Grand Raid BCVS Verbier 2026 and Tour des Stations: Two Races, One Unmissable Week

By late August, Verbier takes on a different character. The peaks that welcomed skiers and hikers just months earlier become the stage for two of the most demanding fixtures on the alpine sporting calendar: the Grand Raid BCVS and the Tour des Stations. Two races, two disciplines, one mountain. For regulars and first-time visitors alike, these back-to-back weekends turn the village into a buzzing base camp, filled with riders, families cheering from the roadside, and onlookers drawn in by the atmosphere.

The Grand Raid BCVS, the flagship of alpine mountain biking

The Grand Raid BCVS Verbier 2026 marks the race’s 36th edition, taking place on Saturday, 22 August. Held annually since 1990, this mountain bike marathon has established itself as one of the most formidable mountain races in Europe, drawing an average of 2,500 riders each year who take on some of the toughest terrain the continent has to offer.

Since its very first edition, the race has connected Verbier to Grimentz, a route that has kept the same core challenge even as new distances were added over the decades. The bond between the two resorts, one in the Val de Bagnes, the other in the Val d’Anniviers, has become the race’s defining feature: this is no longer simply a mountain bike race, but a legendary crossing of the Valais Alps, where each edition adds fresh stories of riders setting off from one side of the mountain and reaching the other, six or seven hours later, legs heavy and spirits high.

The start line sits in the heart of Verbier, in the Val de Bagnes, while the finish, after more than 125 kilometres and over 5,000 metres of elevation gain, awaits in Grimentz, in the Val d’Anniviers. Four starting points are on offer: Verbier (125 km), Nendaz (92 km), Hérémence (68 km), or Evolène (37 km), letting riders choose a challenge to match their level. Every route climbs the Pas-de-Lona, a legendary, unforgiving climb above 2,700 metres that often decides the race.

The e-bike category remains open across all starting points, an option drawing an increasingly broad field. On the organisational side, there’s a change this year: race numbers are now sent directly by post for those who register in time, and the pick-up day in Sion has been discontinued.

Where to watch the Grand Raid BCVS Verbier from the village

You don’t need to be racing to make the most of this weekend. The early-morning start, held right in the village streets, already draws a crowd of spectators cheering on the field in an electric atmosphere, complete with cowbells and applause. The opening kilometres, winding down from the centre of Verbier before dropping toward the valley, offer several vantage points within easy walking distance to watch the peloton set off. For guests staying in the village, it’s a chance to experience the race from a front-row seat, without an early start from Martigny or Sion to catch the action.

The Tour des Stations, an Everest-scale challenge on two wheels

A week later, road cycling takes centre stage with the Tour des Stations, scheduled for Saturday, 29 August 2026. The race starts in Le Châble and finishes in Verbier, crossing some of the most striking landscapes the Valais has to offer.

Depending on the distance chosen (241, 186, 132, or 77 km), riders pass through between 3 and 12 resorts, climbing anywhere from 3,000 to 8,848 metres of elevation. On its longest format, the Ultrafondo, the race is considered the toughest one-day road cycling event in the world, a challenge some riders take on specifically to match the elevation gain of Everest in a single outing. Every route climbs the Col du Lein, at 1,685 metres, followed by the now-legendary Col de la Croix-de-Cœur, at 2,175 metres.

A dedicated youth race, the Bambinofondo, takes place on Friday, 28 August in Verbier, a chance to introduce the next generation to the sport in a family atmosphere ahead of the following day’s events. Unlike the Grand Raid, it’s Verbier that hosts the finish line here: the village streets become the finishing straight, delivering a wave of emotion for riders completing over 240 kilometres and nearly 9,000 metres of climbing in a single day.

A full week shaped by sport in Verbier

What makes late August particularly compelling in Verbier is the proximity of the two events: the Grand Raid BCVS Verbier on 22 August, the Tour des Stations on 29 August. A full week separates the two, plenty of time to build a stay around both, mixing hiking, terrace afternoons, and mountain bike outings on the very trails the racers ride. For families supporting a competitor, or groups of friends cheering on several riders, that week offers an ideal rhythm, far removed from the rush of a single day trip.

A Verbier stay to experience both events from the inside

Whether you’re racing, cheering on a friend, or simply enjoying a Valais summer shaped by sport, basing yourself in Verbier for these two weekends changes the experience entirely. Waking up minutes from the start line, returning to your own apartment after a long day on the mountain, or following the village atmosphere on your own schedule: that’s the real advantage of staying in the resort rather than commuting up from the valley each day.

At Domus, a number of apartments and chalets in central Verbier remain available for these late-August dates. Our team is on hand to help you find a property suited to your group, whether that’s a practical studio for a competing rider or a family chalet for a whole team of supporters. Explore our holiday rentals in Verbier and book your stay before availability tightens.

Practical information

Grand Raid BCVS Verbier

• Date: Saturday, 22 August 2026 (36th edition)
• Start: Verbier (125 km), Nendaz (92 km), Hérémence (68 km), or Evolène (37 km)
• Finish: Grimentz
• Registration: online until Thursday, 20 August 2026; in-person on Friday, 21 August in Sion and Verbier
• Traffic: several roads around Verbier see temporary disruption early on race morning; allow extra time if you need to leave the village before 9am
• Official website: grand-raid-bcvs.ch

Tour des Stations

• Date: Saturday, 29 August 2026 (Bambinofondo on Friday, 28 August in Verbier)
• Start: Le Châble
• Finish: Verbier
• Four formats: 77, 132, 186, and 241 km
• Traffic: the late-afternoon finish in Verbier may temporarily slow access to the village centre
• Official website: tourdesstations.ch

In summary

Grand Raid BCVS and Tour des Stations: two events, two disciplines, one shared energy that takes over Verbier in late August. A fitting way to close out the summer, built on equal parts effort and camaraderie.

Banner photo : © grand-raid-bcvs.ch