The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) today publishes a report compiled by professional services firm EY on the significant positive economic impact of the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships for the event host Valais, Switzerland. For the first time, the UCI World Championships for mountain bike featured nearly all the discipline’s major formats in a single two-week event (30 August – 14 September). A total of 1135 athletes from 60 countries competed for 27 titles of UCI World Champion.
According to the EY report, total spectator attendance was 110,000, with around 48,500 unique spectators (including 31,000 from outside Valais) turning out for the competitions which were spread over eight venues. Of the visitors to the canton, around 23,000 were from elsewhere in Switzerland and 8000 from abroad.
The report also revealed that during the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, spectators spent an estimated 6 million Swiss francs, benefitting businesses in the canton.
Other key findings from the report on the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships show that the event:
generated 19.3 million Swiss francs in economic activity for the canton of Valais, with the equivalent of 228 full-time jobs created
was highly appreciated by spectators, with 86%“very satisfied” of “satisfied”with the event
highlighted the canton’s reputation as a holiday destination: 76% of international visitors and 79% of visitors from other Swiss regions would recommend Valais for a vacation
was widely broadcast on television: a cumulative audience of 57.3 million in 38 countries watched coverage (1,617 hours of broadcast time and 16.8 million hours viewed)
drew excellent interest on social media, with 83.1 million impressions and 104 million video views across different platforms.
When it comes to sustainability, cohesion and inclusion at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships:
90% of energy use was from local grid and renewable sources
3 pilot destinations used innovative battery systems as renewable energy sources
99% of tableware was reusable and biodegradable
100% of the competition sites were cleaned and restored after the competitions
59% of spectators used public transport (bus and train: 43%) or bikes (16%) to travel to the event
100% of the competition finish zones were accessible for people with reduced mobility
75% of competitions were free to watch.
The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will leave a long-lasting sporting legacy in the canton of Valais, which has seen 52 athletes supported by the creation of the Valais Cycling Academy since 2023, a 45% increase in the participation of women involved in cycling activities in Valais, and a 130% increase in youth membership in the canton’s cycling clubs in the last five years.
UCI President David Lappartient said: “The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships shone the spotlight not only on the best mountain bike specialists in the world, but also on an ideal tourism and cycling destination. The Swiss canton of Valais was a fantastic host for this major mountain bike event, and in turn enjoyed significant international visibility, visitor spending and economic activity. These UCI World Championships will leave a long-lasting legacy that will benefit Valais for years to come.”
The Director of Valais 2025 Julien Hess said:“By organising the first combined UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, we set a new standard, both in terms of sport and organisation. What's more, the event had a significant impact on Valais, generating 27 million Swiss francs in economic and media returns, while staying within a balanced budget of 13.7 million Swiss francs.”
EY UK Chief Economist Peter Arnold said: “The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships drove significant economic impact on the Valais canton by benefiting local businesses and supporting jobs. The EY report underscores the tangible benefits that cycling events can bring to local economies and growth, while advancing soft mobility and sustainable tourism.”
Read the report: 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships : Valais, Switzerland – Final economic impact report – Novembre 2025