Lenzerheide presents first-class bike festival

The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships 2018 will take place in Lenzerheide from 5 to 9 September 2018. On the five days of the event, the elite and junior athletes will compete for the world championship title and the coveted rainbow jerseys in the disciplines cross country and downhill. But during these days in the Bike Arena at the valley station Rothorn it is not only about top-class sport. In the sense of a bike festival, the organisers are launching a variety of side events – both to watch and to join in.

Whip Off Contest with Flying Metal Crew
One of the highlights of the supporting programme is most certainly the «#fullgasmtb Whip Off Contest» on Friday evening, 7th September 2018, in Valbella. Besides a few members of the well-known Flying Metal Crew, a number of national and international athletes will show their best whips and tricks. In addition, so-called «local heroes» will be given the opportunity to obtain a wildcard and therefore a place to compete in the contest. 

For the Whip Off Contest, a huge Big Air Jump with a 10-12m gap and a 5m high landing will be built next to the main road in Valbella. In addition to the best whip – a trick where the bike is turned crosswise to the direction – the best trick and the best show will be awarded a prize. A designated panel of experts and votes by the audience will decide the winner. The prize money will be CHF 750 for the «Best Trick» and the «Best Show», and CHF 1,500 for the «Best Whip». The wildcard application form is available online at lenzerheide2018.com/whip-off

Social Ride and Movie Night
On Thursday evening, 6th September 2018, the programme is slightly more leisurely, but no less sporty. During the so-called «Social Ride», anyone can register for a ride together with a professional athlete or a bike personality. The minimum participation fee of CHF 10.00 will be donated in full to a social bike project. Subsequently, mountain bike fans can look forward to the «BBQ & Music» and the «Movie Night» at the Crest’ota mountain restaurant.

The organisers will show a world premiere on the big screen. The new film «Free Ride Iran – Die Gehrig Twins im Land der Mullahs» (Free Ride Iran – The Gehrig Twins in the Country of the Mullahs) will be shown to the public for the first time. Anita and Caro Gehrig, the two Enduro professionals from Flims, will be on site during this evening and tell a few anecdotes about their impressive film project. Afterwards, the Swiss premiere of the film «North of Nightfall» will be shown. The latter is a monumental bike film starring the freeride veterans Darren Berrecloth and Cam Zink, as well as Carson Storch and Tom Van Steenberger, from the world of glaciers north of the Arctic Circle. 

Entertainment in the Bike Arena
During the day, between the races, a great deal of entertainment is offered in the Cornèrcard Bike Arena with the Expo, competitors’ camp and the graubündenBIKE Kids Area. On Sunday, 9th September 2018, the Bike Festival will conclude with the FLYER Uproc Dual Slalom. After the qualifiers, the 8 best male and female riders compete against each other in the final in the Dual Slalom. The Uphill Dual Slalom will be ridden using the latest electric mountain bikes by Flyer.

In addition to the World Cup racing action, there are parties with DJs or live concerts during every day of the event. All side events are included in the ticket for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.