BIKE Transalp, the iconic 7-day MTB crossing of the Alps, will not take place next year. Rumors had been circulating for a while, but today organizer Delius Klasing officially confirmed it. However, the road version, TOUR Transalp, will go ahead as planned next year. This marks a temporary end to the legendary stage race that began in 1998. The event is expected to return in 2026.
As unfortunate as it is, the cancellation did not come out of the blue. The number of participants dropped from over 800 during its peak to about half in recent years. As a result, the organizers had to raise the entry fees, further decreasing its popularity. Another reason is the challenging position of the cycling industry, making it difficult to attract equipment sponsors.
Other external factors also played a role. The MTB sport has evolved rapidly in recent years, but this has also caused significant fragmentation. The influx of young riders into marathon racing has been very limited, while the strong rise of gravel and e-MTB has hindered the transition from road cycling to marathon events. The organizers tried everything to turn the tide by adjusting the course, introducing a solo category, adding more enduro trails, offering a 3-day variant, and even creating a classification for e-MTBs. However, the effects of these efforts were too limited. Organizer Delius Klasius on Instagram:
"It is with a heavy heart that we announce there will be no BIKE Transalp in 2025. Due to financial challenges and decreasing participant numbers, we’ve decided to take a break to come back stronger in 2026 with fresh ideas."
The cancellation does not affect the road version, the TOUR Transalp. That event can still count on sufficient interest for the time being. The organizers are now exploring options to hold the MTB version again in 2026. To be continued, no doubt.
|
|
|
|
|
