When the best young riders from around the world gather in Schladming, it’s about more than just a race. At the Rookies Champs, riders in the U11 through U17 age groups compete for prestigious titles—and, in doing so, for a title that has long been regarded in the cycling community as the unofficial world championship for junior riders.

New lines, familiar terrain

Friday started with partly cloudy skies, but the sun soon broke through, bringing warm, dry conditions to Schladming. The course offered excellent traction, providing the rookies with ideal conditions for their first practice runs.

For the most part, the course was similar to previous years, but there were some changes, particularly in the middle and lower sections. Instead of riding exclusively on the familiar bike park trail, new sections led riders partly through meandering turns across meadows and off the previous lines.

Action in Seeding Run

The rain during the night had initially made the course damp, but at the same time provided plenty of grip. The clouds were still hanging low in the valley in the morning, but gradually cleared up as the morning progressed. After that, warm temperatures and sunshine awaited the more than 330 young riders.

It was already clear during the seeding runs that no one had come here just to watch. Anton Zierl (AUT – Cube Next Generation) took the lead with the fastest time of the day. But the other classes were also pushing hard. The young riders demonstrated just how much speed and confidence these young riders now possess—and the girls’ classes also delivered strong runs and provided plenty of excitement.  

The Big Stage

On Sunday, everything was ready: sunshine, perfect conditions, and more than 330 rookies from 31 countries made the final day an international highlight. Along the course and at the finish line, every run was celebrated with loud cheers, and riders gave it their all one last time in the final sprint. Afterward, the finish line was filled with a whirlwind of emotions—jubilation, relief, tears, and a great deal of pride. For many of the young riders, it was a moment they won’t soon forget.

Anton Zierl (AUT – Cube Next Generation) set the fastest time of the day. The brother of 2025 Junior World Champion Rosa Zierl completed the 1,500-meter course, which included 350 meters of elevation gain, in 2:14.747 minutes and secured the title with a 2.6-second lead.

The fastest time among the female competitors went to U15 rider Sara Scholz (AUT – iXS Gravity Alliance). After finishing third and second in the past two years, she was now able to secure the full set of medals. She won her class with a time of 2:32.147 minutes.