GSTAAD – Routes of the 2016 Snow Bike Festival Stage Race

The Snow Bike Festival will take place from January 22 – 24, 2016 in GSTAAD and will feature a 3 Day Stage Race as well as a Rocky Mountain Eliminator Night Race, a Fun Ride, a Snow Bike Party and a Fat Bike EXPO.
 
GSTAAD – As the winter falls upon Switzerland, the alpine village of GSTAAD is starting to heat up with excitement and preparations for the 2016 Snow Bike Festival. After weeks of scouting the many trails, valleys and mountains in and around GSTAAD in search of the ultimate snow biking experience, the routes for the 3 Day Stage Race have been announced!
 
With less than 60 days remaining everything is on track and GSTAAD is looking forward to welcoming riders and supporters to the Snow Bike Festival in January 2016. Snow has just arrived in GSTAAD this weekend, and good snow conditions are expected ahead of the event in January.
 
Routes for the 3 Day Stage Race range from 25 to 35 km in length and 500 to 1000m in altitude gain. This makes the race accessible to most biking enthusiasts. However, riders should ensure they properly train and prepare for the event, as the routes are not as simple as they may appear on the route profiles (especially the climbs). Tips on how to best prepare for the event are available at: www.snowbikefestival.com/category/latest-news/
 

Photo courtesy of Snow Bike Festival

Stages will start in the centre of GSTAAD on Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th January 2016 at 9.30am on the Promenade and take riders through the beautiful Villages of Saanen and Lauenen and deep into the Valleys around GSTAAD.
 
Climbs include the Ski slopes of Chalberhöni, the top of the Eggli ski lift and all the way to the Lauenensee. Riders will be rewarded with beautiful views from the mountains and thrilling downhills of the ski – and sledge slopes, including Eggli and Wispile.
 
The stage race also includes the Rocky Mountain Eliminator Night race at the Wispile ski area, which adds even more fun to the event! Small groups of riders will compete on a short specially prepared track, eliminating each other to determine the ultimate winner and it all happens under lights!
 
Earlybird entries are still available on www.snowbikefestival.com
 
Route Profiles
 
Day 1:


Click here for detailed route maps

Day 2:


Click here for detailed route maps

Day 3:


Click here for detailed route maps


Photo courtesy of Snow Bike Festival

Race Village
The GSTAAD Sport Centre will be turned into the Snow Bike Festival Race Village featuring a dining hall, the Fat Bike EXPO, race briefing area, covered Bike Park, shower facilities and two heated swimming pools, providing riders with much needed comfort after hours of snow biking through the Swiss Alps.
 
Program
Registered riders will be able to collect their race accreditation starting on Thursday January 21, 2016 (afternoon) in the Race Village.



Entry Packages
The Platinum Pass, Golden Pass, Silver Pass and Silver Pass (Multi-Bed) Package for the Stage Race include rider accreditation, participation in the stage race, Eliminator Night Race, a GSTAAD Guest card, a Gift pack and accommodation in one of our partner hotels for the duration of the event (January 21st to 24th). Furthermore, all meals are included during the event. Depending on the accommodation selected, the hotel will either be 5*, 4* or 3* star equivalent.
 
Those riders wishing to bring along the entire family may book a Supporter Package for each additional guest. The hotels are all family friendly and children under the age of 6 stay for free.
 
Riders, who would like to spend additional time in Gstaad, may take advantage of our exclusive hotel rates. The accommodation included in the entry packages can be extended by adding 3 additional nights before or after the event or both.

For further options visit www.snowbikefestival.com/entries/entry-packages


Photo courtesy of Snow Bike Festival

Fun Ride
Mountain Bike enthusiasts looking for a one day Snow Biking experience in the Swiss Alps should enter the Fun Ride. This event offers the fun and excitement of the Snow Bike Festival all compressed into a single route and will be held on Sunday January 24, 2016. Riders entering the Fun Ride may use any kind of Fat Bike but will also be allowed to use normal Mountain Bikes or E-Bikes. Riding time should be around 2 hours.
 
Entries are now open on www.snowbikefestival.com/fun-ride

Fat Bike EXPO
The GSTAAD Fat Bike EXPO will be open to the public on January 22 – 24, 2016.
Everything related to Snow Biking and Fat Biking as well as the latest trends in Winter Fashion will be on show.
 
For trade and EXPO enquiries visit www.snowbikefestival.com/contact-us/
 

Photo courtesy of Snow Bike Festival

Snow Bike Party
The Snow Bike Party will kick off on Saturday evening January 23, 2016.
Race participants, supporters, Fat Bike enthusiasts and the general public will all be welcomed at the Race Village for an evening of fun and entertainment “Snow Bike-style”!

The Alpine Region of GSTAAD
Roger Moore always said about the people of Gstaad that: "They are less interested in me than they are in my car." And that's a fact: Gstaad sets great store by its understatement, despite its high density of celebrities.
 
Conveniently positioned halfway between the Swiss German and French parts of Switzerland the region has an international flair and English is widely spoken. Tourists and visitors are greeted with the slogan “come up - slow down”.
 
Fat Biking has been welcomed to the region making GSTAAD the new hotspot of Snow Biking in Europe.
 
GSTAAD, a unique Destination.
 

Photo courtesy of Snow Bike Festival

Volunteers
Snow Bike Festival volunteers will be part of all the fun and action of the event whilst enjoying the beautiful village of Gstaad.

For more details, please visit www.snowbikefestival.com/entries/volunteers