Cycle Messenger World Championships

Picture by Andrew Tobin/Focus Images Ltd +44 7710 761829
05/08/2013
Riders collect their bikes and first manifest at the start of the main race during the Cycle Messenger World Championships held in Lausanne, Switzerland. Started in 1993 by Achim Beier from Berlin, the championships are not only a sporting contest but an opportunity to unite friends and bicycle enthusiasts worldwide. The event comprises a number of challenges including a sprint, a track stand (longest time stationary on the bike), a cargo race where heavy loads are carried on special bikes, and the main race. The course winds through central Lausanne and includes bridges, stairs, cobbles, narrow alleyways and challenging hills. The main race simulates the job of a bike courier making numerous drops and pickups across the city. Riders need to check in at specific checkpoints, hand over their delivery and get a new one. The main race can take up to 4 hours for each competitor to complete.