VALAIS, Switzerland – September 6, 2025 – The stars and stripes flew high in the Swiss mountains as American riders swept both elite marathon titles at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Kate Courtney of Kentfield, California, racing for She Sends Racing, and Keegan Swenson from Midway, Utah, representing htSQD, delivered commanding performances across the grueling 125-kilometer course from Verbier to Grimentz.
Men’s Race: Swenson’s Calculated Victory
The pre-dawn start in Verbier set the stage for an epic day of racing. As the sun crested the Alpine peaks, familiar faces from the UCI Cross-Country Olympic World Cup circuit established the early pace. Swenson positioned himself strategically in fifth place within the lead group as they reached the first timing checkpoint in Nendaz after 80 minutes of racing.
The American’s race strategy became clear at the halfway point. Nearly four hours into the contest at Evolène, Swenson had moved to the front alongside experienced campaigners Cink and Páez León, signaling his intent to control the race from the business end.
With 100 kilometers in the books, Swenson maintained his advantage at checkpoint five in L’A Vieille, posting 5:04:27. However, the race remained wide open with Italy’s Samuele Porro, Colombia’s Páez León, Smeenge, and Spain’s surging Valero Serrano all within striking distance – less than a minute separating the contenders.
The decisive terrain lay ahead: a punishing climb to the Pas de Lona at 2,787 meters elevation before the technical descent into Grimentz at 1,600 meters. At the final checkpoint in Moiry, Swenson had extended his margin to one minute over Porro, with Páez León falling back to nearly three minutes in arrears.
The Utah native’s fitness and tactical acumen proved decisive in the final stretch. Swenson powered home to claim the rainbow jersey in 6:01:44, maintaining an impressive average speed of 20.7 km/h across the demanding Alpine terrain.
Elite Men Results:
1. Keegan Swenson (USA) – 6:01
2. Samuele Porro (ITA) – 6:02
3. Hector Leonardo Paez Leon (COL) – 6:05
17. Bradyn Lange (USA) – 6:15
18. Cole Paton (USA) – 6:15
63. Alex Wild (USA) – 6:55
75. Danny Van Wagoner (USA) – 7:11
85. Cody Iverson (USA) – 7:42
86. Quentin Loxtercamp (USA) – 7:52
89. Patrick Collins (USA) – 8:12
Women’s Race: Courtney’s Swiss Masterclass
Five minutes after the men’s departure, the women’s field embarked on their own Alpine odyssey. The race narrative crystallized early, with Courtney and Switzerland’s Anna Weinbeer establishing a crucial gap within the first 90 minutes.
The 2018 UCI Cross-Country World Champion from Lenzerheide was making a statement on familiar Swiss terrain. At the opening checkpoint, Courtney and Weinbeer had created a 30-second buffer over Austria’s Mona Mitterwallner, the three-time defending Marathon World Champion seeking to extend her remarkable streak.
This leading trio maintained their positions through Hérémence, the course’s lowest elevation point. But as the race entered its final third at Eison – 100 kilometers deep and more than five hours of racing – Courtney’s class began to show. The Californian had stretched her advantage to a commanding 3:33, while behind her, Weinbeer and Mitterwallner had exchanged positions in the battle for silver.
Courtney’s superiority became undeniable at checkpoint six, where she stood as the only woman to break the six-hour barrier. Her lead had ballooned to four minutes over Weinbeer and nearly seven over the defending champion Mitterwallner.
The final descent to Grimentz showcased Courtney’s complete skill set. She navigated the technical terrain with authority, sealing her victory in 7:10:11.1 and averaging 17.4 km/h across one of mountain biking’s most demanding courses.
Elite Women Results:
1. Kate Courtney (USA) – 7:10
2. Anna Weinbeer (SUI) – 7:13
3. Mona Mitterwallner (AUT) – 7:15
7. Alexis Skarda (USA) – 7:33
12. Hannah Otto (USA) – 7:44
15. Chelsea Bolton (USA) – 7:52
53. Abigail Snyder (USA) – 11:05
The American sweep marks a significant achievement for USA Cycling’s mountain bike program, with both champions delivering tactically astute and physically dominant performances on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Their victories continue a strong tradition of American success in marathon mountain biking’s premier event.
