STEVENS Bikes is the official sponsor of the 3. Telenet UCI Cyclocross World Cup [Link] in the 2018/19 season. After the first two runs in Waterloo und Iowa City, USA [Link], the world’s elite of cyclocross will meet on October 21st in the Swiss capital. In the first world cup on European Soil not only the men’s and women’s elite but for the first time in the season U23 and U19 athletes will compete as well. In addition to free entrance spectators will be welcomed by an extensive support event along the race course inside Bern’s Weyermannshaus public open air bath.
Sponsoring-wise STEVENS Vertriebs GmbH partnered with Tour de Suisse, organiser of the namesake premium multiple-stage road race. With this World Cup race STEVENS Vertriebs GmbH continues its involvement in the international cyclocross scene. In the past two years STEVENS had been main sponsor of the Zeven World Cup in Germany.
“Cross bikes in the past couple of years have taken over an increasing share in our model range as a full-range manufacturer” says STEVENS-CEO Wolfgang von Hacht. This is why Stevens not only supplies international top teams and runs a youth team. “We also want to contribute to make winter cycling more popular. The race can be followed directly at the race track and offers exciting competition,” von Hacht continues.
The race on the upcoming weekend is the first World Cup in Switzerland in eight years, Stefan Bührer, head of sales of Tour de Suisse points out. “Switzerland once was a super power in cyclocross, now we observe an increasing interest over the last few years also because of the stable gravel trend.” This was also due to the EKZ Crosstour whose organiser is the same as that of the World Cup race.
On race Sunday three reigning cyclocross world champions - Sanne Cant, Wout van Aert und Ben Tulett (U19) - will be at the start in Bern, all riding STEVENS Super Prestige. The top-of-the-line cyclocross bike from Stevens will be several athletes’ weapon of choice of teams IKO-Beobank, Cibel-Cebon (Wout van Aert), Steylaerts 777 and Crélan-Charles.
In addition to being present on the race track in the Weyermannshaus Public Pool STEVENS will not only be visible through sideline banners. Tour de Suisse will present STEVENS’ complete cyclocross range on a booth. For the gravel and youth races on Saturday the Hamburg manufacturer will donate two cyclocross bikes as the respective first price. And on Sunday all ‘cross fans are invited to get an autograph from ‘cross World Champions Wout van Aert (11 a.m.) and Sanne Cant (3 p.m.).
Another star of the 3. Telenet UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup is the race course itself. The 3,250 meters (2 miles) long course almost completely runs through the premises of the Weyermannshaus Public Pool around Europe’s largest artificial swimming pool – tight, with lots of curves and very technical. “When it stays dry, as expected, the course will be a very fast one, with lots of curves and permanent ups and downs”, says Christian Rocha, president of the Swiss EKZ Crosstour and the race’s organiser. He continues: “at first sight this might be an easy course but there is no time to rest.”
At the pool, spectators will have a great view. Also the course is prepared so even with a child stroller you can walk all along the race track and follow what happens in the race.