The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Škoda Auto are delighted to announce the signing of a partnership that sees the Czech car manufacturer become Official Partner of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and UCI Gravel World Championships for a period of two years (2025-2026).
As part of this partnership, Škoda will provide the official cars for both events, with a focus on the manufacturer's range of electric and hybrid vehicles, in line with the UCI's sustainability objectives, particularly at its own major events.
Škoda Auto has been one of the most important sponsors of men's and women's cycling at global level for many years, as evidenced by its status as Official Partner of the UCI World Championships for cyclo-cross and gravel in 2024 and Official Supplier of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in 2025. Škoda was previously the Official Vehicle Partner of the UCI Road World Championships from 2008 to 2013. It should also be noted that Škoda has been a partner of the Tour de France for 22 years and sponsor of the green jersey for the best sprinter in the French Grand Tour since 2015.
In addition, the fleet of vehicles used by the UCI and the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) – its training and education centre – consists mainly of Škoda vehicles.
The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will be held in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, from 2 to 14 September, while Val di Sole (Italy) will host the 2026 edition of the event. The 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships will take place in the Zuid-Limburg region of the Netherlands on 11 and 12 October. In 2026, the UCI World Championships for this discipline will be held in Nannup, Australia, on 10 and 11 October.
UCI President David Lappartient said: “I am delighted with Škoda's continued involvement in cycling, and in particular in the next two editions of the UCI World Championships for mountain bike and for gravel. The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will take place in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, and will, for the first time, bring together almost all mountain bike disciplines over a period of two weeks. Meanwhile the UCI Gravel World Championships, which will be held in 2025 and 2026 for their fourth and fifth editions, accompany and stimulate the growth of a rapidly developing discipline. The association between Škoda, a brand that wants to promote sustainable development and encourage an active lifestyle, and mountain bike and gravel, which are nature activities par excellence, is a natural one. There is no doubt that the UCI and its partner will benefit greatly from their partnership.”
Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing, said: “Škoda Auto has been supporting cycling at the highest level for over 20 years, and we are delighted to extend our involvement in partnership with the UCI to include these elite mountain bike and gravel competitions. These disciplines captivate enthusiasts of healthy lifestyles and outdoor sports worldwide, people who enjoy discovering new places and are true Everyday Explorers, just like our customers. With our wide range of models and powertrains, as well as a diverse portfolio of spacious all-wheel-drive and SUV vehicles, Škoda Auto shares the same values: enthusiasm for innovation, a commitment to sustainability, and a passion for active lifestyles.”
About the UCI
Founded in 1900 in Paris (France), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the worldwide governing body for cycling. It develops and oversees cycling in all its forms, for all people: as a competitive sport, a healthy recreational activity, a means of transport, and also just for fun. The UCI manages and promotes the 11 cycling disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, cyclo-cross, trials, indoor cycling, cycling esports, gravel and snowbike. Five of these feature on the Olympic Games programme (road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing and BMX Freestyle) and two in the Paralympic Games (road and track). Cycling also features on the programme of the Youth Olympic Games. For more information: www.uci.org.
About Škoda
This year, the Czech carmaker is celebrating 130 years since its founding. Škoda’s origins date back to 1895 when Václav Laurin and Václav Klement began producing bicycles in Mladá Boleslav. In modern times, Škoda Auto has been actively involved in professional cycling for over 20 years. Last year, the brand extended its partnership with A.S.O., the organiser of elite races including the Tour de France, until 2028. In addition, Škoda supports the women’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and a number of other prestigious races, such as La Vuelta Ciclista a España and La Flèche Wallonne. For more information: www.skoda-auto.com.