Austria Gets Mountain Bike Coordination Office

Austria is getting a mountain bike coordination office. This marks the starting point for the development of an Austria-wide mountain bike strategy. The goal is to meet the demand for mountain bike trails, promote potential for business and tourism, and expand the range of exercise and recreational opportunities for the population. At the same time, aspects of protecting nature and Austria's forests must be taken into account while respecting land and property rights.

The coordination office is financed by four responsible ministries (sports, forestry, tourism, mobility) and the federal states and was publicly tendered and awarded through the Federal Procurement Agency.

State Secretary for Sport Michaela Schmidt: "My goal is to provide Austrians with diverse opportunities for sport and exercise, so that everyone can practice the sport they are interested in – regardless of where they live or their budget. The enthusiasm for mountain biking remains unbroken: it combines a sporting challenge with the experience of nature. I am pleased that we as the government are contributing to creating new opportunities, especially for popular sports."

Forestry Minister Norbert Totschnig: "Mountain biking, like other outdoor recreational activities, requires responsibility and mutual consideration. I see the mountain biking strategy as a great opportunity to create an attractive range of sports and recreational activities, taking into account wildlife and forest ecological aspects, and simultaneously strengthening the regions. The highest priority is to consider the interests of all those affected. Forest managers, who, among other things, do valuable work in adapting forests to climate change, must be fully involved. This is the only way to ensure the sustainable use of the natural and cultural landscape. To protect our forests, there must be clear regulations and contracts. With the 'contract model,' we have already laid a good foundation."

State Secretary for Tourism Elisabeth Zehetner: "Mountain biking is an important future topic for Austrian tourism. Already today, around a third of our summer guests come to Austria to cycle – the second most popular sport after hiking. The high level of loyalty is also remarkable: 80 percent of cycle tourists are regulars, primarily from Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands. This shows how important this segment already is. The growth is impressive: between 2014 and 2016, there were 50,000 mountain bike rides in Sölden; in 2021, this number had already risen to 232,000. Cycling and mountain biking offers not only contribute to extending the season but also to regional added value. To sustainably utilize this potential, we need a balanced and widely accepted strategy that covers the entire spectrum – from mountain biking to e-bikes to gravel roads. This is the only way we can utilize the opportunities offered by this trend while simultaneously preserving natural and habitat areas in Develop further in line with the needs of guests.”

Transport Minister Peter Hanke: "With the Austria-wide Mountain Bike Coordination Office, we are taking a decisive step toward jointly developing cycling, tourism, and sustainable mobility. Mountain biking has long been an important part of our leisure culture and simultaneously contributes to health, climate protection, and regional value creation. Our goal is clear: Austria should set standards in mountain biking throughout Europe – in terms of sport, economy, and ecology."

Strategy to be developed by 2026

The first task now is to establish the coordination office as a knowledge and information hub to create the conditions for the development of an Austria-wide mountain bike strategy. This will be developed as part of a broad stakeholder process and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Subsequently, measures for implementing the strategy will also be developed and implemented. The coordination office will be supported by a steering group composed of representatives from the participating ministries and the federal states.

The contract for the framework agreement was awarded to KONNEKT GmbH, headed by Karl Morgenbesser and Thorsten Schmitz. Both contribute many years of experience and strategic expertise to the project. Karl Morgenbesser is the founder and managing director of Wexl Trails and the St. Corona Adventure Arena. With his projects, he has demonstrated how biking opportunities can be successfully integrated into regional development, year-round use, and sustainable concepts by involving landowners, hunters, and nature users. Mountain biking has been a personal passion of his for decades, as well as a development model for society and regions. "For me, mountain biking is much more than a sport—it's a movement that connects society, regions, and nature. With the national strategy, we want to harness this power for Austria—in a way that promotes health, is environmentally friendly, and economically viable," emphasizes Karl Morgenbesser.

Thorsten Schmitz served as CEO of INTERSPORT Austria for six years, having previously gained over 20 years of international experience in retail, sports, and brand development. As a certified MTB riding technique coach and active cyclist, he combines his personal passion for the sport with his expertise in strategy, stakeholder management, and shaping social transformation processes. "Our goal is to think of mountain biking as a societal issue. Austria has the opportunity to become a pioneer in Europe – if we succeed in combining sports, nature, property, mobility, business, and tourism in a common vision," explains Thorsten Schmitz.