The first Swiss Gravel Championships, the new route and the largest prize purse of any Swiss Cycling discipline make Gravel Festival Bern more diverse and even more attractive from a sporting perspective – without losing sight of its aim to be an event for the entire gravel community.
The extension in the Mäderforst area adds a new section to the established route. The aim is not to make the course harder, but to make the Gravel Festival experience even more diverse.
New route section complements existing route highlights
The well-known key sections remain: the Bremgartenwald, the route along the Gäbelbach and the section around Wohlensee will once again be part of the popular Race route in 2026. They are complemented by the new section, which extends the route in a logical way and adds further variety.
The new route reflects the evolution of the event. The course has never been the same from one year to the next, and with the first Swiss Gravel Championships taking place this year, the organisers felt the time was right to increase the race distance slightly. “For most participants, it is all about the experience, and that is what we focus on most every year. Sixty kilometres of gravel around Bern offer more nature, more variety and even more opportunities to experience the unique spirit of the sport,” says project manager Fridolin Engler.
CHF 10,000 prize purse for the top 10
Gravel Festival Bern is also setting a strong sporting benchmark in 2026: a total prize purse of CHF 10,000 will be awarded as part of the first Swiss Gravel Championships. CHF 5,000 each will go to the top ten women and men. This makes Gravel Festival Bern the event offering the largest prize purse of any Swiss Cycling discipline.
This strong support for elite sport is made possible thanks to the generous support of SCOTT Sports, Bern Welcome, Standortförderung des Kantons Bern and Fuchs Movesa (Shimano Schweiz).
The prize money will be paid regardless of whether the riders take part in the Swiss Championships. The only deciding factor is their finishing position in the race. “In this way, Gravel Festival Bern is making a clear commitment to supporting elite sport while also creating an attractive incentive for a high-calibre field,” says organiser Christian Rocha.
Mass participation remains the foundation of the event
The main focus remains on making the festival an event for everyone who loves cycling. From Kids Gravel and the VCS Family Ride to the untimed Ride and the Race, Gravel Festival Bern brings together elite sport, youth development and mass participation.
Youth development is a particularly important pillar and has been consistently pursued since the event was first held in 2017. After all, the future of gravel and cycling does not begin at the top level, but with the children and young riders who are completing their first kilometres at the event.