Snow Bike Festival Returns As “UCI Class 1” Race

Press Release / 23.11.2017

The Snow Bike Festival is proud to announce that it has once again received Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) accreditation and has been upgraded to a “Stage Race Class 1”, making it one of only 13 stage races worldwide to be classified this highly. This results in an increased prize purse and additional UCI points. The event will return to the beautiful region of Gstaad in the Swiss Canton Berne.

Gstaad, Switzerland – The world’s premier winter mountain biking event will take place in Gstaad from January 18th to 21st 2018. The 4-day stage race is the ultimate adventure for professionals and amateurs alike. Riders must endure ice-cold temperatures, challenging climbs and technical downhills. In return, they are rewarded with stunning mountain panoramas, picture perfect landscapes and a completely unique biking experience in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

Snow Bike Festival co-founder, Herman Coertze is “very pleased by the trust the UCI has placed in the Snow Bike Festival, by awarding the event ’Stage Race Class 1’ accreditation. We have created a unique event which combines top-level racing with a thrilling adventure.”

In Gstaad, the news of the event’s UCI accreditation as a “Stage Race Class 1” was met with great excitement. The more attractive the event is for professional athletes,
 
spectators and media increases. This also helps generate additional overnight stays and therefore helps to raise the importance and value of the event to the region of Gstaad. Patrick Bauer, Gstaad’s product manager ‘Bike’: “We are proud to have entered into a such an attractive partnership with the motivated organisers of the Snow Bike Festival. We are looking forward to the next edition of the event from
January 18th to 21st 2018.”

2017 race winner, Katrin Leumann says the Snow Bike Festival “is an incredible experience for every athlete and enables them to broaden their horizon. The event doesn’t just test your physical boundaries, but also your ability to cope with the freezing cold and the unusual surface beneath your tires. In return, you are rewarded with breath-taking landscapes and a perfectly organised event. It’s a very special and completely unique event!”

The stage race will be held under Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) MTB rules and is open to both amateurs and professionals. Riders are free to choose what kind of bike they want to compete with (Mountain Bike, Plus Bike or Fat Bike).

Registration for the 2018 event is now open, with earlybird entry packages available for CHF 590.

For more information and to enter the Snow Bike Festival see http://www.snowbikefestival.com/event/ 

You can watch the promo video for the race here.

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