Drop bars on mountain bikes aren't exactly new. People have been experimenting with curly bars on mountain bikes since the 1980s, but in 2025, they saw a major resurgence in popularity. With high-profile racers like Keegan Swenson - among many others - modifying XC race bikes with drop bars for events like Leadville, the drop-bar MTB became a much-hyped and frequently discussed topic for the first time in many years.
The course lived up to its legendary billing. Covering 125 km from Verbier to Grimentz, the route hugged alpine valleys, tackled high altitude-including the imposing Pas de Lona at 2,787 meters-and tallied nearly 5,000 meters of ascent. Imagine a marathon with climbing (and a nice hike-a-bike) worthy of the Alps, terrain that punishes battered legs and rewards calculated patience. The course was challenging enough; the stacked field didn't help the unprepared.
