CONNECTING ASIA’S MTB ON 12-13 DECEMBER 2026 IN HONG KONG
Ride Asia with Nino & Kohei is a planned two-day mountain-bike event featuring Nino Schurter and Kohei Yamamoto, with an open cross-country (XCO) race, a limited practice ride, a Fan Ride and opportunities to meet the guests.
RIDE ASIA 2026
AKKI Bike Park / AKKI MTB Group, supported by Asia Union TCS Racing Team, plans to host Ride Asia with Nino & Kohei in Hong Kong on 12-13 December 2026. Rio 2016 Olympic champion and ten-time men’s Elite XCO world champion Nino Schurter and four-time Japanese Olympian Kohei Yamamoto are scheduled to join a weekend of racing, riding and exchanges with Hong Kong’s and Asia’s MTB communities. Saturday’s programme at AKKI Bike Park will include an open mountain-bike cross-country (XCO) race, a limited practice ride with the guests, children’s activities, signing and photo opportunities, and an awards ceremony. The guests’ riding sessions and participation formats remain subject to final arrangements.
EVENT AT A GLANCE
Dates: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December 2026
Venue: Organiser AKKI Bike Park / AKKI MTB Group
Supported by: Asia Union TCS Racing Team
Entry fees XCO: HKD 240 | Practice add-on: HKD 120 | Fan Ride: HKD 630
Spectators / Kids: Free. Practice requires an XCO entry.
(The programme may change due to weather, trail conditions, safety or guest schedules. Interviews and filming require advance coordination.)
FAN RIDE
Sunday’s Fan Ride is planned for approximately 60 mountain bikers in total, including 40 public places, with intermediate or higher experience. Riders will form groups of around 20. The route will not be published; registered participants will receive the information they need. The event aims to connect local riders and fans with riders of extensive international experience and inspire younger participants. Registration is scheduled for 7 October to 30 November 2026, Hong Kong time. Details are available on the official event website.
Nino Schurter at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, in 2025. Photo: Piper Albrecht
PURPOSE OF THE WEEKEND
The event aims to connect international racing experience with local riding and conversation. Young racers, experienced riders, families and spectators can engage with the sport in different ways, while Hong Kong provides a meeting point for MTB communities across Asia.
PARTICIPATION AND GUEST INVOLVEMENT
The Limited Practice Ride is planned for up to 40 registered XCO riders. The Fan Ride is planned for approximately 60 riders in
total, including 40 public places, in groups of around 20. Both require intermediate-or-higher MTB experience. The practice ride is
for course familiarisation, not a skills clinic. Day 1 spectating and the Kids programme are free. Signing is limited to purchased official event merchandise and merchandise included in the VIP Welcome Kit; personal items are not eligible. Capacity and participation arrangements will be confirmed in the final guidance. Both guests are scheduled to join the riding and event programme. Exact sessions and formats remain subject to final arrangements; a full competitive race or riding in the same group as either guest is not guaranteed. This is a local open race, not a UCIsanctioned competition.
FEATURED RIDERS
Nino Schurter riding at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, in 2025. Photo: Piper Albrecht
Nino Schurter
Swiss MTB rider Nino Schurter has won ten men’s Elite XCO world titles and Olympic gold at Rio 2016, silver at
London 2012 and bronze at Beijing 2008. He retired from cross-country World Cup racing in 2025. He is scheduled
to join the practice ride, Fan Ride and fan activities at this event.
Kohei Yamamoto jumping on a woodland MTB course in 2026. Photo: Satoshi ODA
Kohei Yamamoto
Kohei Yamamoto represented Japan at four consecutive Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016
and Tokyo 2020. Through Asia Union TCS Racing Team, he connects racing experience with rider development
and MTB communities across Asia. He is a featured rider and is also involved in event coordination.
Who is organising the weekend
AKKI Bike Park / AKKI MTB Group leads local delivery in Hong Kong. Asia Union TCS Racing Team supports
international coordination, guest liaison and outreach to riders and communities across Asia.
Kohei Yamamoto with a mountain bike in 2026. Photo: Asia Union TCS Racing Team
HOW TO JOIN?
For more information and participation details, visit the organiser’s website at: https://rideasiahk.a-uniontcs.com
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Information by Ride Asia
Photos by Ride Asia and respective photographers