UCI Trials World Cup: stunning Swiss venue pushes riders to the max

Record entries in women’s competition

The small town of Bévilard in the Valbirse region of Switzerland, hosted a thrilling first round of the 2025 UCI Trials World Cup.

The obstacles were as entertaining for the crowds, packed along the edge of the arena, as they were testing for the riders, who represented 16 nations from as far afield as the USA, Chile and Japan.

With oversized wooden mushrooms, Christmas trees, a gondola carriage safely rooted to terra firma and a playground-theme final section with a climbing wall and slide to hop up, across all three of Sunday’s finals, there was only one athlete who rode any sections clean for 60 points.

Women: Barón back on top

A record 29 women competed in the first round of the 2025 UCI Trials World Cup.

In the absence of UCI World Champion Nina Reichenbach – taking a break from the UCI World Cup for the first time in more than a decade – another German, 16-year-old Emilia Keikus, made the final in her first UCI World Cup competition in the Elite ranks. But the 2024 UCI World Youth Games winner didn’t just make the final, she qualified in third place! Alongside her was French Champion Nina Vabre and four Spanish women: UCI World Champion Alba Riera, European Champion Vera Barón, Andrea Pérez and Laia Esquis. The average age of the Women Elite finalists was just 18.

Barón took the early lead, the only rider to take 40 points on section 1 – ahead of four competitors tied on 20 –, and extended her lead on section 3. Despite some thrilling moves from Vabre, the battle for top spot came down to Riera and Barón.

Barón scored only 20 points in the final section, and although 17-year-old Riera gave it everything, she came up 10 points short of Barón’s winning 190 overall. Vabre finished in third place (140 points).

“From section one I had a little lead. The key was section three, and after that I could relax a little,” said Vera Barón. “I feel really excited, I really want to see what happens, I’m training as hard as ever.”

Men 26”: Carthy goes clear

The Men’s 26in final pitched three Spaniards - Dani Barón, Julen Saenz and Martí Vayreda – against the three highest qualifiers, all Britons: 2024 UCI World Cup overall winner Charlie Rolls, Oliver Weightman, at 19 the youngest rider in this final, and reigning and multiple UCI World Champion Jack Carthy making the most of his form after a 2024 UCI World Cup campaign marred by injury.

All the riders were chasing time and employing different strategies on the tough course, but it was Carthy’s speed that helped him take the first full score of 60 on section 3. He went into the final section with a 30-point lead over Weightman, while Rolls – the only 26” rider to clean the climbing wall in section 4 – Barón and Saenz all sat just a further 10 points back.

Carthy was the only rider to master the 2nd obstacle on the final section, on his way to another clean section, going backwards through the finish line with a second to spare. The UCI World Champion won with 240 points from Barón on 160 and Weightman on 150.

“It’s been a crazy career, I started at the top, and I had to maintain it to stay in the mix, so there has been a lot of pressure,” reflected Jack Carthy on his return from a tough 2024.

“Now the others have the pressure to beat me. I’m trying to enjoy it, and not care too much, just enjoy the process.”

Men 20”: passion and precision from Montalvo

Among the Men’s 20” finalists was home rider Lucien Leiser, proud to make the final at the first Swiss-hosted round of the UCI Trials World Cup in more than a decade. The rider ranked 8th in the UCI Rankings found himself alongside French Champion Robin Berchiatti and the powerful Austrian Thomas Pechhacker. They faced the Spanish trio who have all been UCI World Champion: Borja Conejos, Eloi Palau, and Alejandro Montalvo.

It was the last man to ride, the highest qualifier and current holder of the rainbow bands, Montalvo, who took a narrow lead after the first of five sections.

The flamboyant Berchiatti and the three Spaniards all scored 50s, with the Frenchman pushing the World Champion closest: Montalvo nevertheless held a 10-point lead after 3 sections which he had extended to 30 points going into the final section.

The UCI World Champion was clearly the strongest, winning with 230 points. Berchiatti edged Conejos for second: as both finished with 190 points and had same scores throughout the final, the results were determined by their semi-final performances.

“I had the passion, I tried to do my best from the start until the end,” said the winner. “I tried to always do my best and be on my limit.”