And rightly so. The farewell was attended by a host of past and present rivals, including Jaroslav Kulhavý, the Czech powerhouse who shared with Nino some of the most dramatic Olympic battles of his career.
A legendary legacy
When you say modern mountain biking, one name towers above all: Nino Schurter. For almost two decades, the Swiss rider embodied what perfection looks like in cross-country racing. His announcement that he would retire from the UCI World Cup closes a monumental chapter and leaves the sport reflecting on the extraordinary legacy he carved into its history.
“I’ve given my body, mind, and soul to mountain biking for the last two decades. It’s a beautiful sport, but at the pro level, it’s brutal. You’re either winning or you’re done. There’s no middle ground. It’s all or nothing, 24/7,” Schurter said. He hails from Tersnaus, an old Alpine village in the canton of Graubünden, where many still speak Romansh – a reminder of the deep mountain roots from which he rose.
The title collector
Lining up in Lenzerheide, Schurter ended his career after twenty years at the very top. Few athletes in any sport have shaped their discipline as profoundly as he did. His rise began in 2004, when he claimed the junior world title in Wałbrzych, Poland. Thanks to the mentorship of Swiss legend Thomas Frischknecht, he launched his pro career three years later and quickly became unstoppable.
The stats? Staggering. Ten world championship titles (the last in 2022), nine overall World Cup victories, 36 individual World Cup wins, including the legendary 2017 season where he didn’t let anyone else stand on the top step. He last dominated the circuit in Val di Sole in 2023. And then, of course, the Olympic hardware: gold in Rio (2016), silver in London (2012), and bronze in Beijing (2008) – a complete set.
Master of technique
What set Schurter apart wasn’t just the sheer number of wins, but the consistency with which he delivered them. Season after season, on every type of track, under every kind of pressure, he always found another gear. From the start, he was recognised as a brilliant bike handler, carving down treacherous descents and navigating technical sections with surgical precision.
Nino helped redefine what cross-country racing could be. He brought downhill-level skill to rock gardens and drops that once terrified even specialists. His aggressive yet controlled style forced rivals to step up their technical game, reshaping XC into the more dynamic, technical spectacle we see today.
Rivalries that made history
Schurter was famous for his blistering starts, where he’d instantly crank up the tempo and shred the field. But every legend needs rivals, and Nino had plenty: early duels with Julien Absalon, later showdowns with the new guard, such as Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock. And of course, the Olympic clashes with Jaroslav Kulhavý: beaten to gold in London 2012, but coming back in Rio 2016 to reclaim the top step. These rivalries produced some of the sport’s greatest drama and drew global audiences to cross-country MTB like never before.
The decision to walk away
Schurter broke the news in a social media video, thanking fans, his team, and his family for their support. “When I went to my first World Championships in Lugano in 2003, I was just a kid chasing a dream, and I left with my first big medal. I had no idea that dream would bring me countless unforgettable moments and more than half of all those titles along the way,” he wrote.
His career has been tied closely to Scott-SRAM, the team with which he became synonymous. Though he’s stepping away from elite World Cup racing, he’ll stay with the squad as an ambassador – planning charity projects, fan events, and possibly toeing the line at gravel races and marathon epics.
“I’m saying goodbye to World Cup racing in cross-country. I’m incredibly grateful for everything I achieved as a professional mountain biker. Now it’s time to channel that experience into a new chapter,” Schurter said. His 2025 season had already signalled a transition – just two top-ten finishes, with a best result of fifth. His very last World Cup race, on home soil in Lenzerheide on September 21, 2025, ended with a 24th-place finish, but the thunderous cheers made it clear: the result didn’t matter.
Still going strong
He may be done with the World Cup, but not with cycling. Proof? Earlier this year, Schurter teamed up with Filippo Colombo to win gold at the Absa Cape Epic in South Africa, the toughest stage race on the planet.
What’s next? We’ll see. But one thing’s for sure: whatever comes, it’ll be on two wheels, joined by a frame.
