Despite the clash with a World Cup round in Italy on the same weekend, the organizers of the Raid Evolénard FMV have succeeded in assembling a top-tier field for the opening race of the Bike Marathon Classics. The newly crowned European champion, Andreas Seewald, will be aiming for an unprecedented double with the Hero Dolomites and the Raid Evolénard. In the women’s category, Swiss champion Irina Lützelschwab will attempt the same feat. This race will also serve as the Romandy championship for the youth categories.
The Raid Evolénard FMV will kick off the Bike Marathon Classics next Sunday, culminating on September 5 and 6 with the Grand Raid BCVS, which will host the Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships. Held in the spectacular setting of the Val d’Hérens, the race follows part of the Grand Raid BCVS course. It previously hosted the European Championships in 2021, which were brilliantly won by German rider Andreas Seewald.

He caused a sensation last year by breaking the course record—set in 2015 by Valais native Johann Tschopp—by nearly 5 minutes (4’53”). Even more impressive: he won with over ten minutes’ lead on Martin Fanger, the winner of the 2023 edition. Just one week later, he also claimed victory at the Hero Dolomites, against the world’s top marathon specialists.
This year, Seewald is aiming even higher: to win both races on the same weekend. It’s a monumental challenge—one that Urs Huber nearly achieved in 2019, finishing second in Val Gardena before claiming victory in Evolène. The task promises to be even tougher this year, as the Hero Dolomites is now part of the Mountain Bike Marathon World Cup. But buoyed by his new European champion title—won at the very same venue where he was crowned world champion in 2021—the German rider will head to Italy full of confidence.

Urs Huber will also attempt the Val Gardena–Evolène double, while other contenders—physically fresher—will be ones to watch: Belgian rider Frans Claes, recent winner of the Roc Laissagais; Martin Fanger, a two-time winner of the event; as well as Hansueli Stauffer and French riders Théo Dupras and Pierre Billaud.
The Swiss champion is the favorite in the women’s field.
In the women’s race, Irina Lützelschwab stands out as the favorite, having finished third last year. The Swiss champion will have to watch out for German rider Bettina Janas, who took second place last year, and her Team Bulls teammate Alessia Nay, winner of the 2024 Bike Marathon Series. British rider Annabel Fisher, national gravel champion and former winner of the UCI gravel circuit, has also recently proven her mountain biking prowess by winning the grueling stage race Titan Desert Morocco.

Among the outsiders are Carmen Kohler, the 2022 winner, and Valais native Stefanie Zahno, a well-known figure to the local crowd.
A race for everyone!
For less experienced riders, in addition to the premier 62 km category, there are 35 km and 24 km courses that can also be ridden with electric bikes. These routes are a bit less technically demanding but still offer breathtaking scenery. Participants in these races will also have the chance to compete against top marathon specialists on the 5 km enduro-style segment shared by all categories. The event’s new title sponsor, Le Rucher, will also award a special prize to the best riders from the Val d’Hérens, both on the 35 km and 62 km courses.
The Raid Evolénard FMV program kicks off on Saturday with the Kids Coaching Day—a great opportunity for children to explore the course that will crown the new Romandy and cantonal champions. Among the athletes coaching the youngsters will be Frans Claes, Stefanie Zahno, and Steve Morabito, a former professional road cyclist and now president of Valais Cycling, who actively helped design the new routes.
Registration will be possible in Evolène on Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30pm and on Sunday morning from 7:00 to 8:30.