a viral infection and couldn’t really shine at the preparation races and of course as defending champion I wasn’t happy with second place at the SM, but otherwise it was a very good season for me. It’s not easy to get into the shape I had at the World. Just to get those numbers was a great feeling and of course I was blown away with the result at the World.

You finished second at the Swiss Championships behind Steffi Häberlin and at the World Championships another Swiss woman won, Ramona Forchini. What do you think of these new women who are making their mark on the Swiss mountain bike marathon scene?

The last few years it was always about the same names that fought for the jersey at the marathon championships. This year was definitely different and it is extremely pleasing to finally have young blood in the field. When Irina Lützelschwab distanced herself from the field, we chasers asked each other if she was actually Swiss or not, since we didn’t know her yet. Steffi, Ramona as well as Irina are obviously very talented. I really hope that they will continue to liven up the marathon discipline.

What can we wish you for the upcoming season?

Good health is always good and if I have a second wish free, then gladly the European champion jersey in Evolène. 😉

Between the World Championships in Graechen in 2019 and those planed for 2025, the Valais will remain in mountain bike marathon mode next season, since the Raid Evolénard will host the European Championships on June 20. A great challenge for this race, which has already organized the Swiss championships twice in recent years.

Big ambitions for the 25th edition

Over the years, the Raid Evolénard has become an unmissable event, attracting the best marathon mountain bike specialists, as well as amateurs of all levels and young riders.

Among the ingredients that have contributed to the success of this race are a track that crosses one of the most beautiful valleys of the Valais, a demanding, technical and fun route, a registration fee that remains well below the standards of the marathon circuit, services that meet expectations and races that are entirely free for children.

After hosting the Swiss Championships in 2016 for the 20th anniversary, the organizers have decided to set the bar even higher for the 25th edition. By winning the European championships, the organizers have a magnificent opportunity to promote both the Raid Evolénard and the Valais to mountain bike enthusiasts on a continental scale!

A mountain bike weekend open to all

To satisfy both the popular and the elite, the Raid Evolénard will take place exceptionally over an entire weekend. On Saturday, the popular riders will set off as in previous editions, as part of the Garmin Bike Cup, on the 62km, 35km and 24km courses.

The youngsters will take the opportunity to inaugurate the new courses, set up for the 2020 edition, which unfortunately could not take place. In the evening, many activities will be planned in collaboration with Evolène-Région Tourisme, to give a festive character to the event.

Very serious things will start on Sunday with the start of the different elite and masters races for both men and women.

New routes for the Europeans championship

The organizers were keen to set up competitions worthy of the event, by proposing new courses specially created for the occasion. The course for all categories will begin with a loop around Evolène, which will give the public the opportunity to witness the start of

hostilities up close. The course will then take the racers to higher points in altitude than usual on the first loop, and will introduce them to new, highly technical singles that will

most likely require them to carry their bikes on different portions of the course. However, the final climb to Béplan, at almost 2500 m.a.s.l., will still be key to separate the wheat from the chaff. In the end, the track will spread on 77km for 3900m of difference in altitude, and almost all the descents will be on singles. For Arnaud Rapillard, the rider of Team Tschopp who has already had the opportunity to recognize the course, things are clear: “We have here a real mountain bike course, which will inevitably crown a beautiful 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 slightly less demanding, with 70km for a little more than 3400m of positive elevation gain. Older riders competing in these championships will be entitled to a lighter version, with “only” 65km for a little less than 3000m of difference in altitude. Registration for the open categories will open on Wednesday, December 16 at noon, while for the licensed categories they will start later!

 As rider or fan, don’t forget to save the date!