Release from 14.09.2026
From 11.-13. September 2026, Saalbach once again became a major sporting arena: Nearly 700 participants competed in thrilling races across the mountains of the Home of Lässig at the 27. World Games of Mountainbiking.
With bright sunshine and pleasant temperatures, Saalbach enjoyed a successful weekend of racing: Nearly 700 participants from 20 nations lined up for the 27. World Games of Mountainbiking, taking on the challenge of tackling steep climbs and technical trails against the clock.
“The World Games have long been an institution in Saalbach – and they are simply a perfect fit for us. With fantastic weather, we once again witnessed some outstanding sporting performances while showcasing what Saalbach is all about: being active, sharing a passion for sport and enjoying the freedom of being outdoors in the mountains,” says Martin Enn, Chairman of TVB Saalbach Hinterglemm, summing up the weekend.
Five Distances, One Goal: Become a World Games Champion of MTB
Saturday’s five different marathon races demanded not only excellent fitness, but also plenty of determination on the climbs and strong technical skills for the downhill sections. The highlight was the long-distance race covering 80 km and 3,720 vertical metres. Reigning 2025 World Games Champion Aaron Wilhelmi of Base2Peak Racingteam (GER) once again proved his strength and successfully defended his title. In the women’s race, Yvonne Kuhnlein of RVC Trieb (GER) delivered an impressive performance, winning the 80 km marathon by almost 40 minutes.
Over 58 km and a challenging 3,005 vertical metres, Lukas Hirsch (GER) and Barbara D Introno (GER) came out on top, while Tobias Kirchberger (GER) and Andrea Brugger (ITA) triumphed over the 42 km distance with 2,040 vertical metres. On the 31 km course featuring 967 vertical metres, Kajetan Pall (AUT) and Lea Bacher (ITA) claimed the World Champion titles, while Günther Flatscher (AUT) and Manuela Hartl (GER) took victory in the half-marathon (21 km/780 vertical metres). Particularly encouraging in 2026 was the strong turnout from local clubs throughout the Pinzgau region.
Local winners at the E-Bike competition
The E-Bike Marathon, covering 42 km and 1,700 vertical metres, once again proved highly popular. Günther Wimmer and Sandra Wimmer, both representing Bergrettung Saalbach (Saalbach Mountain Rescue), took the victories. The team classification also went to Bergrettung Saalbach. Due to differing assumptions regarding the course, a separate E-Short classification was subsequently introduced in the interest of fairness. The complete results from the 27th World Games of Mountainbiking are available at time2win.at.
The Next Generation Takes Centre Stage: The Junior Trophy
On Sunday, it was finally time for the youngest riders to take centre stage. Once again, the Junior Trophy demonstrated how the joy of cycling can inspire riders of all ages. A total of 95 kids aged 13 and under tackled a circuit through the centre of Hinterglemm, competing across six age categories and various distances. Whether on a balance bike, full-suspension mountain bike or gravel bike, every young rider gave it their all – cheered on enthusiastically by the crowd.
Biking 4 Butterfly Children: Another Impressive Fundraising Effort
The Biking 4 Butterfly Children team (B4BC) once again raised funds for DEBRA Austria and EB research at the 2026 World Games. Through bike sponsorships, supporters were able to donate one euro for every kilometre ridden. At the 27. World Games of Mountainbiking, €17,000 were collected for the good cause. Over the years, the initiative has already raised more than €320,000.
SAVE THE DATE
Next year, the international mountain bike community will once again come together to race and compete in Saalbach Hinterglemm: The 28th World Games of Mountainbiking will take place from 10.-12.09.2027.