Tough doesn’t even come close to describing the Cross Country Marathon World Championship route. Spanning 125km (~77mi) and with over 5,000m of elevation gain (~17,000ft), this was a beast like no other. To say all the competitors were at their limits would be an understatement.  

Keegan Swenson (Santa Cruz htSQD) made a surprise appearance at the line. While he had said that he would never race mountain bikes again after Cape Epic, just before Worlds he decided to take one more rip at it, and we are so glad he did.  

Swenson stayed calm and reserved throughout the race, knowing the challenges ahead of him. Five hours in, he took advantage of the hike-a-bike section, a place where he knew his competitors would struggle, to create distance between him and the rest of the field. He ran (literally) the 30-minute climb to break away from the rest.  

After 6 hours, 1 minute and 44 seconds, Swenson crossed the finish line to claim the Cross Country Marathon World Championship. Shifting in a short span from quitting the sport entirely to becoming World Champion, he’s proven that he’s more than just a gravel racer. 

On the Women’s side, Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Factory Racing) of Austria fought hard to defend her 2024 Cross-Country Marathon World title; however, sickness and fatigue created an extra challenge for Mona. She ultimately finished third overall, not retaining the World Champion Jersey.